Car trip around Kyrgyzstan - Sary-Chelek, Arslanbob, Son-Kul
Car trip around Kyrgyzstan

Sary-Chelek, Arslanbob, Son-Kul

Car trip around Kyrgyzstan
(Sary-Chelek, Arslanbob, Son-Kul)

If you want to travel but don't want to join a group; If you want to be on your own, travel at your own pace and not wait for anyone, then this tour is for you! We have developed a series of auto tours in which you are accompanied only by the driver and able to travel in a group of 2-4 people, At the same time your driver will be a great company, will help you in any problem and answer all your questions.

Accommodation on the tour will be in small hotels and guest houses, meals will be organized in the form of picnics in nature or in guest houses. This will ley you travel around the country studying the culture, traditions and life of local residents, tasting dishes of national cuisine and enjoying the beauty of the Kyrgyz nature.

This car tour covers most of Kyrgyzstan. You will pass along the main road connecting the largest cities of Osh and Bishkek, you will see the deepest river in Kyrgyzstan - the Naryn River, the most beautiful lakes Sary-Chelek and Son-Kul, the largest walnut forest in the world Arslanbob as well as other natural attractions: valleys, rivers, waterfalls, mountain gorges and high mountain pastures where sheep, horses, cows and even yaks graze. You will be able to live in Kyrgyz yurts, try the national cuisine, take a bunch of interesting photos and relax in the lap of nature in a small but surprisingly beautiful country - Kyrgyzstan!

Trip details

Intensity Level 1
Season Summer, Autumn
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: $ 1,300 (≥ 4 people)
≥ 2 people in the group: $ 1,300 per person

Great for Individuals Couples Families

In this car tour you will see beautiful mountain landscapes, meet families of local residents; in their houses you can learn a lot about the culture and life of the Kyrgyz people. You can spend a couple of nights in real Kyrgyz yurts, taste Kyrgyz cuisine, watch a master show on making national felt carpets, watch a folklore concert using national Kyrgyz instruments, drive through most of the country seeing many natural sights: waterfalls, stormy rivers, valleys, amazingly beautiful panoramas, Arslanbob forest, lakes and much, much more!

What's Included:

  • Transport according to the program with English speaking driver
  • Accommodation according to the program
  • Meals according to the program - full board
  • Excursions and entrance fees for the program
  • Water 1 l. per day per person

What's not included:

  • Any changes to the program
  • Alcohol beverages
  • Excursions not included in the program
  • Tips for staff
  • Any personal expenses at the hotel: international calls, bar, etc.
  • Supplement for single occupancy 60$
  • Guide
Day
1

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.

Day
2

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.

Day
3

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.

Day
4

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.

Day
5

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.

Day
6

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.

Day
7

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
8

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.

Day
9

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.

Day
10

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

Got questions?

We thought you might. We've prepared some answers to our most commomly asked questions about this trip.

What to pack?

Download this helpful list of suggestions and recommendations for gear for this trip.

Logistics

Get detailed information about how to get here, reservation policies, trip insurance and more.

Need more information? We promptly answer all Your questions!

Trip Gallery

Need more information? We promptly answer all Your questions!

Blog «Asia Mountains»

See more blog from «Asia Mountains»

Gear Rental

Travelling to Kyrgyzstan, but short a few items on your gear list? We offer the «must have» items for rent at reasonable prices.

The best food

Our healthy, flavorful, filling, and nutritious Gourmet Backcountry Cuisine has won multiple awards!

Find your level

Are you ready for one of our amazing trips? Choose the adventure that is right for your activity level.

Follow us:
«Asia Mountains»
720021, Kyrgyzstan
Bishkek, Lineinaya str. 1a