Kyrgyzstan tour 1

Kyrgyzstan tourTour 1

Destination: Kyrgyzstan

Activity: Cultural tour

Duration: 8 days 

Places to visit: Bishkek - Issyk Kul Lake - Karakol - Tamga - Bokonbaevo - Kochkor Village - Son Kul Lake - Bishkek 

This adventure presents the great chance to see the magnificent land of celestial mountains, which are located in Central Asia. The entire tour goes along the Great Silk Way passing through the striking Tian - Shan massif. You will visit the world's 2nd largest mountain lake - Issyk - Kul, as well as the charming Son - Kul Lake, which is situated on an elevated plateau (3013m. above sea level) in the heart of Kyrgyz Republic. You will be taken back to the time of nomadic life, their traditions, culture and food. You will take pleasure in seeing of the wild nature of the untouched places, and memorable historic places of interest!


Tour summary: 

Day 1: Bishkek - Issyk Kul Lake
From the International Airport of Manas you will be collected and accompanied to Bishkek city by your private guide. The drive from the Airport till Bishkek takes 30 minutes. In Bishkek you will start this day with a breakfast. After that you will be transferred (200 km) to the celestial Issyk Kul Lake (1608 m. above sea level), which is the 2nd world's largest mountain lake. En route, we will stop to visit the Tower of Burana that is the minaret dated the 11th century A. D. and the open air museum of Balbans (stone warriors) that is located nearby. We continue our way to the lake after having taken a traditional lunch. Upon arrival in the Hotel you will have a rest on the lake's northern beach where you can swim in the lake or lie on the warm sand. The Lake is also called "The Treasure of Central Asia".  Owing to the fact that the water is salty, the Lake of Issyk Kul possesses curative properties. At 7 p.m. your dinner will be served. 

Day 2: Issyk Kul Lake - Karakol
At 8 o'clock, this day starts with a breakfast. Afterwards you will have some free time to go swimming in the lake until 12 p.m. Then, you will start your trip (200 km) to Karakol town by car. En route, we will make a short halt to give you the chance to visit ancient (dating back to 800 B.C.) stone carvings, as well as the local Issyk - Kul Museum. At 12 o'clock you will have a second stop for the period of this trip, where, before continuing our way to Karakol town, you can get pleasure from lunch in a relaxed ambiance. You will be able to enjoy to the full beauty of the lake during another break, where you go on a one hour cruise on a steam boat. After that you will be transferred to Karakol town along the northern shore of the sparkling pearl of Central Asia. Traditional dinner will be served at 8 p.m. Overnight in the guesthouse.

Day 3: Karakol - Tamga 
At 8 o'clock you will be served with your breakfast. This whole morning will be dedicated to a guided Karakol City Tour. With your guide you will visit, first of all, the Dungan - Chinese Mosque. During this excursion the fact that it is built in Chinese style without using a single metal nail will be highlighted. This will be followed by the visit of the old wooden Orthodox Cathedral. Later on, you will visit M.V. Prejvalsky museum. Prjevalsky was one of the world's greatest explorers, whose biggest achievements were the crossing of the great Taklamakan Desert and the discovery of more than 4000 species of animals, including the Horse that was later named after the explorer. The City Tour will be ended with a traditional lunch and we leave Karakol starting our way (30km) to the impressive Jeti Oguz at 1 p.m. Jeti Oguz is the gorge of 7 red rocks. You will see the Broken Heart Mountain and the Sanatorium (where you can take a hydro shower or get a massage session). We will explore Jeti Oguz Valley (Yuri Gagarin's holiday's house, yurts, alpine vegetation that represented here in abundance) or Chong Kyzyl Suu Valley with its hot spring water and Geophysics Station that was built in 1948. Transfer to Tamga Village. Tamga was a place where ancient Tibetan monks lived in the 13th century, but these days it is village with predominantly Russian population. In the Tamga Guesthouse, dinner will be served, there you will also spend the night; optionally you can go to sauna.

Day 4: Tamga - Bokonbaiva - Kochkorka (120km.) 
At 9 o'clock breakfast is served. After breakfast you have time (till 12 o'clock) to have a rest on the Issyk Kul Lake southern beach or to explore Tamga village. After that we start our drive to Kochkor Village by car. On the way to Kochkor, we will have a break in Bokonbaevo village, where, in the house of a local eagle-hunter, lunch will be served. He hunts hares and foxes with the help of the birds of prey (traditional way of nomads hunting activity). An eagle hunting show can be arranged. After that, we will continue our way to Kochkor via the Orto - Tokoi water collecting reservoir. In the Kochkor village you will meet a family that will show you the way of national felt carpets production. You even will be able to make your own carpet. You will have a traditional dinner with a local family. The dinner will be accompanied with a special national music performance. Night in the Kochkor guesthouse.

Day 5: Kochkorka - Son Kul Lake
We start our drive to the second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan Son Kul Lake after breakfast. Lunch is on the way. Son Kul Lake situated at an altitude of 3013 meters above sea level, it is surrounded by the mountains and it is the highest altitude alpine lake in Kyrgyz Republic. The Kyrgyz nomads started to come to this wonderful area with their families for rest and relaxation since ancient times. Naryn region herders come to the lake with their cattle to use it as a pastureland. Upon arrival, you will be free to explore and take pleasure in the untouched natural world of the lake and its environs. Dinner and overnight are in the nomadic collapsible abodes - yurts. The yurt represents wooden skeleton, covered with thin felt mats. Yurts are manufactured without nails.
 
Day 6: Son Kul (3013m. above sea level)
Your breakfast will be served at 9 a.m. After that you have free time at Son-Kul Lake to explore its nature on your own. You can ride on a horse along the lake, or just relax in the wild, but calm nature atmosphere. At 2 pm your lunch will be served. Followed by that, you will see also ancient petroglyphs and shamans ritual stones. It is a great opportunity to familiarize yourself with nomadic traditions and its culture. You will spend the night in yurts as nomads do. National dinner will be served in unique nomadic houses - yurts. 

Day 7: Son Kul - Bishkek
At 8 o'clock you will have your breakfast. After that we start our trip back to Bishkek (the Kyrgyz capital city). Upon arrival in Bishkek, you will have guided city tour. During this sightseeing tour you will visit the central Square of Ala-Too, the History Museum, Duboviy Park (Oak Park), Art Gallery, Pobeda Square (Victory Square), National Philharmonic, Oriental Osh Bazaar, and many others places that will attract your attention. You will be also given a separate plan, listing all places to visit, including their brief description. A farewell dinner is served at 7 p.m. Overnight in the Hotel****.
 
Day 8: Bishkek - Europe
You will be met by your guide in the Hotel at the pick up time arranged previously according to the details of your flight and accompanied to the International Airport of Manas.