Kyrgyzstan Culture tours

The heart of Kyrgyzstan (Cultural tour)

Description

A Kyrgyz land is a place of untouched wild nature where the people from ancient times still keep their traditions, customs, and culture. In the mountains, you can meet the modern nomads who do not change their lifestyles for centuries.
Their simple life can go into the yurt, a felt house that Kyrgyz nomads set so skillfully and decorate it with such love with multi-colored carpets.
A lot of incredible discoveries and positive impressions expect you during this trip.

What's included
  • Group transfers in air-conditioned and comfortable vehicle
  • Experienced driver
  • English-speaking guide throughout the trip
  • Accommodation mentioned in the program
  • Full board
  • Visits mentioned in the program
  • Yurt production
  • Eagle hunting
  • Boat trip
  • Mineral water
What's excluded
  • International flights
  • Personal expenses
  • Single room supplement
  • Insurance
  • Tips for guide, driver etc.
  • Optional activities
  • Early check in & late check out
  • Porters for baggage in hotels and airport
  • Alcohol
  • Services not mentioned as included

Itinerary

Day 1. Airport – Bishkek (30 km, 40 min)

Day 1. Airport – Bishkek (30 km, 40 min)

We will pick you up at the airport/border point and bring you to the capital (check-in at 14:00).

A sightseeing tour in Bishkek is planned. We will visit sights such as the central square Ala-Too with its monuments and Oak park.

After lunch at the local restaurant, we visit the famous market, Osh bazaar. Just as you step into the market, you plunge into the real oriental atmosphere: an interminable stream of people, and a big variety of goods and colors.

Dinner in the traditional restaurant where you can taste the national Kyrgyz cuisine.

Accommodation: Hotel 3* (Rixon Hotel or similar)

Day 2. Bishkek – Burana – Iskra village - Cholpon Ata (290 km, 4h)

Day 2. Bishkek – Burana – Iskra village - Cholpon Ata (290 km, 4h)

Breakfast in the hotel.

Our journey begins with a visit to the Burana Tower. The Burana Tower is an ancient minaret in the Chuy Valley in the north part of Kyrgyzstan. The tower with earthworks, remains of the castle, and three mausoleums – it’s all that last out of the ancient Balasagyn town founded by Karakhanids at the end of the ninth century.

Lunch in the Iskra village with a Doungane family, the ethnicity of Chinese Muslims who had to flee China. You taste their national cuisine.

As we arrive in Cholpon Ata, we will visit the petroglyph museum. The 42 hectares of the museum are lined with stones, tombs, balbals, and various petroglyphs dated from the 2nd millennium BC until the 4th century AD.

Then we will drive you to the hotel on the lake’s shore. You can rest on the beach and swim in the lake.

Dinner in the restaurant.

Accommodation: Hotel 4* (Kapriz Hotel or similar)

Day 3. Cholpon Ata – Grigorievskoe and Semienovskoe gorges – Karakol (160 km, 3h)

Day 3. Cholpon Ata – Grigorievskoe and Semienovskoe gorges – Karakol (160 km, 3h)

After breakfast, we visit the Grigorievskoe and Semienovskoe Gorge. These places are considered as one of the most famous attractions of the Issyk Kul region.  You can go for a walk, enjoy the wild nature around you and spend a nice time in this beautiful place.

Picnic or lunch in the cafe on the road.

As we arrive in Karakol we visit its famous sights such as the Orthodox Church and the Dungan Mosque.

You will have dinner in the local restaurant and then take a rest in the hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel 3* (My Hotel / Karagat or similar)

Day 4. Karakol – Gorge Karakol – Karakol (15 km, 30 min)

Day 4.  Karakol – Gorge Karakol – Karakol (15 km, 30 min)

After breakfast transfer to Karakol Gorge (30 min).

You hike there on the territory of the ski resort towards the panoramic point from which a beautiful view of the mountains and the city opens.

You can rest in this picturesque place breathing the pure mountain air.

Return to Karakol. Lunch in the restaurant. Then you will visit the Prjevalski museum.

Before dinner, you take the boat trip to enjoy the beauty of Issyk Kol Lake and the majesty of the snow-capped mountains of Tien Chan.

Dinner at the restaurant.

Hiking: 7 km, + 300m, -300m, 4h

Meals included: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Accommodation: Hotel 3* (My Hotel / Karagat or similar)

Day 5. Karakol – Jety Oguz – Barskoon – Tamga (135 km, 2-3h)

Day 5.  Karakol – Jety Oguz – Barskoon – Tamga (135 km, 2-3h)

After breakfast, we leave Karakol for Jety Oguz gorge.

