Bishkek, Tokmok, Kaji-Sai, Tamga, Karakol

Bishkek and Ala-Archa gorge (45 km / 1h). You will be met at the Manas Airport. Transferred to Bishkek accommodated in a small cozy hotel. In the morning you may have a city tour (optional). Lunch at the hotel. After lunch, we will go to the Ala Archa Natural Park. The Ala-Archa park is one of the main attractions of Bishkek surroundings. Here in a narrow valley there are so many amazingly beautiful landscapes, waterfalls and unusual rock forms, so rich flora and fauna that many consider this area to be a real symbol of the Kyrgyz Range (Ala-Too). The Ala-Archa gorge is located in the central part of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too ridge 30 km south of Bishkek. This is the largest of all gorges of the Kyrgyz ridge.

State Ala-Archa Park organized here in 1976 is located on its territory. This place is attractive primarily because of its accessibility. A good asphalt road is laid right to the park which allows you to escape from the noisy city in 40 minutes. In summer you can hide here from the sweltering city stuffiness and rest in the shadow of gigantic Tien Shan firs, admiring the snowy peaks.

"Ala-Archa" is translated from Kyrgyz as "motley archa." Archa is the local name for juniper. The gorge got its name because of the abundant juniper bushes covering its slopes. Due to the many varieties of juniper growing in the gorge and differing in color the gorge seems to be colorful. If desired you can take a walk to the waterfall. You will return to Bishkek in the evening. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (-/Lunch/Dinner)

Bishkek - Shamsi gorge – Tokmok town. In the morning after breakfast you will be transferred to Shamsi Gorge. On the way you will visit the historical and archaeological complex of Burana Tower.

The Burana Tower (minaret) is located on the site of an ancient settlement 90 km from the capital Bishkek. Historians and archaeologists have proved that the settlement was the capital of the Karakhanid khanate and was called Balasagun. The city of Balasagun was founded in the middle of the 10th century and the Burana Tower is the central monument of this complex today.

After the excursion you will drive to Shamsi Gorge. Horses will be waiting for you on the backs of which you will make a 2-hour journey. After the horse ride you will have a picnic in nature. After the picnic, you will have some free time to go for a ride or walk along the gorge. Transfer to the Tokmok town, dinner and night in a small guest house (B/L/D)

Tokmok – Kadji-Sai village. In the morning after saying goodbye to the owners of the guest house you will go to the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. On the way you will have the opportunity to stroll along the Konorchek gorge famous for its canyons.

After that you’ll continue the way to the lake. Issyk-Kul is the second largest mountain lake after Lake Titicaca in South America, is one of the 25 largest lakes in the world and is in seventh place on the list of the deepest lakes on our planet.

The length of this lake from west to east is 178 km, from south to north - 64 km, the maximum depth is 668 m. Lake Issyk-Kul also occupies the second place in water transparency after Lake Baikal. The local population calls Lake Issyk-Kul "the Pearl of Kyrgyzstan." Like a small bead strung on a chain of mountain ranges it really justifies this name. The "Pearl of Kyrgyzstan" is located at an altitude of 1606 m above sea level and is surrounded on both sides by ridges with the poetic names Terskey Ala-Too (Turned from the sun) and Kungei Ala-Too (Turned to the sun).

In the village of Bokonbaevo if you have a desire you will be able to watch falconry. (very sensitive and ardent animal defenders are not recommended to watch). The evening will be free. You may go to the shore of the lake to take colorful photographs and possibly swim. Dinner and night are going to be at a small hotel in the village of Kaji-Sai. (B / L / D)

Kadji-Sai – Tamga village. In the morning you will drive to the village of Tamga. On the way you will see an amazing variety of landscapes replacing each other like in a kaleidoscope. To begin with you will stop in the “Fairy Tale” (Skazka) gorge, which opens almost immediately in its splendor and from all sides the visitor who has got into this “Fairy Tale” gets surrounded by scenery created by nature, by colorful rocks frozen in bizarre forms as if after an eruption. Clusters of solid limestones and sandstones bulge from colored soils similar to the ruins of ancient castles. The most amazing thing is that the architect and sculptor of this place is nature which used water, the sun and the wind as its tools. In addition to fancy castles and fairy-tale figures here you can also see many-domed cathedrals and battlements with loopholes, for example, the Sandy comb-fence which very much resembles the “Chinese Wall” stretching for several kilometers along the southern coast of Lake Issyk Kul.

Further you will continue your journey to the Barskoon gorge known for its waterfalls and if time permits you will drive to the Arabel Pass where you can stroll to the glaciers and alpine lakes. Descent back to the village of Tamga, dinner and overnight at the guest house. (B/L/D)

Tamga – Djety-Oguz gorge - Karakol. After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Djeti-Oguz gorge along the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. The Djeti-Oguz which means “Seven Bulls” in Kyrgyz is located 60 km to the west of the city of Karakol on the northern slopes of the Terskey Ala-Too ridge in the eponymous gorge with a length of more than 40 km. Djeti-Oguz gorge is one of the most beautiful places in Kyrgyzstan. If desired you can make a climb to a low mountain from where a magnificent view of the Djety-Oguz gorge opens.

The gorge got such a name for a reason. "Seven Bulls" is an ensemble consisting of red rocks towering above the resort area. The rock ensemble “Broken Heart”- a symbol of love which gave rise to many beautiful legends is also located here. Legends in turn attract not only tourists but also loving couples living in nearby villages. Here you can also take a walk to the waterfall called “Girl’s Braids”.

Accommodation in a small boutique hotel in Karakol. (B/L/D)

Karakol – Bishkek. City tour of the city of Karakol is optional (visiting the "Church of the Holy Trinity", the Dungan Mosque and the Przewalski museum).

Today we will go back to the capital along the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. By lunch, we will drop into the Grigoryevsky Gorge where we will organize a picnic and if desired take a walk to the mountain lake. In the evening we will return to Bishkek. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B/L/D)

Departure. In the morning the car will take you to the airport for your flight home. (B/-/-)