Northern coast of Issyk-Kul
Bishkek - Bishkek, the capital and largest city of Kyrgyzstan, marks the beginning of our journey. We will meet you at your hotel or the airport and head to the Issyk-Kul region, a hub for mountain tourism in Kyrgyzstan. Breakfast will be served in the Boom Gorge, offering views of clay canyons, before we proceed to the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul.
The scenic Boom Gorge lies in the middle reaches of the Chu River, straddling the Kyrgyz Ala-Too and Kungei Ala-Too ridges. Spanning about 30 km, the Boom Gorge links the Chu Valley with the Issyk-Kul Basin and serves as a notable landmark on the route from Bishkek to Lake Issyk-Kul.
06.00 - Meet at the hotel, depart from Bishkek
08.00 - Breakfast at a cafe in the Boom Gorge
Semenovka - Our first stop is the Semenov Gorge, one of the most renowned mountain gorges on the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. Located on the Kyungei-Ala-Too ridge, it stretches for 30 kilometers. Deep within the gorge lies a small, pristine lake known as Sacred Lake, also called Suttu Lake or Bulak. We will embark on a 3.5 km hike to this lake and enjoy lunch by its shore.
11.00 - Arrive at Semenovskoe Gorge
11.00-12.20 - Hike to Lake Suttuu-Bulak, explore the gorge
14.00 - Return
15.00 - Board the bus
Grigoryevka - Next, we will drive through the famous Kirchyn pasture, the site of the World Nomad Games, and visit the Grigoryevsky Gorge panorama. This long and picturesque gorge, located near the village of Grigoryevka, is known for its wooded slopes, waterfall, and mountain glacial river.
15.00 - Drive through Kirchyn pasture to Grigoryevsky Gorge
15.20 - View the Grigoryevsky Gorge panorama
15.35 - Visit the “Maiden Braids” waterfall
16.00 - Depart for the shore of Issyk-Kul
Chon-Uryukty - We will visit the wild beach of Lake Issyk-Kul. Issyk-Kul is a unique lake situated between the Kyungey-Ala-Too and Terskey-Ala-Too ranges. At an elevation of 1,700 meters, it is the second-largest alpine lake in the world, after Lake Titicaca. With a maximum depth of 702 meters and a coastline of nearly 700 kilometers, the lake is fed by over 80 glacial rivers. Its salty water prevents it from freezing, earning it the name “hot lake” in Kyrgyz.
17.00 - Walk along the shore of Issyk-Kul, optional hot springs visit
Karakol - 19.30-21.00 - Dinner
21.15 - Check-in at the hotel, personal time
Altyn Arashan Gorge
Karakol - Karakol is a major tourist hub in Kyrgyzstan, attracting visitors from around the globe. Its popularity is due to its stunning architecture, rich history, and natural attractions like Lake Issyk-Kul and the Tien Shan mountains.
08.00 - Breakfast at the hotel
09.00 - Depart for the Arashan Gorge
Rest in the Altyn Arashan Gorge
Karakol - Karakol stands out for its old Russian architecture, numerous ancient sites, and surrounding natural beauty. Founded in the 19th century, it has long been a major city in Kyrgyzstan and is now the cultural capital of the Issyk-Kul region, known for its diverse cuisine.
17.00 - Check-in at the hotel
19.00 - Dinner at an ethno cafe
Jeti Oguz Gorge
Karakol - Nestled under the Terskey-Ala-Too range, Karakol is one of the most geographically diverse areas in Kyrgyzstan. It offers a wealth of natural beauty, attracting tourists for its blue waters, hot springs, and trekking routes in the Karakolk and Jety-Oguz gorges.
08.00 - Breakfast
09.00 - Depart for the Jeti Oguz Gorge
Jeti-Oguz Canyon (Seven Bulls Rocks) - The Jeti-Oguz Gorge, located 30 kilometers from Karakol, is a popular attraction known for its red clay rock formations resembling seven bulls. The gorge’s bright red rocks are a rare sight in the Tien Shan mountains.
10.00 - Visit “7 Bulls” rocks, “Broken Heart” panorama
11.30 - Explore Kok Zhaiyk plateau, Jeti-Oguz Gorge
Karakol - Karakol’s cuisine is unique due to its large Dungan population. Be sure to try the local dishes, which are famous throughout Kyrgyzstan and beyond.
