Itinerary
- Day 1
Flight to Bishkek
You'll start your Kyrgyzstan adventure with a scheduled flight from Frankfurt to Bishkek. This journey sets the stage for everything that's coming over the next two weeks.
- Day 2
Bishkek
After landing in Bishkek, you'll transfer to your hotel and grab lunch. The afternoon is free to walk around the capital and get a feel for Kyrgyz culture before heading into the mountains.
Included Activities
- City exploration
- Day 3
Bishkek to Chichkan Gorge
You'll cross the Töö Ashuu Pass today and drive through the Suusamyr Valley before descending into Chichkan Gorge. The highlight is passing through a three-kilometer tunnel carved directly into the mountain. Later you'll settle into a traditional guesthouse, your first night away from the city.
Included Activities
- Pass through Töö Ashuu Pass (3586 m)
- Travel through Suusamyr Valley
- Transit through Chichkan Gorge tunnel
Optional Activities
- Explore surrounding area on arrival
Landmarks Töö Ashuu Pass Suusamyr Valley Chichkan Gorge - Day 4
Chichkan Gorge to Arkyt
The drive takes you to Arkyt, a village right on the edge of Sary Chelek biosphere reserve. This protected area has seven pristine lakes surrounded by forest and dramatic mountains, and you'll be based here for exploring.
Landmarks Sary Chelek Biosphere Reserve - Day 5
Arkyt
You'll take a day trip to Sary Chelek Lake, the centerpiece of the reserve at 1900 meters altitude. After hiking through thick vegetation and unspoiled countryside, you'll head back to Arkyt for the night.
Included Activities
- Hike to Sary Chelek Lake
- Explore species-rich vegetation
Landmarks Sary Chelek Lake - Day 6
Arkyt to Arslan Bob
Next you'll head to Arslan Bob, a village known for its ancient walnut forests and waterfalls. In the afternoon, you'll hike out to one of the waterfalls where towering walnut trees surround the path and mountain views open up all around.
Included Activities
- Afternoon walk to waterfall through walnut forest
Landmarks Mount Babash Ata Arslan Bob Waterfalls - Day 7
Arslan Bob to Osh
You'll stop briefly in Usgen to see an ancient minaret and mausoleum, then continue to Osh. Once there, you can walk around Suleiman Too rock massif and browse the busy bazaar before gathering for dinner at a local café.
Included Activities
- Visit ancient minaret in Usgen
- Visit mausoleum in Usgen
- Explore Suleiman Too rock massif
- Bazaar exploration
- Dinner at local café
Landmarks Suleiman Too Usgen Minaret 
- Day 8
Osh to Kasarman
You're heading west through mountainous terrain to Kasarman, a village on the wide Naryn River where two major mountain ranges meet. You'll stay with a local host family and experience what the Kyrgyz landscape really looks like out here.
Landmarks Naryn River - Day 9
Kasarman to Song Kul Lake
Today you'll drive along the Naryn River and cross Moldo Ashuu Pass at 3,600 meters to reach Song Kul Lake, one of Kyrgyzstan's most iconic spots. The lake sits at high altitude surrounded by pastures with nomadic yurts scattered around and the Tien Shan peaks rising in the distance.
Included Activities
- Cross Moldo Ashuu Pass
- Arrival at Song Kul Lake
Landmarks Moldo Ashuu Pass Song Kul Lake 
- Day 10
Song Kul Lake
This is a free day to live like the nomads on the summer pastures. You can hike along the lake shore, meet local shepherds, and try kumis (fermented mare's milk). If you're interested, there's optional horse riding or watching Kok-Boru, the national sport.
Included Activities
- Hike along Song Kul Lake
- Meet nomads
- Taste fermented mare's milk (kumis)
Optional Activities
- Horse riding in surrounding area
- Kok-Boru (national sport demonstration)
Landmarks Song Kul Lake 
- Day 11
Song Kul Lake to Naryn
After breakfast in the yurt camp, you'll drive to Naryn, a town at 2,000 meters altitude that once served as an important junction on the Silk Road. This gives you a sense of the region's historical importance.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast in the yurt camp)
Landmarks Naryn - Day 12
Naryn to Tash Rabat
You'll travel to Tash Rabat, a beautifully restored ancient caravanserai that traders used along the Great Silk Road. After hiking into the mountains for views of this historic complex, you'll stay in a yurt camp with access to a sauna.
Included Activities
- Visit Tash Rabat caravanserai
- Short hike into mountains with views of caravanserai
Landmarks Tash Rabat Caravanserai - Day 13
Tash Rabat to Kochkor
You're heading to Kochkor, a village known for felt production craft. You'll visit a women's cooperative to see how they make traditional felt carpets and stay overnight with a local family.
Included Activities
- Visit women's cooperative
- Learn about felt carpet production
Landmarks Kochkor - Day 14
Kochkor to Karakol
You'll stop at Skazka Gorge to see the colorful canyon with its fairytale-like clay formations, then hike through Jety Öguz gorge before traveling to Karakol on Lake Issyk Kul's eastern shore.
Included Activities
- Visit Skazka Gorge (Fairytale Gorge)
- Short hike in Skazka Gorge
- Explore Jety Öguz gorge
- Hike in Jety Öguz
Landmarks Skazka Gorge Jety Öguz Gorge Lake Issyk Kul 
- Day 15
Karakol
In Karakol, you'll see unique architecture including the wooden Chinese Mosque (built without a single nail) and the Russian Orthodox Holy Trinity Church. Later you'll ride Russian-style off-road trucks into Altyn-Araschan Gorge, hike through pristine scenery, and soak in natural hot springs at 2,200 meters. Dinner is at a Dungan family home.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner with a Dungan family)
Included Activities
- Visit Chinese Mosque in Karakol
- Visit Russian Orthodox Holy Trinity Church
- City tour of Karakol
- Off-road vehicle journey to Altyn-Araschan Gorge
- Easy hike and natural hot spring dip
- Dinner with Dungan family
Landmarks Chinese Mosque Karakol Russian Orthodox Holy Trinity Church Altyn-Araschan Gorge - Day 16
Karakol to Cholpon Ata
You're traveling to Cholpon Ata to see ancient petroglyphs from the Scythian and Usuni periods carved into stone at the foot of the Kungey Alatoo range, with views over Lake Issyk Kul. In the afternoon, you'll take a boat trip on the lake before checking into a hotel on the shore.
Included Activities
- Visit Cholpon Ata petroglyphs
- Boat trip on Lake Issyk Kul
Landmarks Cholpon Ata Petroglyphs Kungey Alatoo Mountain Range Lake Issyk Kul - Day 17
Cholpon Ata to Bishkek
Early risers can take a final swim in Lake Issyk Kul before heading back to Bishkek. On the way, you'll stop at Burana Minaret and see Balbals stone figures, important remnants from the Silk Road era. After a short city tour in Bishkek, you'll gather for a farewell dinner.
- Meals
- Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Visit Burana Minaret
- View Balbals stone figures
- City tour of Bishkek
- Farewell dinner
Optional Activities
- Early morning swim in Lake Issyk Kul
Landmarks Burana Minaret Balbals Stone Figures Lake Issyk Kul - Day 18
Departure from Bishkek
You'll transfer to the airport for your return flight to Frankfurt, bringing an end to your two-week journey through Kyrgyzstan.
