15-day trekking tour of beautiful Kyrgyzstan

Bishkek

Day 1: Welcome to beautiful Kyrgyzstan!

Welcome to Kyrgyzstan! Your driver will meet you at the airport and transport you to your hotel for check in. 

Once you're settled in, it's time for a fascinating city tour of Bishkek, visiting the heart of the city, Ala Too Square. Afterwards, enjoy a walk in Oak Park, one of the favourite places for local people to hang out. Bishkek is known as the greenest city in Central Asia, thanks to its countless parks making the city a great place to live.

In the afternoon, head over to Osh bazaar for some fun and fascinating market culture. As soon as you step inside, you plunge into an eastern atmosphere, teeming with people and colour. Here, you can appreciate the creativity and talent of local artisans.  

In the evening, visit one of the best restaurants in Bishkek and taste delicious Kyrgyz national dishes.

Bishkek - Burana - Chon Kemin

Day 2: Trek to ancient civilisation sites & natural wonders

The journey begins after breakfast today with a visit to the beautiful Burana Tower. The tower is an ancient minaret in the Chuy Valley in the northern part of Kyrgyzstan. 

Funerary monuments, earthworks, traces of a castle and three mausoleums are all that remain of the ancient town Balasagyn, founded by Karakhanids at the end of the 9th century. Afterwards, we head to Tar Suu, located in Chon Kemin Valley, which is known for its beauty and a rich diversity of animals and plants. 

Once you've checked into your new accommodation and freshened up after the journey, take a walk around the village to explore the fascinating lifestyle of the local people.

Chon Kemin - Toru Aigyr

Day 3: Hike to the serene pastures of Toru Aigyr

Today we start our camping trip among the beauty of Kyrgystan's countryside. After a hearty breakfast, we'll transfer to the trek's starting point near the beautiful Chon Kemin River. From here, we begin our four-day walk to the north shore of Issyk Kul Lake. To ease the load and ensure you hike in comfort, the majority of your luggage will be carried by horses (you only need to take necessities for the trek: the rest of your luggage will transfer in a vehicle with your driver). The slopes of the mountains are covered with gorgeous fir trees. We'll have a picnic on the way. 

After lunch, continue through the forest to the serene pastures of Toru Aigyr. Here, we'll set up a tent under the stars and cook you a fine feast to recharge your batteries after today's walk. 

Toru Aigyr - Kol Kogur Lake

Day 4: Camp next to stunning Kol Kogur Lake

There's nothing like camping next to a beautiful lake. After enjoying breakfast in beautiful natural surroundings, we'll start hiking towards Kol Kogur Lake, which is at an altitude of 2500m. The lake is located on the northern slope of the Kungey Ala-Too mountains, in a picturesque wooded area and is considered to be one of the most beautiful mountain lakes in Northern Tien Chan. After lunch along the way, we'll carry on towards the lake, which has a unique trapezoidal shape that gives it a quirky feel. On the shore of the lake, we'll set up our tents and drink in the magnificent landscape around us. We'll prepare dinner for you to enjoy here, too. 

Kol Kogur Lake - Kyzyl Aska

Day 5: High mountain pass to beautiful pastures

After a hearty breakfast at camp, we'll head on over to the green and gorgeous pastures of Kyzyl Aska. 

We cross a mighty 3347m-high pass, so be ready for some altitude. We'll stop along the way to have lunch, then come down from the twisty and curvy mountain pass to set up our tents for the night. The spot will be near a pleasant river: the ideal place to rest and recover your energy. 

In the evening, we'll again have dinner out here, among nature. 

Kyzyl Aska - Cholpon Ata / Issyk Kul

Day 6: Comfort & rest at the 'Pearl of Kyrgyzstan'

You've almost completed the first hike of your trip: today is the last day of this portion of your holiday. Fuel up at breakfast, ready to tachle the walk from Kyzyl Aska, following the path up to Achyk Tash. We'll have a picnic en route and then our driver will pick us up from Achyk Tash and take us to the north shore of Issyk Kul Lake, the pearl of the Kyrgyz land. 

Issyk Kul is the second largest alpine lake in the world after Titicaca. Its name means 'hot lake' in the Kyrgyz language. 

Check in to your hotel, then freshen up with a long, hot shower and have much-deserved rest. If you want, you can swim in the lake and relax on the beach.

Cholpon Ata - Grigoriev And Semenov Gorges - Karakol

Day 7: Nature hike through gorgeous gorges

Today we'll take an easy walk through nature. After breakfast, we'll head to the beautiful Grigoriev and Semenov Gorges, two of the best-known attractions in the Issyk Kul region. Take time to absorb the wild nature around you and as you relax in this magnificent place. For lunch, you could opt to have a picnic in the middle of a gorge or you might prefer to choose a cafe nearby. 

