Trip around lake Issyk-Kul - With light trekking elements
Trip around lake Issyk-Kul

With light trekking elements

Trip around lake Issyk-Kul
(With light trekking elements )

We suggest you go on a simple mountain hike with comfortable overnight stays in guest houses and yurts. You can go on this tour in autumn, spring or summer.

Each of the places that you’ll visit is beautiful at any time of the year. You will be amazed by the beauty of the nature of Kyrgyzstan. Gorges with unique views are revealed in their own way at different times of the year. In spring it is flowering trees and primroses, in summer - there's lush greenery and many flowers around, and in autumn - there are bright and colorful mountain slopes.

Your unforgettable journey will start from Chon-Kemin gorge. Here you will visit the natural park and stay in a comfortable guest house. After that, you will go on an easy hike through the picturesque Kalmak-Ash gorge. Then you will move to the small town of Cholpon-Ata, and on the way you will hike through the bright red canyons of Konorchek. In Cholpon-Ata you will visit ancient rock paintings near the village Ornok.

After Cholpon-Ata, you will go to the Grigorievskoe and Semenovskoe gorges and visit Suttuu-Bulak lake. Here you can have a picnic with a picturesque view of the lake.

The adventure will continue in the Jyrgalan valley. Here you will walk to the waterfall Kok-Bel, located at an altitude of 2600m. On the way to the waterfall you will admire the views of the famous valley.

Then you will go towards the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. On the way you will have a city tour in Karakol and you will visit all the main sights.

Next you will go to the Jeti-Oguz gorge and see the rocks called Broken Heart and 7 bulls. In this gorge you will have a walk to the observation point with a panoramic view of the entire valley.

After that, you will visit the Barskoon Gorge and its beautiful waterfalls. The active part of the program will end in the village Bokonbaevo. Here you will see falconry and meet real golden eagles.

Active adventures are waiting for you in this program, let’s go!

Available dates

  • 18.05-29.05.2024 | 10 places Book
  • 15.06-26.06.2024 | 8 places Book
  • Individual dates are also available. Contact the program manager.

Trip details

Intensity Level 2
Season Summer, Autumn, Spring
Begins in Bishkek
Ends in Bishkek
Airport Airport Manas (FRU)
Airport out Airport Manas (FRU)
Wildlife Mountain goats, Marmots, Birds, Predator birds, Rodents

Price: $ 1,500 (≥ 6 people)

Great for Families Couples Individuals

This fascinating mountain hike will pass through mountain ranges, rivers and bewitching alpine meadows, and you will spend nights in comfortable guest houses and yurts. See many gorges with diverse landscapes, visit natural parks and reserves, see canyons and waterfalls, rivers and mountain peaks and so much more. Every day there’s a new gorge and unforgettable adventures on this trip! Let’s go!

What's Included:

  • Meeting and seeing off at the airport
  • Transport according to the program
  • Accommodation according to the program (based on double occupancy)
  • Nutrition (more information in the daily program
  • Guide
  • Entry tickets
  • Environmental fee
  • Water 1 l. per person per day
  • Falconry in Bokonbaevo

What's not included:

  • Any changes to the program
  • Alcohol
  • Any personal expenses at the hotel: international calls, bar, etc.
  • Visit to Ak-Bermet hot springs on day 5
  • Meals: Lunch / Dinner, see more information in the daily program
Day
1

Arrival in Bishkek. Arrival at the Manas airport, meeting with the guide and transfer to the city of Bishkek 30 km - 40 minutes. Check-in at the hotel, breakfast. A short rest, after the rest you will have an excursion around the city of Bishkek - the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Today you will visit Ala-Too Square, which offers a magnificent view of the snowy peaks of the Kyrgyz Range, green parks, and much more. In the evening return to the hotel, free time.

Meals: Breakfast only.

Day
2

Bishkek - Chon - Kemin 150 km / 3 h. After breakfast you will transfer to Chon-Kemin, by the way visiting Burana Tower. The Burana tower is the minaret of the Jami mosque (end of the 10th century - beginning of the 11th century) - located in the eastern half of the central part of the settlement, next to the palace. The minaret is one of the oldest structures of this kind in the territory of Central Asia; in its constructive and decorative details, the techniques of pre-Islamic architecture are traced. You can observe this historical beauty yourself, and in order to fully immerse yourself in history, you will have a tour of the museum on the territory of the historical complex.

Then we will continue our journey to the Chon-Kemin gorge, lunch will be at the guest house. After lunch, you can ride horses or take a walk through the Chon-Kemin Natural Park.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner.

Day
3

Chon - Kemin. Mountain trekking 6 - 8 hours. Today we are waiting for a mountain hike through the picturesque Kalmak-Ash gorge, our goal will be to reach the top of the hill from which a magnificent view of the Chon-Kemin valley opens. Picnic. In the evening we will return to the guest house, dinner, rest.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch boxes / Dinner.

Day
4

Chon-Kemin - Konorchek - Cholpon-Ata, 110 km / 2 - 2.5 hours. After breakfast, we pack up and move on. On the way we will visit the Konorchek canyons in the Boom Gorge. Walking through the canyons will take about 3 hours.

