Bishkek

Welcome to Bishkek! Our tour guide and the driver will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to the hotel. After settling in and resting briefly, we’ll take a city tour.

Set off our exploration at the Old Square, once a main central square during the Soviet era. From here, we’ll head to Oak Park (Dubovy Park), where you can observe locals’ daily routines, and visit the Art Salon, a converted church hosting rotating exhibitions by local artists every six to eight weeks.

Ala-Too Square

Walking south to Ala-Too Square, we’ll learn about the story of Kyrgyz national hero, Manas, and experience modern life centered around flower beds and fountains. Before heading back to the hotel, we’ll appreciate the National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Abdylas Maldybayev from the outside.

Burana Tower and Konorchek Canyon

After breakfast, we’ll head to Burana Tower, which is the only remnant of Balasagun, the Kara-Khanid Khanate’s capital (840 AD-1212 AD).

Then, a scenic drive will lead us through the Chuy Valley and Boom Gorge to Konorchek Canyon, which is often dubbed a miniature Grand Canyon for its vivid and textured red sandstone.

Cholpon Ata

Followed by a drive to Cholpon Ata, a resort located on the northern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake. En route, we’ll stop by the Nomad Museum, which exhibits traditional nomadic items. After checking into the hotel in Cholpon Ata, you can engage in various activities at your own expense.

Nikolai Przhevalsky Museum

Today, we’ll drive for 3 hours to Karakol, the largest city east of Issyk-Kul Lake, with a stop at the Nikolai Przhevalsky Museum.

Karakol

Upon arrival in Karakol, you’ll check into a local hotel and plan the remainder of the day freely. Russians founded the city in the late 19th century as a military outpost and later drew immigrants from other countries for work or refuge, making it one of Kyrgyzstan’s most diverse cities.

If it’s Sunday, we’ll wake early to visit the Animal Market outside Karakol. Next, our guide will accompany you to Holy Trinity Cathedral. This Orthodox Church was dedicated initially to soldiers stationed in the area, who prayed for an early return home.

Dungan Mosque

Our next stop is Dungan Mosque, built by the Dungans - Muslims from northwestern China who fled war to settle in Karakol in the late 19th century.

Jeti-Oguz Canyon (Seven Bulls Rocks)

We’ll then drive to Jeti-Oguz Canyon, where massive red sandstone formations shimmer under the sun and have inspired numerous Kyrgyz songs, paintings, and music videos.

Canyon Fairy Tale

Later, you’ll be guided along the south bank of Issyk-Kul Lake to check into a hotel near Skazka Canyon (Canyon Fairy Tale) and then explore the canyon on foot with our guide.

Bokonbayevo

After breakfast, we’ll drive to Bokonbayevo to watch the golden eagle hunting show. Kyrgyz people believe hunting with man-made weapons is unethical, so they turn to the formidable predators, the golden eagles, a tradition dating back to the 12th century. Next, embark on a 5-hour scenic drive to the country’s second-largest lake, Song Kol Lake, with an altitude of 3,016 meters (9,895 ft.).

Song Kol Lake

Later, we’ll hit the road through Kalmak Ashuu Pass, 3,447 meters (11,309 ft.) above sea level, which rewards you with lush western grasslands, eastern canyons surrounded by gravel, and panoramic views of Song Kol Lake. Upon arrival at Song Kol Lake, check into a yurt camp on its southern bank.

Song Kol Lake

★ Song Kol Lake: Nomadic Adventure with a Yurt Stay Today, you’re ready to enjoy a leisurely day at Song Kol Lake! The nearby nomads are already busy with their daily tasks, with someone guiding the flocks to the verdant pastures while someone milks horses with a kettle. After that, they will prepare breakfast. Then, accept the heartfelt invitation of a nomad and step into their colorful yurts, where a central stove crackles with warmth. Then, you can wander along the lake’s shoreline and occasionally encounter drinking horses. Then, return to our camp and gather around the campfire with other travelers, sharing unique travel experiences under a Milky Way-like sky.

Moldo-Ashu Pass

After breakfast, let’s head to Naryn, a 4-hour drive through the Moldo-Ashu Pass at an altitude of 3,346 meters (10,987 feet).

Upon arrival in Naryn, start our visit at the Historical Museum of Ethnography, and you can explore yurts of various sizes, local wooden crafts, and handmade carpets. Then, walk westward to the Central Square, where a statue of Tunduk, a yurt roof, replaces the original Lenin statue to stand at its center. Before going to the hotel, we’ll also stop by the Blue Mosque (Azreti Ali Mosque), whose domes resemble those of traditional yurts and facades are adorned with nomadic embroidery known as Oymo.

Today’s sightseeing begins with another Silk Road relic in Kyrgyzstan, the Tash Rabat Caravanserai, about a 2.5-hour drive away. On the way, we’ll stop at Koshoy Korgon Ruins, a square fortress built by Turks along the ancient Silk Road in the 7th century.

Later, we’ll arrive at Tash Rabat Caravanserai, a partly underground stone structure from the 15th century. Afterwards, you can walk along the left trail to the viewpoint, which offers panoramic views of the caravanserai and yurt camps in the valley. In the afternoon, we’ll drive back to the hotel in Naryn.

Kochkor

This morning will start with a 1.5-hour drive to Kochkor. On the way, we’ll stop by the Chon Tuz Salt Mine, with a small sanatorium inside, as its rich mineral salt beds are beneficial for respiratory issues. ★ Wool and Wonder: Witness Felt-making in Kochkor After that, continue on our way to Kochkor Village. In Kyrgyzstan, felt is used not only to cover yurts but also to make clothing, toys, and various types of rugs. Upon arrival, we’ll visit the Altyn Kol Workshop, an NGO founded to provide more job opportunities to support local unemployed women while preserving the traditional felt-making. Finally, you’ll be whisked away to a local hotel for check-in.

Bishkek

Today, we’ll drive for 3 hours back to Bishkek and arrive in the early afternoon. You’ll be escorted to the hotel, or you can spend the rest of the day moving around freely.

Bishkek

Your Kyrgyzstan private tours will end today. Our guide and the driver will transfer you to the airport based on your flight schedule. May this trip bring you unforgettable memories!