Trekking tour from Bishkek to Southern Kyrgyzstan
13 days Trekking Tour to Southern Kyrgyzstan
Tour Details
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Period
June - September -
Tour length & Participants
13 days / 2 - 15 people -
Price from
1892$ / person (group of 13 people)
South Kyrgyzstan Trekking Tour Highlights
The south region very interesting and have a lot of opportunities to attract the tourists to the mountains. The main purpose of the developing new trekking rout in South region is to attract tourist to the area. There is the authentic village were people stay for overnight in real Kyrgyz family. The trekking rout will go via 2 high passes for about 3300-3400m and lead via the Nature preserve “Alatay”. There are 2 mountain lakes in the area “Kara Suu” and “Kapka Tash”. In the area of the village Nichkesay and the lakes possible to prolong the trekking program and possible to make the round trips. The level of the main trek from Nichkesai village until Arslanbob village is medium. The landscape is different every day; Mountain lakes, white rocks changing to the red mountains.
Route of program day by day
Arrival in Bishkek early in the morning. Meeting with a guide and driver at the airport. Transfer to hotel. Rest in a hotel.
Excursion to Osh bazaar. Lunch. City tour with visiting the main Ala-To Square, walk along Oak Park to the open art gallery of Sculptures, visit of Manas Sculpture and a walk along the alley of the youth next to Philharmonic Hall. Dinner in the restaurant. Accommodation in the hotel.
Altitudes above sea level during the day: start point – 800 m in Bishkek
Trekking or walking distance: 3 km (during the city tour)
Changes of altitude during the trek: NO changes
Time for trekking or walking: around 2 hours
(Meal B/L/D)
Breakfast. Depart to Toktogul water reserve to the Kyrgyz village Nichkesai about 5 hours to drive. Drive over the Too Ashu pass 3580m.
On the way, you will see the beautiful Suusamyr valley and Chichkan gorge after crossing the Ala Bel pass. Lunch on the way. Upon arrival in the village, you will be accommodated at the yurt camp which is run by the local Kyrgyz family. Walk around the village. Dinner in the family . Overnight stay in yurts.
Altitudes above sea level during the day: start point – 800 m in Bishkek, end of the day 1455m in the village
Trekking or walking distance: 2-3 km (during the walk in the village)
Changes of altitude during the trek: NO trek
Time for trekking or walking: about 1 hour
(Meal B/L-picknick/D)
Breakfast. Transfer to the start point of the trek to Taktalyk village. The length of the road is only 20 km, but depending on the condition of the road, the transfer will take from 40 minutes to 1 hour.
Meet the stablemen and horses for the luggage. Trek up along the valley. Cross the pass 2900m. The way to the pass slowly going up. After the pass descend to the Kara Suu lake. A tent camp for overnight and dinner by the lake. The lake reach trout and another type of fishes.
Altitudes above sea level during the day: start point – 1835m at Taktalyk, highest point is 2906m at the pass, end of the day 2074m in the tent camp by the lake.
Trekking or walking distance: 11 km
Changes of altitude during the trek: +1157m/ -919m
Time for trekking or walking: about 5 hours
(Meal B/LB/D)
Breakfast. Trek up along the valley along the Kara Suu lake on the left side. All the way road goes slowly up to the beginning of Kapka Tash lake. Descend to shore of the mountain lake Kapka Tash. Overnight in the tents.
Altitudes above sea level during the day: start point – 2074m in the tent camp by the lake, highest point is 2360 m at the pass. end of the day 2311m in the tent camp by the lake
Trekking distance: 13 km
Changes of altitude during the trek: +286m/-49m
Time for trekking: about 5 hours
(Meal B/LB/D)
Breakfast. Start the trekking day with waking up the valley until the footstep of the pass about 3 hours. Lunch boxes for lunch. After lunch, trek over the pass Belmonchok 3186m. From the top of the pass, there is the nice view to the valleys of the both sides of the mountain. Descend to the valley of Otuz Art. The Mountains of the valley made of red cliffs and red send. The valley is attractive for beekeepers, you can meet them on the way. Overnight by the river in the tents.