Return to the car, lunch at a cafe in the Boom Gorge, then transfer to the city of Cholpon-Ata. In Cholpon-Ata we will visit petroglyphs near the village of Ornok. Rock paintings depict hunting scenes and various rituals of that time. The images belong to the Bronze and Iron Ages, approximately 2000 BC. -1 thousand AD The open-air museum covers about 6 km from east to west, and from north to south about 5 km. Upon arrival in Cholpon-Ata, accommodation in a guest house.

Meals: Breakfast/ no / no.

Day
5

Day in Cholpon-Ata. In Cholpon-Ata, we will visit the Rukh Cultural Center - Ordo, this amazing place that has collected five chapels, each of which represents one of the world's confessions, namely: Islam, Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Buddhism and Judaism. In addition, art and photo galleries are collected here, a tour of Rukh - Ordo will not leave you indifferent.

Lunch in the city of Cholpon - Ata, after lunch, rest on the shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. Toward evening you can go to the Ak-Bermet hot springs. In the evening return to the guest house, rest.

Meals: Breakfast / no / no.

Day
6

Cholpon - Ata - Grigoryevskoe gorge - Semenovskoye gorge - Suttuu lake - Bulak - Dzhergalan village 220 km / 4 hours. After a hearty breakfast, transfer to the Grigoryevskoye gorge, having reached the fork, we will turn right and head through the pass to the Semenovskoye gorge. From the Kok-Bel pass (2375 m) a beautiful view of both gorges opens up, after admiring a little we will go down to the Semenovskoye gorge, and begin our hike to the Suttuu-Bulak lake (3 hours on the way). Out to the lake, picnic.

After that, we start descending to the car, meeting with the driver and moving to the village of Jergalan. Upon arrival in Jergalan, accommodation in a guest house, dinner.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch boxes / Dinner.

Day
7

Jyrgalan. Trekking to Kok-Bel waterfall 12 km / 4 h. Today we will hike to Kok-Bel waterfall for 12 km. The waterfall is located at an altitude (2600 m.), and flows into the Kok-Bel River. On the way to the waterfall, you will have a breathtaking view of the Jergalan valley. In the evening you will return to the village, dinner, overnight in a guest house.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch boxes / Dinner.

Day
8

Jyrgalan - Karakol - Jety - Oguz 90 km / 2 h. After breakfast, we will go to the Jety-Oguz gorge, which is located on the southern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake. On the way we will visit Karakol and have a city tour there. You will be able to see the main sights of the city, the Przhevalsky Museum and try the famous Karakol dish Ashlyanfu (kind of noodles with soup). After lunch you will have a transfer to Jety-Oguz gorge.

The Jety-Oguz gorge is located 60 km west of the city of Karakol on the northern slopes of Terskey-Ala-Too. Here you can see the well-known red rocks "Broken Heart" and "Seven Bulls". Climb to the panoramic point, from where you will have a view of the entire gorge. Overnight at the yurt camp, dinner.

Meals: Breakfast / no / Dinner.

Day
9

Jety - Oguz + - 800 m / 5 - 6 hours. Today we will have a radial hike to the panoramic point of 3026 meters, 5-6 hours on the way. Climb / Descent +- 800 m. We will start our way up the gorge, climbing to a height of about 2800 meters, turn right and start climbing a steeper slope and further to the observation point. With access to the observation point, we will have a magnificent view of the Kok-Zhaiyk valley, red rocks, and other sights of these places. Picnic, and after that we will start our descent along the same route. Dinner, overnight at the yurt camp.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch boxes / Dinner.

Day
10

Jety-Oguz - Barskoon gorge - Skazka canyons - Bokonbaevo 115 km / 2 - 2.5 h. After a delicious breakfast, we will head to the Barskoon gorge - this gorge is known for its high waterfalls and dense spruce forests. Trekking to the waterfalls “Bowl of Manas” and “Tears of the Snow Leopard”, and after that we will go to the panoramic point.

Next, transfer to the village of Bokonbaevo, on the way visiting the “Fairy Tale” canyons, getting to know the canyons, and hiking for about 1 - 1.5 hours. The whole originality of the place lies in the colorful rocks frozen in bizarre shapes, as if after a volcanic eruption. Solid clumps of limestone and sandstone bulge out of the colorful soil, and the place looks like the ruins of ancient castles. Dinner in Bokonbaevo, overnight in yurts on the shore of Issyk-Kul lake.

Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner.

Day
11

Bokonbaevo - Bishkek 220. After breakfast, we collect things and go to Bishkek. On the way we will stop by to see Berkutchi with its falcons and falconry itself. Upon arrival in Bishkek, accommodation at the Asia Mountains Hotel 3* or similar.

Meals: Breakfast/ No / No.

Day
12

Bishkek - Manas airport. Our wonderful journey through the beauties of Kyrgyzstan has come to an end. In the morning our driver will take you to the airport. Happy travels and see you soon!

Meals: Breakfast.

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