Blooming Kyrgyzstan  - Scarlet poppy fields of the Chui Valley
Blooming Kyrgyzstan

Scarlet poppy fields of the Chui Valley

Blooming Kyrgyzstan
(Scarlet poppy fields of the Chui Valley)

There is a wonderful time of year when nature wakes up, modest primroses appear in the clearings among the white blanket of snow, first green leaves start decorating the trees, fruit trees bloom and hardworking bees buzz among all this splendor seasoned with the delicate scent of spring..

In Kyrgyzstan there is an amazing period from the end of April to mid-May, when the valleys are painted scarlet against the backdrop of the snowy peaks of the Tien Shan, all this turns into a surreal picture. This is how poppies bloom leaving an indelible impression on the residents and guests of Kyrgyzstan. And no matter how many times local residents have already seen this stunning picture, every year they go to the fields and foothills of the Kyrgyz ridge to make one more photo for their collecction, to take another photo against the backdrop of the scarlet sea.

In this program, we offer you not only to take amazing pictures of the poppies in the Chui Valley, but also to see other sights of the country: the capital of the country – Bishkek city, the Ala-Archa National Park and the Chon-Kemin Valley, the Konorchek canyons and the Grigorievsky Gorge mountain lake, waterfalls of Barskoon gorge and clay sculptures in the Jeti-Oguz. You can spend the night in real Kyrgyz yurts, walk along mountain trails, swim in hot mineral springs, and see the unique Lake Issyk-Kul with its blue waters reflecting the sky.

Available Dates

  • 29.04 - 06.05.2024 | 10 places Book
  • Individual dates are available. Please, contact program manager.

Trip details

Intensity Level 1
Season Spring
Begins in Bishkek
Ends in Bishkek
Airport Airport Manas (FRU)
Airport out Airport Manas (FRU)
Wildlife Mountain goats, Marmots, Birds, Predator birds, Rodents, Yaks, Hares

Price: $ 850 (≥ 10 people)
≥ 6 people in the group: $ 900 per person
≥ 4 people in the group: $ 950 per person
≥ 2 people in the group: $ 1,150 per person

Great for Individuals Couples Families

This tour will be filled with the nature beauties: scarlet haze over the Chui Valley fields, clay canyons, flowering foothills, blue mountain lakes and the cool flowing waterfalls, fresh air filled with spring smells and warm sun. You will see the capital of Kyrgyzstan, visit national parks and reserves, walk along the mountain trails and drive around the amazing Issyk-Kul Lake, spend the night in national Kyrgyz yurts and have a chance to watch myriads of stars sending their light through the darkness of the endless universe.

What's Included:

  • Transport according to the program (driver-guide in one person)
  • Accommodation according to the program
  • Meals according to the program (indicated for each day)
  • Excursions and entrance fees according to the program
  • Guide (for a group of 5 people and more)

What's not included:

  • Any changes in the program
  • Alcohol beverages
  • Excursions not included in the program
  • Tips for staff
  • Any personal expenses: international calls, bar, souvenirs, etc.
  • Guide – $150 per day (including his food and accommodation) for groups of less than 5 people
  • Horse riding in the Chon-Kemin gorge
  • Horse riding in the Jeti-Oguz gorge
  • Guide for a city tour in Bishkek (4 hours)
Day
1

(29 April). Arrival to Bishkek. Arrival and meeting at Manas airport. Transfer to Bishkek. Hotel accommodation (at 14:00). Today you will have a city tour with visiting the Youth Alley, the Philharmonic with the Manas complex, the old and new squares, the Osh market and the oak park (guide is not included in the price).

Accommodation in a 3* hotel / Meals - on your own.

Day
2

(30 April). Poppy fields and Ala-Archa gorge (40 km / 1h). In the morning, we will go to the poppy fields to see them in full bloom. This stunning spectacle will not leave anyone indifferent. At this time, glades of red flowers stretch for kilometers, representing a scarlet sea, on the horizon of which snow-white mountain peaks rise.

Next we will have a trip to the Ala-Archa gorge. The valley of the Ala-Archa River is one of the main attractions in the vicinity of Bishkek. There are so many stunningly beautiful landscapes concentrated in one place, waterfalls and unusual rock forms, such rich flora and fauna that many consider this area a real symbol of the Kyrgyz ridge (Ala-Too).

