Itinerary
- Day 1
Bishkek
You'll arrive in Bishkek and connect with your tour leader at the hotel for a welcome meeting at 11am (assuming an on-time arrival). After that, you'll walk around the city's main monuments and buildings before taking a slower pace through Oak Park. Airport transfers from Manas International Airport are arranged for you.
Included Activities
- Bishkek City Tour - sightseeing by bus and on foot
- Walk through Oak Park
Optional Activities
- Airport transfer from Manas International Airport (FRU)
Landmarks/POIs Oak Park Manas International Airport - Day 2
Bishkek to Karakol
Heading out from Bishkek into central Kyrgyzstan, you'll see the historic Burana Tower and the ancient petroglyphs at Cholpon-Ata. The drive takes you along Issyk Kul Lake's shore, and you'll reach Karakol by evening. Dinner happens with a local family from an ethnic minority group, giving you a real sense of how people live here.
- Meals
- Dinner (Meal cooked by a family from an ethnic minority group, either Dungan or Uygur)
Included Activities
- Visit Burana Tower
- View petroglyphs at Cholpon-Ata
- Drive along northern shore of Issyk Kul Lake
- Dinner with local Dungan or Uygur family
Landmarks/POIs Burana Tower Cholpon-Ata Petroglyphs Issyk Kul Lake - Day 3
Karakol
This morning focuses on Karakol's cultural sites. You'll check out the Prjevalsky Museum, the Dungan Mosque with its Chinese influences, and the Orthodox Cathedral. After lunch, you'll drive to the Valley of Seven Bulls at Djety-Oguz to see those distinctive red sandstone rock formations rising from the landscape.
Included Activities
- Visit Prjevalsky Museum
- View Dungan Mosque
- Visit Orthodox Cathedral
- Drive to Valley of Seven Bulls at Djety-Oguz
Landmarks/POIs Prjevalsky Museum Dungan Mosque Orthodox Cathedral Valley of Seven Bulls (Djety-Oguz) - Day 4
Issyk Kul Lake to Kochkor
You'll continue along Issyk Kul Lake's southern shore with a chance to swim if conditions allow. From there, you'll visit Barskaun Gorge to see waterfalls and have a picnic by the river. Later you'll travel to Kochkor, a typical Kyrgyz town, where you'll stay in local guesthouses for the night.
Included Activities
- Swim in Issyk Kul Lake
- Visit Barskaun Gorge and waterfalls
- Riverside picnic
- Bird watching opportunity
Landmarks/POIs Issyk Kul Lake Barskaun Gorge - Day 5
Kochkor to Song Kul
Start your day watching local women demonstrate traditional felt-making, and you'll have a go at creating your own shirdak (felt applique rug). Then you'll travel via Kalmak-Ashu Pass to reach Song Kul, a high-altitude lake surrounded by snow-capped peaks. You'll settle into traditional yurts and have the rest of the evening to relax by the water.
Included Activities
- Watch traditional felt-making demonstration of shirdaks
- Drive via Kalmak-Ashu Pass
- Relax at Song Kul Lake
- Optional walk by the lake
Landmarks/POIs Kalmak-Ashu Pass Song Kul Lake - Day 6
Song Kul
You can either relax by Song Kul or hike through the Moldo-Toor range if weather cooperates, taking in mountain views along the way. After lunch, you'll head back to Kochkor on a different route that crosses Teskey-Topok Pass. Evening brings a traditional musical folklore ensemble performance with local music and dancing.
Included Activities
- Optional hike in surrounding mountains through Moldo-Toor range
- Walk along grassy slopes
- Meet with locals
- Musical folklore ensemble performance with traditional ballads and Kyrgyz national instruments
Optional Activities
- Relax by the lake
Landmarks/POIs Moldo-Toor Range Teskey-Topok Pass - Day 7
Kochkor to Suusamyr Valley
Today is all about driving through the inner Tien Shan Mountains with their wild scenery. You'll pass through the Suusamyr Valley at high altitude, surrounded by dramatic ridges. There are several photo stops along the route as you cross over multiple mountain passes.