Altitudes above sea level during the day: start point – 2311m at Kapka Tash lake, highest point is 3186m at the pass, end of the day 2162m in the tent camp
Trekking distance: 13 km
Changes of altitude during the trek: +958m/ -1017m
Time for trekking: about 6-7 hours
(Meal B/LB/D)
Breakfast. Trekking up along the old orchards to the beginning of the valley. This day is very interesting you will trekking way will be several times go up the hill and small passes and will go down again.
That is why the valley is called Otuz Art (Thirty passes). Red rocks will follow you all day. On the way you will meet the local shepherds and beekeepers. You can try the fresh honey from the wild bee farm. Dinner and overnight in the tent camp by the river.
Altitudes above sea level during the day: start point – 2162m at Tent camp, end of the day 1501m in the tent camp
Trekking distance: 15-16 km
Changes of altitude during the trek: +509m/-1169 m
Time for trekking: about 5-6 hours
(Meal B/LB/D)
Breakfast. Trekking down the valey to junction of the rivers. From there the way goes up again to the pass. Over the pass you will come to Kyzyl Unkur village. Cross the village by asphalt road for about 1 km, cross the river by the bridge and trek up again in the walnut forest to the place called Daashman. Overnight in the forest in tents
Altitudes above sea level during the day: start point – 1501m at Tent camp, end of the day 1679m in the tent camp in the forest
Trekking distance: 17 km
Changes of altitude during the trek: +669m/ -489 m
Time for trekking: about 6-7 hours
(Meal B/LB/D)
Breakfast. Trek for about 3 hours down to end of the trek to Gumkhana village. All the way the rout goes through the biggest walnut forest in the world. Meet the car and driver. End of the trek. See off with stablemen and local guide. Lunch and dinner in the family.
Overnight stay in the family guesthouse.
Altitudes above sea level during the day: start point – 1679m at the Tent camp, end of the trek 1329m in Gumkhana (Arslanbob), end of the day 900 m in Jalal-Abad town)
Trekking distance: 8 km
Changes of altitude during the trek: +109m/ -460 m
Time for trekking: about 2-3 hours
(Meal B/LB/D)
Transfer to Osh town about 240km. Osh is the second largest city in Kyrgyzstan, located in the Fergana Valley in the south of the country and often referred to as the “capital of the south”.
On the way visit, the Uzgen mausoleum dated to 11C. the remainings of Karakhaned empire. Upon arrival in Osh check in to the hotel for rest and recovery. Dinner in the local restaurant. Accommodation in the hotel Sun Rise.
(Meal B/L /D)
(Altitudes above sea level during the day: beginning of day – 1329 m, in Osh – 700m)
Breakfast. Transfer to the base camp of Lenin Peak. Lunch. Continue transfer to the Base Camp at the footstep of Lenin Peak (7139 m), along the mountainous road. Drive over the Taldyk pass 3615m. Enjoy the view of the Great Glacier and Mountains around. Dinner and overnight in tent camp on 3600m.
Altitudes above sea level during the day: beginning of the day – 700m in Osh, highest point – 3615m on Taldyk Pass, end of the day– 3600 m in Lenin Base camp
(Meal: B/L/D)
Breakfast in a camp. Radial hike towards the Lenin Peak to the Putishestvenikov (travelers) pass (4128m). Start from 3600 m. Lunch as a lunch boxes at the pass with the great view to Lenin Mountain and glacier. Return back to the yurt camp. Dinner and overnight in the yurt camp. (Meal B/L /D)
(Altitudes above sea level during the day: 3600 m in Lenin BC, highest point is 4128m at Putichestvenikov pass, end of the day at BC 3600m)
Breakfast in a camp. After breakfast transfer to Osh over the Chiirchik pass. Lunch in Osh. Transfer to the airport. Flight to Bishkek around 16:00. Transfer from the airport to Bishkek. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in a hotel. (Meal B/L /D)
(Altitudes above sea level during the day: beginning of day – 3600m in BC, end of day – 800m in Bishkek)
Transfer to the airport. Fly back home.
