Jeep Tour to Furthest Reaches of Kyrgyzstan

Description

Itinerary: Bishkek – Kyzyl Oi village – Son Kul lake – Kel Suu lake – Naryn – Kaji Say – Djety Oguz gorge – Karakol  – Karkara – Semenovskoe and Grigorievskoe gorges – Cholpon Ata – Bishkek

Itinerary

Day 1. Airport “Manas” – Bishkek city – Kyzyl Oi village in Suusamyr valley.  (30 km / 30-40 min + 200 km / 4 hours)

Upon arrival meeting at the airport and transfer to Bishkek city on a bus (30km, about 45 min).

We will go through the procedure of delivery-acceptance of the jeeps. It takes about 1 hour.

PLEASE NOTE: 500 USD Deposit must be paid upon the transfer of the vehicle to the participants and examination of it by them.  The deposit is paid back in full to the clients if no damage to the vehicle is done

Closer to the afternoon, we start our drive into country, we go to Suusamyr valley. Our way to this picturesque valley of Kyrgyzstan goes via amazingly beautiful canyons and gorges of Central Tien Shan Mountains over especially dramatic and beautiful Too Ashuu Pass (3586 m) from which you may observe both vast valleys Chui and Suusamyr.

Upon arrival accommodation in the houses of local people in Kyzyl Oi village.

After dinner we will listen to folklore of local performers.

(B – hotel, D – local family)

My hotel 3* or similar for early check-in / Home stay in Kyzyl Oi village

Day 2. Kyzyl Oi village – Son Kul Lake (150 km / 4 hours)

After breakfast drive to Son Kul lake. If the weather allows you drive over Kara Keche Pass (3384m), it is about 150km. If it rains you take the road via Chaek and Kochkor villages, over Kalmak Ashuu pass (3446m), it is 290km).

[Option is included for group of 6 people and more or by request]

We watch the demonstration how nomads set up the yurt. You will learn main elements of Kyrgyz dwelling. You can take part and help locals to erect the yurt.

Accommodation in a Yurt Camp. We highly recommend watching the sunset and the starlit sky as these phenomena are specially beautiful at the lake (if the weather allows).

(B – local family, L, D – yurt camp)

Yurt Camp

Day 3. Son Kul Lake – Naryn town – Kel Suu (340 km / 6 hours)

We highly recommend watching the sunrise (your guide can advise the time) if the weather allows. The morning you spend at the camp area. You may walk down to the lake and touch the water, hike up to the petroglyphs (about 1,5hours), visit a nomadic yurt, or just relax.  In the afternoon, we drive to Naryn town over Moldo Ashuu pass (3660m).

We drive to Kel Suu camp over most mountainous province in Kyrgyzstan – Naryn province. Naryn is known for some of the best meat and traditional Kyrgyz dishes in the country.

Further drive to Kel Suu tent camp. Admire picturesque ladscape of this area.

Dinner and overnight in tent camp.

(B – guest house/hotel, D – tent camp)

Tent Camp at Kel Suu lake

Day 4. Kel Suu – Naryn (175 km / 3 hours)

Today you visit a secret Kel Suu lake. Remote even by Kyrgyzstan standards, magnificent Köl-Suu lake stretches over 10km through a sheer mountain gorge that reaches nearly to the Chinese border. It has one unusual feature, in which honor this name was given to it. Kel-Suu is translated from Kyrgyz as “incoming water”. And indeed, sometimes the lake disappears, flowing into underground caves and grottoes, and therefore before going there, you need to know that not always you can catch the lake.

Lunch in camp. Return to Naryn. Dinner and overnight in guest house.

(B, L – tent camp, D – guest house/hotel)

Khan Tengri guest house or Aska hotel

Day 5. Naryn town – Kaji Sai village (270 or 260 km / 6-8 hours)

There are two optional routes to your choice:

1) via Tosor Pass (3893m), but you should keep in mind that it is one of challenging roads and sometimes jeeps cannot go through Tosor pass, it depends on weather and road conditions.
Possible only in July-September

2) via Dolon Pass and Kochkor village – by asphalt road.

In the morning drive to Tamga village over Dolon Pass (3030m). You make a stop in Kochkor village to visit the local handicraft museum-shop. We continue to Issyk Kul Lake passing by Orto Tokoi water reservoir and drive along the Southern lake shore.

Accommodation and overnight in hotel/guest house in Kaji Sai village.

(B – hotel/guest house, D – hotel)

Al Hayat hotel or similar

Day 6. Kaji Sai village  – Skazka Canyon – Djety Oguz gorge – Karakol town (180 km / 3-4 hours)

After breakfast we drive to Karakol city. We drive along the southern shore of Issyk Kul Lake. En route we  visit Skazka Canyon which is one of the most stunning places in Kyrgyzstan, a canyon filled with fantastical sandstone shapes that give the spot its name, which means fairytale in Russian.

En route we stop in Djety Oguz gorge. Djety Oguz in Kyrgyz means “Seven Bulls”. This picturesque gorge is named so because of the red rocky sand formations covered with forests of Tien Shan spruces.

