Bishkek

Upon arrival in Bishkek, you will meet a member of the team and transfer to your accommodation. You will receive a private room to be shared with one or two other members of the expedition. The afternoon agenda will involve a gear check, allowing us the time necessary to make any purchases or revisions to our packs. In the evening we will host an expedition briefing, where guests will have the opportunity to raise queries about the upcoming trip, followed by a traditional Central Asian feast at one of the city's finest restaurants.

State History Museum

After taking breakfast in our hotel we embark on a journey through the former Soviet metropolis, exploring the city's most iconic points of interest. We will begin by touring Bishkek’s political center Ala-Too Square, with the option to enter the State History Museum to learn more about Kyrgyzstan's rich past.

Osh Bazaar

In the afternoon we will visit one of Central Asia’s most impressive markets, the bustling Osh Bazaar, where guests can enjoy a traditional Kyrgyz lunch and wander the endless labyrinth of street stalls. While meandering the chaotic network of the bazaar we will purchase last-minute personal snacks and supplies for the trek to come, then take a few hours rest back at our accommodation.

Kyrgyz State Philharmonic Hall

In the evening, if time and schedule permit, we will attend a traditional performance at the national Philharmonic Hall, then share another Kyrgyz dinner together at a nearby restaurant.

Suusamyr Valley

Today we will leave in the early morning in order to beat the surge of westbound Bishkek traffic. The road will take us out of the Chui Valley over the high Too-Ashuu Pass before dropping us onto the airy Suusamyr Plateau. Here we will stop along the way for a taste of the countryside - koumiss. The sour, effervescing alcoholic drink is a fermentation of mare’s milk, and is at its finest in the late springtime. We will stop here for the night, sleeping inside a traditional Kyrgyz yurt, or Boz-Ui. Before dark we have a chance to take an evening stroll or ride around the vast jailoo.

The following morning we will continue over Ala-Bel Pass into the lush Chychykan Gorge. We will stop for brunch beside a tranquil river, taking a moment to absorb the forests and ambient birdsong, before continuing onward past the Toktogul Reservoir to our trailhead. The day’s walk will begin amidst groves of the rare Occidental Himalayan Birch, then progress into pastures perforated with juniper and flocks of sheep that move like cumulus clouds across the green. The trail is good, and we will make quick time toward a bench high above the valley floor, pitching beside a small tributary. Trek Stats: 10.1km, +1230m, -0m Difficulty: 3/5

From the shepherds camp we begin our hike upward through changing ecosystems. As we leave the juniper behind we find ourselves in a high green basin decorated with a splendid array of wildflowers. We cross a high pass, then begin our long, gradual descent toward the cerulean waters of Kutmankul. Our trail takes us around a narrow ravine then along the shore of the lake to a small assembly of shanties for the pilgrims who frequent the lake. We will camp nearby, and if lucky might share the evening with some other local visitors. Trek Stats: 11.2km, +320m, -670m Difficulty: 2/5

Arslanbob Walnut Forest

After a lakeview breakfast we begin the day with a gentle downhill to Kutmankul’s sister lake, passing a handful of yurt camps along the way, populated with the friendly nomads of the Jalal-Abad region. We then begin a sharp 400 metre ascent up a narrow ravine to reach a localised highpoint at 3050 metres, where we'll catch some spectacular panoramic views. For the remainder of today we follow well-defined shepherd trails over exceptionally green rolling hills with impressive open views in every direction. Most of our elevation gain comes from this section as the terrain consistently rolls for several kilometers, but the trail remains in good condition and we will make good time and arrive at camp later in the afternoon. Trek Stats: 17.6km, +930m, -1420m Difficulty: 4/5

Arslanbob

After a strenuous day on trail yesterday, we are treated to a gentle, mostly downhill trek today. As the day progresses and the altitude reduces, the wild flowers and walnut forests begin to dominate the landscape. The trail connects with an old unused dirt road before disappearing into an overgrown forest trail, offering an idyllic picnic opportunity in the most serene and lush setting one can imagine. After lunch, we will continue our stroll through the dense forest until we reach the town of Arslanbob. Nestled between the walnut forests lies this sleepy little settlement where we will meet with a local family who will also accommodate us and provide an excellent Uzbek style dinner to celebrate the completion of the first segment of our trek. Trek Stats: 13.8km, +180m, -1080m Difficulty: 3/5

Arslanbob

After four days on the trail a proper rest day is in order. Guests have the option to enjoy the many varieties of local organic fruit, which are particularly succulent this time of year, and explore the bustling town center. Our homestays will provide for us three delicious meals, and we can do throughout the day as we please. Included in the itinerary, if interested, is a dayhike to a bench beyond Arslanbob’s most famous attractions - the two waterfalls that flow down from the mountain. The trail is steep, but the views over the forest plateau are resplendent. Trek Stats: Variable Difficulty: 2/5

Arslanbob Walnut Forest

Perhaps begrudgingly, it's time at last to leave Arslanbob. We proceed out of town to the east, through the deepest part of the forest. Soft shade and tall wildflowers draw us into the heart of the grove. By midday we pass through a proposed conservation area, where the locals are lobbying hard to establish a new national park. Here we will picnic beneath the canopies of these beautiful trees, revel in the omnidirectional birdsong, and amble through the tall understory flowers. Toward the end of our day, as we begin descending from the plateau into Kyzyl-Unkur, you may notice the emergence of bizarre, red sandstone cliffs and spires. These will define the days to come. After one final climb over one such feature, we descend into town and soon come to our homestay for the night, arranged through the CBT program. Trek Stats: 22.6km, +880m, -1100m Difficulty: 4/5

A dirt road wends out of town, trampled by the hooves of many head of livestock. The walnut forest thins, giving way to a sparse woodland set amidst expansive green fields and phenomenal sandstone ribs and spires. Where the road ends we turn down a rocky streambed, the high blue peaks of the Fergana swelling overhead like waves. We trace a swollen river's left bank past sheer red cliffs, up into immaculate fields of green. Shepherd camps line the trail at regular intervals, and as we near the broadest point of the valley nearing our camp, we might ask to share a meal with a family. Beekeeping is a common source of revenue here, and the honey flows in amber abundance this time of year, consumed by all in great quantities. Trek Stats: 11.8km, +400m, -150m Difficulty: 2/5

From our campsite the valley constricts, and the river enters a long, frothing cataract. We bypass this over a series of beautiful saddles halfway up the northern aspect. Many beekeeper homesteads and yurts dot the hillsides, and more red sandstone features erupt from the verdant subalpine. As we climb steadily higher, mixed deciduous give way to juniper, or archa, and stalky eremurus to wild onion. Mounted riders trace the traversing trail alongside us, and our chances for an invitation to tea (read, a full spread of food,) are high. When the trail finally meets the river again we will set a camp in a brilliant meadow amidst the high peaks. Here we are positioned to tackle our final pass in the morning. Trek Stats: 14.1km, +1080m, -490m Difficulty: 3/5

Climbing higher, higher, the air getting colder, the tundras thinner, we move toward our pass. The climb is stiff, and we utilize seasonal snow bridges to facilitate an easy crossing of the headwaters. Depending on the season, snow may still linger on our summit. As we crest the highest point, the vast expanse of the Kan-Achuu Nature Preserve lays before us - layer after layer of mountains unfolding like pages of a novel, into the watery blue distance. The way down is steep, and if snowbound we must take care throughout it. As we retreat to the warmer air, we are treated with gradually unraveling views over two immense string lakes - Kapka-Tash and Kara-Suu. On the shore of the nearer of the two we will camp, enjoy a fire if possible, and reflect on the trip thus far. Trek Stats: 15.3km, +1280m, -1040m Difficulty: 4/5

Kara-Suu Lake

On the final day of our hiking itinerary we trace the shoreline of both cerulean blue lakes, winding through the lush and exotic Central Asian flora. Taking our sweet time to soak it all in, we eventually arrive at the far end and set camp. Here our driver will meet us, ready to whisk us away back to the city. Trek Stats: 13.3km, +400m, -700m Difficulty: 3/5

Kara-Suu Lake

To be used at any point throughout the itinerary

Toktogul Lake

On our penultimate day we will leave the bright littoral for the shore of the Toktogul Reservoir, taking lunch beside its shimmering waters, and swimming if we dare. After some hours we leave the lake and the pastures behind to finally retrace the road back to Bishkek. Arriving at Apple Hostel in the evening, guests can relax for a while before we convene to take dinner together and relish memories of the trip.

Ala-Archa National Park

Today marks the final day of our trip together. Guests have the option to do as they wish during the day. Bishkek is a city with plenty to offer: vibrant cafes to hang around in, a wide array of fascinating museums, and an abundance of leafy city parks. If guests are interested in learning more about Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan or even Soviet history, we would be pleased to guide you around the city for further exploration on this day. We will meet in the evening for our final meal as a group, dispense some last-minute surprises, and say our farewells.

Bishkek

If guests need any assistance with onward travel, we are here to help. For those remaining in the country or region, whose trips are not yet over, we can offer advice on what to do next. And for those flying home, we will help book taxis and transportation to get you to your flight on time.