Sur les traces de la route de la soie kirghize

Arrive at Manas International Airport, where our team meets you and drives you to Bishkek (about 30 km, 40 minutes). Check-in at the hotel is after 14:00. Start your city tour in the heart of the capital, Ala-Too Square, and continue with a walk in Oak Park, one of the favorite places of the locals. Bishkek is known as the greenest city in Central Asia thanks to its countless parks and alleys. After lunch there is time for the Osh Bazaar, where you can admire the creativity and talent of local artisans. As soon as you step into the market you plunge into its oriental atmosphere: an endless flow of people and a great variety of goods and colors. In the evening you can go to one of the best restaurants in Bishkek to taste delicious Kyrgyz national dishes. Overnight at the hotel in Bishkek.

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

• Manas International Airport → Bishkek (30 km)

Au cours de la nuit : Bishkek (Hôtel)

After breakfast at the hotel, the journey starts with the Too-Ashuu mountain pass. You then cross the wonderful Suusamyr Valley, a paradise for nomads. Lunch is a picnic or a stop at a small café along the way. Later the highway gives way to an off-road track along the Kokemeren River. You reach Kyzyl-Oy, a mountain village at an altitude of about 1,800 m, surrounded by majestic mountains – a great place to photograph extraordinary landscapes. Dinner and overnight at the guesthouse in Kyzyl-Oy.

Too-Ashuu Pass, Vallée de Suusamyr, Kyzyl-Oi

• Bishkek → Kyzyl-Oi (200 km)

Au cours de la nuit : Kyzyl-Oi (Guesthouse)

Repas : Petit déjeuner

After breakfast at the guesthouse, a winding mountain road leads you up through a gorge. You cross the Kara-Keche pass with its coal mine and reach Song-Kol Lake, surrounded by green meadows that nomads have long used to graze their animals. At the yurt camp you experience the hospitality of the nomads and get to know their way of life. Dinner and overnight in the yurt camp at Song-Kol. Optional, booked and paid on the spot: national horse games (100–200 USD per group) and horse riding (10–13 USD per person for the horse plus 10–25 USD for the horse guide).

Kara-Keche Pass, Song Kul

• Kyzyl-Oi → Song Kul (180 km)

Au cours de la nuit : Song Kul (Yurt camp)

• Toilet: Outdoor (pit / drop toilet)

Repas : Petit déjeuner

After breakfast in the yurt camp, the road continues to Naryn, the administrative center of the region. This small town lies at an altitude of 2,000 m on the banks of the Naryn, the biggest river in Kyrgyzstan. On arrival you can take a shower and rest at the hotel, and before dinner at a restaurant there is time for a walk in town. Overnight at the hotel in Naryn.

Naryn

• Song Kul → Naryn (150 km)

Au cours de la nuit : Naryn (Hôtel)

Repas : Petit déjeuner

After breakfast, you head towards the Chinese border to reach Kel-Suu Lake. This mesmerizing mountain lake lies at an altitude of 3,400 m; surrounded by steep rocks on all sides, it has many caves, grottos and stone islands. After some rest at the yurt camp, you hike to the lake (about 2 hours) or ride there on horseback (about 1 hour, optional). Dinner and overnight in the yurt camp. Optional, booked and paid on the spot: horse riding (10–13 USD per person for the horse plus 10–25 USD for the horse guide).

Lac Kel-Suu

• Naryn → Lac Kel-Suu (160 km)

Au cours de la nuit : Lac Kel-Suu (Yurt camp)

• Toilet: Outdoor (pit / drop toilet)

Repas : Petit déjeuner

A whole day in the area of the mountain lake. You can ride horses and explore this magical place with its breathtaking landscapes. Meals are served in the yurts. Overnight in the yurt camp. Optional, booked and paid on the spot: horse riding (10–13 USD per person for the horse plus 10–25 USD for the horse guide).

