Issyk Kul Lake Voyage: An Exhilarating 5-Day Journey Around the Second Largest Alpine Lake
5.0
16 Ratings
Embark on a thrilling 5-day voyage around Issyk Kul Lake, the second largest alpine lake in the world. Immerse yourself in authentic Kyrgyzstan experiences, from horseback riding to sleeping in a yurt. Don't miss this unforgettable vacation!
Duration: 5 days
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights

Bishkek - Burana Tower - Chon Kemin valley - Konorchek canyon - Cholpon Ata town

Bishkek - In the morning you’ll be picked up from your hotel and we’ll head straight towards the Issyk Kul region (230km).

Burana Tower - On the way, stop at the famous Burana Tower. This UNESCO World Heritage site will be of interest to history fiends. We’ll spend about 30 minutes here: climb on top of the tower, visit the archaeology museum and walk around to have a look at balbals (ancient stones with depictions). Resuming our way to Issyk Kul.

Chon-Kemin National Park - Second stop on the way is a mountainous valley of Chon Kemin. Here we’re going to have a fascinating horseback ride through the picturesque fields, forests and a serpentine mountain pass up to a panorama. Lunch in the loveliest restaurant with a 360 view. Moving on further to Issyk Kul.

Konorchek Canyons - On the way, we’re visiting the fabulous Konorchek canyon for a light but awesome hike.

Cholpon Ata - Upon arrival in Cholpon Ata (central town of the lake’s northern coast) we’re checking-in to a hotel. Free time for relaxing. Dinner at a restaurant. Overnight (Olimp hotel or similar)

Cholpon Ata - Grigoriev gorge - Semyonov Gorge - Karakol town

Cholpon Ata - In the morning we’re visiting a spiritual center called Rukh Ordo that gives you a good idea of the Kyrgyz heritage. After that we’re heading to the local dock to have a beautiful ship ride out on the lake. After roaming 4km away the ship will stop at the depth of 120m. In the hot season (May-September) you may dive into the water and enjoy a surreal swim (life jackets provided). In the other seasons you will have no less beautiful time on the ship enjoying the lake’s splendor and mountains all around. After the ship ride we’re moving towards Karakol town that is located on the line between the north and south coasts.

Karakol - Arrival in Karakol. Check in to a hotel. Free time for rest. Now we’re driving to the neighboring village Ak Suu to have a relaxing swim in the hot spring pools near a forest. This will be a great touch after such an active day. Return to Karakol. Dinner at a restaurant. Overnight (Green Yard hotel or similar)

Karakol - Ski Base - Karakol - Jeti Oguz valley

Karakol - Today we’re exploring the beauties around Karakol.
Short city tour in the morning: Dungan mosque (1910), Russian Orthodox church (1895). Now we’re heading out of Karakol to the famous and best Ski Resort in the country (7km). In winter you would have a beautiful skiing experience here but in summer you will enjoy no less stunning views of the whole region. Luscious green meadows, vast conifer forests, snow capped mountain peaks, glaciers and the entire lake in the background - it’s all about this Ski resort. The chair lift will take us up to the height of 3040 meters and back down. Return to Karakol. Lunch. Now we’re leaving this small, nice town and heading towards the southern coast.

Jeti-Oguz Canyon (Seven Bulls Rocks) - Today’s final point is the gorgeous Jeti Oguz valley which will disclose to you its legends. Driving deeper into the valley of flowers we’ll arrive at “Jailoo” (green summer pasture) where yurt camps are located. Now it’s time for a magnificent horseback voyage through forests and up the mountains to the lovely Maiden Braids waterfall. Free time for a walk on pastures. Dinner. Bonfire time outside and stargazing. Overnight in yurts (traditional Kyrgyz dwelling).

Jeti Oguz - Barskoon valley - Skazka canyon - Bel Tam yurt camp

Jeti-Oguz Canyon (Seven Bulls Rocks) - In the morning after breakfast we’re resuming our way along the south coast. Visiting the Jeti Oguz panorama. Moving on.

Barskoon Waterfall - Visiting the lovely Barskoon valley to do some hiking and explore its 3 waterfalls. Lunch. Moving on.

Bokonbayevo - Arrival at Bel Tam yurt camp that’s located on the wild beach of Issyk Kul lake. This yurt camp has all the necessary facilities like: showers, toilets, water sinks, laundry and a bar. Sleeping in a cozy and warm yurt with a murmur of the immense lake’s waves will be one of the loveliest highlights of your trip. Free time for chilling. Dinner in a big kitchen yurt. Bonfire time outside. Overnight in yurts.

Bel Tam - Ak Sai village - Bishkek

Bokonbayevo - Today is the last day of our incredible journey but it doesn’t mean that adventures are over. We have still got a couple of exciting activities to experience.
In the morning after breakfast at the yurt camp we’ll have some time for relaxing. Explore the beach, evaluate the lake’s scale and chill around. Now we’re getting on the main road of the south coast and moving towards Ak Sai village where we’re going to witness a spectacular Eagle hunting process. You will learn almost everything about this traditional Kyrgyz way of hunting and also participate yourself in the archery part. Don’t worry, during the hunt we only use an artificial animal’s carcass as a prey. After this experience we’re driving to the nearby Ak Sai canyons to explore its hidden and charming Canyon of Forgotten Rivers. Otherworldly views are insured! Now we’re driving down from the canyon and moving to the wild beach for having a lovely picnic and saying goodbye to Issyk Kul lake. Swimming and sunbathing.

