Trip over mountains of Kyrgyzstan

Arrival to Bishkek. Meeting at the airport “Manas”, transfer to “Asia Mountains” hotel, accommodation. Lunch at the hotel of “Asia Mountains”. We will have city tour around Bishkek today with visiting many places that saved the atmosphere of Soviet times. The biggest influence of the soviet epoch is felt in the center of the town where you may see the raw of good soviet time architecture examples: Philharmonic, Government building, Historical museum, Victory square. Along with them you will see the modern Kyrgyz architecture, such as: Manas monument, Courage monument, different monuments for akyns (poets), manaschy (people who told the legend about Manas) and the local rulers of different times. Bishkek is known as one of the most ecological towns in the world, due to lots of green parks saving the shadow and coolness even in the hottest summer day and we will visit one of them which is called Oak park. Dinner and overnight in “Asia Mountains” hotel.

Bishkek - Cholpon-Ata . In the morning we will be transferred to Cholpon-Ata town. Visiting the historical-architectural complex of Burana tower (X – XI AC) on the way. Then we will go through the Boom gorge into Issyk-Kul valley. When we arrive to Cholpon-Ata town we will visit a unique monument of Bronze epoch – an open air museum of stone inscriptions – petrogliphs. The beginning of these “art galleries” was made by Andronovo tribes (II c BC). The tribes of Saka (VIII-III c BC) continued the evolution of this kind of art and their pictures are all made in “Animal style” attracting attention by the skill and the realism they are made with. We will have free time in the evening to enjoy the waters of the lake and to make great pictures of the sunset on the shores of the second biggest alpine lake in the world. Issyk-Kul is translated from Kyrgyz language as the warm lake and it clearly follows its name as it never freezes in winter even despite its high location. Overnight at the hotel.

Cholpon-Ata - Karakol . After breakfast we will have free time to swim in the lake and after lunch we will be transferred to Karakol town. In 1869 captain baron Kaulbars which was given a task to find a good place for the new town came here and ordered to found the military administrative center on the way of Great Silk Road going from Chu valley to Kashgar. This date became the date of town founding named by the river it stayed on – Karakol. Overnight in the hotel.

Karakol – Kochkorka. After breakfast we will make a little excursion around Karakol town with the visit of Church built in 19th century and the Dungan Mosque. Then we will be transferred to Djeti-Oguz gorge along the eastern shore of Issyk-Kul lake. This is one of the most beautiful places in Kyrgyzstan. For 25km. on both sides of the gorge the fir trees are growing at first merging into small groups and then turning into huge forest mass. There are amazing subalpine and alpine meadows called Jailoo. We will spend our time here till noon and then go to the place of our next night stay in Kochkorka village. Dinner. Overnight in home stay.

Kochkorka – Son-Kul. . In the morning after breakfast we will see the crafts show. You will see how Kyrgyz people make their carpets and will have a chance to visit the handicrafts museum where you may even buy some souvenirs for your relatives and friends. After that we will be transferred to an amazing mountain lake Son-Kul which is opened only in summer as all the roads and the lake itself is covered with snow for the rest of the year. Dinner and overnight in local yurts.

Son-Kul – Naryn. In the morning you may enjoy the view of the lake, have rest and have a little walk to the place where you may find the ancient stone inscriptions. On the shores of the lake and on surrounding hills there is a great amount of different kinds of grass, some of them are considered to be curative. But what is really amazing is that there are fields of edelweiss, with their form and structure it seems as if the stars are not there over you but here under your feet and you may not only reach them but also pick one up for the person you love. After lunch we will be transferred to Naryn. Overnight in guest house.

Naryn – Torugart - Kashgar. In the morning after breakfast we will go to Torugart pass and cross the border with China. And drive to Kashgar. Dinner and overnight in the hotel in Kashgar.

Kashgar. Today we will have city tour in Kashgar. We will start from Id Kah mosque which was built in the middle of XV century. The pray hall of this mosque may hold about 4000 prayers. After that we will drive to Abakh Khoja tomb; it’s an ancient Islamic complex and a cemetery. In the eastern part of it you will see the biggest dome structure in Xinjiang. After lunch we will have free time to rest. Overnight in the hotel.

Kashgar Sunday market. Today after breakfast we will devote our day to Sunday market of Kashgar. On Sunday it seems that all Central Asia is here. You may see the people from all Central Asian countries which are busy with bargain and trying to get the best deal. Evening free. Overnight in the hotel.

Kashgar – Osh. Today, early in the morning we will go to the West, to Irkishtam border with Kyrgyzstan. After crossing the border we will drive to Osh town where we will have dinner and accommodate in the guesthouse.

Osh and flight to Bishkek. In the morning, after breakfast we will have an excursion around Osh. Osh is the second biggest town of Kyrgyzstan after Bishkek with the population about 250 thousand people. It was one of the religious Muslim centers in Central Asia. It is known by its ancient mosques in the center of the town and also by Suleiman-Too (The throne of Solomon), which is one of the places of pilgrimage of central Asian Muslims and to which we will have an excursion after lunch. Suleiman mountain is one of the most significant historical monuments in Kyrgyzstan. It is located in the center of Osh. The triple ascent onto the mountain is considered to be equal to one Hajj to Mecca. In one of the caves of the mountain we will visit the museum and after that get ready for the flight back to Bishkek. We will be met at the airport and transferred to “Asia Mountains” hotel where we will have dinner and farewell party.

Flight home. We will be transferred to the airport where the flight home will be waiting for you.