Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan Group Tour

Astana – Arrival (Kazakhstan)

Arrival in Astana. Transfer to the hotel and check-in at 14:00. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.

Accommodation: 3-4 star hotel in Astana

Nutrition: Lunch/dinner

Astana (Kazakhstan)

Breakfast. Meet your guide and the rest of the group in the hotel lobby at 09:00 for a sightseeing tour of the capital of Kazakhstan. A tour of the “old center” where merchants used to live. Walk along the Millennium Axis, named after the main architect Kisho Kurokawa, who developed the general layout of Astana. Visit the Opera House and the circular square with a fountain. Visit Independence Square with the 91-meter-high white monument “Kazakh Ely”, Kazret Sultan Mosque and the Palace of Peace and Concord. Continue along Nurzhol and Green Water Boulevards to see stunning skyscrapers with unique architecture. Take the elevator to the Baitelek Monument and enjoy the breathtaking panoramic view from the observation deck. End your morning tour with a visit to Khan Shatyr, the shopping and entertainment capital of the city. Depart for a delicious welcome lunch. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.  Sightseeing time 4-5 hours.

Accommodation:3-4 star hotel in Astana

Nutrition: Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Astana – Almaty, Kazakhstan

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport for flight to Almaty. Upon arrival – sightseeing tour of Almaty. Highlights include Panfilov Park, Zenkov Cathedral, Republic Square and Central Museum. A short drive (25 km) will take you to Chimbulak. Here you will visit a ski resort and take a cable car ride to enjoy a stunning view of the snowy peaks of the Tien Shan Mountains. Enjoy a spectacular show of specially trained falcons. Hunting with these magnificent birds is a characteristic feature of the Kazakh way of life. Return to the hotel by 18:00. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.

Time for sightseeing 5-6 hours.

Accommodation: 3-4 star hotel in Alma-Ata

Nutrition: Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Almaty – Charyn Valley – Karakol (Kazakhstan / Kyrgyzstan)

Breakfast. 08:00, meeting with guide and driver in the hotel lobby. Departure from Almaty to Charyn Canyon (220 km, 3-4 hours). This 154-meter canyon is located in Eastern Kazakhstan and is part of the Charyn National Park. In addition to unforgettable views of the huge canyon with colorful towers, in the national park you can see old ash groves and the Castle Valley. The beauty of the canyon will make you forget the fatigue from the long road from Almaty and you will remember the natural sights of Kazakhstan for a long time. Upon arrival in the gorge, take time for a picnic and rest. Then walk around the gorge and admire the views. Then transfer to Kegen (116 km) at the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border. Meet Kyrgyz driver and guide and transfer to Karakol (110 km) via Karkala valley. Dinner in an Uyghur family. Enjoy Kyrgyz folklore show, folk music and songs. Overnight at hotel in Karakol.

Meals: Picnic lunch and dinner.

Accommodation: 3-4 star hotel in Karakol

Nutrition: Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Karakol – Jety-Oguz – Kochkor (Kyrgyzstan)

After breakfast visit wooden Orthodox church and Dungan mosque in Chinese style. Then transfer to Jety-Oguz gorge. After a short excursion through the gorge transfer along the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. On the way stop in Bokonbaevo to watch eagle hunting show. Continue to Kochkor. One of the best views of Issyk-Kul Lake opens from here. Dinner and overnight stay in a Kyrgyz family.

Meals: Lunch, dinner.

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Nutrition: Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Kochkor – Son-kul (Kyrgyzstan)

Drive over Kalmak-Ashuu pass (3,400 m) to Sonkul (120 km), the highest (3,016 m) and remotest mountain lake in Kyrgyzstan. The lake is located on a treeless high-mountain plateau, where in summer shepherds come with their cattle and set up yurt camps where they live. In this picturesque place you can see herds of hundreds of cattle, numerous yurts, edelweiss flowers and camels. Accompanied by a guide you will get acquainted with the traditional life of Kyrgyz nomads and watch how local women prepare kymyz (mare’s milk) – the national drink of Kyrgyzstan. There is also an opportunity to ride horses (optional, extra charge). Dinner and overnight stay in yurt camp.

Meals: Lunch and dinner.

Accommodation: Yurt camp

Nutrition: Breakfast / lunch / dinner

Son-kul – Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)

Breakfast. Transfer to Bishkek at 09:00 (400 km). On the way visit the workshop in Kochkor where you can see how traditional Kyrgyz felt carpets are made. After lunch transfer to Bishkek via Burana Tower. The tower is part of the ancient city of Balasagun (11th-13th centuries), now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Arrival in Bishkek. Overnight at the hotel.

Accommodation:3-4 star hotel in Bishkek

Nutrition: Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Bishkek – departure (Kyrgyzstan)

Breakfast. 09:00, excursion around Bishkek. Visit to Oak Park, Ala Too Square, Philharmonic Hall, Manas statue, Victory Square, Eastern Market (Osh Bazar) and the new mosque named after Mahmud Kashgari. After lunch transfer to Bishkek airport. End of group tour Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan.

Duration: 3 hours

Nutrition: Breakfast