Kirgisistan Tian-Shan-Trekking-Tour

Upon arrival at Manas International Airport, your guide and driver meet you and transfer you to Bishkek (about 30 km, 45 minutes), where you can check in to your hotel early (included) and rest after your journey. Your introduction to the city begins at Osh Bazaar, one of the most colorful markets in Central Asia, with stalls selling aromatic spices, fresh and dried fruits and handmade crafts. Next, a walking tour of the city center takes you to Ala-Too Square with the Manas Monument and the State Flag, where the Changing of the Guard takes place, and past the monument to the 2010 revolution and the White House. At the old square you see a statue of Lenin and Soviet-era buildings. Then walk through Oak Park, with its open-air sculpture gallery and the monument to Kurmanjan Datka, a legendary female leader, and end the tour at Victory Square, dedicated to those who died in the Second World War. Lunch and dinner are at cozy local cafés. Overnight at a 3* hotel in Bishkek (800 m).

Bischkek, Osh Bazaar (Bishkek), Ala Too Square, Bishkek Oak Park, Bishkek Victory Square

Über Nacht: Bischkek (Hotel)

• Shower: Yes
• Toilet: Private (in the room)
• Internet: Wi-Fi

Mahlzeiten: Lunch, Dinner

In the morning, drive from Bishkek towards the Jeti-Oguz gorge. On the way, stop at the Burana Tower near Tokmok, an 11th-century minaret on the site of Balasagun, once the capital of the Karakhanid state. Explore the tower and the balbals nearby, stone sculptures left by ancient nomads. The journey continues along the Issyk-Kul region, with a lunch stop at a café serving local cuisine. At the entrance of the Jeti-Oguz gorge you see the red sandstone rocks “Broken Heart” and “Seven Bulls”, the symbols of this place. The gorge is famous for its Tien Shan spruce forests, alpine meadows and clean mountain air. A winding road with log bridges leads deep into the gorge to the Kok-Dzhayik (“Flower Meadow”) area. Dinner and overnight in a yurt camp, surrounded by mountain peaks. Drive about 400 km, 6–7 hours. Overnight altitude: 2,600 m.

Burana Turm, Jeti Oguz, Kok-Zhaiyk

• Bischkek → Kok-Zhaiyk (400 km)

Über Nacht: Kok-Zhaiyk (Yurt camp)

Mahlzeiten: Frühstück, Lunch, Dinner

In the morning, meet the porters. After breakfast, leave the yurt camp and start trekking along the riverbank through the narrow, wooded Bay Tor gorge, which leads up to alpine meadows. Here, on a carpet of flowers, the air is sweet and clear and the views are amazing. After a rest, continue to the tent camp at the foot of the Telety Pass. Shortly before the camp you cross a big river on a bridge. From the camp, an easy walk leads to a nameless waterfall, and the meadows along the west Telety River are lovely. Dinner and overnight at the tent camp. Put all your things into the special rucksack provided by us and hand it to the porters in the morning; they carry the luggage from one tent camp to the next (up to 12 kg per person, extra weight 20 USD per kg). Trek: 13 km, about 5–6 hours, +450 m. Overnight altitude: 3,050 m.

Kok-Zhaiyk

Über Nacht: Tent camping

• Shower: Yes
• Toilet: Shared (indoor)
• Internet: None

Mahlzeiten: Frühstück, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, leave the camp and begin the ascent to the Telety Pass. The first kilometer of the trail runs through juniper bushes, then a narrow path gains altitude gradually. From the top of the pass (3,800 m) there is a wonderful panorama of mountains and valleys. The descent is simple: along a wide scree slope and through alpine meadows covered with herbs and flowers, along the East Telety River, which you have to wade across at one point – there is no bridge, so sandals are recommended. The trail then winds through the forest on a path crossed by roots and descends into the Karakol Gorge. The last kilometer follows an old dirt road to a tent camp in the forest, where you can make a campfire after dinner. Dinner and overnight at the tent camp. Trek: 12 km, about 6–7 hours, +735 m / -1,232 m. Overnight altitude: 2,500 m.

