This seven-day round trip from Bishkek covers the three places most first-time visitors come to Kyrgyzstan to see: Issyk-Kul Lake, the long alpine lake at 1,607 m; the Tash-Rabat caravanserai, a stone Silk Road building in the Kara-Koyun Gorge; and Song-Kul Lake, a high pasture lake at 3,016 m where herder families live in yurts each summer.
The tour also includes Burana Tower, petroglyphs at Cholpon-Ata, cultural sites of Karakol, red sandstone cliffs at Jeti-Oguz, and Skazka Canyon on the southern shore.
This is a touring trip, which means the walks are short, but the distances between the sites are long. Three of the seven days have road segments with daily car rides of five to seven hours, because the sites are located far apart and Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country.
Burana Tower: an 11th-century minaret near Tokmok, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with its museum and open-air collection of balbal stone statues.
Issyk-Kul Lake: 182 km long and the second-largest mountain lake in the world. It does not freeze in winter, and the water is warm enough for swimming in summer.
Cholpon-Ata petroglyphs: an open-air field of carved stones, the oldest dating back roughly three thousand years.
Karakol cultural sites: the Dungan Mosque, built with interlocking timber joinery and no metal nails; the wooden Russian Orthodox church; and the Przhevalsky Museum.
Jeti-Oguz Gorge: seven red sandstone cliffs and the Broken Heart formation, with a short hike.
Skazka Canyon: colorful sandstone formations on the southern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake.
Tash-Rabat caravanserai (10th century): a stone Silk Road building in the Kara-Koyun Gorge, with one night at the yurt camp at the site.
Song-Kul Lake: a yurt camp night at 3,016 m, surrounded by summer pasture.
A good fit if you:
Probably not the right trip if you:
Arrival at Manas International Airport, meeting with our driver, and transfer to the hotel. Early check-in is not included.
After a rest, a city tour: the Manas Monument, Ala-Too Square, the State Historical Museum, Oak Park, the Fine Art Gallery, and Victory Square.
Overnight: hotel, Bishkek. Meals: none.
The first stop is the Burana Tower historical complex, with its museum and field of balbal stones. The route continues east along the northern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake, with a stop at the Cholpon-Ata petroglyphs and at the lake shore.
Evening arrival in Karakol, the largest town at the eastern end of the lake. This is the longest road day of the trip.
Overnight: hotel or guesthouse, Karakol. Meals: breakfast at the hotel.
A city tour of Karakol: the Przhevalsky Museum, the Dungan Mosque, and the Russian Orthodox church.
The route then follows the southern shore of the lake, with a hike in Jeti-Oguz Gorge to the Seven Bulls cliffs and the Broken Heart rock. The route continues to Skazka Canyon on the southern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake, where you will explore the canyon’s colorful sandstone formations during a short excursion.
Arrival in the Bokonbaev area in the evening.
Overnight: yurt camp, Kaji-Sai district. Meals: breakfast at the hotel, dinner at the yurt camp.
An optional eagle hunting demonstration can be arranged near Bokonbaev in the morning ($90 per group, booked in advance).
The drive goes through Naryn city, with a short stop at the Blue Mosque and the central square. The route then continues into the Kara-Koyun Gorge to the Tash-Rabat caravanserai. It is a long transfer this day.
Overnight: yurt camp, Tash-Rabat. Meals: breakfast and dinner at the yurt camps.
A morning excursion to the Tash-Rabat caravanserai.
The route then crosses the Moldo-Ashuu Pass to Song-Kul Lake at 3,016 m. The lake sits in a wide basin of summer pasture, and herder families keep their livestock here from June through September, living in yurts for the season.
Overnight: yurt camp, Song-Kul Lake (3,016 m). Meals: breakfast and dinner at the yurt camps.
The drive back to Bishkek crosses the Kalmak-Ashuu Pass and passes Kochkor village, the Orto-Tokoi Reservoir, and the Boom Gorge.
Afternoon arrival in Bishkek, with free time in the city for souvenirs and rest.
Overnight: hotel, Bishkek. Meals: breakfast at the yurt camp.
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport for your departure flight. Day 7 is a driver-only transfer.
Meals: breakfast at the hotel.
In seven days the route covers Burana Tower, petroglyphs at Cholpon-Ata, Karakol cultural sites, Jeti-Oguz Gorge, Skazka Canyon, Tash-Rabat caravanserai, and a night at Song-Kul Lake at 3,016 m.
| Departure Date | Availability | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 June 2027 – 26 June 2027 | Spots Available | $1,475 | |
| 11 July 2027 – 17 July 2027 | Spots Available | $1,475 | |
| 8 August 2027 – 14 August 2027 | Spots Available | $1,475 | |
| 5 September 2027 – 11 September 2027 | Spots Available | $1,475 |
| Accommodation basis | Price |
| Twin/double occupancy | $1,475 |
| Single occupancy only in hotels | $1,575 |
| Single occupancy (upon request) | $1,655 |
At the single-in-hotels rate, you have a private hotel room in Bishkek and Karakol and share a yurt at the three camps. Full single occupancy, including a private yurt, is available on request at $1,655.
| Day | Activity / Service | Price / Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Day 4 | Eagle hunting demonstration near Bokonbaev | $90 per group |
| Day 1 | Early check-in at the Bishkek hotel | Extra cost, on request |
If you would like to travel on your own preferred dates, a private trip can be arranged upon request.
