Kyrgyzstan Walking Explorer

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Trekking and Hiking Guided and Escorted

Carbon neutral

10 daysDuration

Small Group TourUsually 8-12 participants, maximum 18 travelers

12 peopleMaximum group size

16 - 99 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Moderate

Involves sustained activity requiring a reasonable level of fitness and endurance.

Starts

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Ends

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Highlights

Hike the wilds of Kyrgyzstan: towering mountains, alpine lakes and age-old cultures

Experience the life of Kyrgyz nomads with a yurt stay by Son-Kul Lake

Walk to alpine waters in the Jergalan Valley and explore the southern shores of Issyk Kul

Enjoy true peace in the spruce forests of Ala-Archa National Park

Visit Burana Tower, one of the most famous minarets in Central Asia

Experience Kyrgyz village life in Chon Kemin

Itinerary

Dominated by majestic mountain ranges, Kyrgyzstan has been nicknamed the Switzerland of Central Asia. Yet despite its seemingly endless natural beauty, it remains undiscovered by mass tourism, making it the ideal destination for culturally curious travellers. Come and explore this magnificent land on foot, the best way to truly appreciate the natural wonders.

Starting from the capital, Bishkek, we head into the wild and walk among marvels of nature, including the Tian Shan mountains, Ala-Archa Gorge, and alpine lakes, such as Issyk Kul and Son-Kul. We also experience the nomadic traditions of the country, staying in a lakeside yurt camp, before returning to Bishkek with a scenic drive over mountain passes.

day 1 - Start Bishkek; afternoon city tour

The tour starts in Bishkek. You should be at the start hotel no later than midday as we have a city tour in the afternoon. We have requested an early check-in for all clients, so the rooms should be ready for when you arrive.

Bishkek is the modern capital city and industrial centre of Kyrgyzstan; this afternoon, we have a walking tour to explore its wide avenues and Soviet heritage. We visit the most important square in the country, Ala-Too Square, which is home to several monuments and is the setting for state celebrations. We also visit an open-air picture gallery, Oak Park (one of the oldest parks in Bishkek), and see marble government buildings, theatres and Victory Square.

Accommodation:Hotel Bridges/Silk Road Lodge (or similar)

day 2 - Walk in Ala-Archa Gorge

Today we visit Ala-Archa National Park. The reserve is a small valley inside the gorge, where ridges are covered with eternal ice, and the slopes with spruce forests. The streams are fed by glacial meltwater, which leads into the Ala-Archa River. Though hard to see, the reserve is home to snow leopards and a rare blue bird the Kyrgyz call the bird of happiness. Here we take a full-day hike to Ak-Sai waterfall, reaching a maximum altitude of 9,200ft (2,800m). After, we return to Bishkek.

Meals:Breakfast

Accommodation:Hotel Bridges/Silk Road Lodge (or similar)

day 3 - Burana Tower. Walk in Chon-Kemin National Park

We leave Bishkek this morning and drive to Burana Tower, a 12th-century Karakhanid minaret. We'll visit the museum complex, including the tower itself, reconstructions of mausoleums found on the site, remains of a citadel, balbals (gravestones used by nomadic Turkic peoples) and petroglyphs. We then continue to Chon Kemin, a quiet valley of small villages and agricultural land with mountains and fir forests beyond. There is approximately three hours of driving in total today.

On arrival in Chon Kemin, we walk up to a ridge for an excellent view over the valley, reaching an altitude of just over 6,500ft (2,000m).

Meals:Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:Kemin Guesthouse (or similar)

day 4 - Konorchek Canyons and Cholpon-Ata; to Karakol

Leaving Chon-Kemin, we head to the Konorchek Canyons. We walk along a rocky dried-up riverbed to enter the canyons. Rocky columns of red sandstone stretch for many kilometres. Following our walk, we drive through the Boom Gorge to Issyk Kul. This impressive lake is 110mi (180km) long and 37mi (60km) wide, reaching depths of 2,300ft (700m). It sits in a hollow at 5,250ft (1,600m), surrounded by snow-capped peaks of the Terskei and Kungei Ala-Tau mountain ranges. More than 100 streams and rivers flow into the lake but none flow out.

