Colors of Kyrgyzstan 2021

Description

Welcome to Kyrgyzstan!

Don’t miss a chance to join our fixed departure group tour in Kyrgyzstan and visit the most amazing sights in 8 days! You will see the most interesting and famous places such as Son Kul lake, Caravan Sarai Tash Rabat and Issyk Kul lake.
You will be surprised but Kyrgyzstan still retains all the attributes of nomadic life. Only in Kyrgyzstan in summer period you will see yurts (nomadic portable dwellings decorated with felt carpets), meet the real nomads who will welcome you and probably invite to their yurt to try traditional Kyrgyz drink “kymyz”.

Dates:
07.06 - 14.06
21.06 - 28.06
26.07 - 02.08
16.08 - 23.08
30.08 - 06.09

Minimum group size:  4 pax

Itinerary

Day 1. (SUN) Airport – Bishkek city. (40 km / 40 min)

Arrival to Bishkek city early in the morning.  Upon arrival at the International Airport Manas you will be met by our tourist guide at arrival gates. Transfer to the city will take 30-40 min. Hotel check in (early check-in is included into the tour cost)
Rest till 12:00 pm.
Start city tour after late breakfast. Sightseeing tour includes the Monument of Kyrgyz National hero Manas, Changing of Guards of Honor, Kurmanjan Datka and Lenin statues, main Ala Too Square, governmental buildings, Oak park and Fine Art gallery under clear sky.
A sightseeing tour of Bishkek comes to an end at Victory Square dedicated to the WWII.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Dinner is free.
(Breakfast – hotel, lunch – local cafe)

Day 2. (MON) Bishkek city – Cholpon Ata town (280 km / 5 hours).

Breakfast at the hotel.
Today we have interesting day as we leave the city and head to the countryside.
At first we stop to learn more about the Great Silk Road and visit Burana Tower Historical complex.
Burana Tower (ancient minaret) is located in 12 km far from Tokmok town. The territory where the tower is located was called Balasagyn town. This town had the strategic meaning for Great Silk Road. Here you will see a small museum with exhibits found at excavations, providing more details about this ancient settlement, and become familiar with collection of Balbals, turkic grave marks.
Lunch at a local Kazakh family in Tokmok.

Continue to the Issyk Kul Lake after lunch.
Issyk Kul Lake is the second largest alpine lake in the world after Titicaca located in South America. Its length reaches 182 km, and width is 58 km, maximum depth is up to 668 m. During the summer period the water reaches up to 20-23 Co.
On the way you admire beautiful landscape and changing of scenery.
Arrival at Cholpon Ata town and visit local famous petroglyphs site.
After excursion get accommodated at the resort on the lake shore. Dinner in a local restaurant.
(Breakfast – hotel, lunch – local Kazakh family, Dinner – resort)

Day 3. (TUE) Cholpon Ata town – Karakol town – Djety Oguz canyon – Tamga village (250 km / 5 hours).

In the morning we continue our tour and head further along the north shore of Issyk Kul lake. In few hours reach Karakol town.
Karakol – is a small but very interesting town with traditional Russian architecture. It was established in the middle of 19th century and became an important garrison settlement in the territory of Issyk Kul region.
City tour here upon arrival. Visit Memorial Museum of N. M. Przhevalsky a great Russian explorer and researcher of Asian continent, which 12 km far from Karakol.
Later Dungan mosque a unique building in a style of the Chinese pagoda which is functioning mosque up to now.
Also you will visit Russian Orthodox Holy Trinity Church built of wood. In the miraculous iconostasis of the church there is the famous Tikhvinian icon of Divine Mother, painted in 1897.
Later lunch at a local café in Karakol town (not included).

Continue drive to Djety oguz canyon for a little hike.
Djety Oguz from Kyrgyz language is translated as Seven Bulls. Unlike Fairy Tale Canyon this picturesque gorge differs in the mountains covered with Tien Shan fir tree. At the beginning of the gorge you will face a famous Broken Heart Rock. Walking up further to panorama you will see those famous Seven Bulls rocks. The tourist guide will tell you the legend about the origin of the gorge name. In Soviets, there was a sanatorium built in the gorge. Many people used to come here for treatment with the help of radon water. Cosmonauts used to come here for rehabilitation, even Yuri Gagarin.
After Djety Oguz continue drive along the south shore of Issyk Kul Lake. Reach Tamga village and get accommodated in a local guest houses/yurt camp.
Dinner in a place of accommodation.
(Breakfast – resort, Dinner – guest house/yurt camp)

Day 4. (WEDN) Tamga village – Skazka canyon – Kochkor village – Son Kul Lake (290 km / 5 hours).

After good breakfast continue our way along the south shore of Issyk Kul lake. Close to Tamga village we stop to visit and walk around Skazka canyon. The canyon looks scenic with the dark blue Issyk Kul Lake on the background.
Continue the way to Kochkor village where tasty lunch is waiting for us. Here we will learn more about traditional carpet producing procedure – shyrdak show. Local ladies will share with their knowledge and experience of felt and carpet producing.
After lovely time in Kochkor village head to Son Kul Lake.
Alpine Son Kul Lake is located on Tien Shan range at the elevation of 3016 m. The territory around Son Kul is a pasture for the cattle driven from Kochkor village, Naryn and Jumgal regions. During the summer Son Kul pasture is considered to be the best Kyrgyz jailoo. Son Kul Lake from Kyrgyz language translates as “Last Lake”.

