Itinerary
- Day 1
Bishkek
You'll arrive in Bishkek and meet at the airport, then settle into your hotel before heading out to explore the central city. Start at Osh Bazaar where you can walk through the busy market stalls, then move on to Victory Square and Ala-Too Square to get a sense of the city's layout. Oak Park is nearby and worth checking out, especially the monuments to Kyrgyz heroes like Manas from the national epic. By evening, grab dinner before heading back to rest up for the days ahead.
- Meals
- Dinner
Included Activities
- Bishkek city tour: central part, Osh Bazaar, Victory Square, Ala-Too Square
- Oak Park visit
- Manas monument viewing
Landmarks/POIs Osh Bazaar Victory Square Ala-Too Square Manas Monument - Day 2
Jeti-Oguz
After breakfast, you'll head toward Issyk-Kul Lake and the village of Kyzyl-Tuu on the south shore. One of the highlights here is assembling a nomadic yurt with a local family and then sharing lunch together. Later you'll visit the House of the Golden Eagle and walk through the Fairy Tale canyon, which has some unusual rock formations. The day ends with a hike to Maiden Braid waterfall and a stop at the Seven Rock mountains at Jeti-Oguz, where you'll sleep overnight in a yurt camp.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch with local family), Dinner
Included Activities
- Nomadic yurt assembly master class with local family
- Lunch with local family
- House of the Golden Eagle visit
- Fairy Tale canyon exploration
- Maiden Braid waterfall hiking
- Seven Rock mountains viewing at Jeti-Oguz
Landmarks/POIs Issyk-Kul Lake Fairy Tale Canyon (Skazka Canyon) Maiden Braid Waterfall Seven Rock Mountains (Jeti-Oguz) - Day 3
Karakol
Starting early with breakfast, you'll travel by Soviet-era vehicle to Altyn-Arashan hot spring. Lunch happens at a guest house before you swim in the mineral spring Aksuu Kench. Then it's on to Karakol for dinner with a local Dungan family. If you want to arrange it, there's an option to have a local musician band perform and watch a Kyrgyz traditional folklore show, though this takes some planning ahead.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at guest house in Altyn-Arashan), Dinner (Dinner with local Dungan family)
Included Activities
- Altyn-Arashan hot spring visit
- Aksuu Kench mineral spring swimming
- Dinner with local Dungan family in Karakol
- Karakol city exploration
Optional Activities
- Folklore show with local musician band in Karakol (optional 120 USD for group)
Landmarks/POIs Altyn-Arashan Hot Spring Aksuu Kench Mineral Spring - Day 4
Kochkor
You'll have breakfast at your hotel and then take a two-hour city tour of Karakol. See the Dungan Mosque, which has Chinese architecture and no nails in its construction, the Holy Trinity Cathedral, and Bugu Bazaar. After that, head toward Kochkor village by traveling along the north shore of Issyk-Kul Lake. Stop for lunch at a local guest house and spend some time relaxing at the lake beach. Before arriving in Kochkor for the night, visit the open-air Petroglyphs museum.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local guest house), Dinner
Included Activities
- Karakol city tour
- Dungan Mosque visit
- Holy Trinity Cathedral visit
- Bugu Bazaar exploration
- Issyk-Kul Lake beach time
- Open-air Petroglyphs museum visit
Landmarks/POIs Dungan Mosque Holy Trinity Cathedral Bugu Bazaar Petroglyphs Open-Air Museum - Day 5
Son-Kul
After breakfast at the guest house, you'll check out a local felt factory shop before driving to Son-Kul Lake at 3,000 meters above sea level. The route crosses Moldo Ashu Pass, famous for its serpentine mountain roads and great views. Once there, meet your yurt camp hosts and try kymyz, the national drink. After lunch in the yurts, take a walk by the shore and go horseback riding before returning for dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch in yurts), Dinner
Included Activities
- Local felt factory shop visit
- Son-Kul Lake arrival and kymyz tasting
- Lakeside walk
- Horseback riding at Son-Kul
Landmarks/POIs Son-Kul Lake Moldo Ashu Pass - Day 6
Bishkek
You'll say goodbye to your yurt hosts after breakfast and depart for Bishkek. The drive back takes you through Kalmak Ashu Pass, which offers snowy mountain views during most seasons. Along the way, stop for lunch with a local Dungan family. Before reaching Bishkek, visit Burana Tower, an ancient capital of the Karakhanid state. Check into your hotel once you arrive back in the city.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch with local Dungan family), Dinner
Included Activities
- Burana Tower visit
Landmarks/POIs Kalmak Ashu Pass Burana Tower - Day 7
Bishkek
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your departure. This marks the end of your time in Kyrgyzstan.
- Meals
- Breakfast
