Itinerary
- Day 1
Bishkek
You'll arrive at Bishkek airport and get transferred to your hotel to settle in. From there, take a city tour to get your bearings around the capital, then the rest of the day is yours to explore at your own pace and grab a meal wherever appeals to you.
Included Activities
- Bishkek city tour
- Day 2
Bishkek to Cholpon Ata
After breakfast, head toward Cholpon Ata with stops at Burana Tower and its archaeological museum along the way. From there, check out the Balbal stones garden and hear some local legends about the area. If you're interested, there's optional rafting on the Chu River. Grab lunch with a local Dungan family to learn about their traditions and customs. Later, continue to Cholpon Ata beach for swimming and then explore the Petroglyphs open-air museum and Rukh Ordo cultural center before settling in for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (With local Dungan family), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Burana Tower
- Archeological museum visit
- Balbal stones garden tour
- Beach time at Issyk Kul Lake
- Swimming at Issyk Kul Lake
- Petroglyphs open-air museum visit
- Cultural center Rukh Ordo visit
- Lunch with local Dungan family
Optional Activities
- Rafting at Chu River (must be ordered in advance)
Landmarks/POIs Burana Tower Balbal Stones Garden Issyk Kul Lake Petroglyphs Rukh Ordo Cultural Center - Day 3
Cholpon Ata to Karakol
Start the morning with breakfast, then transfer to Karakol with a stop at a mineral hot spring pool in Oruktu village where you can swim. Once in Karakol, walk through Bugu Bazaar during lunch and try local Dungan specialties like Ash Lyam Fu and Pirozhki. Spend the afternoon on a city tour visiting the Dungan Mosque, Holy Trinity Cathedral, and Przhevalsky Museum. Dinner happens at a local Dungan family home, and there's an optional folklore show with the local musical band Kylym if that interests you.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Ash Lyam Fu (Dungan style cold, spicy dish) and Pirozhki (fried dough with mashed potatoes) at Bugu Bazaar), Dinner (With local Dungan family)
Included Activities
- Mineral hot spring pool swimming at Oruktu village
- Bugu Bazaar visit
- Dungan Mosque visit
- Holy Trinity Cathedral visit
- Przhevalsky Museum visit
- Karakol city tour
- Dinner with local Dungan family
Optional Activities
- Folklore show with local musical band Kylym (must be ordered in advance)
Landmarks/POIs Oruktu Mineral Hot Spring Pool Bugu Bazaar Dungan Mosque Holy Trinity Cathedral Przhevalsky Museum - Day 4
Altyn Arashan
After breakfast, journey to Altyn Arashan hot springs using the Soviet Union Track. Walk to the mineral hot springs nestled in nature and take a bath there. Have lunch at the yurt camp in the gorge, then head back to Karakol city for dinner at a local traditional restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (At yurt camp in Altyn Arashan gorge), Dinner (At local traditional restaurant)
Included Activities
- Altyn Arashan hot springs journey
- Mineral hot springs bath
- Lunch at yurt camp in Altyn Arashan gorge
- Dinner at local traditional restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Altyn Arashan Hot Springs - Day 5
Jeti Oguz Valley
Following breakfast, head to the Jeti Oguz valley and hike up to the Maiden Braid waterfall. You'll see the Broken Heart rock formation and the Seven Bulls rocks, and your guide will share local legends about these natural landmarks. Lunch and dinner both get served at the yurt camp where you're staying.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (At yurt camp), Dinner (At yurt camp)
Included Activities
- Hike to Maiden Braid waterfall
- Broken Heart rock viewing
- Jeti Oguz rocks viewing
Landmarks/POIs Maiden Braid Waterfall Broken Heart Rock Jeti Oguz Rocks - Day 6
Jeti Oguz to Kaji Sai
After breakfast at the yurt camp, continue to Kaji Sai on the south shore of Issyk Kul Lake. Stop at Barskoon Gorge to visit one of the four waterfalls and see the stone monument dedicated to cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. Have lunch via a picnic or at a yurt café, then explore Skazka Valley (Fairy Tale Canyon). Transfer to Kaji Sai for the night, and if the weather cooperates, you'll have time to enjoy the beach.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic at Barskoon Gorge or at yurt café), Dinner
Included Activities
- Barskoon Gorge visit
- Barskoon waterfall visit
- Yuri Gagarin monument viewing
- Skazka Valley exploration
- Beach time at Kaji Sai (if time permits)
Landmarks/POIs Barskoon Gorge Kumtor Gold Mine Yuri Gagarin Monument Skazka Valley Kaji Sai Beach - Day 7
Kaji Sai to Kochkor
After breakfast at Kaji Sai guesthouse, visit the Golden Eagle House in Bokonbaevo village to photograph golden eagles and watch eagle hunting demonstrations. Drive to Kizil Tuu village on the south shore of Issyk Kul Lake, which is known for its felt art and nomadic yurt culture. You'll participate in yurt assembly with a local family and share lunch with them. Later, head to Kochkor village and check out the felt factory to see felt carpet-making techniques if you want to stop there.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (With local family in Kizil Tuu village), Dinner
Included Activities
- Golden Eagle House visit with photography
- Eagle hunting demonstration viewing
- Yurt assembly participation with local family
- Lunch with local family
- Felt factory visit
Optional Activities
- Felt carpet-making technology demonstration (must be ordered in advance)
Landmarks/POIs Golden Eagle House Kizil Tuu Village Felt Factory - Day 8
Kochkor to Son Kul Lake
After breakfast, travel to Son Kul Lake via Moldo Ashu Pass, which is famous for its winding serpentine roads. When you arrive, you'll have free time to explore the area on your own. Lunch and dinner both get provided at yurt camps.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (At yurt camp), Dinner (At yurt camp)
Included Activities
- Moldo Ashu Pass crossing
Landmarks/POIs Moldo Ashu Pass Son Kul Lake - Day 9
Son Kul Lake to Bishkek
After breakfast, head back to Bishkek via Kalmak Ashu Pass where you might spot yaks along the way. Stop in Kemin at the popular local spot Apamdyn Kattamasy for lunch, trying traditional bread called Kattama and milk tea called Samoor Chai. Once you reach Bishkek, visit Osh Bazaar or souvenir shops if you need to pick up gifts. The day ends with dinner at a national restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional bread Kattama and milk tea Samoor Chai at Apamdyn Kattamasy in Kemin), Dinner (At national restaurant)
Included Activities
- Kalmak Ashu Pass crossing with yak viewing
- Lunch at Apamdyn Kattamasy with traditional bread and tea
- Osh Bazaar or souvenir shop visit
- Dinner at national restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Kalmak Ashu Pass Apamdyn Kattamasy Osh Bazaar - Day 10
Bishkek Departure
Transfer to the airport and head out for your flight home.
