Itinerary
- Day 1
Bishkek
Your driver meets you at the airport and takes you to the hotel. If there's time, you'll walk around Bishkek and see Old Square, Oak Park where outdoor sculptures are on display, Ala-Too Square with the Manas statue, and the National Opera and Ballet Theatre from outside.
- Start point
- Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (Manas International Airport Pick-up, 00:00 - 23:55)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ramada by Wyndham Bishkek Centre or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Old Square
- Explore Oak Park
- Visit Ala-Too Square
- View exterior of National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Abdylas Maldybayev
Landmarks Old Square Oak Park Ala-Too Square National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Abdylas Maldybayev - Day 2
Bishkek to Chon Kemin Valley
After breakfast, you'll drive 2 hours to the ancient Burana Tower, then continue another 2 hours through Chuy Valley into Chon Kemin Valley where nomadic tribes have historically lived. You'll check into a guest house in Kemin Village and spend the rest of the day taking in the classic Kyrgyz landscape.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Guesthouse (Kok Archa Guesthouse or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Burana Tower
- Drive through Chuy Valley
Landmarks Burana Tower Chuy Valley Chon Kemin Valley - Day 3
Chon Kemin Valley to Kochkor
An hour's drive gets you to Konorchok Canyon in the Boom Gorge, where you'll see towering rock formations and the Chuy River. From there you head to Kochkor Village, passing Orto-Tokoy Reservoir with its changing water colors along the way. At Altyn Kol Workshop, local women show you traditional Shyrdak and Ala-Kiyiz felt carpet weaving. The day ends at the local bazaar.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Lodge (Nomad Lodge Kochkor or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Konorchok Canyon in Boom Gorge
- Visit Altyn Kol Workshop for traditional felt carpet weaving demonstration
- Explore local bazaar in Kochkor Village
Landmarks Konorchok Canyon Boom Gorge Kochkor Village Orto-Tokoy Reservoir Altyn Kol Workshop - Day 4
Kochkor to Song Kol Lake
After breakfast, you'll drive 2 hours to Song Kol Lake, crossing the Kalmak Ashuu Pass at 3,446 m/11,306 ft. The country's second-largest lake sits here surrounded by high mountain pastures. You're invited to a nomad's yurt to learn about their structures and watch horse milking or Kymyz (sour-milk beverage) preparation. You'll stay overnight in a yurt camp with free time to relax in this remote setting.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Camping (Nomad's Dream Yurt Camp or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit nomad's yurt and learn about yurt structures
- Experience horse milking or watch Kymyz preparation
- Experience nomadic life by Song Kol Lake
Landmarks Song Kol Lake Kalmak Ashuu Pass 
- Day 5
Song Kol Lake to Tamga
You'll drive about 4.5 hours along Issyk-Kul Lake's southern shore to Kyzyl-Tuu Village to see traditional yurt-making. Next is Bokonbayevo Village where hunters on horseback show the ancient golden eagle hunting demonstration. Then you head to Tamga to check into a yurt camp. After dinner, your guide takes you hiking through Skazka Canyon (Canyon Fairy Tale) before returning to the camp.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Lodge (Nomad Lodge Tamga)
Included Activities
- Observe yurt-making process in Kyzyl-Tuu Village
- Watch golden eagle hunting demonstration in Bokonbayevo Village
- Hike in Skazka Canyon (Canyon Fairy Tale)
Landmarks Issyk-Kul Lake Kyzyl-Tuu Village Bokonbayevo Village Skazka Canyon - Day 6
Tamga to Karakol
You'll drive about 1.5 hours along Issyk-Kul Lake's southern shore to Karakol, stopping at Juuku Valley. Next you visit Jeti-Oguz Canyon, named for its distinctive bull-shaped rocks, and hike along the opposite slope to see the red sandstone cliffs and overlook the entire canyon. By evening you'll check into a hotel in Karakol, the country's fourth-largest city, and explore on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Green Yard Hotel, Karakol or similar)
Included Activities
- Stop at Juuku Valley
- Hike in Jeti-Oguz Canyon to observe red sandstone cliffs
Optional Activities
- Explore Karakol city
Landmarks Juuku Valley Jeti-Oguz Canyon Karakol 
- Day 7
Karakol
This day is spent exploring Karakol. You'll start at Holy Trinity Cathedral with its five gilded domes and central cross. Walking northwest, you reach Dungan Mosque, which reflects the Dungans' cultural integration. Then you hike in Karakol National Park through lush grasslands and pine forests between jagged peaks. You might see foxes, leopards, or falcons on the trail.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Green Yard Hotel, Karakol or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Holy Trinity Cathedral
- Visit Dungan Mosque
- Hike in Karakol National Park
Landmarks Holy Trinity Cathedral Dungan Mosque Karakol National Park - Day 8
Karakol to Cholpon Ata
You'll explore Issyk-Kul Lake's northern shore starting after breakfast with a 1 hour hike in Grigorevka Gorge, viewing tall fir trees clinging to cliffs. Then you head to Cholpon Ata, the busiest resort area around Issyk-Kul Lake with a history going back to the Soviet era. You visit the Museum of Petroglyphs with ancient carved rocks showing goats, camels, dogs, and hunting scenes from 2,000 years ago. Check in and spend the rest of the day as you like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Resort (Kapriz Issyk Kul Resort or similar)
Included Activities
- Hike in Grigorevka Gorge
- Visit Museum of Petroglyphs
Landmarks Grigorevka Gorge Cholpon Ata Museum of Petroglyphs - Day 9
Cholpon Ata to Bishkek
You leave Cholpon Ata and drive about 4 hours back to Bishkek. On the way, you stop at the Nomad Museum in Sary-Oi to see detailed Kalpak felt hats, Komuz instruments, and traditional saddles that show authentic nomadic life. You'll arrive in Bishkek in the afternoon, check into your hotel, and rest or explore the city freely.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Ramada by Wyndham Bishkek Centre or similar)
Included Activities
- Visit Nomad Museum in Sary-Oi
Landmarks Nomad Museum Sary-Oi - Day 10
Bishkek
Your Kyrgyzstan tour ends today. Your guide and driver pick you up from the hotel and take you to the airport for your departure.
- End point
- Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (Manas International Airport See-off, 00:00 - 23:55)
- Meals
- Breakfast
