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 B 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 B Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer to Chychkan Gorge: After breakfast, check out of your hotel and set out on the scenic drive to Chychkan Gorge. The drive time today should be around five hours, depending on road conditions. This is a very picturesque drive, taking you along winding roads, passing through canyons and gorges. The journey will take you over two high mountain passes, including the Too-Ashuu Pass, at just over 3,500m elevation. The average elevation at Chychkan Gorge is around 2,200m.

Afternoon hiking: After arriving in Chychkan Gorge, you have some time this afternoon to do some short hiking and explore the area.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Osen Motel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer to Sary Chelek: After breakfast, you will check out of your hotel and set out on the drive to the beautiful Protected Biosphere Reserve of Sary-Chelek. The total drive time today will be around five to six hours, depending on the road conditions.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at a Local Guesthouse (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Hiking around Sary-Chelek: Today you will set out to undertake some hiking in the Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve, which was designated as a UNESCO Protected Biosphere Reserve in 1978. The reserve is made up of seven alpine lakes, with Sary-Chelek Lake being the largest. You can discuss the length and route of today’s trek with your guide.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at a Local Guesthouse (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Transfer to Arslanbob: After breakfast, you will check out of your guesthouse and set out on the drive to Arslanbob. The total drive time today will be around four to five hours, depending on the road conditions. On arrival, check into your local guesthouse and settle in.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at a Local Guesthouse (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Hiking around Arslanbob: Today you will set out to undertake some hiking around Arslanbob and enjoy the picturesque scenery. Arslanbob is a peaceful town located in a beautiful valley. The area is most famed for its extensive walnut forests, which are the largest in the world. Today’s hiking will take you through some of these ancient forests, and also to the Small Arslanbob Waterfall, which is located just outside town.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at a Local Guesthouse (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Transfer to Kazarman: After breakfast, you will check out of your guesthouse and set out on the drive to Kazarman. This is a long but scenic drive, passing through some truly spectacular scenery as you head into Kyrgyzstan’s rugged interior. You will pass through the town of Jalal Abad en route. The total drive time today could be up to nine or ten hours, depending on the road conditions. On arrival, check into your local guesthouse and settle in.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at a Local Guesthouse (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Transfer to Son-Kul Lake: After breakfast, you will check out of your guesthouse and set out on the drive to Son-Kul Lake. The total drive time today will be around five hours, depending on the road conditions. This should be one pf the most spectacular drives of this trip passing over the Kara Koo Pass (3,600m) and the Moldo Ashuu Pass (3,660m).  Son-Kul Lake is located at around 3,000m elevation. 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 Tash Rabat, via Naryn: After breakfast, you will check out of your yurt camp and set out on the drive to Tash Rabat. The total drive time today will be around five to six hours, depending on the road conditions. En route, you will stop in Naryn for a brief city tour. Visit the striking Blue Mosque, and the Naryn Art Gallery.  

On arrival at Tash Rabat, you will check into your yurt camp for the evening and enjoy dinner.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Tash Rabat Yurt Camp (Private Yurt)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day at Tash Rabat: Today you have a full day at Tash Rabat. Visit the nearby Tash Rabat Caravanserai, and set out on a hike to explore the surrounding area. Additional activities, such as horseback riding, can be arranged locally for an extra charge.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Tash Rabat Yurt Camp (Private Yurt)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Transfer to Bokonbaev Village: Today you will depart your yurt camp, and transfer north towards Lake Issyk-Kul. Your final destination is the village of Bokonbaev, and the total drive time today should be around five to six hours.

En route, you will stop at Kochkor Village, where you can meet some local ladies who produce felt carpets, and learn about the traditional manufacturing processes.

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 Karakol: After breakfast, you will depart Bokonbaev, and transfer to Karakol, with stops for sightseeing and hiking en route. 

The first stop will be at 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. Next, continue 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.

Afternoon tour of Karakol: This afternoon, you will be taken on a brief 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 Green Yard 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 Green Yard Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer to Karkara Valley: After breakfast, check-out of your hotel and set out on the road to Karkara Valley. This is a drive of around two to three hours. On arrival, settle into your yurt camp.

Afternoon optional activities: This afternoon, you have time to explore the area. Take a walk along the canyon, or if you are feeling energetic hike up the hillside to enjoy a panoramic view over the valley. Horse-riding can be arranged for an extra charge.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Karkara Valley Yurt Camp (Private Yurt)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Transfer to Chon Kemin, via Cholpon-Ata: After breakfast, check-out of your hotel and set out on the road along the north shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. En route you will stop at the town of Cholpon-Ata, where you can visit the famous open-air petroglyphs museum. Today’s drive will take around five to six hours, and is a very scenic journey, passing through beautiful scenery and lakeside settlements. Your final destination is the pretty Chon Kemn Valley.

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 Bishkek, via the Burana Tower: After breakfast, check out of your hotel and set out on the 90 minute 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 Bishkek, a further journey of around one hour.

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 B Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast