Amazing Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan by car

Driving around Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan. Amazing and breathtaking landscapes await you. You can feel the flavor of Kyrgyzstan, see the lifestyle and traditions of the nomadic people, try the national cuisine and just have a great time. This tour is suitable for the whole family!

Program: 8 days / 7 nights

Places of visit: Kyrgyzstan. Bishkek, Issyk-Kul.

Time: 6-13 August

Activity: Leisure, Car tour, Excursions

Day 1 (6 Aug). Bishkek

Arrival at Manas airport and transfer to the hotel for rest. Free time to walk around the city.

Meals - dinner

Day 2 (7 Aug). Bishkek - Kadji-Sai (280 km/ 4,5h)

transfer to the southern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake.

Lunch at the hotel.

After lunch we will go to the shore of Issyk-Kul Lake.

Issyk-Kul is the second largest mountain lake after Lake Titicaca in South America, is included in the 25 largest lakes in the world and is in seventh place in the list of the deepest lakes on our planet. Lake Issyk-Kul also ranks second in terms of water transparency after Lake Baikal. The local population calls Lake Issyk-Kul the “Pearl of Kyrgyzstan”. Looking like a small bead strung on a chain of mountain ranges, it really lives up to its name. The “Pearl of Kyrgyzstan” is located at an altitude of 1606 m above sea level and is surrounded on both sides by ridges with the poetic names Terskey Ala-Too (Faced from the sun) and Kungei Ala-Too (Faced to the sun). 

Swimming in the lake and in hot mineral springs.

Meals - breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3 (8 Aug). Salt lake, Bokonbaevo village and healing springs of Manzhyly-Ata

This morning we will go to the salt lake. Here you can swim from the heart, because the water is warm and incredibly salty, which keeps you afloat, even if you do not move your arms or legs. And here you can take mud baths, which is what most vacationers do. Smear yourself with mud, saturate the skin with microelements and heal a little, what else do you need?

Closer to dinner, we will go to the village of Bokonbaevo to have a hearty lunch and visit the local Berkutchi, who will be happy to tell us about his birds and even let us hold them in hands.

From the village of Bokonbaevo we will continue our journey along the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. The southern coast is much more beautiful than its northern brother, since it has retained its virgin beauty. On the way, we will visit the valley of the sacred springs of Manzhyly-Ata.

The valley is a whole labyrinth of shallow gorges between clay steppe hills, from which many springs flow. Each spring is considered healing. 8 sacred willows grow in the Manzhyly gorge, at the base of which there are 12 main and 5 additional healing springs. Water comes out of the ground and seeps back into it. Each spring has its own name, specific taste and cure for various diseases.

Here we will spend some time enjoying the silence of this place.

Meals - breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4 (9 Aug). Jeti-Oguz and Karakol

After breakfast, we will move to the city of Karakol, where we will visit the local bazaar, and a souvenir shop, the Church of the Holy Trinity, the Dungan Mosque, and the Przhevalsky Museum. Lunch in the city.

Further transfer to Jeti-Oguz gorge. The Jeti-Oguz gorge is located 30 km west of the city of Karakol on the northern slopes of the Terskey Ala-Too ridge in the gorge of the same name, more than 40 km long. The Jeti-Oguz gorge is one of the most beautiful places in Kyrgyzstan. For almost 25 km, Tien Shan spruce grows on both sides of the gorge, located first in picturesque groups, and then in continuous forests.

Above the forest zone (about 3000 m), in a wide valley, about 15 km wide, there are magnificent subalpine and alpine meadows - jailoo. In the spring and summer months in the Jeti-Oguz gorge there is a real festival of flowers, among which silver stars of edelweiss, alpine daisies and asters, elecampane (golden root) stand out. In autumn, the gorge flashes with multi-colored colors, because in addition to the coniferous cover, there are also many deciduous trees growing in the gorge. From the northern slopes of the Karakol and Oguz-Bashy peaks, the Archa-Tor and Aylynash rivers originate, forming the Jeti-Oguz river. Here we will take a walk to the waterfall called "Girl’s Braids" and see the grandiose rock sculptures of the Seven Bulls and the Broken Heart.

Night in yurts. Meals - breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5 (10 Aug). Skazka Gorge and Barskoon Gorge

Our path again runs along the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. Today we drive back to our hotel. The southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul is more diverse in landscape and less populated. To begin with, we will visit the Barskoon gorge, famous for its waterfalls "Tears of Bars" and "Bowl of Manas", to which we will definitely take a walk. After lunch at the guest house, we will go further to the Skazka gorge. The whole originality of this place is colorful rocks frozen in bizarre shapes, as after an eruption. Solid clusters of limestone and sandstone look like the ruins of ancient castles. The most amazing thing is that the architect and sculptor of this place is nature, which used only water, sun and wind as tools.

Return to the hotel.

Meals - breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6 (11 Aug). Day of rest

On this day, you will not need to drive or go anywhere. It will be a day of rest.

Meals - breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7 (12 Aug).  Transfer to Bishkek

Today we are going to the capital. On the way there is an opportunity to visit the historical and architectural complex of Burana Tower.

Excursion to the museum and the Burana tower itself (XI century), inspection of the remaining foundations of the once majestic mausoleums (XI - XII centuries) - the tombs of the powerful rulers of the city. A visit to the open-air museum, where you can see evidence collected from all over the Chui Valley of the life of numerous representatives of various teachings, cultures, religions and lifestyles that once raged here.

Lunch at the guest house.

Arrival in Bishkek and evening walk around the city. You can walk along Victory Square, along the old square with an oak park, along the main Ala-Too square, see the historical museum (tickets are not included in the price) and see the change of guards, see the government house and an open-air art gallery.

You can also visit the colorful Osh bazaar with its souvenir rows, fruits, dried fruits, nuts, spices and lepyoshka (kyrgyz round bread).

Meals - breakfast, lunch

Day 8 (13 Aug).  Departure

On this day, the car will take you to the airport for your flight home. End of the program.

Meals - breakfast

The cost of a collective group from August 6 to August 13 is $ 1,200 per person

Price includes:

1. Transport along the entire route
2. Guide from 1st to 7th day
3. Accommodation according to the itinerary (Al-Hayat Art Hotel in Kaji-Say / Yurts in the Jeti-Oguz Gorge / 4* Hotel in Bishkek)
4. Meals according to the program (indicated for each day)
5. Entrance tickets and excursions according to the program (except hot springs)

Price doesn’t include:

1. Any changes in the program
2. Alcoholic drinks
3. Excursions not included in the program + hot springs and historical museum in Bishkek
4. Tipping the driver, guide and other staff
5. Any personal expenses: international calls, souvenirs, etc.
6. International flights
7. Supplement for single occupancy - $ 20 per night per person

Contact us to book this tour.

Pictures by V.Berezhnoi