This six-day tour circles the eastern half of Issyk-Kul Lake and is built around activities you take part in rather than sites you look at. Each day includes a tradition or craft: the horseback game Kok Boru demonstration near the Burana Tower (depending on group size), boorsok baking and the nomad games Ordo and Upay at the yurt camp in Karkyra Valley, an evening with a Manaschi, a traditional reciter of the Kyrgyz epic Manas, in Karakol, archery and a falconry show with a golden eagle on the southern shore, and the shyrdak felt carpet makers of Bokonbaev and the yurt frame craftsmen of Kyzyl-Tuu on the final day.
The tour runs year round, with departures every two weeks in 2027, and each departure is guaranteed to run with 2 participants. Driving distances are moderate for Kyrgyzstan: the longest road day is Day 2, at 370 km, and Day 3 is spent entirely at the Karkyra camp with no driving.
Kok Boru at Burana: a demonstration of the national horseback game near the 11th-century Silk Road minaret on Day 1. For groups of 5 or more, the games are organized as part of the program; groups of 1–4 people can enjoy a horseback ride or book a game for $230 per group.
Two nights in Karkyra Valley: a yurt camp in Chaar-Kuduk Gorge, near the Kazakhstan border, with a boorsok baking session and a full activity day.
Nomad games day: Ordo and Upay, the traditional Kyrgyz games, followed by free time for hiking, the camp sauna, swings, and evening by the campfire.
Karakol cultural sites: the Dungan Mosque and the wooden Holy Trinity Church, with a boat ride on Issyk-Kul Lake, weather permitting.
Evening with a Manaschi: a traditional reciter of the epic Manas performs in Karakol.
Jeti-Oguz and Skazka Canyon: the Seven Bulls red sandstone cliffs and the formations of Skazka Canyon, followed by archery and a falconry show with a golden eagle.
Bokonbaev and Kyzyl-Tuu crafts: shyrdak felt carpet making in Bokonbaev and yurt frame construction in Kyzyl-Tuu.
A good fit if you:
Probably not the right trip if you:
Arrival in Bishkek and the drive to the Burana Tower, an 11th-century minaret from the Silk Road era. Near the tower, a demonstration of the national horseback game Kok Boru. For groups of 5 or more people, the horseback games are organized as part of the program. For groups of 1 to 4 people, the games do not take place; instead, guests ride horses and watch a video demonstration, or a live game demonstration can be arranged for $230 per group.
The route continues to the Chon-Kemin Valley for dinner and the overnight stay.
Overnight: guesthouse, Chon-Kemin.
Meals: dinner.
The drive follows the northern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake east. A stop at the Kyrchyn Valley, introduces the nomadic traditions of the region.
The route continues to the yurt camp in Karkyra Valley, where you take part in baking borsok, the traditional Kyrgyz fried bread. This is the longest road day of the tour.
Overnight: yurt camp, Karkyra Valley.
Meals: breakfast, dinner.
A full day at the camp with the traditional Kyrgyz games Ordo and Upay.
After lunch, free time for camp activities: hiking, the sauna, swings, and an evening movie screening. Optional horseback riding is available.
Overnight: yurt camp, Karkyra Valley.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
The drive to Karakol, the largest town at the eastern end of the lake.
A visit to the Dungan Mosque and the wooden Holy Trinity Church, and a boat ride on Issyk-Kul Lake, weather permitting.
In the evening, a meeting with a Manaschi, a traditional reciter of the Kyrgyz epic Manas.
Overnight: 3* hotel, Karakol.
Meals: breakfast.
The route follows the southern shore, with a stop at Jeti-Oguz Gorge and its Seven Bulls red sandstone cliffs, and a short excursion in Skazka Canyon among its colorful formations.
At the camp, archery and a falconry show with a golden eagle.
Dinner and overnight at the yurt camp.
Overnight: yurt camp or guesthouse, southern shore of Issyk-Kul.
