Around Issyk-Kul lake

Bishkek, Ala-Archa park. Arrival to Bishkek, meeting at the Manas airport, Transfer to Asia Mountains hotel. After some rest in the hotel, we will get acquainted with our cars. The driving distance today won’t be very big, we will drive about 80 km total to the national park Ala-Archa where we will spend our time enjoying a great Kyrgyz nature. The park is located in 40 km from Bishkek on the slopes of Kyrgyz Ala-Too. Ala-Archa is translated from Kyrgyz language as “motley juniper”. The gorge got its name due to a great amount of juniper covering its slopes. As different kinds of juniper have different colors the gorge seems to be very colorful. In the evening we will drive back to Bishkek (40 km). Dinner, overnight.

Bishkek – Cholpon-Ata ( 250 km ). In the morning after breakfast we will drive to Cholpon-Ata – the town which is located on the shore of one of the most beautiful lakes in Kyrgyzstan – Issyk-Kul lake. On the way we will visit the historical-architectural complex of Burana Tower. After the excursion we will continue our tour. Going along the Chu valley we will get into mountains and drive through narrow Boom gorge. The road here is good paved so the driving will be nice and easy. Upon arrival our accommodation point is “Raduga” hotel. Free time for rest and enjoying yourself.

Grigorievskoe gorge (120 km). Today we will get onto off road. The driving through both gorges is very picturesque but be ready for the fact that the road is not cleaned during the whole winter period. Our aim today is to achieve the mountain lake. We will check the ability of our cars to go over the unpaved snowy distances. If it’s going to be possible, we will enter Grigoriyevskoe gorge, get to the lake and come back to resort through the other gorge named Semyonovskoe. Upon arrival, free time. Overnight in the hotel.

Reina-Kench farm (130 km). In the morning after breakfast we will drive towards Karakol town, but we will turn a little to the north and get to the Reina-Kench Farm. Here we will spend the night, but we will have plenty of time to ride the snow fields in cars, or rent snowmobiles and arrange a short excursion on snowmobiles. For those who love horse riding, you can ride a horse.

Karakol (50 km). Today we will drive to Karakol town and up to the famous Karakol ski base. The road here is paved so after our previous day the drive won’t be very hard. We will have time to ski if you have a desire. Accommodation will be also on the ski base. In the town itself you may visit an ancient Dungan Mosque, and a Holy Trinity wooden Church which was built without a single nail. Free time, rest, dinner.

Karakol - Bishkek (400 km). In the morning we will enjoy the view of the Terskei-Ala-Too range and continue our journey after breakfast. We will see an amazing variety of landscapes as in a kaleidoscope. Today we will go back to Bishkek along the southern shore of the lake, which is very different from its northern brother. The road has bumps, and in some places there are holes, but in total it will be quite good. On the way, we will stop at the Fairy Tale gorge, where snow almost never happens. It is as if there is no winter, but there are sand castles. We will walk along the canyons for a bit and go further to Bishkek. The road is not difficult and after about 4 hours we will be in the city. Accommodation in the hotel of Asia Mountains. Farewell dinner.

Departure. This day the car will take you to the airport for your flight home.