Traditions of Kyrgyzstan Tour
Accommodation, transport included.
Traditions of Kyrgyzstan Tour Highlights
A 6-day group tour through Kyrgyz nomad traditions, from birth to old age, via Issyk-Kul, Tash Rabat and Song-Kol Lake. You trace the footsteps of the legendary hero Manas and experience the rich traditions of Kyrgyz nomadic culture: you learn about ancient crafts such as shyrdak felt making and yurt assembly, watch horseback games and eagle hunting, take part in traditional games and hear captivating stories of Manas' epic journey.
Each day is devoted to a stage of life. In a yurt camp in the Karkyra Valley you learn about the customs around childbirth and early childhood at a Tushoo Toi dinner and play calm Kyrgyz games such as Toguz Korgool. On the south shore of Issyk-Kul you discover wedding traditions and the embroidered tush kiyiz wall hangings, take a boat ride on the lake and meet a Manaschi, a storyteller of the epic. After a night at the Silk Road caravanserai of Tash Rabat you join the boorsok bread show at Song-Kol Lake and hear about Kyrgyz memorial traditions, before a last day of ancestral remembrance at the Burana Tower with its ancient balbal stones on the way back to Bishkek.
Difficulty: Easy Cultural program with short walks only. Long road days of 250–440 km (5–7 hours) on most days, five nights in yurt camps, two of them at high altitude (Tash Rabat and Song-Kol Lake, about 3,100 m).
Tour Itinerary
In the morning the group gathers at the meeting point in Bishkek and sets off towards the Karkyra Valley in the far east of the Issyk-Kul region. Lunch on the way can be arranged on the spot (not included). On arrival at the yurt camp in Karkyra you settle in and are introduced to the Kyrgyz traditions surrounding childbirth and early childhood. Dinner in the yurt camp is styled after the Tushoo Toi celebration and features the ceremonial cutting of the bonds, with small prizes for the participants. Overnight in comfortable yurts. Drive: 440 km, about 7 hours. Altitude: 2,200 m.
Bishkek, Karkara base camp
- Bishkek → Karkara base camp (440 km)
Overnight: Karkara base camp (Yurt camp)
Meals: Dinner
A day in Karkyra dedicated to the coming-of-age traditions of school-age children. You watch a demonstration of equestrian games and take part in calm games such as Toguz Korgool and Alchiki (knucklebones). Traditional lunch and dinner at the yurt camp. Overnight in comfortable yurts.
Karkara base camp
Overnight: Karkara base camp (Yurt camp)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast you drive to the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. Lunch on the way can be arranged on the spot (not included). At the yurt camp you admire the artfully embroidered tush kiyiz – wall hangings that women craft in honor of their sons' or daughters' weddings. The day is dedicated to the traditions of married life: the Nike Toi (wedding), Kelin Aluu (the moving of the bride into the groom's home) and Chach Ooru (the unbraiding of a girl's braids and the braiding of two plaits for the bride). In the evening you join the Nike Toi dinner, where a couple is chosen from among the travelers to play the bride and groom. Overnight in comfortable yurts. Drive: 250 km, about 6 hours. Altitude: 1,740 m.
Issyk-Kul Lake
- Karkara base camp → Skazka Canyon (250 km)
Overnight: Skazka Canyon (Yurt camp)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Today the Epic of Manas comes to life. An exciting boat ride on Lake Issyk-Kul awaits, where you hear the fascinating tale of how Manas drew his strength from the lake. Afterwards a Manaschi, a traditional storyteller, welcomes you and shows you how the epic "Manas" is recited and what its most important moments are. The journey then continues south over the mountains of the Naryn region to Tash Rabat, the stone caravanserai of the Silk Road hidden in a remote mountain valley. Overnight in a yurt camp. Drive: about 370 km.
