11 days | Bishkek, Burana, Kochkor, Tamga, Karakol, Hot Spring, Karakol, Kegen border, Saty, Almaty, Bishkek, Ala - Archa, Bishkek
Explore the Beauty of Central Asia!
A trip to Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan will show you beautiful mountains, friendly people, and the special culture of these countries. You will enjoy amazing experiences in a place full of history and nature, making it a perfect part of the Central Asia region.
Day 1 :Home country – Bishkek
Arrival in Bishkek by Turkish Airlines. Transfer to the hotel for breakfast and the rest. Change money for Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan journey. Lunch in the local restaurant.
City tour in Bishkek with visiting, Historical Museum, Oak Park, Ala-Too Square, Statue of Manas and Philharmonic Hall. Philharmonic Hall. Dinner in the local restaurant. Accommodation in the hotel.
(Meal B/L/D)
(Altitudes above sea level during the day: 700 m in Bishkek)
Day 2:Bishkek – Burana – Kochkor
Breakfast. Excursion to colorful Central Asian Osh bazaar. Transfer to Kochkor, Lunch on the way. Shortly visit ruins of the ancient town Balasagyn and Burana Tower. Later on, stop in Boom canyon where you can test fresh traditional bread Kattama. Accommodation in the hotel in Kochkor.
Visit the felt carpet workshop, where you cannot only buy souvenirs but you can participate in producing them yourself. The members of the Women's Cooperative show and tell us how to make felt carpets. Dinner and accommodation in the hotel.
(Meal B/L/D)
(Altitudes above sea level during the day: start point – 800 m in Bishkek, Kochkor 1700 m in the end of the day)
Day 3:Kochkor – Tamga
Breakfast. Transfer to the Issyk-Kul lake, Tamga yurt camp. The lake is considered to be the second largest mountainous lake in the world on the altitude of 1607 meters above the sea level. You will drive along the southern shore and will have several stops. On the way a stop in the village Kyzyl-Tuu. This village is famous with its talented artisans, who makes wooden parts of yurts. The artisan will show us process of Yurts production. Lunch in the family who makes yurts.
Transfer to Jaichi gorge with stunning view to the mountains. Here you will watch the Eagle Hunting show. The hunter will tell you more about the process of hunting and about birds.
Next stop in Tamga Military Resort, construction of which began in 1932. During Soviet time it was resort for Russian astronauts, who had acclimatization after flights to space. Fist of the guest in the resort was Russian astronaut Yuri Gagarin. A walk through the park, which will take you back to the period of Soviet time, you can look sculptures of artist from that time. Continue driving to Tamga.
Dinner and accommodation in the yurt camp Nomad Lodge by the shore.
(Meal B/ L/D)
(Altitudes above sea level during the day: start point Kochkor 1700 m, 1607 m in Tamga in the end of the day)
Day 4:Tamga – Karakol
Breakfast. Transfer to Karakol. Karakol is a city in Kyrgyzstan to the east of Lake Issyk-Kul. On the way visit Barskoon gorge. One of the most beautiful gorges of Kyrgyzstan - Barskoon gorge is located on the southern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake, 90 km from Karakol village. The slopes of the gorge are covered with thick vegetation and shrubs. There are three waterfalls in the gorge. “The Tears of the Snow Leopard” waterfall is the name of the most famous waterfall of the Barskoon Gorge. This unique place is a state natural monument. The height from which the water stream descends is about 100 meters. The walking takes about 30-40 minutes one way to the first point of great view. Packed lunch.
Later visit Djety-Oguz valley. Djety-Oguz in Kyrgyz means “Seven Bulls”. This picturesque gorge is named so because of the red rocky sand formations covered with forests of Tien-Shan spruces. The walking about 30 minutes both ways to the best view of “Seven Bulls”. Dinner in the restaurant. Accommodation in the hotel.
(Meal B/Lb/D)
(Altitudes above sea level during the day: start point 1607 m in Tamga, 1700 m Karakol)
Day 5:Karakol – Hot Spring – Karakol
Breakfast. City tour in Karakol. Construction of Karakol began in the late 19th century and was initially a military garrison under the Russian Empire. During the city tour you will be able to walk along the old streets and wooden houses of that time. Visit Russian Orthodox Church, Muslim Mosque in Dungan Style, Victory Park. Lunch.
Transfer to the hot spring, pleasant pastime with thermal water baths. Return back to Karakol. You will visit Uighur family for the dinner. They will demonstrate of master class of cooking handmade noodles for Lagman food. You will test Lagman during the dinner in the family. Accommodation in the hotel.