Included Activities
- Drive through Tien Shan Mountains
- Travel through Suusamyr Valley
- Photo stops along mountain passes
Landmarks/POIs Tien Shan Mountains Suusamyr Valley - Day 8
Suusamyr Valley to Toktogul
After breakfast, you'll drive via Ala-Bel Pass and follow the Chichkan River to start an easy walk along the It-Agar River heading to Lake Saz Kul (an alpine lake with great views). Once there, you'll drive along the Naryn River to Toktogul Reservoir where you'll spend the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive via Ala-Bel Pass
- Walk to Lake of Saz Kul
- Drive to Toktogul Reservoir
Landmarks/POIs Ala-Bel Pass Chichkan River It-Agar River Lake of Saz Kul Naryn River Toktogul Reservoir - Day 9
Toktogul to Djalal-Abad
The drive takes you through wild mountain landscapes to reach Djalal-Abad, an important city in the Fergana Valley that's known for its spas and mineral water production. The afternoon is yours to explore the city or just take it easy and rest.
Included Activities
- Drive through mountain landscapes to Djalal-Abad
Optional Activities
- Explore Djalal-Abad
- Visit local spas
- Relax in the afternoon
Landmarks/POIs Baba Ata Mountains - Day 10
Djalal-Abad to Arslanbob
You'll travel 90 kilometres north to Arslanbob, a charming village where you'll spend the day walking through the famous walnut groves with a local guide. You'll see towering trees and find a beautiful waterfall deep in the forest. Later in the afternoon you'll return to Djalal-Abad.
Included Activities
- Walk through walnut groves of Arslanbob with local guide
- Discover waterfall in forest
Landmarks/POIs Arslanbob Walnut Groves - Day 11
Djalal-Abad to Fergana City
Leaving Djalal-Abad, you'll travel into the Fergana Valley and pass through the ancient city of Osh. You'll reach the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border checkpoint called 'Dostlik' where immigration and customs happen. Your Kyrgyz tour leader says goodbye, your Uzbek tour leader joins you, and then you'll continue to Fergana City for the night.
Included Activities
- Travel through Fergana Valley
- Pass by Osh
Landmarks/POIs Osh Dostlik Border Checkpoint - Day 12
Fergana City to Tashkent
You'll travel in a convoy of smaller vehicles, crossing Kamchik Pass. You'll stop in Rishtan town to visit a ceramic workshop and learn how traditional Uzbek pottery is made. After a quick stop in Kokand (the former residence of Kokand Khan), you'll arrive in Tashkent.
Included Activities
- Cross Kamchik Pass
- Visit ceramic workshop in Rishtan
- Brief stop in Kokand
Landmarks/POIs Kamchik Pass Rishtan Kokand - Day 13
Tashkent
You'll explore Tashkent with a local guide, seeing Independence Square, Navoi Theatre, the Old City, Abu Khasim Madrassah, and the Earthquake Monument. The Tashkent Metro stations are worth seeing too with their ornate decorations. The afternoon is free for you to wander around on your own.
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Tashkent
- Visit Independence Square
- Visit Navoi Theatre
- Explore Old City
- Visit Abu Khasim Madrassah
- View Earthquake Monument
- Tour Tashkent Metro stations
Optional Activities
- Solo exploration in the afternoon
Landmarks/POIs Independence Square Navoi Theatre Old City of Tashkent Abu Khasim Madrassah Earthquake Monument Tashkent Metro - Day 14
Tashkent
The tour ends after breakfast at your hotel. No activities are scheduled. You can depart from Tashkent whenever your flight leaves. The hotel can store your luggage if you need to leave later in the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Airport transfer from Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport (TAS)
Landmarks/POIs Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport
