Flower watching tour

Description

The tour is for the real connoisseurs of flowers. In Kyrgyzstan there are 3500 types of plants, 89 of them are registered in the Red Book. The tour includes places where you will have the chance to see, explore and have photos of the most popular flowers in the region. During the whole tour the group is accompanied by a professional botanist who helps the group to find the best speciments.

Highlights:

•     Excursion to Ala Archa Nature Park
•     Sightseeing tour in Bishkek
•     Excursion to Jety Oguz (seven bulls) gorge
•     Visit religious places as the Dungan Mosque and the Russian Cathedral in Karakol town
•     Visit Petroglyph's Site near Cholpón Ata town
•     Visit the ruins of the ancient city of Balasagyn in the Great Silk Road (UNESCO)
•     Hundreds of species of flowers around the Issyk Kul lake region.

Itinerary

Day 1. Arrival to Bishkek. Excursion to Ala Archa Natural park. (80 km) (B,L,D)

Upon arrival to the international airport “Manas” you are met by your Kyrgyz guide and transferred to the hotel.

After a short rest you get acquaintanted with your expert guide who makes a short introduction of the wild flora in Kyrgyzstan. When the lecture is finished you are transferred to Ala Archa National Park (mixed juniper-firry forest).

Ala Archa National Natural Park is located in a picturesque gorge of Ala Archa 40 km off from Bishkek. It is a popular place for hiking, skiing and mountaineering including trips to more than 20 glaciers. It covers an area of 200 km² mostly forested valleys, waterfalls and rivers rich in trout. The altitude of ranges varies from 1500m to the highest point 4895m. Several rare species of fauna and especially traditionally revered juniper trees are under protection in the Natural Park. It has very diverse fauna: mountain meadows are the habitat for wild goats, deer and marmots. Ala Archa National Park is one of the few places of the habitat of the rare snow leopard.

Lunch barbeque in the park.

Return to Bishkek.

Dinner in a local restaurant with folklore show and national cuisine.

Overnight in the hotel.

Day 2. Bishkek – Tuya Ashuu Pass – Bishkek (300 km). (B,L,D)

Today you drive to the slopes of Tuya Ashuu Pass (3586 m) with unique flora.

Overnight in the hotel in Bishkek.

Day 3. Bishkek – Cholpon Ata – Chon Ak Suu  gorge (330 km).

 Early in the morning we leave Bishkek and go to Issyk Kul Lake.

Issyk Kul Lake is the second largest alpine lake in the world after Lake Titicaca in South America. Measuring 182 km long by 58 km wide, the lake appeared as a result of volcanic activity. It is heated from below by thermal activity and never freezes even in the depths of winter. In the summer the water temperature reaches 25-28 degrees centigrade (warmer than the air) and you can swim in the lake enclosed on all sides by the snowy peaks of the Tien Shan Mountains. Extremely deep and nicely warm over the centuries the lake has been something of an oasis in this inhospitable mountain environment. With diverse flora and fauna Issyk-Kul Lake and the surrounding environments are rightly considered to be one of Central Asia most remarkable locations.

Upon arrival in the lake accommodation and lunch in the hotel.

In the afternoon trip to Chon Ak Suu gorge (mixed firry-deciduous forest) to watch the blossoming plants.

There is a chance to see very rare species Selaginella aitchisonii, Hepatica falconeri and even Kaufmannia semenowii that is included into “The Red Book of Kyrgyzstan” in the gorge!!!

Dinner and overnight in the hotel at the northern shore of the Issyk Kul Lake near Cholpon Ata town.

Day 4. Cholpon Ata – Karakol – Jety Oguz (220 km).

Morning transfer to Djety Oguz gorge via Karakol town situated in the eastern tip of the lake area.

In firry forest and alpine grasslands of the gorge you may find a lot of beautiful flowers.

Dinner and overnight in Karakol.

Day 5. Karakol – Turgen Ak Suu river via Chon Ashuu pass (250 km).

Today you will spend researching vegetation of the Terskei Ala Too ridge.

Day 6. Karakol – Balykchy (230 km)

In the morning start you way back to Bishkek.

On the way we explore the vegetation on arid foothills located along the southern shore of the Lake Issyk Kul. We will see the plants that grow on the speckled sandstones and ancient sedimentary rock.

Dinner and overnight in the hotel in Balykchy.

Day 7.  Balykchy – Bishkek (175 km).

Transfer to Bishkek.

Afternoon is at leisure or sightseeing tour in the city.

Tourist may visit Manas Monument, the main national hero of the Kyrgyz people. Then excursion to the State History Museum and walking tour around main Ala Too Square to watch ceremony of changing of the Guard of Honor, Independence Monument, main governmental buildings, and finish at the Old Square with Parliament House and the only survived in Central Asia Lenin’s Monument.

In the end of the tour visit Osh Bazaar, the largest and busiest market in the city.

Dinner in a local restaurant with welcome folk show of traditional Kyrgyz music and songs.

Overnight in hotel.

Day 8. Bishkek – airport.

Early in the morning transfer to the airport to catch your flight back home.

Prices

For more information about dates and prices for the tour please fill in the form in the upper right corner of the page. The manager will contact you as soon as possible with more information about the itinerary and prices.

Additional Info

Flora of Ala Archa National Park

Flora of Tuya Ashuu Pass (3586 m).

Flora if Issyk-Kul

Flora of Karakol – Jety Oguz (220 km).

Flora of the Terskei Ala Too ridge.

Flora of Issyk Kul (southern shore). 

Photos

Map