Kyrgyzstan Lake Tour
Kyrgyzstan Lake Tour
TOUR DETAILS
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Period
Spring, Summer, Fall -
Tour length and Participants
4 - 9 days, 2 - 10 people -
Price from
600 $ / person
LAKE TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
During the Kyrgyzstan Lake tour, you will visit the Issyk Kul, the second largest alpine lake in Central Asia, the famous Son Kul lake at the altitude of 3016 meters above sea level, where you will meet real nomads, Tash Rabat caravanserai, a medieval center of pilgrimage and trade and many other sites together with countless rivers, passes, roads with stunning views and mountains with glaciers.
The tour can be easily modified according to your preferences: from 4 days tour plus 1 day to 10 days. Moreover, the guide and food are given optimally as well as a variety of additional show programs such as horse game, steamboat, eagle hunting, and folklore show.
Bishkek – Ala Archa – Burana Tower – Chon Kemin – Issyk Kul Lake – Grigoriev Gorge – Semenov Gorge – Karakol – Jeti Oguz – Issyk Kul southern shore – Kochkor – Kichi Naryn – Naryn – Tash Rabat – Son Kul – 33 Parrot Pass – Kalmak Pass – Bishkek
Tour Itinerary
Your driver will pick you up at Manas International Airport and accompany you to the capital city of Kyrgyzstan, just a 30-minute drive from the airport.
In the morning we will visit Ala Archa gorge. It is a Natural Park. At the Soviet Time only V.I.P. people had permission to go for a walk here. The Ala Archa gorge is on a spur of the Tien Shan mountain range. It is just 45 km from Bishkek. You can have a short hiking tour to see a panoramic view of the gorge. Afterwards we return to Bishkek.
The second half of the day is dedicated to a guided tour of Bishkek. It includes visiting Pobeda Square (Victory Square), Duboviy Park (Oak Park), Central Ala-Too Square, Old Square, National Philharmonic, and many others places of interest.
Accommodation: “Discovery” 3* or “Garden” 4* /“Plaza” Hotel 4*
Today you will be transferred to Chon Kemin gorge. On route to the gorge you will visit Burana Tower (an 11th century minaret) and an open air museum of Balbals (stone warriors). After an interesting excursion and climbing on the top of the tower is transfer to Chon Kemin gorge. Here you will meet a nice family in the guesthouse that you will overnight.
In the afternoon we will have 3 hours of horse riding. Your route will go high in the mountains and you will even ride horses through a mountain forest. On the top you will see the panorama view of the gorge.
Accommodation:“Jekshen” Guesthouse
Today you will be transferred to the celestial Issyk Kul Lake, the second largest alpine lake in the world (1608 m above sea level). Its length is 180 km and it is 60 km wide. The lake is called “The pearl of Central Asia”. On the way, we will take a short break to give you the opportunity to visit ancient stone inscriptions (dating back to 800 B.C.). These petroglyphs were made more than 2000 years ago by shamans.
Then we will drive along Semenov gorge and Grigoriev gorge! These two picturesque gorges are connected at the end. It means you will start driving in at one gorge and will drive out through the other one!
Then we continue our way along the northern shore of the lake to the town of Karakol. You will visit the Dungan mosque. One of its highlights is the fact that it was built in a Chinese style without using a single metal nail. The mosque will be followed by a visit to an old wooden Orthodox Church.
Accommodation:“Karagat” Hotel 4* or “Green Yard” Boutique Hotel
Today we will drive to Jeti Oguz gorge. It’s famous for its red rocks formations that have a name Seven Bulls – Jeti Oguz. Also you will see there the Broken Heart Mountain. If you want it is possible to go on a top of a mountain (20 minutes) to see a panorama view of the gorge.
Then we continue our trip, breaking in Bokonbaeva village, where we will meet a local eagle-hunter. He hunts hares and foxes with the help of eagles (a traditional way of nomadic hunting). We will drive there along the southern shore of Issyk Kul Lake to Kochkor and overnight there.
Accommodation: “Mira” Guesthouse
After breakfast, we will drive along high mountains to the town of Naryn through the beautiful Kichi Naryn gorge. The high mountains, picturesque passes, and nomadic way of life make Kyrgyzstan an irresistible travel destination. Views of this mountain road are absolutely breathtaking.
We will drive over a mountain pass named Jalpak Bel at an elevation of more than 3000 meters. This day offers a great chance to experience the variety of mountains which make Kyrgyzstan so popular. On the route, it will be possible to meet real nomadic families.