Lac Kel-Suu

Au cours de la nuit : Lac Kel-Suu (Yurt camp)

• Toilet: Outdoor (pit / drop toilet)

Repas : Petit déjeuner

After breakfast in the yurt camp, a long drive (about 300 km, 7 hours) takes you to the village of Kochkor. On the way you pass the Kyrgyz summer pastures with the yurt camps of local shepherds. In Kochkor you can take a shower and rest at the guesthouse; before dinner there is free time for a walk in the village. An evening folk show can be arranged as an option. Dinner and overnight at the guesthouse in Kochkor.

Kochkor

• Lac Kel-Suu → Kochkor (300 km)

Au cours de la nuit : Kochkor (Guesthouse)

Repas : Petit déjeuner

After breakfast, you head for Issyk-Kul, the biggest lake in the country and the pearl of Kyrgyzstan, and follow its south shore. In Bokonbaevo you can meet an eagle hunter with his bird of prey (optional) – eagle hunting is one of the ancient traditions of the nomads. Later you visit Skazka Canyon – "skazka" means fairytale in Russian – with rocks of surprising shapes and sizes: a skyscraper or an animal may suddenly appear in front of you. Short hikes in the canyon are possible. In Tamga you can try a Russian sauna. Overnight at the guesthouse in Tamga. Optional, booked and paid on the spot: yurt show (45 USD per person) and eagle hunting demonstration (45 USD per person).

Issyk-Koul, Bokonbaevo, Canyon de Skazka, Tamga village

• Kochkor → Bokonbaevo (128 km)
• Bokonbaevo → Canyon de Skazka (27 km)
• Canyon de Skazka → Tamga village (15 km)

Au cours de la nuit : Tamga village (Guesthouse)

Repas : Petit déjeuner

After breakfast, you drive to the Jeti-Oguz gorge. Its name means "seven bulls" in Kyrgyz, after the seven giant red-brown rocks that stand together like furious bulls. Take a walk and enjoy the beautiful landscapes. In Karakol you visit the town's famous sights, the Russian Orthodox cathedral and the Dungan mosque. For dinner you can order ashlan-fu, a typical dish of the region from the Dungan cuisine. Overnight at the hotel in Karakol.

Jeti Oguz, Karakol, Karakol Orthodox cathedral, Karakol Dungan Mosque

• Tamga village → Jeti Oguz (115 km)
• Jeti Oguz → Karakol (35 km)

Au cours de la nuit : Karakol (Hôtel)

Repas : Petit déjeuner

After breakfast, you drive along the northern shore of Issyk-Kul to the Grigoriev and Semenov gorges, among the most famous attractions of the Issyk-Kul region. If the weather is nice, you drive up to the first lake in the Grigoriev gorge for a picnic on the shore and a walk in the wild nature around you. In the evening you reach the village of Tarsuu in the Chon-Kemin valley, famous for the diversity of its flora and fauna. Dinner and overnight at the guesthouse in Chon-Kemin. Optional, booked and paid on the spot: horse riding (13 USD per person for the horse plus 25 USD for the horse guide).

Semenov Gorge, Gorges de Grigoriev, Chon Kemin

• Karakol → Semenov Gorge (110 km)
• Semenov Gorge → Gorges de Grigoriev (25 km)
• Gorges de Grigoriev → Chon Kemin (185 km)

Au cours de la nuit : Chon Kemin (Guesthouse)

Repas : Petit déjeuner

After breakfast at the guesthouse, you transfer to Bishkek. On the way you visit the Burana Tower, about 80 km from the capital. The tower, with funerary monuments, earthworks, the remains of a castle and three mausoleums, is all that is left of the ancient town of Balasagyn, founded by the Karakhanids at the end of the 9th century. Lunch at a café or the guesthouse. Back in Bishkek there is time to visit the local market and buy some souvenirs, and in the evening you can have dinner at a traditional Kyrgyz restaurant. Overnight at the hotel in Bishkek.

Tour Burana, Bishkek

• Chon Kemin → Tour Burana (120 km)
• Tour Burana → Bishkek (80 km)

Au cours de la nuit : Bishkek (Hôtel)

Repas : Petit déjeuner

Transfer to Manas International Airport (about 30 km, 40 minutes) for your departure flight.

• Bishkek → Manas International Airport (30 km)