Highlights of Kyrgyzstan (11 days)
This compact but action-packed tour will take you on a journey through some of Kyrgyzstan’s most beautiful landscapes. Begin in the capital city Bishkek, where you can contrast the stark Soviet architecture of the city centre with the picturesque scenery at the nearby Ala Archa National Park. Depart the city and embark on an overland journey towards Kyrgyzstan’s second city Karakol, passing the famous Burana Tower, the gorgeous Chon Kemin Valley, and along the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. Karakol is an excellent base for hiking and exploring the nearby countryside, and after a couple of days here you will travel back along the less developed southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, to stop at the village of Bokonbaev, an excellent place to experience some traditional Kyrgyz culture with an eagle-hunting show. The highlight of this tour is undoubtedly a two-night stay at an authentic yurt camp on the shore of Son-Kul Lake, where you can get a real taste of nomadic life.
Guide Price
From £3,250 per person based on a shared room for departures in June.
Day by Day Itinerary
Click on each day to expand the itinerary detail. Or click on the print itinerary button above to preview the tour in full.
Flight: TK1986 London Heathrow - Istanbul 16:40 – 22:40
Flight: TK344 Istanbul – Bishkek 00:45 - 08:55
Private transfer to your hotel: On arrival in Bishkek, you will be met by a driver and transferred to your hotel to check in. Early check-in has been included today so you will be able to check into your room right away and have the day to rest after your journey.
Afternoon tour of Bishkek: After some time to rest, your guide will take you on a short city tour of Bishkek. Visit Ala Too Square, the central square of the capital used for state events and celebrations, and see the monument to Manas, a Kyrgyz folk hero, there. Continue to nearby Old Square, home to Government House and Lenin’s Monument. Finish at Victory Square, with its monument built to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the end of WW2.
Accommodation: Stay tonight at Navat Hotel (Standard Room)

Day trip to Ala Archa Canyon: Today, head out of the city for a day trip to Ala Archa National Park, a scenic alpine park located about 40km south of Bishkek. The park gets its name from the archa, brightly coloured junipers, which are found all over the park, and which local people believe keep evil spirits away when burned. Enjoy some easy hiking in the national park before returning to Bishkek in the afternoon.
Accommodation: Stay tonight at Navat Hotel (Standard Room)
Meals: Breakfast

Transfer to Chon Kemin, via Burana Tower: After breakfast, check out of your hotel and set out on the one-hour drive to Burana Tower, near Tokmok. This UNESCO Heritage Site is all that remains of the ancient city of Balasagun, and today is one of Kyrgyzstan’s most important historical sites. It once stood at a height of 45m, but over the years it has been reduced by political upheaval and the natural elements, and today stands at 25m. After exploring the tower, continue on the road to Chon Kemin, a further journey of around 1.5 hours. On arrival, check into your hotel and settle in.
Afternoon optional activities: This afternoon, you can spend some time walking around the village of Kalmak Ashuu. Additional activities can be arranged, such as horseback riding, or learning how to set up a yurt, but there would be additional costs for these.
Accommodation: Stay tonight at Ashu Guesthouse (Standard Room)
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Transfer to Karakol, via Cholpon-Ata: After breakfast, check-out of your hotel and set out on the road towards Lake Issyk-Kul. After around two hours you will stop at the town of Cholpon-Ata, where you can visit the famous open-air petroglyphs museum. Afterwards, continue on the journey along the north shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. This is a very scenic journey, passing through beautiful scenery and lakeside settlements. Your final destination is Karakol.
Afternoon tour of Karakol: This afternoon, you will be taken on a guided tour of Karakol. Visit the Dungan Mosque, a rather unique mosque designed in the style of a Chinese pagoda, which was bult to serve Karakol’s community of Chinese Muslims. You will also visit the Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, the only active Russian Orthodox Church in Karakol and a very beautiful structure made almost entirely of wood.
Accommodation: Stay tonight at Matsunoki Hotel (Standard Room)
Meals: Breakfast

Hiking around Karakol: Today, spend the day hiking around Karakol. You will be transferred a short distance to Jety-Oguz Canyon, where you will start your walking. The most popular option is a gentle route along the canyon to the picturesque Valley of Flowers, and beyond. Along this route you will enjoy lovely views of surrounding mountains and alpine forest. This is a fairly easy walk without much uphill. There is also the option to extend this by hiking up to some waterfalls. This extension involves an hour of fairly steep uphill walking and is more challenging. You will return to your hotel in Karakol in the late afternoon.
Accommodation: Stay tonight at Matsunoki Hotel (Standard Room)
Meals: Breakfast

Transfer to Bokonbaev Village, via Barskoon & Skazka Gorges: After breakfast, you will depart Karakol, and transfer first to Barskoon Gorge, along the south coast of Issyk-Kul Lake. This spectacular valley is home to an impressive chain of waterfalls, consisting of three large falls and several smaller ones. The first large waterfall is fairly easily accessible, with a viewing platform only a short walk from the road, but then the path to the other two gets progressively steeper, so you can decide how far you want to go.
Afterwards, continue to Skazka Gorge, also known as ‘Fairy Tale Canyon’, with its other-worldly red rock landscape. From here you can see a beautiful panoramic view of Lake Issyk-Kul.
Continue on to Bokonbaev Village, where you will arrive in the late afternoon.
Afternoon eagle-hunting demonstration: After arriving in Bokonbaev, you will be taken to see a demonstration of the unique tradition of golden-eagle hunting. Meet an eagle hunter and his bird and witness their teamwork in action.
Accommodation: Stay tonight at Emily Guesthouse (Standard Room)
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Transfer to Son Kul Lake: Bokonbaev Village is home to a number of artisans, and this morning you may be taken to visit a local women’s cooperative, set up to help local women gain valuable income from traditional handicrafts. Afterwards, depart Bokonbaev Village, and set out on the journey to Son-Kul Lake. This is a drive of around six hours.
En route you will stop at the small village of Kyzyl-Tuu, which is well-known as a key producer of yurts. Here you can meet some of the locals and see a demonstration of yurt construction. You will also stop at Kochkor Village, where you can meet some local ladies who produce felt carpets, and learn about the traditional manufacturing processes.
On arrival at Son Kul Lake, you will check into your yurt camp for the evening.
Accommodation: Stay tonight at Son-Kul Yurt Camp (Private Yurt)
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day at Son-Kul-Lake: Today you have a full day at Son-Kul Lake to immerse yourself in the traditional Nomadic culture. You can arrange some activities locally, such as horseback riding.
Accommodation: Stay tonight at Son-Kul Yurt Camp (Private Yurt)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Transfer to Bishkek: After breakfast, check out and travel back to the capital Bishkek. This is a scenic drive of around six hours.
On arrival back in Bishkek, you will be taken to your hotel to check back in for a final evening at leisure.
Accommodation: Stay tonight at Navat Hotel (Standard Room)
Meals: Breakfast

Transfer to the airport: At the locally advised time, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the airport in time for your onward flight.
Flight: TK345 Bishkek - Istanbul 10:15 - 13:15
Flight: TK1971 Istanbul - London 14:45 - 16:40
Meals: Breakfast