Issyk-Kul Lake, Tash Rabat
- Skazka Canyon → Tash Rabat (370 km)
Overnight: Tash Rabat (Yurt camp)
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast you transfer to one of the most picturesque places in Kyrgyzstan, Song-Kol Lake. Lunch on the way can be arranged on the spot (not included). Today you explore the principles of nomadic life with a culinary master class, the "boorsok show", where you watch and join the preparation of boorsok, the traditional Kyrgyz bread. In the evening the talk turns to the sunset of life and the essence of the authentic Kyrgyz "ash", the memorial meal held to honor a deceased relative. The night is spent in yurts, in the spirit of the nomadic way of life. Drive: 250 km, about 5 hours. Altitude: 3,100 m.
Song-Kul Lake
- Tash Rabat → Song-Kul Lake (250 km)
Overnight: Song-Kul Lake (Yurt camp)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast you drive back to Bishkek. The theme of the day is ancestral remembrance. Lunch and dinner can be arranged on the spot (not included). On the way you visit the Burana Tower with its remarkable collection of balbals – mysterious anthropomorphic stone figures from the 6th–10th centuries. You explore the tower itself and the small museum nearby before arriving in Bishkek. Drive: 370 km, about 7 hours.
Burana Tower, Bishkek
- Song-Kul Lake → Burana Tower (295 km)
- Burana Tower → Bishkek (75 km)
Meals: Breakfast
What's included
Included
- Accommodation in yurt camps on a double/twin sharing basis – 5 nights (2 in the Karkyra Valley, 1 on the south shore of Issyk-Kul, 1 at Tash Rabat, 1 at Song-Kol Lake)
- Meals as per the itinerary: 5 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 4 dinners
- Transport as per the itinerary from the start to the finish in Bishkek (jeep for 1–3 travelers, Mercedes Sprinter for 4 or more)
- Entrance tickets and ecological fees as per the itinerary
- Eagle hunting demonstration (golden eagle)
- Participation in the cooking of boorsok, the traditional Kyrgyz bread
- Demonstration of national horseback games
- Demonstration of yurt frame making and setting up a yurt
- Demonstration of shyrdak (felt carpet) making
- Mineral water (1 liter per person per day)
Not included
- Single supplement (55 USD per person)
- International flights
- Lunches and dinners not listed in the itinerary (can be arranged on the spot)
- Extra airport transfers in Bishkek (40 USD for 1–3 travelers, 70 USD for 4–9 travelers)
- Extra nights in Bishkek (per night: 3* 85 USD double/twin, 65 USD single; 4* 90 USD double/twin, 80 USD single; 5* 260 USD double/twin, 220 USD single)
- Photo and video fees at museums
- Alcoholic drinks
- Tips for the guide and driver
- Personal expenses
Nargiza is the office manager of Central Asia Guide and mostly responsible for multi country "Stan" tours.
Where you'll stay
-
Nights 1–2
Karkara base camp
Karkara base camp or similar
-
Night 3
Skazka Canyon
Yurt camp on the shore of Issyk-Kul or similar
-
Night 4
Tash Rabat
Yurt camp at Tash Rabat or similar
-
Night 5
Song-Kul Lake
Yurt camp at Song Kol or similar
Good to know
- Season and departures: The tour runs from late May to late September. In the 2025 season it departed every Tuesday and Saturday between 24 May and 23 September – contact us for the departure dates of the coming season.
- Group size: The tour runs from 2 participants, with no upper limit.
- Transport: A jeep for 1–3 travelers, a Mercedes Sprinter for groups of 4 or more.
- Meals on the road: Lunch on days 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 and dinner on days 4 and 6 are not included; they can be arranged on the spot.
Kyrgyzstan travel information
Practical essentials for travelling in Kyrgyzstan. Open a topic to read more.
Visa policy
Find your country from the list and check possible visa requirements for Kyrgyzstan before booking.
The official currency is the Kyrgyz som (KGS). Bishkek has plenty of ATMs, but outside the larger towns and the northern shore of Issyk-Kul cash is how almost everything is paid.
