Following the nomads’ steps

Description

Visiting the summer nomadic pastures, deeping into the culture of nomads

Itinerary

Day 1. Bishkek city. (40 km / 40 min)

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).

Time to rest.

Start city tour after late breakfast. Sightseeing tour includes the Monument of Kyrgyz National hero Manas, Changing of Guards of Honor, State Historical Museum, Kurmanjan Datka and Lenin statues, main Ala Too Square, governmental buildings, Oak park and Fine Art gallery.

The sightseeing tour of Bishkek comes to the end at the Victory Square.

Welcoming dinner in a local restaurant.

(Breakfast – hotel, dinner – local restaurant)

Day 2. 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 the 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 the 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 family in Tokmok.

Then, we continue our trip to the Issyk Kul Lake.

Issyk Kul Lake has a tectonic origin. It is a second largest alpine lake in the world after Titicaca, which is 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 temperature of its water reaches up to 20-23 C°.

On the way you may admire beautiful landscape and change of scenery.

Arrival at the 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 family, dinner – resort)

Day 3. Cholpon Ata town – Karakol town. (150 km / 3 hours).

In the morning we continue our tour and head further along the north shore of the Issyk Kul lake. In a few hours reach Karakol town.

Karakol – is a small but very interesting town with its  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. Przhevalski 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 without a single nail used. In the miraculous iconostasis of the church there is the famous Tikhvinian icon of Divine Mother, painted in 1897.

Lunch and dinner at a local café in Karakol town.

Accommodation at a hotel. Rest.

(Breakfast – resort, lunch and dinner – café in Karakol)

Day 4. Karakol town – Djety Oguz canyon – Skazka canyon – Bokonbaev village (180 km / 3 hours).

In the morning we start drive along the south shore of Issyk Kul lake. First stop at 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 the Soviet times, 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 till we reach Kajy Sai district where stop for a walk at the Skazka canyon.

Arrival in Bokonbaev village. Accommodation at the yurt camp or guest house. Dinner in place of accommodation. Rest.

(Breakfast – hotel, lunch – en route, dinner – yurt camp / guest house)

Day 5. Bokonbaev village – Tash Rabat caravanserai (360 km / 5-6 hours).

Continue the way to the 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 knoleadges and experience of felt and carpet producing.

After lovely time in Kochkor village head to Tash Rabat caravanserai via Naryn town.

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.

Here we briefly visit the Central Blue Mosque and the Central Square.

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 / guest house, lunch – family, dinner – yurt camp)

Day 6. Tash Rabat caravanserai – Son Kul lake. (260 km / 5 hours).

In the morning we start as usual and head to the Tash Rabat caravanserai for excursion (close to the camp).

After interesting historical excurse we drive back to Naryn town and further to the Son Kul lake via Moldo Ashuu pass.

Lunch en route.

In the afternoon reach 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. The road to the lake goes through the windy mountain passes and vanishes in the sky. As a result, 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.

Dinner and overnight.

(Breakfast – yurt camp, lunch – en route, dinner – yurt camp)

Day 7. Son Kul lake – Bishkek city (360 km / 6-7 hours).

After breakfast proceed to Bishkek city. Long drive via Kalmak Ashuu pass, Kochkor village, around Orto Tokoi reservoir, over Kuvaky pass and Boom canyon to Chui valley.

Lunch en route.

Upon arrival to Bishkek still have some time to deal with unfinished business, purchase souvenirs or gifts back to your relatives and friends.

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 the hotel.

(Breakfast – yurt camp, lunch – en route, dinner – local restaurant).

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

Today in Bishkek your trip concludes.

(Breakfast – hotel)

Prices

The trip cost for 2022 per person in USD:

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 C° and in the mountains the temperature decreases to 10 C°. Be prepared for unexpected changes of the weather.

Recommended:

• Rain-coat
• Sweater/fleece
• Wind-stopper
• Enough t-shirts and other underwear (think of taking something 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
• A smaller backpack, except for your normal suitcase.
• Flash light (torch)
• Walking poles if needed

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

Photos

Map