3 Day trip around Issyk Kul

Arrival in Bishkek. You will be picked up at the airport by local guide and driver. Check in to the hotel.  Some rest. Breakfast. Later start a city tour of Bishkek. A visit of Central Ala Too Square, Oak Park and Osh bazaar. 

Transfer to Issyk-Kul lake. The lake is considered to be the second largest mountainous lake in the world on the altitude of 1607 meters above the sea level. You will drive along the southern shore and will have several stops. On the way, we will stop not far from Tokmok town and have excursion to Burana Tower, a place on the Great Silk Road dated to 11th century. 

Later you will stop in the village Kyzyl-Tuu. This village is famous with its talented artisans, who makes wooden parts of yurts. The artisan will show us process of Yurts production. 

Later you will meet the eagle hunter. The hunter will demonstrate the ancient traditions of hunting with an eagle and tell about his activity. On the way, visit Skazka canyon. Walk in the area. Upon arrival to Tamga dinner and accommodation in the yurt camp by the shore.

Optionally Kyrgyz folklore program during the dinner organised by the local family from the village.

People sleep by 4 in a yurt. There are sleeping yurts and separate dining yurt. One toilet and one shower per one Yurt. 

Altitudes above sea level during the day: beginning of day – 800 m in Bishkek, end of the day – 1606 in Tamga 

Meal during the day: B/L/D

After breakfast one can enjoy the swimming in the lake, the yurt camp is situated on the shore of the lake. Lunch in the camp.

After lunch transfer to Jety-Oguz gorge. Jety-Oguz gorge is famous for its red rock formations in the form of the Seven Bulls, the translation of the place is “Seven Bulls”. Local people tell a lot of legends about this place.  When you are approaching Jety-Oguz gorge first you see the broken heart (broken heart – is that 2 Seven bulls of 7), then when you pass this Broken Heart and look to the back of it you see all these 7 bulls. A walk in the area.

Transfer to Karakol. A city tour with visiting Russian Orthodox Church, Muslim Mosque in Dungan Style. Visit of Prjevalsky Museum. After the museum visit to local bazaar. Dinner in Dungan family (the nation that emigrated from China) where 13 national dishes are prepared.  Overnight in the hotel.

Altitudes above sea level during the day: beginning of day – 1606 m in Tamga, end of the day – 1700 in Karakol

Meal during the day: B/L/D

After breakfast in the hotel transfer to Bishkek along the northern shore of Issyk-Kul lake. On the way a stop in Semenovskoe gorge for a light hiking.

Later you will have a walk in the Open Air Museum of Petrogliphs in Cholpon-Ata city. The Open Air Museum, sometimes referred as a Stone Garden, covers some 42 hectares and contains a number of prehistoric monumental structures (stone circles, tombs, the remains of a boundary stone wall, balbals) and Petroglyphs (dating from the II millennium BC up to the Middle Ages up to the VI century AD). 

Also in Cholpon-Ata optionally you may go for a motor boat excursion on the lake for 1 hour (in off season this activity depends on weather condition).  Dinner at the restaurant and accommodation in the hotel.  

Altitudes above sea level during the day: beginning of day – 1700 m in Karakol, end of the day – 800 in Bishkek 

Meal during the day: B/L/D

Altitudes above sea level during the day: 800 in Bishkek 

Meal during the day:  B/-/-