Sary-Chelek, Arslanbob, Son-Kul

Bishkek and Ala-Archa National Park. Arrival in the city of Bishkek. You will be met at the Manas airport and transferred to the hotel. Time for rest. After that you will go to the natural Ala-Archa park.

The Ala-Archa gorge is located in the central part of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too ridge 40 km south of Bishkek. This is the largest gorge on the Kyrgyz ridge. The Kyrgyz state Ala-Archa park which was organized here in 1976 is located on its territory. In the summer you can hide from the sweltering city fuss in the shadow of gigantic Tien-Shan firs admiring the snow-capped peaks.

"Ala-Archa" is translated from Kyrgyz as "motley archa (juniper)”. Due to the many varieties of it growing in the gorge and differing in color the gorge seems to be colorful.

We will hike to the waterfall and organize a picnic near it. By the evening you will return to Bishkek. Hotel accommodation.

Bishkek – Toktogul reservoir (300 km / 5h). Today we will go from the capital to the south of the country along the main road connecting the southern capital of Osh with the northern one. We will pass through the picturesque Too-Ashuu Pass and the mountain tunnel, stop for photos in the spacious Suusamyr Valley. Shepherds come here for the summer to graze cattle and erect their white yurts which on a green background seem to be large mushrooms.

Lunch will be organized in Chichkan Mountain Gorge. Here you can hike to the lake (a walk usually takes about 3 hours). Next, we will reach the Toktogul reservoir created in order to supply life-giving moisture to the entire Fergana Valley. Here we will stay overnight in a guest house.

Toktogul reservoir – Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve (250 km / 4h). Today, our main path will lie along the Naryn River. On this site the Naryn river is very picturesque. Several hydroelectric power stations are located on the Naryn River in this direction which in turn makes the river even more picturesque since for several tens of kilometers due to the dams located along its path the river creates the illusion of an elongated lake spread out in a deep gorge along which a highway lies.

At the very beginning of the Fergana Valley you will turn off the road and go to the Sary-Chelek Lake in the Sary-Chelek Reserve. Here you will have lunch and the rest of the day you can spend in the village of Arkyt walking around the surroundings or relaxing in a guest house after a long road.

Sary-Chelek lake. After breakfast, you will go to the long-awaited lake. The path will take little time. The distance to the lake is about 20 km. You can stop by the lake Kyla-Köl and enjoy the panoramic view of the valley. Here, from spring to autumn a huge number of flowers bloom, replacing each other. The end point of the way will be Lake Sary-Chelek surrounded by tall fir trees and steep rocky shores. For an additional fee you can take a boat trip around the lake. The dinner will be organized in the form of a picnic in a beautiful meadow with many flowers. For the night you will return to the village of Arkyt to our guest house.

Sary-Chelek lake – Arslanbob. After breakfast, you will go to an amazing mountain gorge called Arslanbob. In this gorge there is a huge forest. Arslanbob's walnut forests are considered to be the largest on earth. The first export product from Kyrgyzstan to Europe was Arslanbob walnut. In the Arslanbob gorge there are two waterfalls that attract the attention of tourists, pilgrims and other visitors in the spring and summer months. Today you will take a walk to the first waterfall and to the panorama from where you can see the entire gorge. You will have some time to enjoy the beautiful view and take wonderful photos. After that, you will return and watch a folklore show of Kyrgyz music using national Kyrgyz instruments. Overnight in the house of one of the local families.

Arslanbob – Kazarman (350 km / 6h). On this day you will take another walk to the second waterfall which is much larger than the first and reaches a height of 80 m. This walk will take about 2 hours. After lunch in the village you will continue the way to the village of Kazarman which is located halfway to the Son-Kul Lake. On the way there are going to be green hills, peacefully grazing sheep, horses, cows and no one for many, many kilometers.

Arriving in the village; you will be accommodated in the house of local residents. Dinner and night.

Kazarman - Son-Kul lake (250 km / 5h). In the morning after breakfast, you will begin your journey to Son-Kul Lake.
Son-Kul is the second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan. It’s located at an altitude of 3016 meters above sea level. Its area is 275 sq km, depth - 15m. From late September to mid-June it is covered in ice. The thickness of the ice can reach 1.5 m. 18 streams flow into the lake and only one - Son-Kul river flows out of the lake. The wildlife of Son-Kul is extremely diverse. In summer, different types of ducks, gulls and other waterfowl nest here. Only in summer you can fully enjoy the blue of the lake, get acquainted with the life of modern nomads, live in Kyrgyz yurts and taste the national dishes of these hospitable people. Only in the summer they get to Son- Kul Jailoo paying tribute to their ancestors - nomadic Kyrgyz who spent their whole lives in transitions from one place to another either climbing mountains in the summer with their herds or descending into the valleys for the winter.

On the banks and surrounding slopes a huge amount of grass grows. Here is a real paradise for livestock. But the most striking is a whole glade of edelweiss; with their shape it seems that the stars are not in the sky but right here under your feet. Lunch and dinner with locals at Son-Kul. Overnight in yurts.

Day at the lake Son-Kul. In the morning after breakfast you will make an excursion to petroglyphs (ancient stone paintings). You can take a walk or ride a horse. Acquaintance with the life of nomads. Lunch. The evening is free. Dinner. Accommodation in yurts.

Son-Kul lake - Bishkek. Today in the morning you will move to the village of Kochkorka. This place is interesting because it has a family that manufactures various felt products. Upon arrival in the village you will have a hearty lunch and a Shyrdak-show when women show how to easily make a shyrdak by hand (carpet for a yurt).
After the show you can visit a small ethnographic museum, see felt products and buy souvenirs for relatives or friends. Arrival in the capital in the evening. Hotel accommodation and farewell dinner.

Departure to Bishkek. In the morning the car will take you to the airport for your flight home. End of the program.