(Meal B/- /-)
Tour Information
Services included:
- Transport for transfers and excursions
- Double room accommodation in hotels in Bishkek and Osh
- 4 people accommodation in a yurt camp in Nichkesai
- Double accommodation in a tent at the Base camp
- Three time meal and mineral water during the tour
- English speaking tour guide
- Assistant of the guide during the trek in Days 3-8
- Double tents, mats and kitchen equipment
- Personal for trek (stablemen, cook)
- Horses for the luggage for trek from Day 3 to Day 8
- Entry fees to museums
- Border permit for visiting area of Lenin Peak
Service is not included:
- Single room accommodation in hotels
- Single tent during the trek
- Alcohol and soft drinks
- Horses for luggage in BC
- Horses for riding
- International flight tickets
- Cost for the Kyrgyz visa
- Porter service in the airport and hotels
- Porter service in BC Lenin
Supplements:
A single supplement is 131 USD per person (it is included at the hotels, Base Camp of Lenin Peak and single tent during the trek from Day 3 to Day 8)
Supplement payments:
Supplement for the empty horse during the trek on Days 3-8 is 200 USD per horse.
Prices for the tour in USD per person
Number of people | 2 pax | 3 pax | 4-5 pax | 6-8 pax | 9-10 pax | 11-12 pax | 13-15 pax |
(Price per person) | 4342 USD | 3312 USD | 2656 USD | 2298 USD | 2208 USD | 2054 USD | 1892 USD |
List of planned accommodation:
Bishkek – Freedom Hotel or B-Hotel or similar in Bishkek (double/twin and single rooms with toilet and shower facilities in each room)
Nichkesai – Yurt accommodation (4 people in one yurt, no single yurts, toilet and shower to share)
Trekking days – tents
Gumkhana – family guesthouse
Base Camp– tents
Osh – Ryan Hotel or Sun Rise (double/twin and single rooms with toilet and shower facilities in each room)
Level of difficulty
The grade of the tour is medium. This tour recommended for people with good fitness conditions. Passes are easy to walk without hard rocks. Hiking time during the days approximately 5-6 hours per day. Most of the tour goes along the shepherds routs. The gain and loos elevation about 400m to 800 m every day of the trek. Most of the trek days are more that 1500m above sea level. It average temperature is around 20-25C per day. During the night, it could be cold and sometimes the temperature could be 0 C.
Conditions during the trek
We provide for trekking double tens (Iglu or V shape). Brand of tents are RED FOX (Russian brand produced by license of VAUDE ) or SALEWA (Italian brand) or Quechua (Korean brand). If some participants need to stay in single tent, it will for supplement payment.
For dining tent, we use the big tents Team Fox with capacity maximum 12 pax.
We offer the trekking tables and trekking chairs.
In addition, we offer the trekking toilet tent
You need to bring:
- Down jacket
- Warm sweater
- Warm sleeping bag
- Air trekking mat
- Rain gear (waterproof trousers should have an opening on the outside at the bottom of the leg in order to put on and take off without removing your trekking boots)
- 2-3 pairs of warm socks
- Waterproof trekking boots
- Gloves
- Sunglasses
- Sun cream with high UV-protection
- Lip balm with UV-protection, back pack (about 30 L)
Breakfast: Warm breakfast – for example milk rice or fried eggs, cheese, honey, bread, butter, hot coffee/tea and etc.
Lunch: Lunch boxes with salads, different sandwiches, dry fruits, fruits and natural juice.
Snack (when tourists just arrive in the camp): Different cookies and hot coffee/tea/compote.
Dinner: Different types of soup, second course, cheese, honey, bread, hot coffee/tea and etc.
For the trek, you will need to separate the belongings you need for the trek and the luggage, which will stay with the car. Car will bring them to the meeting point at the end of the trek. Horses will carry the main luggage and food for the trek. The wait of the luggage for the trek are limited 15 kg per person.
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Kyrgyzstan travel information
Money & costs
Safety
Entry & exit
Best time to go
Health
Money & costs
Money & costs
The official currency is the Kyrgyz som (KGS). In the capital, Bishkek, an abundance of ATMs can be found, some of which dispense US dollars in addition to local soms. Beyond the city limits, ATMs are increasingly prevalent in few largest towns but are mostly not available in smaller towns except at the northern shore of Issyk Kul.
Mastercard is universally accepted at all ATMs but Visa is still the more widely accepted card of choice in Kyrgyzstan. Maestro or other cards might be accepted in few select machines. Demirbank with their red colored ATMs has been the best option lately for all foreign cards with moderate fees.