Bishkek - Now it’s time to leave this fairy region and move towards Bishkek (230km). Upon arrival in the capital city you’ll be dropped off at your hotel (not included). End of the tour. Thank you very much!

What's Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
What's Not Included
  • Accommodation on the 5th night
Additional Information

Issyk Kul is the second largest alpine lake in the world. And this incredible 5 day journey has been designed to become one of the best trips of your lifetime! 11 destinations and numerous experiences. Not being the longest one this tour implies all authentic activities that you would experience only in Kyrgyzstan. Five beautiful and intense days around the charming and boundless lake will get you through its both sides: from modern resorts on the north coast, to wild and pristine nature on the south. You will be trying the national cuisine, riding a horse up to waterfalls, sailing the endless lake on a ship, sleeping in a yurt, seeing wild animals, visiting museums with parks, roaming canyons with gorges and so much more! Spend your unforgettable vacation this stunning way embarking on the tour that is a pure treasure!

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(16 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
Olaz873
May 9, 2024
Wonderful tour of Kyrgyzstan! - A friend and I booked a 10 day tour of Kyrgyzstan with Ventura Tours after contacting a few other agencies. They created the most interesting and comprehensive itinerary for us, which we were able to personalise. The tour fulfilled our expectations to the 100%. Our guide and driver (Boca and Sasha) did a great job showing us their country, taking care of logistics, explaining the history, sharing fun facts and taking thousands of pictures in various locations :) We felt very well taken care of and everything was adjusted to perfectly fit our needs such as, for example, having vegan meals for lunch and dinner (not really popular in Central Asia or hard to organise without speaking the local language or at least Russian). We had a lot of fun exploring the nature as well as the cities and making unforgettable memories. We will definitely be back to explore more of Kyrgyzstan. Wholeheartedly recommended! Thank you Venture Tours for a wonderful time!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Yogeshddwn318
Apr 15, 2024
Kyrgyzstan is love because of Ventura tours - Our Exploring Kyrgyzstan trip combined extraordinary guides, a carefully organized itinerary, lovely accommodations and meals to make a very special trip. In addition, The expert guide Boca and driver Sasha who accompanied us were outstanding - passionate, informative, engaging and entertaining. I would highly recommend this company to anyone wanting a fun, relaxed, educational holiday with fine food - they will deliver!
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Tourist14982623552
Apr 14, 2024
Amazing place with great tour service (outstanding guide - “boka” and driver “Sasha”). The places we went were extremely - Amazing place with great tour service (outstanding guide - “boka” and driver “Sasha”). The places we went were extremely beautiful and the hotels had a great view. I wish I could come again and use the same tour agency.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
U3982oa_
Mar 31, 2024
Travel around Kyrgyzstan in 8 days - During the spring holidays, schoolchildren visited Kyrgyzstan. We bought tickets in advance, then started looking for an operator for a tour around the country. The wife and children first began to get acquainted with the work of the writer Ch. Aitamatov. The purpose of the trip is to get acquainted with culture, nature, cuisine. We chose Ventura Tour based on the Tripadvisor rating. The tour was all inclusive, transfer, accommodation, support. The 4* hotels we stayed in were fresh and we liked them. I liked the restaurants along the way. The food is delicious, large selection of dishes. The quality of food and service pleasantly surprised me. The cuisine is close to Kazakh and Bashkir. We didn't spend any extra money on food. We arrived in Bishkek on March 23 and flew out on March 30. We were fortunate enough to have sunny weather; there may be some rain in the spring. It is necessary to have good waterproof shoes; in the spring, not everything in the mountains can be dry. The accompanying pleasant young guys Beck and Bakha looked after the entire tour, are conscientious about their work, and care about the comfort of their clients. During the tour, my 11-year-old son developed an allergy from a speck that got into his eye. We were taken to the nearest hospital in the village, where they gave us an injection of Suprastin. The guide found and arranged an after-hours appointment with a private ophthalmologist in the town. The guys quickly solved the problem that could have ruined our tour. About country: Clean and tidy in villages, towns, along roads. There is no luxury, but everything is neat and dignified. There are a lot of kids on the streets. Young boys and girls serve customers in hotels and cafes. The tour, the country, the people left a positive impression.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ajaykh7221zm
Nov 6, 2023