ATMs and cards
Some ATMs in Bishkek dispense US dollars as well as som. Beyond the capital, ATMs are found in the few largest towns but mostly not in smaller ones, except on the northern shore of Issyk-Kul. Mastercard works in all ATMs, but Visa is still the more widely accepted card. Demirbank's red ATMs have lately been the best option for foreign cards, with moderate fees.
Exchanging money
Exchange offices in the major cities change US dollars, euros and roubles into som. Notes must be clean, fresh and without any signs of wear. Exchange offices prefer larger notes from 50 USD and 50 EUR, and sometimes give a better rate for them.
Paying by card
Cards are accepted in major hotels, restaurants, large supermarkets and some museums in Bishkek and Osh, and occasionally even in taxis. Elsewhere, apart from the northern shore of Issyk-Kul, paying by card is not practical.
Kyrgyzstan is generally safe for travellers and tourism is growing fast, but the usual precautions matter.
Documents
Always carry your passport or a notarised copy. Without proper identification you can be detained by the police.
In towns
- Robberies, some of them violent, and thefts happen especially in crowded places such as the bazaars. Take care after dark.
- Sexual harassment has been reported on public transport. Avoid walking or travelling alone, especially at night.
- Book taxis in advance from established services.
- Stay away from crowds and demonstrations.
- Watch where you step: some streets have large holes and pavements are often uneven.
Laws and customs
- Respect local traditions, customs, laws and religious practices.
- Possessing or using narcotics is strictly prohibited.
- Do not photograph anything related to the armed forces or security services.
- Same-sex relationships are legal but not widely discussed or publicly recognised.
Border areas
Smuggling makes the southern border zones with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan unstable and best avoided.
Kyrgyzstan is visa-free for travellers from many countries. Others can apply for an electronic visa or through an embassy.
Visas
For a tourist visa, most passport holders need an invitation letter from a tourism company. Kyrgyzstan has had an electronic visa system since 1 September 2017.
Border regions
Visiting border regions requires a special permit.
The best times to visit Kyrgyzstan's lower areas are May–June and September. In the high mountains, July and August are best.
Lower areas: May–June and September
In late spring and early autumn the valleys, Issyk-Kul's shores and the towns are green or golden, days are pleasant rather than hot and there are fewer visitors.
High mountains: July and August
This is when the high pastures, yurt camps and mountain passes are open, and trekking and horse-riding routes that are under snow the rest of the year can be reached. Days in the valleys can reach about 30°C, and nights at altitude can still be close to freezing. Summer is also the time of festivals celebrating Kyrgyz traditions.
Winter
Winters in the highlands are long and close the high passes, but it is still a captivating season. Hiking, horse riding and skiing are all possible, and yurt stays are available too.
Healthcare in Kyrgyzstan is basic and medical facilities are scarce, so comprehensive medical and travel insurance is essential.
Medicines
If you rely on regular medication, bring enough for the whole trip: it can be hard or expensive to find locally.
Insurance
Arrange comprehensive medical and travel insurance before you arrive. A serious accident or illness may mean emergency air evacuation to a neighbouring country.
Food and water
Treat tap water and other local water as contaminated and boil it before drinking; bottled water is the safest choice throughout your stay. Be careful with unpasteurised dairy and other animal products.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations against polio and tuberculosis are recommended before entering the country, and others may also be advisable. Ask your doctor or travel clinic.
Similar tours
More tours in Kyrgyzstan you may like.
Five Stans of Central Asia Tour
Start on an extraordinary adventure across the heart of Central Asia with our Five Stan Tour, exploring the unique…
The Best of the Five Stan Tour
Embark on a 22-day journey through all five countries of Central Asia, beginning in Bishkek and ending in Ashgabat. In…
Four Stan Tour through Central Asia
Discover the legendary Silk Road on this 18-day small-group tour through Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and…
Tour updated