Kyrgyz National Festivals Tour

Description

Don’t miss this unique chance to experience and know more about nomadic traditions of the Kyrgyz people.

Travel in Kyrgyzstan and visit:

• 2^nd largest alpine lake in the world – Issyk Kul. Sandy beaches, historical monuments of the Great Silk Road and mixture of cultures.
• Ancient nomadic pasture – Son Kul lake. Meet the real nomads and stay in a real yurt!
• National Horse Games Festival – enjoy the traditional horse riding games
• Birds of Prey Festival – take great photos of famous show of hunting with an eagle

Itinerary

Day 1. Airport – Bishkek city – Kara Bulak Eco Resort – Bishkek city. (120 km / 2 hour)

Arrival in Bishkek 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)
After a restful morning and breakfast at the hotel we drive around 30 km out of Bishkek to Kara Bulak Eco Resort. Easy hikes around the area. You will also have an opportunity to watch “shyrdak show” (felt production demonstration) and learn types of traditional carpets. You can even take part in Ala Kiyiz making yourself!
Lunch in Eco Resort.
Heading back to Bishkek for sightseeing tour, which includes: the Monument of Kyrgyz National hero Manas, Changing of Guards of Honor (if it’s possible), Kurmanjan Datka Monument.
A sightseeing tour of the city comes to an end at Victory Square dedicated to the WWII. Transfer to the hotel. Free time.
(Breakfast – hotel, Lunch – eco resort)

Day 2. Bishkek – Burana tower – Cholpon Ata town. (260 km / 5-6 hours)

After breakfast transfer to Issyk Kul Lake.
En route you will visit Burana Tower, this ancient city, formerly called Balasagun, was the capital of Central Asia in the 11^th century (UNESCO). Lunch at a local Kyrgyz family.
Continue drive to Issyk Kul Lake. Issyk Kul Lake has a tectonic origin. It is a 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 – 23C^o
Arrival to Cholpon Ata town. Accommodation on the shore of the lake and rest.
Dinner in the restaurant of hotel.
(Breakfast – hotel, Lunch – local Kyrgyz family, Dinner – hotel/local cafe

Day 3. Issyk Kul lake – Karkyra valley (230 km / 4-5 hours)

After breakfast we visit one of the Museum (Museum of Nomad civilization in Ornok or Ethnographic museum in Cholpon Ata), you also visit Cholpon Ata open air museum “Petroglyphs”.
Cholpon Ata Petroglyphs site is – a large open-air collection of rock carvings, sometimes referred to as a Stone Garden, which covers 42 hectares and contains a number of prehistoric monumental structures (stone circles, tombs, the remains of a boundary stone wall, Balbals) and Petroglyphs (dating from the II millennium BC thru the Middle Ages and up to the VI century AD).  The stones have plaques giving a short description and a date), and there are several routes marked with arrows around the “stone garden.” 
Lunch in a local cafe in Cholpon Ata town.
Drive to Karkara valley.
Upon arrival, you get accommodation in a Base camp of Karkara valley. Easy hikes. Dinner in the camp.
Base camp “Karkyra” is situated in a picturesque gorge its slopes are covered with fir and juniper trees and at the Eastern border between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan.
(Breakfast – hotel, Lunch – local cafe, Dinner – Base camp Karkara)

Day 4. Karkyra valley – Karakol town via Tepke farm. (130 km / 3-4 hours)

After breakfast transfer to the village Tepke where you can see the horse farm, as well as cows and sheep and walk around. Farm tour.
Lunch at the farm by Jyrgalan river.
Option: horseback riding 1 hour around area.
Later we go to Karakol town.
Karakol – is a small but very interesting town with traditional Russian architecture. It was established in the middle of 19th century and it became an important garrison settlement in Issyk Kul region. On the way just 10 km before the town you visit the museum of Przhevalsky. After excursion you cover last kilometres to the town, and you will have a sightseeing tour in the town – Dungan Mosque, Russian Orthodox Church and local historical museum.
Accommodation in a local hotel.
Dinner in a local Dungan/Uighur family.
(Breakfast – at a base camp, Lunch – at the farm, dinner – at a local Dungan/Uighur family)

Day 5. Karakol town – Djety Oguz Gorge – Skazka Canyon – Bokonbaev village. (170 km / 4 hours)

After breakfast we leave Karakol. We 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.
Drive to Bokonbaevo village.

On the way you can visit Skazka Canyon. The Skazka Canyon is an area with many geological features and crazy rock formations. Walking around is magical.
Bokonbaevo is a picturesque village on the south shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. It is located in the middle between the Terskey Ala-Too Mountains and the shore of Issyk-Kul.
Upon arrival accommodation and dinner in the yurt camp.
(Breakfast – hotel, Lunch – lunch box, Dinner – yurt camp)

Day 6. Birds of Prey Festival in Bokonbaev village. Transfer to Kochkor village.  (120 km/ 2-3 hour)

Breakfast in the yurt camp.
After breakfast we leave for Birds of Prey Festival.
Demonstration of hunting with a Golden Eagle; folklore show; exhibition and sale of handicrafts and souvenirs; tasting of Kyrgyz cuisine.
After festival transfer to Kochkor village. Accommodation and dinner in a local family.
(Breakfast – yurt camp, Lunch – Festival place, Dinner – local family)

Day 7. Kochkor village – Son Kul Lake. (150 km/ 3 hours)

After breakfast, we drive to Son Kul Lake over Kalmak Ashuu Pass (3447 m). Lake Son-Kul is still far away but getting closer and closer it will become bigger and you can meet several herds of cattle with their shepherds on our way.
Here you can feel like a real nomads, get acquainted with the culture of Kyrgyz people and sleep in the yurt.
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.
Arrival. Lunch, dinner and accommodation at yurt camp on the shore of Son Kul lake.
(Breakfast – yurt camp, Lunch – yurt camp, Dinner – yurt camp)

Day 8. Son Kul Lake – Bishkek city. (360 km/ 6-7 hour)

After breakfast, we will take the road to the city of Bishkek. We descend by 33 Parrots Pass or Kalmak Ashu Pass depending on weather conditions.
Lunch en route.
Upon arrival to Bishkek visit the local department store – ZUM to buy souvenirs.
Dinner in local restaurant. Overnight in hotel.
(Breakfast – yurt camp, Lunch – local cafe, Dinner – local restaurant)

Day 9. Bishkek – Manas Airport (30 km /40 min)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport.
(Breakfast – hotel)

Prices

Please note, that this itinerary is an example of the tour that can be organized each year differently due to the actual festivals schedule.

Please fill the form to request details and actual information. Responsible manager will contact you as soon as possible.

Additional Info

Level of difficulty:

There are some difficulties on the route, tourists should have an average level of fitness for hiking and horse riding, and take into account that sometimes they have long transfers up to 4 hours by mountain roads.

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 10 oC. Be prepared for unexpected changes of the weather.

Conditions of accommodation:

Hotels in Bishkek, Issyk Kul, Karakol and guesthouse in Chon Kemin – private shower and toilet.
Yurts at Son Kul Lake and Bokonbaevo – shared shower and toilet.

Responsibilities of client:

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 home country.

Recommended to have:

• 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, diarrhea, 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

Map