Kyrgyzstan Chronicles: An Epic Journey with Ash and Baha - Yo, listen up, I gotta story to tell, 'Bout an epic journey we rocked so well, Three friends together, exploring Kyrgyzstan, With Ash and Baha, our master plan. Eight days of adventure, sights to see, In September 2023, we were wild and free, Bishkek to Son Kol, it was quite the start, In a yurt camp, we found a piece of our heart. With Ash as our guide, and Baha at the wheel, Childhood friends, it was such a great deal, They showed us the way, made the trip complete, Kyrgyzstan's beauty and culture, it couldn't be beat. We landed in Bishkek, oh, what a thrill, Ambassador or Solutel, we had time to chill, But the real magic began on the second day, With Ash and Baha, we were on our way. Burana Tower, Kok Moinok, and Son Kol, We hiked, we explored, we played a bold role, Riding horses by the lake, it was such a sight, Under the stars, we felt the magic of the night. Ak Sai Canyons, eagle hunting in style, Archery and waterfalls, it made us smile, Bel Tam on Issyk Kul's wild beach, so grand, We swam, we relaxed, in this stunning land. Skazka canyon, Barskoon, and Jeti Oguz, Waterfalls and beauty, it was such a plus, Karakol town, with hot springs to unwind, Under the stars, we left our worries behind. Ski base, Semyonov, and Grigoriev gorges so high, Chair lift to the heavens, we reached for the sky, The ship ride on Issyk Kul, the sunset's embrace, We dived into the water, what a perfect place. Cholpon Ata, Chon Kemin, and Bishkek in sight, Horseback rides and mountains, it felt so right, With friends by our side, it was tons of fun, Memories were made under the Kyrgyzstan sun. Ash and Baha, our dynamic crew, They made this adventure, it's oh so true, With an all-inclusive package, we were on fire, In Kyrgyzstan, our spirits soared higher and higher. Now, in Ice Cube style, I gotta say, This Kyrgyzstan trip, it made our day, With friends, Ash, and Baha, it's a win-win, An epic adventure, under the Kyrgyzstan's grin.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Y0umnad
Jul 14, 2023
Amazing experience - We had 4 days in kyrgystan with Ventura tours. It was one of the most fun, cultural, memorable experiences we had as a family. The places we visited, the experiences we had from hiking , riding horses, yurt camping,….. the food we tried the restaurants we visited ( chosen by Ventura tours) and the hotels we stayed in were just perfect. Nourisa the tourist guide was amazing. She had so much knowledge, was so friendly, very positive , added a lot to our trip. Full of energy guide. We loved having her with us for the 4 days. The driver Adi as well was excellent and friendly . He also used his photography skills whenever possible. It felt like we have known them for a long time. I totally recommend Ventura tours to visit the hidden gem kyrgystan! 10/10
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Seb0uhk
Jul 30, 2022
Unforgettable 5 days - We had one of the most memorable and amazing 5 days in kyrgyzstan thanks to this wonderful tour elaborated by the founder and who was luckily our guide Ash. his collegue and driver valodia is simply a gentleman. In a nutshell. If you want to see most of the gems of kyrgyzstan in short time, go with these guys , they are the best 👌
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Passenger60914283982
Jun 19, 2022
A great way to experience Kyrgyzstan - I did a modified version of the tour, in which I went around Issyk-Kul in 4 days and stayed the fourth night at Song-Kul. This tour made my time in Kyrgyzstan truly unforgettable. Both Sezim (guide) and Ruslan (driver) were very nice. Sezim had thorough knowledge about Kyrgyzstan, so I could learn a lot about the country, and she offered to take plenty of photos of me as well. They always made effort to show me around beautiful places - for example, when we were going back to Bishkek from Song-Kul, Ruslan took the longer way so I could see different landscapes. I also liked the restaurants and accommodation they've selected - I always felt like they've only picked the best ones.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
250ketakik
May 22, 2022
Mesmerising Kyrgystan with Ventura Tours - *HIGHLY RECOMMENDED* It all started with talking to Ash - discussing places, hotels, food, and all other specific requirements (as we were having an infant with us). Ash was so supportive and answered all my queries very accurately. He gained half of our confidence just over few calls. After reaching the airport, we met ash (our tour organizer, guide, translator) and slava - our driver, both were there with us for all 5 days right till dropping us at the airport. The tour was arranged very nicely. All accommodations were extra comfortable. Being vegetarian was the biggest challenge for us..but Ash was very supportive and taking all our food tantrums very calmly n were giving solution for every problem we faced.. The tour was very nicely organised by Ash n very well executed by our driver slava..kudos to his driving n patience.. Overall it was an awesome and pocket friendly experience for all of us..guys u made it very memorable!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Snowfpup85
Apr 27, 2022
Indeed the Ultimate Issyk Kul experience with a capital U! - If U’d like to hold a champion eagle upclose, picnic by the most peaceful lake, trek the canyons to nightfall, learn the trade of weaving a krygz felt carpet, ride a horse up the mountains to a hidden (turquoise) lake, U’ve found yourself the right tour. It was such an adventure for me & my friend, and we loved every moment, both planned & unplanned. Ash the guide was spontaneous, informative and intelligent, while Alex the driver was as proficient in driving as he was in song selection. Yep, don’t even get us started on that monster truck of a car with a mad playlist. Think you’re getting a guide & driver in your package? Nah more like a good friend & a caring father. Sign on already.
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