Altyn Arashan - Son Kul lake 8 Days trekking tour

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Description

Period: June – October

Individuals dates available on request

Group size: 1-15 persons

Bishkek, Karakol, Ala-Kul lake, Altyn Arashan gorge and Son Kul lake.

Kyrgyzstan trekking tour is a trip that combines interesting hikes in the mountains. The walks explore the natural beauty of Kyrgyzstan in the Karakol region. You will visit Karakol Valley with Ala-Kul mountain lake and Golden Valley Altin-Arashan with its healing hot springs. You can also visit the historical sites of Bishkek, Karakol and Cholpon Ata and enjoy a full day at the Issyk-Kul resort. After few days spending in Issyk kul regoin, you will follow yout trekking jorney to Son-Kul Lake (Son-kel, Sonkul) is located in the northwestern part of the Naryn region of Kyrgyzstan. It is the second largest lake in the country after Issyk-Kul.

Translated from Kyrgyz, Son-Kul means “lake inhabited by wild ducks”. The lake is located in the Tien Shan Gorge, at an altitude of 3016 meters above sea level. The area of Son-Kul is 278 sq. km, length – 28 km, width – 18 km. The average depth is 8.6 m, and the maximum is almost 14 m.

Part of the lake is located on the territory of the Karatal-Zhapyryksky National Reserve, established in 1994. The waters of Son Kul are inhabited by such species of fish as white-spotted char, scaly char, rare scaly muskrat, Tibetan char, high char, marinka and peled.

Additional information

Recommended equipment: coat, warm clothes, boots, sleeping bag, mat, backpack, flashlight, first aid kit, sunglasses.
Conditions The trekking route has no technical difficulties, but you need to be in shape as you will walk 3-6 hours a day and cross a mountain pass (3860m).

Exclusions

Early arrival night in Bishkek;
Visa cost;
Personal travel insurance;
Flight tickets;
Alcohol and soft drinks;

Inclusions

Accommodation (twin room in guest house and in yurts sharing )
Meals full board
Transportation through the whole trip.
English speaking guide through the whole trip
Entrance fees to sights according to the program;
Horse rent
Russian car UAZ the day of transfer back to Karakol from Altyn Arashan gorge.

Tour itinerary

Day 1

Bishkek

Meet in airoport. Sights to visit: Oak Park, Ala-too Square, Philharmonic, Manas Statue, Victory Square. Osh bazaar ( if we have enough time). Sightseeing takes near 4-5 hours. Overnight at the hotel.
Accommodation: 3-4 star hotel in Bishkek
Nutrition: lunch/dinner

Day 2

Bishkek – Karakol town. (400 km )
Morning travel to Karakol, south of Issyk-Kul (400 km). On the way, visit Burana Tower, which remains from the ancient city of Balasagin (XI-XIII).On the way, visit open air petroglyphs museum. You are guaranteed the best view of Issyk Kul Lake. To Karakol. Overnight in a guesthouse or hotel in Karakol.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Nutrition: Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Day 3

Karakol town – Altyn Arashan Gorge (4-5 hours trek).

After breakfast, drive to start point. About 20 km. Heads south along Karakol Gorge on an exciting mountain trail winding through fur tree forests and the stunning rock formations of Karakol Gorge. After lunch, trelling around gorge, hot spring. The next stage tomorrow is a trek through the fur tree forest along the Ala Kul valley. Dinner and overnight in guest house.
Accommodation: Guest house
Nutrition: Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Day 4

Ala Kul Lake – Karakol city (8-9 hour hike).
After breakfast, continue hiking in the valley, gradually gaining altitude. Ala-kol Lake is passed. Lunch box at the lake. The lake is at an altitude of 3532 meters. The 2.3 km long and 700 meters wide lake is fed by melting glaciers and has a beautiful waterfall on the other side. Same day back to Karakol with russian car UAZ. Overnight in guest house.
Accommodation: Guest house
Nutrition: breakfast/lunch/dinner

Day 5

Karakol city – Kochkor city
After breakfast drive to Kochkor city. Around 300 km. On the way visit Jety Oguz valley, Skazka Canyon. Eagle hunting show and 2 hours horse riding in Bokonbaeva.
Overnight in Guest house in Kochkor city.
Nutrition: Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Day 6

Kyzart- Kilemche jailoo via Chaar-Archa Pass 3061.
After breakfast in Kolduu Suu, head south to the Kochkor — Jumgal road. Follow the road a short ways east to the Kyzart Pass, then strike south again. Within sight of the road, cross Kyzyl-Kiya jailoo, an enormous, relatively flat sea of grass. Continue over the Chaar-Archa Pass (3 061 m) into the Chaar-Archa Valley and eat a tasty lunch by the racing river, with views of holy 4400 m Baba-Ata Mountain. Sated, ford the river and follow the trail over verdant hills to Kilemche Jailoo. The name means “like a carpet,” and this swathe of grass covers whole mountain ranges, with shadings as subtle as any shyrdak (shyrdak is a Kyrgyz felt carpet). Dine and sleep in a yurt, naturally.
Trek time: 6 hours
Accommodation: Yurt camp
Nutrition: breakfast/lunch/dinner

Day 7

Kilemche jailoo — Batai-Aral (Son-Kol lake).
After breakfast at Kilemche, spend the morning climbing to Jalgyz Karagai pass (3400 m), over the Song-Kol Mountains and into the lake’s basin. The morning climb affords wonderful views of Kilemche jailoo, and the pass itself is rocky and exciting. From the pass, Song-Kol is still distant, but as you traipse down the slopes, it gets larger and larger; the mountains on the other side get higher and higher, until finally the lake fills most of your field of view and the southern mountains tower above it. After lunch at Jaman Echki, follow the lakeshore east to the yurt at Batai Aral. Same day drive back to Bishkek. Long day.
Trek time: 6 hours.
Accommodation: Hotel
Nutrition: breakfast/lunch/dinner

Day 8

Bishkek. Airport Manas
Transfer to Manas airoport depending on departure time.