On this day you get acquainted with nomadic way of life of the Kyrgyz people and enjoy beautiful views of the gorge.

After excursion drive to Karakol city.

Accommodation in a hotel. Dinner in cafe.

[Option is included for group of 10 people and more or by request]

Dinner at local family. When having a meal at family in Karakol town, we can watch a housewife cooking traditional food – lagman show. She teaches how to make noodles for lagman. At the end we try the lagman altogether.

(B – hotel/guest house, D – cafe/local family)

Amir / Tagaitay / Green Yard guest house

Day 7. Karakol town – Karkara gorge (150 km / 4-5 hours)

In the morning, we visit Dungan mosque, a unique construction in Chinese style, but serving as a mosque. Also you will see an old Russian Orthodox Cathedral made of wood without any nails.

After excursion we drive to Karkara gorge which is located in the eastern part of Kyrgyzstan in the picturesque natural boundary Char Kuduk of the Issyk-Kul region at border area between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. There is the river of the same name that separates Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.

Accommodation in Karkara “Ak-Sai Travel” tent camp. An easy hike in the gorge.

(B – hotel, D – tent camp)

Karkara Camping

Day 8. Karkara – Semenov gorge – Grigorjev gorge – Cholpon Ata town (260 km / 4 hours)

 Karkara gorge is famous for its wild flowers and wonderful mountain views. You might want to get up early to take an easy walk and explore the area before breakfast.

 After breakfast we leave Karkara and drive along the Northern lake shore.

We will run through the two picturesque gorges: Semenovskoe and Grigorevskoe (Chon Aksuu gorge), where you can take at pleasure nature and wonderful mountain sceneries.

Valley of the Chon Ak Suu river descends from the Kungei Ala-Too close to the village Grigorievka. The gentle slopes of the valley covered with dense spruce forest. Chon Ak Suu gorge considered one of the most picturesque in the Issyk Kul region.

Accommodation in the hotel.

(B – tent camp, D – hotel/cafe)

Karven/ Raduga 4*

Day 9. Cholpon Ata town – Bishkek city via Burana tower (300 km / 4-5 hours)

In the morning we drive visit so called “Stone garden” or Cholpon Ata Petroglyphs site, the temple in the open air of Scythians and Hung suns civilizations dated back 9-8 centuries BC till 3-4 centuries AD. The area of those stone drawing lies at the foot of Kungei Alatau Ridge with a beautiful view of the whole lake.

Then we continue your drive through Boom gorge alond Chui river. Near Tokmok town you will visit Burana Tower. That minaret was constructed in Balasagun town, one of the capitals of Karakhanid State existed in 11-12 centuries AD. Explore ruins of that important trading point at the Great Silk Road and visit a little local museum telling about that civilization. Also watch a collection of Balbals, Turkic ancient gravestones.

Drive to Bishkek city

When we are coming back to Bishkek, we will make a stop for car washing. Upon return to Bishkek, cars are returned back to Ak-Sai Travel. Employees of Ak-Sai Travel will check the cars. The deposit is paid back in full to the clients if no damage to the vehicle is done.

Overnight in the hotel.

(B – hotel, D – cafe/restaurant)

My hotel 3* or similar

Day 10. Bishkek city – airport (30 km / 30-40 min)

In the morning transfer to the airport. Flight back home.

(B – hotel)

Prices

Price 2024 p/pax in US$:

Price from 1080 USD p/p in a twin room (for a group of 18 people).
⠀
The price is estimated. Please contact for detailed price offer.

Additional Info

Notes

There may be changes in the route due to weather, instructions of the local authorities, road conditions or the decision of the guide in the field for the benefit of the travelers and the conduct of the trip.

Please inform the clients that the road is dangerous mountain, winding up and we cannot stop at some points. We will have to switch off the air conditioning from time to time to make it easier for the vehicle engine on the ascents.

Vehicle renting regulations:

500 USD Deposit must be paid upon the transfer of the vehicle to the participants and examination of it by them.

On the way back there will be a stop for car wash.

The Lessee shall return the vehicle in full complete stated in the Delivery-Acceptance report.

The Lessee shall return the vehicle with the same quantity of fuel as at the moment of receipt.

The deposit is paid back in full if no damage to the vehicle is done.

Responsibilities of clients

Clients should recognize and accept the risk that circumstances may arise which would cause some activities to be shortened or eliminated altogether without reimbursement or refund. Such circumstance includes weather conditions, earthquakes and other acts of nature, injuries or other medical problems, which they may experience. Each tourist should have medical insurance that should be organized him/herself in homecountry.

Cancellation Policy

0% - (No Cancellation Fee) if cancelled at least 30 days before the arrival date.

30% - Cancellation Fee, if cancelled 25 days before the arrival date.

75 % - Cancellation Fee, if cancelled 7 days before the arrival date.

100% - Cancellation Fee, if cancelled less than 7 days before the arrival date

Photos

Map