We then head on to Karakol, our endpoint for today. Once you've check into your hotel, we'll head out again later to visit the Orthodox Church and the Dungan Mosque.

This evening is free for you to spend at your leisure: take a stroll around the town and find a local restaurant for dinner and a drink. 

Karakol - Karakol Gorge - Alpine Camp

Day 8: Begin your trekking adventure

Today, it's time to set off on your three-day trekking tour! After breakfast, you'll be driven to the gorge of Karakol, where you'll start your trek with a local guide. The drive to the trailhead will take about 1.5 hours. You'll then take your lunch bags and walk close to the foot of Karakol peak, a journey of about 7km one way (up to 3.5 hours there and 2h back).

Spend about an hour there, enjoying your meal in a leisurely and scenic setting, then descend back to your alpine campsite for a cozy campfire experience, dinner and overnight in a yurt.

Alpine Camp - Ala Kul Lake

Day 9: Glacier lake hiking

Wake up to an early breakfast before starting today's trek at an elevation of 2,500m. Cross a bridge and ascend to Ala-Kul Lake, located at 3,532m. You'll pause about 2-2.5 hours into your hike up the valley, to rest in a small hut and enjoy lunch, before continuing on to the lake.

You'll cover a distance of around 10km, climbing 1,100m in altitude. Enjoy phenomenal panoramas of the lake as you walk around it, or you could take a boat or kayak to the other side of the lake for a change of scene (subject to ice conditions on arrival).

Ala Kul Lake - Altyn Arashan - Karakol

Day 10: Relax in natural hot springs

Today marks the last day of your trek. After breakfast, continue up again towards a mountain pass at an elevation of 3,860m, from where you can see all of the nearby peaks of the Terskey Alatau range - these dramatically surround the lake and rise up over 5,000m above sea level.

Afterwards, descend the gorge to the hot springs of Altyn Arashan (2,500m), a journey of 3-3.5 hours depending on your pace. Upon arrival, you'll get to enjoy a relaxing soak. Finally, transfer to Karakol to check into your hotel, rest and take a well-deserved shower.

Karakol - Jety Oguz – Barskoon - Tamga

Day 11: Marvel at Seven Bulls Gorge

After a leisurely breakfast today, we continue our journey to the Jety Oguz gorge. The name is symbolic and means 'seven bulls' in Kyrgyz, because the seven giant red-brown rocks are said to resemble furious bulls standing together. Enjoy the beautiful scenery here, before we head on to Barskoon Gorge, famed for its waterfalls, including one known as 'Tears of a Leopard'. 

Here, you'll also find a monument to the first man in space, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, who was very fond of this place and stayed at the nearby Tamga military sanatorium. When we get Tamga, check in to your accommodation. If you're feeling a little achey from hiking, you must try a Russian sauna: this unique experience will help you unwind. 

Tamga - Skazka – Bokonbaevo – Kyzyl Tuu - Kochkor

Day 12: Hunting with eagles

After breakfast this morning, it's time to try out visit the Skazka canyons, which translates as the 'fairy tale': here, you'll see stone formations in surprising shapes and sizes: what looks like a skyscraper or an animal can appear in front of you as you walk through the canyons. 

At Bokonbaevo, we'll meet a nomad eagle hunter with his bird. You'll definitely appreciate the alertness and speed of these creatures during this hunting experience, one of the Kyrgysz nomads' oldest traditions. 

In the afternoon, we'll set off to Kyzyl Tuu village, where a local family reveal the secrets of yurt production. The family has been engaged in this unique activity for generations and is happy to tell you all about their craft.

Afterwards, we continue to Kochkor, where you can check in to your new home for the night and settle in for a relaxed evening. 

Kochkor - Son Kul

Day 13: Yurt camping with nomads

After breakfast today, we set off along a serpentine mountain path that leads you to the beautiful Son Kul Lake. 

Crossing the mountain pass at Kalmak Ashu, we'll reach the lake, surrounded by luscious green meadows, long used by nomads for grazing their animals. 

When we arrive at the camp in Son Kul, you can appreciate the hospitality of the nomads and get a feel for their unique lifestyle, as tonight you'll be sleeping in one the yurts.

Son Kul - Bishkek

Day 14: Back to city life

After breakfast today, we start to make our return to the city by descending from Kalmak Ashu pass at 3400m, passing by the Boom gorge. 

We'll stop at Kochkor, where you'll have time to find a place fot a delcious local lunch. Then its on to Bishkek, where there will be time time to visit the local market to buy souvenirs. Then, in the evening, head out into the city to find a restaurant to celebrate your journey and enjoy a farewell dinner. 

Bishkek

Day 15: Farewell to Kyrgyzstan

Your driver will pick you up from the hotel after breakfast and take you to the airport in good time to catch your international flight home.