Kyrgyzstan trekking tour to Son Kul lake. 11days

Airport – Bishkek

Highlights:

• Capital of Kyrgyzstan;
• Osh Bazaar, a traditional oriental market;
• Ala-Too Square with its unique historical buildings.

Arrival at Manas International Airport, meeting with guide and driver and transfer to Bishkek. Check-in to the hotel . After a short break visit the famous Osh Bazaar.  Visit Ala-Too Square, a heritage site of the Soviet Union. Around the square are the Manas monument dedicated to the national hero of Kyrgyzstan, a huge flag of Kyrgyzstan, the changing of the guard ceremony, the monument to the Kyrgyz Revolution of 2010, the White House, the statue of Lenin, many historical buildings, the Oak Park with a small open-air museum, a unique art gallery, and the Kurmanjan Datka Memorial Complex. Monument to Kurmanjan Datka, etc. The sightseeing tour of Bishkek ends with a visit to Victory Square, dedicated to the heroes of the Great Patriotic War. Lunch and dinner in one of the local cafes. Overnight at the hotel.

Sightseeing time: 2-3 hours.

Accommodation: 3-4 star hotel in Bishkek

Nutrition: Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Bishkek – Son-kul Lake

Highlights:

• One of the oldest preserved minarets in Central Asia;
• Second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan.

In the morning transfer to Son-kul Lake (390 km, 8-9 h). On the way stop at Burana Tower near Tokmok. Burana is a minaret of Balasagun city, which was the capital of Karakhanid state in XII century. There is also a collection of balbars – stone statues of ancient Turks. Lunch  in Tokmok . In the afternoon visit to Lake Son-kul, the second largest mountain lake in Kyrgyzstan. Upon arrival – overnight stay in a yurt camp. 3100 m above sea level.

Distance: 390 km.

Duration: 8-9 hours.                                                  

Accommodation: Yurt camp

Nutrition: Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Full day at Son Kul Lake

An opportunity to get acquainted with the life of nomads.

On Lake Son-kul the Kyrgyz still live in traditional for Central Asia nomadic tents – yurts. Yurts are built from wooden beams and layers of felt. They are quick to build and are a practical option for nomads. They can self-organize horseback tours, hike and spend time with friendly Kyrgyz families. Try homemade foods such as ayran (yogurt) and the national drink kimis (fermented mare’s milk). After lunch and dinner, overnight at Yurt Camp (altitude 3100 meters).

Accommodation: yurt camp

Nutrition: Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Son-kul Lake – Karakol (Drive 350 km)

Highlights:

• Old town built by Cossacks;
• Lake Issyk-Kul, the pearl of Kyrgyzstan.

In the morning transfer to the town of Karakol on the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. Lunch in a Kyrgyz house in the village of Bokonbaev, then a walk along the Tale Canyon reflecting in the dark blue Issyk-Kul Lake. Further transfer will take a few hours to reach Karakol. Upon arrival dinner in a local cafe and overnight stay in a hotel (1700 m).

Duration: 7-8 hours.

Accommodation: Guesthouse

Nutrition: Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Karakol – Karakol Gorge (Drive 25 km)

Highlights:

• Tour of the main historical sights of Karakol;
• Overnight stay in tents.

Morning transfer to 12 km from Karakol. Start of the tour at the memorial to the famous Russian explorer of the Asian continent Nikolay Prjevalsky. Return to Karakol and visit the unique Dungan Mosque, built in the style of Chinese pagoda. Then you will go to the Church of the Holy Trinity, famous for its miracle-working icon, painted in 1897. After sightseeing, lunch at a local cafe. Meeting with mountain guide and porters and departure by military truck to Karakol gorge. Dinner in tent camp (2500 m).

Sightseeing time: 1 hour

Accommodation: Overnight in tents

Nutrition: Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Radial hike to Karakol Peak (5216 m)

Highlights:

• Mountain bath in tent camp.

Radial hike to the foot of Karakol Peak (16 km). Follow an old dirt road that runs along the Uyun-Tor River and ends at a small river. After crossing the river, the trail passes through a forest of Tian shan blue spruce trees. (Snowdrops, tulips, primroses, white anemones, alpine asters and large edelweiss bloom here in June). After the forest, we climb a rocky hill to reach a point overlooking Karakol Peak, the highest peak in Terskei Ala Too. After lunch and enjoying the stunning views, we return to the tented camp along the same route. Dinner at the tent camp (2500 m).

Climbing time: 6-7 hours.

Accommodation: Overnight in tents

Nutrition: Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Karakol Gorge – Lake Ala-kul

Highlights:

• The majestic Ala Kul Lake;
• The highest overnight stop on this trip.

After breakfast descend 1 km along the valley and eventually cross the river on a bridge. Follow the trail through the forest. It ends with a steep, grass-covered climb. The path crosses a mighty river and reaches a fairytale log cabin called Sirota. Inside there are tables, benches and a fireplace, and the wooden walls are carved with many carvings of animals and idols. After resting and having a drink, continue on the trail, leave the forest behind and walk along the river to reach a beautiful waterfall that cascades down Ala Kul Lake (10 km). Cross the waterfall and ascend to a natural dam from where the lake can be seen. The last kilometer to Tent Camp follows the lake. Dinner and overnight at the Tent Camp (3600 m).

Hiking time: 6-7 hours.

Accommodation: Overnight in tents

Nutrition: Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Ala Kul Lake – Altyn Arashan Valley

Highlights:

• Natural hot springs;
• The highest pass of the trip.

Lake Ala Kul (meaning ‘colored lake’ in Kyrgyz) stretches 2.8 km from east to west, is 500 m wide and 70 m deep. The color of the water changes according to the light and can be emerald green, turquoise with white clouds, light green, dark gray and even black. After breakfast we start climbing up Ala Kul Pass and enjoy the spectacular view of the lake along the way. As we get closer to the lake, the main mountain range of Terskey Ala Too is revealed, including the peaks of Ak-Suu, Jigit, Karakol and Oguz Bashi. It takes another hour and a half to reach the pass by the lake. From the pass, you descend along the cliff slopes and then cross the wide and picturesque Keldike valley with its herds of grazing cattle and sheep. On arrival at the tented camp, relax in the hot springs of the valley (maximum temperature 50°C) in the town of Altin Arashan. Dinner and overnight at the tented camp (altitude 2600 m).

Hiking time: 6-7 hours.

Accommodation: Overnight in tents

Nutrition: Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Altyn Arashan Gorge – Cholpon-Ata (190 km. drive)

Highlights:

• Transfer by special military truck to Karakol;
• Overnight stay on the shore of the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan.

Besides the famous mineral springs, Artyn Arashan has wooden huts located in the steppe along the Arashan River. The river bank is covered with fir trees, and their dark green shade looks very picturesque in the morning against the background of snow-capped mountains (altitude 5022 meters above sea level). After breakfast a military truck picks you up from the tent camp. We drive along the valley towards Karakol. The descent passes through green fields full of flowers and mountain springs. The last 5 km of the gorge is less than 30 meters wide with high rock walls. At the entrance to the valley is the village of Ak-Suu (the name comes from the hot springs). Here you transfer to a car and drive to Karakol. After lunch in a local cafe transfer to the city of Cholpon-Ata. Upon arrival check-in to the hotel on the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. After dinner overnight in the hotel (altitude 1600 m).Travel time: 4-5 hours.

Accommodation: Hotel in Issyk-Kul

Nutrition: Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Cholpon-Ata – Bishkek (Drive: 270 km.)

Main sights:

• Scythian petroglyphs in the vicinity of Cholpon-Ata;
• Beautiful Boom Gorge.

In the morning return to Bishkek. On the way visit the Scythian open-air temple “Stone Garden”, also known as the petroglyphs of Cholpon-Ata, dating from the 9th-8th century BC and the 3rd-4th century AD. The petroglyphs are located at the foot of the Kungoy Ala-Too mountain range and offer a beautiful view of the entire lake. Transfer through the Boom Gorge to Bishkek, stopping for lunch on the way. Arrival in the capital and check-in to the hotel. Last dinner in a cafe. Overnight in Bishkek. Free diner

Excursion time: 3-4 hours.

Accommodation: 3-4 star hotel in Bishkek

Nutrition: Breakfast/lunch/dinner

Bishkek – Airport

Early in the morning, transfer to the airport for your departure flight. End of Mountains and Lakes of Tian Shan Trekking Tour.

Nutrition: breakfast