Kyrgyzstan Winter Tour

Winter tour Kyrgyzstan

TOUR DETAILS

SCHEDULED DATES IN 2025

12 – 19 January 
9 – 16 February 

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

 This 8-day adventure through Kyrgyzstan offers an unforgettable blend of nature, culture, and history. Begin your journey in Bishkek, exploring the vibrant city centre and the stunning Ala Archa, before heading to the Chon Kemin Valley to experience the warmth of local hospitality. Explore the ancient Burana Tower and marvel at the open-air petroglyphs overlooking Issyk-Kul Lake. Enjoy the luxury yurt camp in Karkyra Valley, surrounded by snow-covered peaks.

Burana tower in winter

TOUR ITINERARY

Meeting at the airport with local team and transfer to the city. Early check-in is not included.

Little rest at the breakfast area and start tour in Bishkek and surroundings.

Firstly, we drive to the natural park Ala Archa for light walk, relaxing and meeting Kyrgyzstan winter nature. After walk transfer back to Bishkek and have a half day city tour.

Walk around snowy Ala-Too Square, Kurmanzhan Datka Monument, main governmental buildings, Old Square with Parliament House and Lenin’s Monument. Finish at the Victory Square dedicated to WWII.

Overnight in a hotel.

(No meal included today)

After breakfast, we leave Bishkek and drive along the Chui valley. Snow-capped mountains on the side look fantastic and inspire for the trip with positive emotions.

One-hour drive to Burana Tower (UNESCO site) near Tokmok town.
After excursion, drive to Chon Kemin valley. Upon arrival, get accommodated in a guest house.

Options to do:
1) Walking around the village and meet local people. Play snowballs with children.
2) Renting horses and ride up to the closest mountains (extra cost).
3) Horseback riding games nearby (extra cost).
4) Setting up yurt (nomadic house) (extra cost).

Dinner and overnight at the guest house.
(Breakfast – hotel, dinner – guest house)

After breakfast, drive to Issyk-Kul Lake via Boom gorge and to the Northern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake.

Here we have several visits:

1) Open air Petroglyphs site with panoramic view on Issyk-Kul lake and snow mountains.

2) Local historical museum.

After excursions, drive to the hotel and get accommodated in the resort area on the shore of Issyk-Kul lake.

 (Breakfast – guest house)

Continue drive along the north shore of Issyk-Kul Lake.

Today we reach beautiful area at the border with Kazakhstan – Karkyra. Our jeeps go along the mountain road, through piles of snow and reach Karkyra region.

Here we stop at the luxury warm yurt camp with private facilities.

Time to explore the area walking along the canyon up and down, climb up closest hill to see panoramic view or use local good areas for ski touring and/or snowmobiling (with driver). The level of snow covers from 60 to 120 cm.

Lunch and dinner in Karkyra camp.

(Breakfast – resort, lunch – yurt camp, dinner – yurt camp)

Transfer to Karakol town.

Visit Museum of N. M. Przhevalski on the way to Karakol. Then inside Karakol stop by Dungan mosque – a unique building in a style of the Chinese pagoda which is functioning as mosque up to now and Russian Orthodox Holy Trinity Church built of wood.

Excursion to the Karakol ski base to take funicular to the panoramic view and admire landscapes of the Tup valley from 3000 m asl.

Accommodation in a guest house. Overnight.

Optionally: cooking master class.

(Breakfast – yurt camp)

After breakfast, drive to Djety Oguz gorge to admire the landscapes and to take some photos.

At the beginning of the gorge we face with famous “Broken Heart Rock”. Walking up further to panorama to see those famous Seven Red Bulls rocks in white colors around.

Drive along the southern shore of Issyk-Kul to Bokonbaev village. Arrival and lunch in a local family house. 

 

Here you meet the eagle hunter to see demonstration of hunting with birds of prey. Such demonstration during winter time has unique sharm as birds are in their best shape for the hunting season and feel themselves very good.

 

After continue drive to Kochkor village.

Arrival and accommodation in a guest house. Dinner and rest.

(Breakfast – hotel, lunch – local family, dinner – guest house)

In the morning we visit local women cooperation and see products they produce and sell. Souvenir shop-museum is one of the most popular in our country.

Drive back to Bishkek city via Kuvaky pass and spectacular view to the frozen Orto Tokoi water reservoir.

Arrival to Bishkek. Visit the main mall for the last shopping (if necessary), accommodation in a hotel and ready for the last dinner.

(Breakfast – guest house)

Early breakfast. Today in Bishkek your trip concludes.

(Breakfast – hotel)

TOUR INFORMATION

What to take

Clothes and equipment:

Please take into consideration that in winter time the temperature in Bishkek city reaches up to +10 C and in the mountains, the temperature decreases to -25 oC. Be prepared for unexpected changes of the weather and severe cold experience.

Recommended:

  • Rain-coat 
  • Sweater/fleece
  • Wind-stopper
  • Enough t-shirts 
  • Thermal underwear
  • Warm winter clothes (pants and jackets)
  • Winter warm hat and gloves
  • Scarf
  • Sun-screen cream (30 or higher)
  • Good waterproof trekking boots for easy hikes in the mountains
  • Walking warm shoes for the city walks
  • Personal first aid kit (most likely problems: blisters, sunburns, allergy, diarrhea, sore muscles after hikes. Take painkillers, anti-histaminic, antibiotics of general action, and anything you need for your usual medical conditions). 
  • Personal hygiene kit
  • Hygienic lipstick
  • A towel
  • Swimming suit (for hot springs or sauna in Karkara)
  • Sunglasses
  • Photo camera  
  • Notepad and a pen to make notes as you travel
  • A smaller backpack, except for your normal suitcase.
  • Flash light (torch)

Money exchange – if you plan to exchange dollars /euro/ to KGS, we recommend to take the notes of 50, 100 USD without stamps, inscriptions and other any damage, because damaged banknotes are not accepted by banks and exchange offices.                  

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.

Kyrgyzstan travel information

Other Kyrgyzstan Group tours

Page updated 9.11.2024

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