18.00-19.30 - Dinner
20.00 - Arrive at the hotel, personal time
Waterfalls day
Karakol - Formerly known as Przhevalsk, Karakol is the fourth most populous city in Kyrgyzstan and the administrative center of the Issyk-Kul region. It is located near the eastern end of Lake Issyk-Kul, close to the Kyrgyz-Chinese border.
08.00 - Breakfast
09.00 - Depart for the Zhuuku Gorge
Barskoon Waterfall - We will visit two waterfalls in the Barskoon Gorge. The Tears of Barsa Waterfall, one of Kyrgyzstan’s most famous, stands 24 meters high. Nearby is the Manasa Bowl waterfall.
14.30-17.00 - Visit Manas Bowl and Leopard Tears waterfalls
Karakol - Once a stop on the Silk Road, Karakol is now a modern city with a rich history, making it an exciting destination for travelers.
18.30 - Dinner
20.00 - Arrive at the hotel
Fairy Tale Canyon
Karakol - Karakol, the capital of the Issyk-Kul region, is the largest city on the lake’s shores. Founded in 1869, it has a rich history and has served as a military-administrative center on the caravan road between the Chu River valley and Kashgaria.
08.00 - Breakfast
09.00 - Depart from Karakol
Bokonbayevo - Kadzhi-Sai, near the village of Bokombaeva, is a favorite spot for tourists on the southern coast of Issyk-Kul. It offers majestic nature without the hustle of hotels or clubs.
13.30 - Lunch at a cafe in Kaji-Sai
14.30 - Depart for Son Kul Lake
Son Kul Lake - Son-Kul, an alpine lake in the Inner Tien Shan, is the second-largest lake in Kyrgyzstan. It lies in a basin surrounded by mountains and is fed by glacial melt.
19.00 - Arrive at Son-Kul Lake, check-in at the yurt camp
19.30 - Dinner
20.30 - Rest, free time
Son-Kul Lake
Son Kul Lake - Son-Kul, meaning “lake where wild ducks live,” is located at 3016 meters above sea level. Covering 278 square kilometers, it is partially within the Karatal-Zhapyryk State Reserve. The lake freezes from late September to early June, with winter temperatures reaching -20°C.
06.00 - Sunrise walk along the lake, observe wild ducks and horses
08.00 - Breakfast at the yurt camp
09.00 - Depart for Lake Kel-Suu
Naryn - Naryn, located 186 km from the Chinese border, is the administrative center of the Naryn region. It began as a small fortification on trade routes from East Turkestan to Central Asia.
12.00 - Lunch in Naryn
Lake Kel-Suu
Road to Bishkek
Naryn - Naryn is situated in a picturesque area at the foot of the Naryn-Too mountains, where the Naryn River flows. The landscape includes mountains, forests, and steppes, with many small reservoirs feeding the Naryn River.
15.00 - Lunch in Naryn
Bishkek - Bishkek, the capital and largest city of Kyrgyzstan, is located in the Chui Valley at the foot of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too range. The city is known for its grid layout, making it easy to navigate.
19.00 - Dinner in the Boom Gorge at a cafe
21.00 - Arrive in Bishkek
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Horseback riding
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Payment for entrances to locations
- Individual guide
- Alcoholic beverages
- Personal expenses
The “Exploring Kyrgyzstan in 9 days from Bishkek” tour is a journey during which we will immerse ourselves in the unique natural beauty of the country.
On the tour, we will visit the main natural attractions of the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, lakes and waterfalls around Issyk-Kul in the mountain gorges of Semenovskoye, Grigoryevskoye, Barskoon, Zhuuku.
We will take an exciting horseback ride in the Altyn Arashan gorge and visit natural hot springs, explore the Skazka Canyon, the rocks “7 bulls” and “broken heart”, see the red mountains of unusual shape, and go on a trip to the lakes Son-Kul and Kel-Suu.
You will see how wild ducks live in nature, how yaks run, how marmots dig the ground by the hundreds, how hundreds of horses and sheep graze.
We will try the traditional national food, we will live in hotels and guest houses, as well as in national yurts.
We will explore the culture and nature of Kyrgyzstan, its flora and fauna, and most importantly, explore the Tien Shan Mountains.
- We can accommodate dietary needs such as vegetarian, vegan, etc. If you have dietary requirements. Please kindly indicate it to the special requirements at the time of booking.
If you cancel at least 7 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