Meals: breakfast, dinner.
A visit to Bokonbaev village to see how the traditional shyrdak felt carpets are made, then to Kyzyl-Tuu, where local craftsmen build yurt frames.
Return to Bishkek. End of the tour.
Meals: breakfast.
In six days the tour includes a Kok Boru demonstration, borsok baking (traditional Kyrgyz fried bread), the nomad games: Ordo and Upay, a Manaschi performance, archery, a falconry show, and the craft workshops of Bokonbaev and Kyzyl-Tuu, along with the Burana Tower, Karakol, Jeti-Oguz, and Skazka Canyon.
| Departure Date | Availability | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 November 2026 – 12 November 2026 | Spots Available | $1,095 | |
| 21 November 2026 – 26 November 2026 | Spots Available | $1,095 | |
| 5 December 2026 – 10 December 2026 | Spots Available | $1,095 | |
| 19 December 2026 – 24 December 2026 | Spots Available | $1,095 |
| Departure Date | Availability | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 January 2027 – 7 January 2027 | Spots Available | $1,095 | |
| 16 January 2027 – 22 January 2027 | Spots Available | $1,095 | |
| 30 January 2027 – 4 February 2027 | Spots Available | $1,095 | |
| 13 February 2027 – 18 February 2027 | Spots Available | $1,095 | |
| 27 February 2027 – 4 March 2027 | Spots Available | $1,095 | |
| 13 March 2027 – 18 March 2027 | Spots Available | $1,095 | |
| 27 March 2027 – 1 April 2027 | Spots Available | $1,095 | |
| 10 April 2027 – 15 April 2027 | Spots Available | $1,095 | |
| 24 April 2027 – 29 April 2027 | Spots Available | $1,095 | |
| 8 May 2027 – 13 May 2027 | Spots Available | $1,095 | |
| 22 May 2027 – 27 May 2027 | Spots Available | $1,095 | |
| 5 June 2027 – 10 June 2027 | Spots Available | $1,095 | |
| 19 June 2027 – 24 June 2027 | Spots Available | $1,095 |
| Accommodation basis | Price |
| Twin/double occupancy | $960 |
| Single occupancy only in hotels | $1,025 |
| Extra night in Bishkek hotel | Single | Double |
|---|---|---|
| 3★ Hotel | $70 | $90 |
| 4★ Hotel | $90 | $100 |
| 5★ Hotel | $230 | $270 |
| Extra airport transfer | Price |
|---|---|
| 1–3 people | $40 |
| 4–9 people | $70 |
| Accommodation basis | Price |
| Twin/double occupancy | $1,890 |
| Single occupancy only in hotels | $2,070 |
| Single occupancy (upon request) | $2,160 |
| Extra night in Bishkek hotel | Single | Double |
|---|---|---|
| 3★ Hotel | $75 | $95 |
| 4★ Hotel | $100 | $110 |
| 5★ Hotel | $240 | $280 |
| Extra airport transfer | Price |
|---|---|
| 1–3 people | $50 |
| 4–9 people | $95 |
| Day | Activity / Service | Price / Availability |
|---|---|---|
| — | Kok Boru game demonstration for groups of 1 to 4 people | $230 per group |
| Day 3 | Horseback riding at the Karkyra camp | From $15 / hour |
Duration: 6 days, 5 nights
Start / End: Bishkek → Bishkek (Bishkek accommodation and airport transfers not included)
Departures: 26 fixed dates in 2027, year round, guaranteed with minimum 1 participant
Accommodation: Guesthouse (1 night), yurt camps (3 nights), hotel (1 night)
Meals: 5 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 4 dinners
Activity level: Easy. Touring and cultural activities with short walks; no nights at high altitude
Season: Year round
The driving on this tour is moderate for Kyrgyzstan:
Day 1 (Bishkek to Chon-Kemin, 170 km, 3 hours)
Day 2 (Chon-Kemin to Karkyra, 370 km, 6–7 hours)
Day 4 (Karkyra to Karakol, 120 km, 2 hours)
Day 5 (Karakol to the southern shore, 160 km, 3 hours)
Day 6 (southern shore to Bishkek, 270 km, 5 hours)
Day 3 is spent entirely at the Karkyra camp, with no driving. Day 2 is the one long road day of the tour.