“Ala-Archa” translated from Kyrgyz means “variegated archa” which is the local name for juniper. The gorge received this name because of the abundant juniper thickets covering its slopes. Due to the many varieties of juniper growing in the gorge and differing in color, the gorge seems multi-colored.

Accommodation in a 3* hotel. Meals – breakfast

Day
3

(1 May). Chon-Kemin Gorge (160 km / 2.5 hours). This day after breakfast we will drive to the Chon-Kemin valley. On the way we will visit the historical-architectural complex of Burana Tower. Burana tower (minaret) is located on the territory of an ancient settlement 90km far from Bishkek. The historians and archeologists proved that the settlement was once the capital of Karakhanid Khanate and was called Balasagun founded in 10th century AC. Burana tower is the central monument of this complex.  Arrival to Chon-Kemin.

Chon-Kemin is a unique natural complex, located relatively close to large settlements but at the same time it has preserved natural landscapes from semi-deserts to snowfields and glaciers. You can enjoy the pristine nature of this wonderful place. The valley is fabulously rich in forests: coniferous, formed by relic Tien Shan spruce. Today you can also take a short walk in the surroundings and just relax.

Accommodation at the hotel. Meals – full board.

On this day there is an opportunity to ride horses and go to the big hoe - a monument to the agricultural tool, installed in the gorge.

Day
4

(2 May). Chon-Kemin – northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul (100 km / 2h). This morning we will visit the most beautiful canyons of Konorchek and walk along them. The walk takes on average 4-5 hours.

After lunch we will go to the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. Evening will be free.

Overnight at a 3* hotel. Meals – breakfast.

On this day, instead of the Konorchek canyons, you can see the Kok-Moinok canyons.

Arriving at Issyk-Kul in the city of Cholpon-Ata, you can see the Petroglyphs, the historical museum, the Rukh-Ordo cultural center, and swim in the hot springs.

Day
5

(3 May). Karakol (150 km / 2.5h). This morning we will go to the Grigorievskoye Gorge and take a short walk to the mountain lake. The beauty of nature here is mesmerizing, the variety of herbs, greenery, fresh mountain air and silence. We will organize a picnic in nature and then head further to the city of Karakol.

When we are in the city of Karakol, we will go on a small city tour. Here we will visit the “Church of the Holy Trinity” and the Dungan Mosque, as well as the Przhevalsky Museum.

Overnight at a 3* hotel. Meals – breakfast.

Day
6

(4 May). Karakol – Jeti-Oguz – Bokonbaevo (120 km / 2h). Today will drive to Djeti-Oguz by the eastern shore of Issyk-Kul lake. The gorge is located in 30 km to the west of Karakol on the northern slopes of Terskey-Ala-Too. This is one of the most beautiful places in Kyrgyzstan.

For 25 km on both sides of the gorge the fir trees are growing at first merging into small groups and then turning into huge forest mass. The gorge finally becomes a wide Kok-Djayik valleywhich is totally covered by fir forests up to the very top of the ridge. Over the forest zone (about 3000 m) in the wide valley of about 15 km there are amazing subalpine and alpine meadows called Djailoo.

During the spring and the summer Djeti-Oguz gorge turns into a kind of flower holiday, among which you may see the silver stars of Edelweiss flowers, alpine daisies and asters, and nard (golden root). In the Autumn the gorge is being a colorful canvas as it’s covered not only by coniferous forests but also by the leaf trees. Here we will take a walk to the waterfall called “Maiden Braids”, and also see the rock ensembles “Seven Bulls” and “Broken Heart”.

You can try horseback riding instead of walking.

After that we will continue our journey through Kyrgyzstan. Our route runs along the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. You will see a stunning difference between the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul and the southern shore. The southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul is more diverse in landscape and less populated.

We will visit the Barskoon gorge, famous for its cascading waterfalls. After this, we will go to our next overnight stay in the village of Bokonbaevo.

Accommodation in a yurt camp on the shore of Issyk-Kul. Meals - full board.

Day
7

(5 May). Bokonbaevo - Bishkek (280 km / 4.5h). Today we get to see the “Fairy Tale” gorge, which almost immediately opens up in its splendor and on all sides the visitor is surrounded by scenery created by nature - multi-colored rocks frozen in bizarre forms as if after an eruption.

After lunch, departure to Bishkek. Arrival in the city. Evening free.

Overnight at a 3* hotel. Meals – breakfast / lunch

Day
8

(6 May). Departure . On this day, the car will take you to the airport for your flight home.

Meals – breakfast.

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