The red rock Broken Heart located at the entrance to the gorge creates a uniquely romantic ambiance. You take a walk there for an hour.

Then we go to the Barskoon gorge. The gorge is famous for its waterfalls. One of the best known is Tears of the Snow Leopard. In the middle of the gorge, you find the monument for the first cosmonaut Yu. A. Gagarin.

Dinner in the guesthouse with a Russian family.

Accommodation:  Guesthouse (U Pavla or similar)

Day 6. Tamga – Skazka – Bokonbaevo – Kyzyl Tuu – Kochkor (170 km, 3h)

Day 6. Tamga – Skazka – Bokonbaevo – Kyzyl Tuu – Kochkor (170 km, 3h)

After breakfast in the guesthouse, we leave towards the village Kochkor and pass by the south shore of the lake. Along the way, will visit the Skazka canyons which translate as the “fairy tale”. Here you can find rocks of surprising shapes and sizes. A real skyscraper or an animal can appear in front of you. Walking in the canyons (1-2h).

In Bokonbaevo, we meet an eagle hunter with his bird. You can appreciate the alertness and speed of the bird during the hunting. It is one of the oldest traditions of the Kyrgyz nomads.

Lunch in the guesthouse or cafe.

Our next stop is Kyzyl Tuu village where the local family reveals the secrets of yurt production. This family is engaged in this unique art from generation to generation.

Dinner in the guesthouse in Kochkor.

Accommodation:  Guesthouse (Mira Guesthouse or similar)

Day 7. Kochkor – Tash Rabat (240 km, 4h)

Day 7.  Kochkor – Tash Rabat (240 km, 4h)

After breakfast, we take the road and continue our journey.

On our way, we have to overcome the Dolon Pass (3030 m), then we go to the old caravan stop of the Silk Road period – Tash Rabat.

On the road, we stop in the city of Naryn to have lunch in a restaurant.

We arrive at the yurt camp in Tash Rabat. Tash Rabat is a historical monument founded by monks in the 10th century. At the begging of the Silk Road period Tash Rabat lost its religious significance and the monastery served as a hotel for passing caravans.

Dinner and overnight in yurt.

Accommodation: Yurt camp 

Option: horse riding

* To note: 2 people per yurt. Toilets and sauna are outside. 

Day 8. Tash Rabat – Son Kul (260 km, 5h)

Day 8. Tash Rabat – Son Kul (260 km, 5h)

After breakfast, the beautiful mountain roads lead us to Son Kul Lake.

Today, we overcome the mountain pass Moldo Ashu (3400 m). From the pass, the lake Son Kul seems very small, but descending lower and approaching the lake, it appears as a big and gorgeous lake.

Upon arrival at a camp at the lake, you get to know the hospitality of the nomads, their lifestyle, and their customs. Dinner and night in the yurts.

Accommodation: Yurt camp 

Option: horse riding 

* To note: 2 people per yurt. Toilets, shower and sauna are outside. 

Day 9. Son Kul – Bishkek (315 km, 5-6h)

Day 9. Son Kul – Bishkek (315 km, 5-6h)

We return to the capital after breakfast in the yurt.

We will return to the civilization by descending from Kalmak Ashu pass of 3400 m and passing again by the Boom gorge.

Lunch in the cafe.

As we get to Bishkek we will have time to visit the local market to buy some presents, and in the evening the farewell dinner awaits us.

Accommodation: Hotel 3* (Rixon Hotel or similar)

Day 10. Bishkek – Airport – Departure (30 km, 40 min)

Transfer to the airport. Departure.

Group tour
Tour dates
03 Sep 2023 - 12 Sep 2023
0 spots left
09 Jun 2024 - 18 Jun 2024
10 spots left
07 Jul 2024 - 16 Jul 2024
10 spots left
04 Aug 2024 - 13 Aug 2024
10 spots left
18 Aug 2024 - 27 Aug 2024
10 spots left
01 Sep 2024 - 10 Sep 2024
10 spots left
Duration 10 days / 9 nights
Group 4 - 10 pax
1550 USD DBL/TWIN Room
per Person
1885 USD Single Room*
per Person

Route

Show map
10 days / 9 nights
Start Finish
Airport Manas
Airport Manas

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