Accommodation: Naryn – “Khan Tengri” Hotel 4*
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Tash Rabat Caravanserai on the Great Silk Road (Stone Castle from the 14th century). The building is unique. Tash Rabat is located at the very heart of the Tian Shan Mountains. Tash Rabat was built of stone blocks inside a mountain at an elevation of 3200 m above sea level. In total there are 31 rooms in the mountain. The walls are 1 m thick. There are also underground prison cells formerly used to incarcerate thieves in ancient times.
Next 3 nights you will overnight in the nomadic collapsible dwellings – yurts. They are made of a wooden skeleton, covered with felt coverings.
Accommodation: Yurts near Tash Rabat Caravanserai. (4 pax in 1 yurt)
After breakfast, we start our drive to the second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan – Son Kul Lake. This lake is surrounded by mountains and it is the highest alpine lake in Kyrgyzstan, situated at an altitude of 3013 meters above sea level. Kyrgyz nomads started to come to this wonderful area with their families for rest and relaxation.
Herders of the Naryn region come to the lake to use it as a pastureland. After our arrival, you will be free to explore and enjoy the virgin nature of the lake and its surroundings.
Accommodation: Yurts, “Nomad’s Dream” camp (4 pax in 1)
Today you will drive to Teskey Torpok Pass (33 parrot pass). Teskey Torpok Pass (3133 m) is considered one of the most beautiful passes in Kyrgyzstan. From the top of the pass, you can see almost the entire road winding up to the pass. It also affords spectacular views of the Naryn Valley and some stunning mountain ranges to the south. The ice-capped mountains, massive mountainside pine trees, and thick rolling fog create a surreal, heavenly atmosphere that will take your breath away. Here you will discover a small mountain waterfall of indescribable beauty. It is formed from the main river that flows out of the Son Kul lake.
After spending some time there you will drive back to Son Kul Lake. After lunch you will have free time to enjoy surroundings of the yurt camp.
Accommodation: Yurts, “Nomad’s Dream” camp (4 pax in 1)
In the morning you will be transferred back to Bishkek. The road will go along amazing gorge and you will drive today over Kalmak Ashu pass that is 3 225 meters high.
In Kochkor village you will spend some time with a family that will show you the way our national felt carpets are produced. Also you will visit a small handicraft museum there. Afterwards you will be transferred to the capital of Kyrgyzstan – Bishkek city.
Accommodation: “Discovery” 3* or “Garden” 4* /“Plaza” Hotel 4*
In the morning is transfer to airport.
INCLUDED
- Transport
- Accommodation:
Bishkek – “Discovery” 3* or “Garden” 4* /“Plaza” Hotel 4*
Chon Kemin – “Jekshen" Guesthouse
Karakol – “Karagat” Hotel 4* or “Green Yard” Boutique Hotel
Kochkor – “Mira” Guesthouse
Naryn – “Khan Tengri” Hotel 4*
Tash Rabat – Yurts (4 pax in 1)
Son Kul – Yurts, “Nomad’s Dream” camp (4 pax in 1) - Entrances to all museums
- Mineral water during the tour
- Horse riding in Chon Kemin gorge
NOT INCLUDED
- Meals
- Single rooms
- Early check-in
- Travel insurance
- Visa and visa support
- English speaking guide
EXTRA COSTS - All dinners – 155 $
- All lunches and dinners – 290 $
- English speaking guide – 730 $ per group
- To be 2 in a yurt (now 4 pax in 1) – 55 $ per person
PRICE PER PERSON
3* “Discovery” or 4* “Garden” hotel in Bishkek
02 pax – 1 660 $
04 pax – 1000 $
06 pax – 780 $
08 pax – 670 $
10 pax – 600 $
Single – 155 $
Early check-in – 35 $
Single early check-in – 60 $
4* “Plaza” hotel in Bishkek
02 pax – 1 670 $
04 pax – 1010 $
06 pax – 800 $
08 pax – 700 $
10 pax – 610 $
Single – 165 $
Early check-in – 50 $
Single early check-in – 80
Transport:
02 pax – Toyota Sequoia
04-10 pax – Mercedes Sprinter
Extra Show prices:
Horse game show at day 2 – 270 $ per group
Steamboat, 1 hour a day 3 – 120 $ per group
Eagle hunting show at day 4 – 120 $ per group
Folklore show at day 1 or 9 – 120 $ per group
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Book your tour here
If you would like to customize your tour please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are happy to organize a custom tour or to provide a modified itinerary based on one of the tours provided by the tour operators.
Other Tours in Kyrgyzstan
Tour updated 9.1.2023