Telety Pass

Über Nacht: Tent camping

• Shower: Yes
• Toilet: Shared (indoor)
• Internet: None

Mahlzeiten: Frühstück, Lunch, Dinner

Today’s radial hike leads towards Karakol Peak. The trail follows the Uyun-Tor River, partly on an old dirt road that ends after a small river. After the river crossing, the path goes through Tien Shan spruce forest; from May the meadows are full of flowers – snowdrops, tulips, primroses, white anemones, alpine asters and big edelweiss. Above the forest you climb a stony hill to a viewpoint of Karakol Peak, the highest summit of the Terskey Ala-Too range – a wonderful place for lunch. Afterwards, walk back to the tent camp on the same route, where a mountain sauna awaits. Dinner and overnight at the tent camp. Hike: 16 km, about 6–7 hours, +531 m / -531 m. Overnight altitude: 2,553 m.

Karakol Peak

Über Nacht: Tent camping

• Shower: Yes
• Toilet: Shared (indoor)
• Internet: None

Mahlzeiten: Frühstück, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, walk about 1 km down the gorge, cross the river on a bridge and follow the trail into the forest. A rather long ascent ends at a steep grassy slope, where the trail turns into a serpentine, passes a river overflow and reaches an unusual place called the “Sirota” log hut. Inside are a table, benches and a fireplace, and around the hut stand wooden carvings of animals and idols – a fairy-tale spot for a rest and a snack. Higher up, the trail leaves the forest behind and follows the river to a beautiful waterfall flowing down from Ala-Kul Lake. Pass the waterfall and climb onto a natural dam with the first view of the lake; the last kilometer to the tent camp runs along the shore. Dinner and overnight at the tent camp – the highest night of the trip. Trek: 8 km, about 6–7 hours, +1,172 m. Overnight altitude: 3,625 m.

Ala Kul See

Über Nacht: Ala Kul See (Tent camping)

• Shower: Yes
• Toilet: Shared (indoor)
• Internet: None

Mahlzeiten: Frühstück, Lunch, Dinner

The moraine lake Ala-Kul stretches 2.8 km from east to west; it is 500 m wide and 70 m deep. Ala-Kul means “Colorful Lake” in Kyrgyz: depending on the light, the water can be emerald green, turquoise with white clouds reflected, light green, dark grey or even black. After breakfast, start the ascent to the Ala-Kul Pass, the highest pass of the trip, with wonderful views of the lake and of the main range of the Terskey Ala-Too with peaks such as Ak-Suu, Djigit, Karakol and Oguz-Bashi. From the lake shore it takes about an hour and a half to reach the pass. Descend from the pass along a scree slope and cross the wide Keldike Valley with its grazing cattle and flocks of sheep. In Altyn-Arashan you can relax in the natural hot springs – the thermal baths in the valley reach up to 50 °C (entrance included). Dinner and overnight at the tent camp. Trek: 12 km, about 6–7 hours, +285 m / -1,310 m. Overnight altitude: 2,600 m.

Ala Kul See, Altyn Arashan

• Ala Kul See → Altyn Arashan (12 km)

Über Nacht: Altyn Arashan (Tent camping)

• Shower: Yes
• Toilet: Shared (indoor)
• Internet: None

Mahlzeiten: Frühstück, Lunch, Dinner

In the morning, a special military truck takes you down from the Altyn-Arashan gorge to Karakol. From there, drive back to Bishkek along the shore of Issyk-Kul Lake and through the scenic Boom gorge, with a lunch stop at a local café serving national cuisine. In the evening, arrive in Bishkek and check in to your 3* hotel. A farewell dinner at one of the city’s cozy cafés is a chance to look back on your trip and enjoy Kyrgyz hospitality. Drive about 422 km, 6–7 hours.

Karakol, Cholpon Ata, Bischkek

• Altyn Arashan → Bischkek (422 km)

Über Nacht: Bischkek (Hotel)

• Shower: Yes
• Toilet: Private (in the room)
• Internet: Wi-Fi

Mahlzeiten: Frühstück, Lunch, Dinner

Early in the morning, transfer to Manas International Airport (about 30 km, 45 minutes) for your departure flight. End of the program.

Mahlzeiten: Frühstück