The tour operates in all twelve months, and the cultural program is the core of the trip in every season. Summer is the season for swimming in Issyk-Kul Lake, and lake does not freeze in winter, so you can enjoy views throughout the year. The boat ride on Day 4 depends on the weather in any season. Winter departures require full winter clothing; the packing lists below cover both seasons.
Bishkek in summer can reach 40°C, while in winter temperatures can drop to around -10°C. In the mountains, temperatures can fall to around 10°C even in summer and well below -20°C in winter. Weather can change quickly in any season, and warm layers are required regardless of the dates.
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 except on Day 3, so plan a cash budget for the remaining meals.
Will we see the Kok Boru horseback games? It depends on the group size. For groups of 5 or more people, the games are organized as part of the program near the Burana Tower on Day 1. For groups of 1 to 4 people, the games do not take place; instead, you ride horses and watch a video demonstration. Groups of up to 4 people can book the live game demonstration for $230 per group, arranged in advance.
Does the tour run in winter? Yes. The tour operates year round, with 26 departures across 2027, and every departure is guaranteed with 1 participant. The cultural program is the core of the trip in every season; the boat ride on Day 4 depends on the weather, and swimming in Issyk-Kul is a summer activity. Winter departures require full winter clothing.
Is accommodation in Bishkek included? No. The tour price covers the five nights on the route, from Chon-Kemin to the southern shore of Issyk-Kul. Accommodation in Bishkek before or after the tour and airport transfers are not included. Write to us when booking and your travel advisor will help you plan the arrival and departure.
Is this a good trip for solo travellers? Yes. Every departure is guaranteed to operate with a minimum of 2 participants. A solo traveller joining an existing group pays $1,095 plus a $150 single supplement for private rooms. If no other travellers have booked the departure, the solo rate is $2,130.
How much driving is there? Day 2 is the one long road day, at 370 km and 6 to 7 hours along the northern shore. The other transfers are 2 to 5 hours, and Day 3 has no driving at all. This tour does not climb to the high passes, and there are no nights at high altitude.
No reviews yet.
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.
10 days, 9 nights
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.
From $1,890 per person
Explore Tour
5 days, 4 nights
A five-day tour exploring nomadic traditions of Kyrgyzstan’s southern route: Tash-Rabat caravanserai at 3,200 m, Song-Kul Lake at 3,016 m, and nights in yurt camps. The program includes an eagle hunting demonstration, a boorsok show, a yurt assembling show and a shyrdak show. Weekly departures from late May to late September.
From $920 per person
Explore Tour
4 days, 3 nights
A four-day tour from Bishkek with all three nights in yurt camps: two on the southern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake at 1,620 m and one at Song-Kul Lake at 3,016 m. The program includes an eagle hunting demonstration and a hike to the three Barskoon waterfalls, reaching up to 2,900 m. Departures every two weeks from mid-June to mid-September.
From $650 per person
Explore Tour
7 days, 6 nights
A seven-day guided round trip from Bishkek: Issyk-Kul Lake, Burana Tower, Tash-Rabat caravanserai, and three nights in yurt camps, including Song-Kul Lake at 3,016 m. This is the route we recommend for a first visit to Kyrgyzstan when you have one week.
From $1,475 per person
Explore TourDiscuss your travel plans with our tour manager and find the right trip.
Send us your inquiry, and we'll reply within 24 hours.
Thanks for reaching out. We'll get back to you on WhatsApp shortly.
We will contact you shortly.
Order tickets for your destination through our manager.
