Kyrgyzstan tour 7

Duration: 8 days

Places to visit: Bishkek - Son Kul Lake - Tash Rabat Caravanserai - Kochkor valley - Tamga village - Karakol - Karakol - Bishkek

For the duration of this tour you will see the celestial mountains of Kyrgyz Republic and two the most famed lakes. First of all you will visit our famous Son Kul Lake that is situated on the altitude of 3016 m. a. s. l. You will sleeps in yurts as nomads still do and it is a great possibility to find out more about the life of the Kyrgyz nomads and their striking culture! Afterwards you will see the biggest lake Issyk Kul that is surrounded by mountains.

Tour summary:

Day 1: Bishkek city
Meeting in Manas International Airport. Your guide will accompany you to Bishkek City. The drive from the Airport till Bishkek takes half an hour. In Bishkek, you will start the day with a breakfast. This day is entirely dedicated to a guided Bishkek city tour. This sightseeing tour concludes the visiting of the National philharmonic, Ala-Too central Square, Oak Park (Duboviy Park), Victory Square (Pobeda Square), Art Gallery, the Historical Museum of Kyrgyzstan, Oriental Bazaar and many other interesting places. Lunch. At 7 p.m. traditional dinner will be served. This night you will spend in the Hotel****.

Day 2: Bishkek - Son Kul Lake
We will start our drive to the 2nd largest lake Son Kul Lake in Kyrgyz Republic after breakfast. Son Kul Lake is situated at an altitude of 3013 meters above sea level and it is the highest alpine lake in Kyrgyzstan; it is bounded by the mountains. Kyrgyz nomads started to come to this wonderful area with their families for rest and relaxation. Lunch will be taken on the way. As soon as we arrive, you will be free to walk around and enjoy the virgin natural world of the lake and its surrounds. The herders, who live in the Naryn region, come to this lake with their flocks of cattle to use it as summer grassland. Dinner and overnight are in nomadic dwellings - yurts. Yurt represents collapsible wooden skeleton, covered with felt coverings. Yurts are manufactured without nails.

Day 3: Son Kul Lake - Tash Rabat Caravanserai (Stone castle)
You will be served breakfast at 8 o'clock after packing your baggage. After that you will be transferred to the Tash Rabat that is located at the very heart of Tian Shan Mountains at a height 3200 m above sea level. Tash Rabat (Stone Castle from the 14th century) is caravanserai that was used by the Silk Road traders to shelter from the foul weather and bandits. This building is a unique one, it has no analogue in the whole world, because it was made of stones and besides that it was built inside the mountain. There are 31 rooms, which are connected with the central chamber with maze. The thickness of walls is 1 meter. Inside this structure, there are also underground prisons for medieval thieves. At 7 p.m. traditional dinner will be served. You will spend the night near by the Tash Rabat caravanserai in yurt camp.

Day 4: Tash Rabat - Kochkor valley
Strengthening breakfast. Transfer (185 km) from Tash Rabat to Kochkor Village. In the village of Kochkor you will visit a family that demonstrate you the way of national bright felt carpets production. You even could participate in this process and create your own carpet. In Kochkor you will have a traditional dinner in the house of the local family. Dinner will be accompanied with special national music performance. Overnight stay is in the Kochkor Guesthouse.

Day 5: Kochkor valley - Tamga village
At 8 o'clock you will be served with your breakfast. After that you will be transferred (200 km) to the celestial Issyk-Kul Lake (1608m.above sea level), the 2nd largest alpine lake in the world. This Lake is also known as "the pearl of Central Asia". On the way you will see the gorgeous valley and you will pass the Orto Tokoi water collecting reservoir. Upon our arrival in Tamga village you will have a rest on the lake's southern sandy beach and swim in the lake that possesses curative properties. At 7 p.m. in Tamga Guesthouse your dinner will be served. You will spend the night in Tamga.

Day 6: Tamga - Karakol
At 8 o'clock the day starts with a breakfast. After that you have free time till 12 p.m. to swim in the lake. After swimming, you will start your trip (50km) to Karakol town by car. You will have your lunch in Karakol. After lunch you will have a guided Karakol city tour. The tour includes the visit of the Dungan - Chinese mosque. One of its highlights is the fact that it is built in Chinese style without using a single metal nail. This will be followed by the visit of an old wooden Orthodox Church. Later, you will visit the museum of M.V. Prjevalsky, one of the world's greatest explores. His biggest successes were the crossing of the great desert of Taklamakan and the discovery of more than 4000 species of animals, including the Horse that was later named after the explorer. At 8 p.m. national dinner will be served. Overnight is in a guesthouse.

Day 7: Karakol - Bishkek
At 8 o'clock breakfast is served. You will be transferred to Cholpon Ata resort town after the breakfast. We will drive (120km.) the along the northern shore of the sparkling pearl of Central Asia - Issyk-Kul Lake. En route, we will make a short halt at 1 p.m., during which you could enjoy your lunch in a tranquil atmosphere. After lunch we will visit ancient stone inscriptions dating back to 800 B.C. that were made by the Saks and Usuns. You will also visit the local museum of Issyk - Kul. After that is transfer (280km) to Bishkek city by vehicle via stunning Boom Gorge. A farewell dinner is served at 7 p.m. Overnight is in the Hotel****.

Day 8: Bishkek - Europe
Transfer from the hotel to the International Airport of Manas.