Duration: 7 days, 6 nights
Start / End: Manas Airport, Bishkek → Manas Airport, Bishkek
Departures: Four fixed dates in 2027, guaranteed with 2 participants
Accommodation: Hotels (3 nights), yurt camps (3 nights)
Meals: 6 breakfasts, 3 dinners
Transport: Jeep 4WD for 1–2 travellers, Mercedes Sprinter for 3–9 travellers
Activity level: Easy to moderate. Touring with short walks at each stop; one day on a rough mountain road to Tash-Rabat.
Season: Late June to mid-September
Three of the seven days have road segments of driving five to seven hours:
The roads are paved along Issyk-Kul Lake and toward Naryn, and rougher on the approach to Tash-Rabat and on the descent from Song-Kul. Travellers who prefer one less day of long-distance drive should consider the Issyk-Kul Cultural Tour (6 Days), which stays around the lake and does not include an overnight stay at a higher altitude.
The trip includes yurt camp nights at Tash-Rabat and at Song-Kul Lake (3,016 m), and crosses the Moldo-Ashuu and Kalmak-Ashuu passes. This is not a mountaineering trip and the walking is generally light. Drinking extra water and sleeping early on the first night at altitude helps most travellers adjust. Travellers who have had altitude problems before, or who have a heart condition or severe asthma, should tell us at booking.
The 2027 departures run from 20 June to 5 September. June and September are quieter at the lakes and camps; July and August are the warmest months and the busiest. Herder families begin to leave the Song-Kul pastures toward the end of September as the weather becomes colder.
Bishkek in summer can reach 40°C. In the mountains, daytime temperatures can drop to around 10°C, and nights at Song-Kul are cold even in July. Weather in the mountains can change quickly, and warm layers are required regardless of the dates.
A soft bag or duffel is easier to handle at the yurt camps than a hard suitcase.
The local currency is the Kyrgyz som (KGS). Bank cards are accepted in Bishkek; outside the capital, plan to pay in cash.
If you bring US dollars or euros to exchange, bring notes of 50 and 100 in clean condition, without stamps, inscriptions, or damage, as damaged banknotes are not accepted by banks and exchange offices. US dollar notes must be issued from 2009 or later. Euro notes should be no larger than 100.
Lunches are not included on any day, and dinners are included only at the yurt camps, so plan a cash budget for the remaining meals.
Why is Tash-Rabat worth an extra day over the shorter tour? Tash-Rabat is the reason this itinerary runs seven days instead of six. Most one-week trips in Kyrgyzstan pair Issyk-Kul with Song-Kul; adding the Tash-Rabat caravanserai means a drive south through Naryn and a night in a yurt camp at the site. If a stone Silk Road caravanserai is on your list, this is the tour that reaches it. If it is not, the Issyk-Kul Cultural Tour (6 Days) covers the lake at a lower price.
How much of the week is spent driving? Three of the seven days have road segments of five to seven hours: Day 2, Day 4, and Day 6. The sites sit far apart and the country is mountainous. Travellers who prefer one less long road day should consider the Issyk-Kul Cultural Tour (6 Days).
How high do we go, and will the altitude be a problem? You sleep at Song-Kul Lake at 3,016 m and at the Tash-Rabat yurt camp, and the route crosses the Moldo-Ashuu and Kalmak-Ashuu passes. The walking is light, and most travellers adjust without difficulty. Travellers with previous altitude problems, a heart condition, or severe asthma should tell us at booking.
What is the accommodation like? A mix over six nights: hotels in Bishkek (2 nights), a hotel or guesthouse in Karakol (1 night), and yurt camps at Kaji-Sai, Tash-Rabat, and Song-Kul (3 nights, two travellers per yurt). Meals at the camps are served buffet-style. The camps are simple and organized, and they are not hotels.
Is this a good trip for solo travellers? Yes. Solo travellers can book at the single-in-hotels rate of $1,575, which provides a private hotel room and shared yurts, or at the full single rate of $1,655 on request, which includes a private yurt. Please note that this is a group tour, so you will not be travelling alone with the guide and driver. If you prefer a private tour, we can arrange the same trip exclusively for you on your preferred dates.
Will the tour run if the group is small? Yes. Each 2027 departure is guaranteed to run with 2 participants.
How is this tour different from the Kyrgyzstan Nomad Tour (5 Days)? Both reach Tash-Rabat and Song-Kul by the southern road. This 7-day tour adds hotel nights in Bishkek and Karakol, the northern shore, the Cholpon-Ata petroglyphs, and the Karakol cultural sites. The 5-day tour spends every night in a yurt camp, includes the eagle hunting demonstration and the craft shows in the price, and departs weekly at $920. If this is your one visit to Kyrgyzstan and you want the full circuit, take the 7-day; if you want the yurt life and a lower price, take the 5-day.
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Ak-Sai Travel has organized tours across Kyrgyzstan’s mountains, valleys, and nomadic regions since 1998, led by our local team.
Guides grew up in these mountains and valleys, so you get straight answers about the route, the weather, and the culture from people who know the ground firsthand.
Ak-Sai Travel owns and runs the transport, the guides, and the camps you stay in, so one local team handles your whole trip and looks after you if a plan changes.
You stay in traditional Kyrgyz yurt camps and have lunch in local family homes, experiencing Kyrgyz culture through where you stay and where you eat.
Ak-Sai Travel has been organizing cultural tours and mountain expeditions across Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia since 1998, using routes that have been tested and refined over decades.
Looking for a different route or trip length? Discover other cultural journeys across Kyrgyzstan.
Cultural Tour
from $1,890
A ten-day guided round trip from Bishkek to the Kyrgyzstan's three signature lakes: Issyk-Kul, Song-Kul at 3,016 m, and remote Kel-Suu near the Chinese border. The border permit and the special vehicle for the Kel-Suu road are both required and included in the price. Two group departures in 2027, in July and August.
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