Itinerary
Day 1: Bishkek
Flight via Istanbul to the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek. Upon arrival in Bishkek, you will be met at the airport by your tour guide and driver and transferred to your hotel for the night. Overnight at the 4* Hotel Damas
Day 2: Bishkek – Ala Archa National Park – Bishkek
After breakfast, transfer to Ala Archa National Park. Take a pleasant walk along the river and admire the breathtaking Tian Shan Mountains.
Return to the city and visit the Historical Museum, Ala Too’s main square with the Manas Monument, Oak Park, and the Old Square.
Overnight at the Damas Hotel 4*
Day 3: Bishkek – Chon Kemin (180 km)
After breakfast, continue to the Chon Kemin Valley. En route, visit the ancient settlement of Balasagun with the Burana Tower. Burana also houses a museum with important archaeological finds that document the history of the Silk Road and Kyrgyzstan.
After arriving in Chon Kemin, you have free time.
Overnight at the Ashu Guesthouse.
Day 4: Chon Kemin – Cholpon Ata (180 km)
After a restful morning and breakfast, you begin your journey to the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. The pearl of the Tien Shan, Issyk-Kul is the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan. Issyk-Kul means «hot lake.» The water temperature here never drops below zero, even in winter, so the lake never freezes over. After arrival, enjoy a relaxing evening by the lake. Visit the open-air museum with petroglyphs – paintings on rocks.
Overnight at the Caprice Hotel or similar.
Day 5: Cholpon Ata – Karakol
In the morning, drive to Karakol via the Grigorievskoe and Semenovskoe Gorges.
Upon arrival in Karakol, visit the Dungan Mosque and the Orthodox Church.
Overnight at a hotel. Green Yard or similar.
Day 6: Karakol After a restful morning, you will travel by off-road vehicle to the Altyn-Arashan Gorge. It lies in a postcard-perfect valley at 3,000 meters above sea level.
The road is not easy, very steep in places, and requires special four-wheel drive vehicles.
Enjoy your time in the gorge.
Return to Karakol. Overnight at the hotel. Green Yard or similar.
Day 7: Karakol – Tosor (180 km)
After breakfast, you begin your journey to Tosor via the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. Visit the Jety Oguz Gorge with the «Broken Heart» and «Seven Bulls» mountain formations.
After arriving in Tosor, you will visit the Skazka Gorge. The wind has polished natural and fabulous sculptures here over the years. One of the most famous rocks is the «Great Wall of China.» It was named so because of its resemblance to the famous architectural monument of China.
Overnight at the Royal Gate Yurt Camp.
Day 8: Tosor – Naryn (300 km)
In the morning, drive to Naryn. Naryn is the administrative center of Naryn Province, the largest and most mountainous province in Kyrgyzstan. Upon arrival, you will visit the so-called «Blue Mosque» and the local museum.
Overnight at the guesthouse. Kezgin Guesthouse.
Day 9: Naryn – Tash Rabat – Naryn (220 km)
After breakfast, drive to the Tash Rabat Caravanserai. This is a carefully restored stone building that once housed an inn on the Great Silk Road. Its date of construction is unknown, but archaeological evidence suggests that the site was inhabited in the 10th century.
After an excursion and a walk through the gorge, drive back to Naryn.
Overnight at the guesthouse. Kezgin Guesthouse
Day 10: Naryn – Son Kul Lake (150 km)
After breakfast, we drive to Son Kul Lake. This is the second largest lake in the country after Issyk-Kul. The lake lies in the gorges of the Tien Shan at an altitude of 3,016 meters above sea level.
Evening at leisure at the lake.
Overnight in yurts.
Day 11: Son Kul – Kyzyl Oi (200 km)
After a restful morning and breakfast, we drive over the Kara Keche Pass to the village of Kyzyl Oi. The evening is at leisure in the village.
Overnight in a private accommodation.
Day 12: Kyzyl Oi – Bishkek (200 km)
After breakfast, we drive over the Too Ashuu Pass to Bishkek.
After arriving in Bishkek, we visit the Osh Bazaar.
Overnight at the Damas 4* Hotel.
Day 13: Bishkek – Almaty (300 km)
After breakfast, you begin your journey to Almaty, Kazakhstan. Customs formalities at the Kordai border.
After arriving in Almaty, you visit Kok Tobe Hill with panoramic views of the city of Almaty.
Overnight at the Kazzhol 4* Hotel.
Day 14: Almaty
After breakfast, visit the Medeo and Shymbulak ski resorts. Take the cable car to the Talgar Pass at 3,200 meters.
In the afternoon, visit the Historical Museum, Panfilov Park with the Zenkov Cathedral, and the Green Bazaar.
Overnight at the 4* Hotel Kazzhol.
Day 15: Almaty – Charyn Gorge – Kolsai Lake (300 km)
In the morning, you begin your journey to the Charyn Gorge. This picturesque, indigenous village impresses with its heavenly landscapes. The canyon itself is a natural monument formed from sedimentary rocks more than 12 million years old.
After the excursion, we drive to the village of Saty.
Overnight in a private accommodation
Day 16: Kolsai Lake
Full day at Kolsai Lake. The Kolsai Lakes in Kazakhstan are also called the «Blue Necklace» of the Northern Tien Shan, and anyone who sees these natural beauties will quickly understand why. When the water’s surface is completely calm, the sky is reflected in it.
Overnight in a private accommodation.
Day 17: Saty – Basshi (350 km)
After breakfast, we drive to the village of Basshi. Stop in Chunzha for lunch.
Overnight in a guesthouse. Aigaikum Guesthouse.
Day 18: Basshi – Almaty (280 km)
In the morning, we visit the Singing Dunes. The Barkhan has a crescent shape, which makes it uniquely beautiful. When the wind blows from the west and stirs up the sand, it feels like a pipe organ is playing in the heart of the desert.
After the excursion, we travel to Almaty.
Overnight at the 4* Kazzhol Hotel.
Day 19: Almaty – Airport
After breakfast, check-out and transfer to the airport.
Price: €2,235 per person
Participants: 8-10
Included services:
German-speaking tour guide throughout
All transfers and transportation during the tour in comfortable, air-conditioned vehicles.
All overnight stays in the mentioned or equivalent hotels in standard rooms.
Daily breakfasts and dinners.
1 liter of water per person per day.
2 lunches on days 10 and 11 of the tour.
Entrance tickets and eco-fees.
Special transportation to Altyn Arashan in Kyrgyzstan and the Singing Dunes in Kazakhstan.
Not included in the price:
Personal expenses
Lunch
International airline tickets
Tips.