Itinerary Details
Upon your arrival at Manas International Airport in Bishkek, you will be welcomed by a Rahhalah representative, and transferred to the hotel.
Spend the rest of the day at leisure exploring the capital at your own pace, before meeting with the rest of the group at 7pm for a welcome dinner in one of the most delightful restaurants of the city. Accommodation: 3-4* hotel in Bishkek.
After breakfast, you will leave Bishkek heading towards the countryside.
Initially, you will drive towards the large town of Kochkor and, on the way, you will stop for an easy hike to Konorchek canyons. In Kochkor, you will stop for lunch and some souvenir shopping before driving towards Song Kul, one of the jewels of the country.
Song Kul is an alpine lake stretching at an altitude of 3000 m, surrounded by nomadic shepherds who look after yaks, donkeys, goats and horses. Its beauty is highly praised as it is surrounded by pasture and mountain ranges but remains a hidden gem since it is not easily accessible.
You will stay in a yurt camp, the best one by the lake, isolated from the other yurt accommodations. Once you check in, you will go on a 2-hour hike to enjoy the silence and serenity of the area, marveling as the setting sun casts a spell on the landscape. Dinner will be prepared by the family in the yurt camp. Note: Please expect cold weather and bring warm clothes. The mountain weather changes constantly and unpredictably. You should be ready for all kind of weather, even snow. Driving distance: 330 km. Hiking time: 2 hrs. Optional: Horse riding. Overnight in a yurt camp.
After breakfast in the yurt, you will check out and head to Issyk Kul: the second largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea and the seventh deepest lake in the world.
Upon arrival there, you will check in your new yurt camp and enjoy lunch before heading to the mountains on the southern shore of the lake. There, you will also visit the Boz Salkyn valley, and finish with a hike to Shatyly for incredible panoramic views.
Before dinner, you are in for a treat and what promises to be one of the highlights of the trip: an eagle hunting demonstration, hosted by a world champion. You will have the opportunity to learn how humans and eagles have collaborated for centuries in Central Asia, the impact of this partnership on the local culture, and, of course, you may take photos with the eagles as well. The evening will end with a few additional sporting demonstrations that have defined the Kyrgyz civilization. Driving distance: 250 km. Hiking time: 1-2 hrs. Eagle show: 1 hr. Overnight in a yurt camp.
You will leave the lake early in the morning, heading first to Skazka Canyon, also known as the Fairytale Canyon. This spectacular sandstone formation is like a giant playground for adults, and you will spend around one hour, climbing, hiking, and admiring the rainbow-colored designs.
On your way to Karakol, you will pass by the Barskoon Valley and the village of Jeti Oguz to get a view of the famous Seven Bulls Rocks: a stunning and unique geological formation that stands out with its curves and unexpected red color.
Late in the afternoon, you will arrive at the beautiful city of Karakol, where you will enjoy dinner in an excellent local restaurant. Driving distance: 200 km. 3 different hikes, 1 hr. each. Accommodation: 3* hotel.
After breakfast, you will head to the Jyrgalan Valley – which promises to become your favorite place in Kyrgyzstan! There, you will enjoy a 3-hour hike to the nearby waterfall and spend time strolling through the adorable mountain village. Driving distance 60 km Hiking time: 3 hours hike to the waterfall. Accommodation: local guest house.
After breakfast, you will head back to Bishkek. On the way, you will stop to observe the ancient petroglyphs spread on hundreds of boulders in an impromptu, open-air museum, and you will visit the new Ruh Ordo Cultural Center which offers spiritual enrichment to the visitors.
After lunch in the city of Cholpon Ata by the Issyk Kul lake, you will continue towards Bishkek where you are expected to arrive in the evening. Driving distance: 400 km. Visit to the Ruh Ordo Cultural Center: 1.5 hrs. Petroglyphs excursion: 40 min. Accommodation: 3-4*hotel, Bishkek.
After breakfast, you will head to the Ala-Archa National Park, where you will spend most of the day exploring some of its most beautiful corners. The park is quite large, dotted with small and bigger glaciers and more than 50 mountain peaks. Its altitude ranges from about 1,500 meters at the entrance to a maximum of 4,895 meters at Peak Semenova Tian-Shanski, the highest peak in the Kyrgyz Ala-Tau range of the Tian Shan. Its name “archa” is inspired from a varicolored juniper of the region which the Kyrgyz people traditionally hold in high esteem. Interestingly enough, although the smoke of this juniper’s burning wood is used to chase away the evil spirits, the tree should not be planted near a house as, based on the local beliefs, it will gradually deplete the energy of the humans living in the proximity.
Today’s trek will take you to a waterfall: one of the most famous and popular attractions in the gorge, while, on the way, you will enjoy the magnificent wilderness of Kyrgyzstan. Driving distance: 40km. Trekking distance: 10km / medium level of difficulty. Accommodation: 3-4* hotel in Bishkek.
After breakfast, and depending on your departure details, you will be transferred to the airport for flight back home.