Accommodation in a local comfortable yurt camp.
Here you can feel like a real nomads and get acquainted with the culture of Kyrgyz people.
Yurt – is a traditional dwelling of nomadic people of Central Asia. The foundation of yurt consists of wooden carcass and several felt layers. The construction of such dwelling doesn’t require a lot of time that makes it practical and useful for locals. The interior of a yurt is decorated with felt carpets and traditional embroidery.
Dinner and overnight at yurt camp.
(Breakfast – hotel, lunch – local Kyrgyz family, Dinner – yurt camp)

Day 5. (THUR) Son Kul Lake – Naryn town – Tash Rabat caravanserai (250 km / 5 hours).

In the morning we continue exploring Kyrgyzstan and head to one of the most spectacular pass in our country – Moldo Ashuu.
Driving down to Naryn town where we have stop for lunch and city tour.
Naryn is a town of long and narrow form, situated along the famous Naryn River also named Syr Darya, which is one of the biggest rivers in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia. Naryn is the only town in Kyrgyzstan, where 90 % of the population is Kyrgyz.
Lunch at a local café (not included).
After lunch we will visit the Central Blue Mosque, the Central Square, and Historical-ethnographical museum.

Later drive further south in a direction of China. Turn to Kara Koun canyon and reach yurt camp. Accommodation.
Tash Rabat caravanserai is situated at the elevation of 3200 m asl. not far from Chinese border (Torugart). Its origin is a complete mystery; however there is a hypothesis that it was built in 10th century. Researchers consider it to be a Nestorian monastery, others suppose it to be a victualing-house for the trade caravans, and third ones insist on its defensive function. It is obviously clear that during the various epochs Tash Rabat caravanserai had different functions.
Dinner and overnight at the yurt camp.
(Breakfast – yurt camp, dinner – yurt camp)

Day 6. (FRI) Tash Rabat caravanserai – Chon Kemin valley (330 km / 5-6 hours).

In the morning we start from the breakfast and head to Tash Rabat caravanserai for excursion.
After interesting historical excursion we drive back in a direction of Bishkek city.
After Kochkor village, Orto Tokoi  water reservoir and Boom canyon we turn to Chon Kemin valley.
Chon Kemin is a valley 170 km away from the capital, in a picturesque area between Issyk Kul Lake and Kazakhstan state border. This valley and same name natural park is famous with some historical battles between Kyrgyz and Kazakh tribes.
Here we spend some time to relax, swim in the pool (optional) and have gentle walk to the closest canyon.
Dinner and overnight in a guest house.
(Breakfast – yurt camp, dinner – guest house)

Day 7. (SAT) Chon Kemin valley – Bishkek city (170 km / 3 hours).
After breakfast proceed to Bishkek city. Pretty short drive turns to the case that we arrive to the capital close to the lunch time.
Lunch in a local cafe (not included).
There are some interesting things left to do in Bishkek city.
Visit Osh market as one of the brightest example of trading and boiling life.
Plus we will have time for shopping at the market or at the local department store – ZUM.
Farewell dinner and folklore show at a local restaurant is waiting for us today.
Especially for you musicians will play national melodies of Kyrgyz people and show you musical instruments. You will listen to a singing and enjoy the charming melodies of our ancestors.
Overnight at a hotel.
(Breakfast – guest house, D – local restaurant).

Day 8. (SUN) Bishkek city – airport. (35 km / 40-45 min)

Early breakfast. Today in Bishkek your trip concludes.
(Breakfast – hotel)

Map

Additional Info

Clothes and equipment:

You can take all necessary things. Please take into consideration that in summer time the temperature in Bishkek city reaches up to 40 oC and in the mountains the temperature decreases to -5 oC. Be prepared for unexpected changes of the weather.

Recommended:

• Rain-coat
• Sweater/fleece
• Wind-stopper
• Enough t-shirts and other underwear (think of taking smth with long sleeves to avoid sunburns)
• Hat (remember – the sun can be violent)
• Sun-screen cream (30 or higher)
• Insect repellent (skin + clothes)
• Good trekking boots for easy hikes in the mountains.
• Walking shoes (don’t need heavy ones) for the city walks
• Personal first aid kit (most likely problems: blisters, sunburns, allergy, diarrhoea, sore muscles after hikes. Take painkillers, anti-histaminic, antibiotics of general action, and anything you need for your usual medical conditions).
• Personal hygiene kit (disinfection gel is highly recommended) + some toilet paper.
• A small towel
• Swimming suit (for Issyk-Kul)
• Sunglasses
• Photo camera
• Notepad and a pen to make notes as you travel
• A smaller backpack, except for your normal suitcase.
• Flash light (torch)
• Walking poles if needed

Money exchange - if you plan to exchange USD / Euro to KGS , we recommend to take the notes of 50, 100 USD without stamps, inscriptions and other type of damage, because damaged banknotes are not accepted by banks and exchange offices.

Photos

Prices

The tour price in 2021 p/p in USD:
In Double/twin room – 995 USD per person
In single room (only in hotels) – 1115 USD per person

The single accommodation does not include individual accommodation in yurts and in local family houses.

Extra payment per person for TWIN accommodation in yurt - 15 USD per night (if yurts are available)
Extra payment per person for SGL accommodation in yurt - 25 USD per night (if yurts are available)