We then reach the resort town of Cholpon-Ata and visit nearby petroglyphs, a large open-air collection of rock carvings sometimes referred to as a Stone Garden, which covers some 104 acres (42ha) and contains a number of prehistoric stone structures. We also visit the Cholpon‐Alta Museum of History, which contains a large collection of national embroidery.

We continue our drive to Karakol. We’ll be driving for about 4hr 30min today.

Meals:Breakfast

Accommodation:Amir Hotel or Matsunoki Hotel (or similar)

day 5 - Walk in the Jergalan Valley; drive to Djety Oguz

Today we drive to the Jergalan Valley, about 37mi (60km) from Karakol, along a partially paved road. The valley is surrounded by seven peaks and is a region of turquoise alpine lakes, rivers, waterfalls and coniferous forests. We walk to Turnaluu-Kol lake at an altitude of 8,530ft (2,600m), giving us fantastic views along the way. Following the walk, we drive to Djety Oguz with a stop at Ak-Suu village to enjoy the thermal baths there (payable locally).

Meals:Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:Golden Yurt Camp

day 6 - Walk in the gorges of the southern shore of Issyk Kul

Today we drive (six hours) along the undeveloped southern shore of Issyk Kul to Kochkor. We make stops and have short walks along the way.

First, we explore Djety Oguz Gorge where we can see the Seven Bulls and Broken Heart rock formations. Next is Barskoon Gorge, known for high waterfalls and dense spruce forests and visited by Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space. We hike to a waterfall called Bowl of Manas (named for a Kyrgyz national hero).

We drive onwards to Kochkor, the main centre in Kyrgyzstan for the production of felt goods. We visit a workshop and can participate in the manufacturing of traditional rugs.

Meals:Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:Homestay

day 7 - Drive to Son-Kul

We drive to Son-Kul, the largest body of freshwater in the country, via the 10,800ft (3,330m) Kalmak-Ashuu Pass. The route is only partially paved. It is surrounded by summer pastures dotted with yurts, grazing cattle and mountains beyond. These lands are used by shepherds of neighbouring regions as summer pastures for their flocks. They drive the livestock up in the mountains and set up a yurt camp where they live during summer. We'll learn about the traditional lifestyle of Kyrgyz nomads.

Meals:Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:Yurt camp

day 8 - Walking at Son-Kul

We have the day at Son-Kul. We walk to the mountains for views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Our walk takes us to an altitude of about 11,485ft (3,500m).

Meals:Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:Yurt camp

day 9 - Scenic drive back to Bishkek via mountain passes

Today’s journey is a breathtaking six-hour drive back to Bishkek. We traverse the Teskey Torpok Pass, also known as the 33 Parrots Pass (10,827ft/3,300m). Along the way, we pass through remote villages, offering a glimpse into the traditional lifestyles of local farmers.

In the evening, enjoy a delightful dinner followed by a folklore show, where talented artists showcase national musical instruments and their unique playing techniques.

Meals:Breakfast, Dinner

Accommodation:Hotel Bridges/Silk Road Lodge (or similar)

day 10 - End Bishkek

Our adventure ends today in Bishkek. If you’d like a bit longer to explore, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.

Meals:Breakfast

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What's Included

Accommodation

All accommodation

Meals

All breakfasts and six dinners

Transport

All transport and listed activitiesGroup arrival and departure transfers available

Guide

Tour leader throughout

What's Excluded

Customer Reviews

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Anonymous

Sistema di prenotazione semplice e intuibile. In caso di necessità le istruzioni presenti sul sito sono risultate utili e chiare. Nessun problema riscontrato

1 week ago

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