(Meal B/ L/D)
(Altitudes above sea level during the day: 1700 m Karakol)
Day 6:Karakol – Kegen border – Saty
Breakfast. Excursion to Prjevalsky Museum. Famous explorer of the Far East and Central Asia in 19th century, zoologist, ethnographer, geographer. He gained world fame as a result of four expeditions to Central Asia.
Transfer to Kol-Say Nature Park, which is located in Kazakhstan. Before the passing the border, you will visit San-Tash barrow. San-Tash means counted stones. The story about San-Tash came from the time of Great Timur, when he asked all solders of his army to put stones in one place. He wanted to see how is bid barrow with stones and see in the same time how is big his army. Lunch as picnic in nature in a picturesque location. Border formalities on Kyrgyz-Kazakh border Kegen. Border formalities takes about 1 hour. Continue driving to the Kol-Say Nature Park. Dinner and overnight in the hotel.
(Meal B/ Picnic for lunch/D)
(Altitudes above sea level during the day: start point 1700 m Karakol, in the end of the day 1000 m Saty)
Day 7:Saty – Almaty
Breakfast. Transfer to the parking place of the bus near by Kol-Say lake, walking excursion about 30-40 minutes to the view point of the first Kol-Say lake. The mountain lake, with an emerald colour in fine weather, framed by a coniferous forest.
Transfer to Charyn Canyon around 1.5 hours. Charyn Canyon, it is an amazing creation of nature that has existed for millions of years, picturesque and very diverse in geomorphologic aspects. The height of steep mountainsides reaches 150-300 meters. Numerous ravines and gullies make dense rambling net. Wind and water created stunning "Red Castles Valley". All along the valley you are surrounded by towers of fantastical forms, built of sedimentary. Throughout time nature has created these architectural wonders, without haste, it has built majestic castles. Walking to the view point of the canyon for about 3 km in both ways. Lunch in the café in Charyn canyon.Transfer to Almaty around 4-5 hours, time depends on traffic jam in Almaty.
Dinner at the local restaurant. Accommodation in the hotel.
(Meal B/ L /D)
(Altitudes above sea level during the day: start point 1000 m Saty, in the end of the day 500 m Almaty)
Day 8:Almaty
Breakfast. City tour around Almaty. Transfer to Asian Green Bazaar in the morning, then walking via old city center (today: Square Astana) to the 28 Panfilovtsev Park, Zenkov Cathedral (monument of cult architecture of Christians in Kazakhstan). You will visit the Museum of Musical Instruments, Abai Theater. A walk along the pedestrian street, which appeared in 1883 and has the name Silk Road, here you can see the works of street artists and listen to local musicians, buy souvenirs. Transfer to Republic Square and Monument of Independence, Historical Museum. Lunch at the local restaurant.
Transfer to Medeo gorge. It is one of the most famous sight of Kazakhstan because it is the highest mountain complex for winter sports in the world!
Well-developed infrastructure and proximity to the city makes Medeo very attractive to visit at any time of the year. You will find delightful nature, clean mountain air and pictures view, have chance to walk to the top of Medeo damp with good viewpoint and have a flavored coffee. Excursion by cable car up to the gorge. Return back to Almaty. Dinner in local restaurant. Accommodation at the hotel.
(Meal B/L/D)
(Altitudes above sea level during the day: start point 500 m Almaty)
Day 9:Almaty – Bishkek
After breakfast leave Almaty and transfer to the Kazakhstan – Kyrgyzstan border about 220km. Border formalities and after passing the customs your return back to Kyrgyzstan. Drive to Bishkek 30km. Lunch in Bishkek. After lunch check in to the hotel free time before the dinner. Diner in the local restaurant
Hotel for accommodation.
(Meal B/L/D)
Day 10:Bishkek – Ala Archa – Bishkek
Breakfast. Today you’re going to visit Ala Archa Gorge located at a distance of 45 km from Bishkek. The gorge lies within the national park on a spur of the Tien Shan mountain range. It is a wonderful place for hiking, enjoying fresh crystal air, fabulous scenery, and tranquility. Hike in the gorge for about 2-3 hours. Afterward, you will return to Bishkek and will have free time till dinner. Farwell Diner in the local restaurant with the dancing (alcohol drinks for this dinner included).
(Meal B/L/D)
Day 11:Bishkek – Home country
Transfer to the airport.