Currency exchange services are readily accessible in major cities, ensuring seamless exchange of rubles, US dollars, and euros into soms. It is imperative that foreign currency banknotes remain pristine, fresh, and devoid of any signs of wear. Larger banknotes from 50 USD and 50 EUR are favored by the cash exchange services and are sometimes the prerequisite for a better exchange rate.
While credit cards face limited acceptance nationwide the convenience of utilizing debit or credit cards extends to major hotels, restaurants, expansive supermarkets, and selected museums in Bishkek and Osh and rarely even in taxis. However, outside these two prominent cities and Northern Shore of Issyk Kul, the practicality of card payments remains unfeasible.
Safety
Safety
Kyrgyzstan is generally considered safe for travelers, but adherence to standard precautions is crucial. The country is experiencing an active surge in tourism. Key recommendations encompass:
- Always have your passport or a notarized copy with you, as lacking proper identification may lead to arrest by the police.
- Incidents of robberies, some of which can be violent, and thefts are commonplace especially in crowded places like the bazars. Caution is advised, particularly when venturing out after dark. Instances of sexual violence and harassment have been reported in public transportation.
- Steer clear of crowds and demonstrations to ensure personal safety.
- Show respect for local traditions, customs, laws, and religious practices at all times.
- The possession or use of narcotics is strictly prohibited.
- Photography of anything related to the armed forces or security services is not allowed.
- While same-sex relationships are legal, they are not widely discussed and lack public recognition.
- Avoid solitary walks or travels, especially during nighttime.
- Utilize established taxi services in advance to ensure reliability.
- The southern regions are susceptible to smuggling activities, rendering the security situation unstable and hazardous along the southern border zones with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
- Mind where you step in the cities as there are sometimes large holes on the streets and the pavements are not in pristine condition on the pedestrian areas.
Entry & exit
Entry & exit
Kyrgyzstan extends a visa-free arrangement to travelers from 69 countries. Alternatively, others can opt for the electronic visa system or submit applications through the embassy. Comprehensive information about visas is available here. For a tourist visa in Kyrgyzstan, a majority of passport holders require an invitation letter from a tourism company. Since September 1, 2017, Kyrgyzstan has introduced an electronic visa system. Special authorization is mandated for visits to border regions in Kyrgyzstan.
Best time to go
Best time to go
The optimal time to experience Kyrgyzstan is during the summer months of July and August. Despite the temperatures reaching approximately 30°C, this period witnesses the liveliest bazaars in the country. It is also the perfect season to delve into the mountainous landscapes and trekking routes that may be inaccessible during other times of the year. In July and August, you have the opportunity to explore Kyrgyzstan’s mountains either on foot or horseback, immersing yourself in traditional yurt accommodations with local families. Additionally, this time of the year hosts annual festivals celebrating Kyrgyz traditions.
While the winters in the highlands are prolonged, limiting passage through the elevated mountain passes, it presents a captivating season for exploring Kyrgyzstan. Engaging in various activities, akin to those enjoyed in summer (with the exception of rafting), such as hiking, horseback riding, or skiing in the mountains, allows for a unique experience. Accommodations in traditional yurts are also available during this season.
Health
Health
The overall state of healthcare in this country is recognized as relatively subpar, prompting a strong recommendation for travelers reliant on regular medications to carry ample supplies. Locating necessary drugs locally might pose challenges or incur significant costs. Medical facilities are anticipated to be scarce, underscoring the importance of securing comprehensive medical and travel insurance prior to arrival. In the event of a serious accident or illness, emergency air evacuation to a neighboring country may be necessary.
It is imperative to treat tap water and other local water sources as contaminated, necessitating thorough boiling before consumption. Opting for bottled water throughout the entire duration of stay in the country is a prudent choice. Exercise particular caution when consuming unpasteurized dairy products or animal products that may be susceptible to contamination.
Before entering the country, obtaining additional vaccinations against polio and tuberculosis is recommended, and other vaccinations may also be deemed necessary. Malaria poses a risk in the country, predominantly in the southern regions.
Other Kyrgyzstan Tours
Tour updated: 18.3.2025