Itinerary
- Day 1
Almaty
You'll arrive in Almaty early in the morning and head to your hotel to rest after the flight. Spend the day checking out Kazakhstan's largest city, starting with the colorful Green Bazaar where locals shop for everything from spices to textiles. Panfilov Park comes next, home to the striking wooden Zenkov Cathedral that dates back to 1907. After lunch, take a cable car up Kok-Tobe Hill for sweeping views across the city. Later, you'll head into the mountains to see Medeo skating rink, then ride another cable car to Shymbulak Ski Resort at 3,200 meters/10,500 feet where the alpine views stretch in all directions before you head back to your hotel for the evening.
- Start point
- Almaty, Kazakhstan (International Airports)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Green Bazaar visit
- Panfilov Park stroll
- Zenkov Cathedral visit
- Memorial of Glory and Eternal Flame
- Kok-Tobe Hill cableway ride
- Medeo skating rink visit
- Shymbulak Ski Resort cable car to 3,200 meters
Landmarks Green Bazaar Panfilov Park Zenkov Cathedral Memorial of Glory and Eternal Flame Kok-Tobe Hill Medeo Shymbulak Ski Resort Tien Shan mountains 
- Day 2
Almaty to Kolsay Lakes
After breakfast, you'll head eastward toward Charyn Canyon, sometimes called the 'little brother' of the Grand Canyon. The famous Valley of Castles is your first stop, and you'll walk down into the canyon for roughly 40 minutes to reach the Charyn River with its vivid red and orange sandstone walls towering around you. Grab lunch at a café near the canyon, then continue to Kolsay Lakes, a mountain paradise in the Tien Shan range. You'll check in to your guesthouse in the late afternoon, have a home-style dinner, and rest after a full day of travel and hiking.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (at a café near the canyon), Dinner (home-style dinner at the guesthouse)
Included Activities
- Charyn Canyon visit
- Valley of Castles walk
- Charyn River viewing
- Kolsay Lakes visit and check-in
Landmarks Charyn Canyon Valley of Castles Charyn River Kolsay Lakes 
- Day 3
Kolsay Lakes to Karakol
After breakfast you'll head to Kaindy Lake, which formed after a powerful 1911 earthquake. Walk down to the lake to see the unusual 'sunken forest' with spruce trunks rising from turquoise water, or try horseback riding if you'd like to arrange it with locals. Stop at a village home for homemade lunch on the way back. From there, you'll continue to the Kegen border, cross into Kyrgyzstan, and handle border formalities before driving to Karakol, a charming town at the foot of the Tien Shan mountains. Check into your hotel for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (hearty, homemade lunch at a village home)
Included Activities
- Kaindy Lake visit
- Sunken forest viewing
- Border crossing into Kyrgyzstan
Optional Activities
- Horseback riding at Kaindy Lake (arranged by locals)
Landmarks Kaindy Lake Kegen - Day 4
Karakol
This morning you'll start exploring Karakol's cultural sites. First, visit the colorful Dungan Mosque, built entirely of wood without a single nail. Then step into the wooden Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity to see its ornate interior. Tour the museum dedicated to Nikolay Przhevalsky, the Russian explorer who mapped much of Central Asia. In the afternoon, you'll drive into the mountains to Jety-Oguz Gorge with its dramatic red cliffs and striking rock formations known as the 'Seven Bulls' and 'Broken Heart.' Return to Karakol for hotel check-in and rest.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Dungan Mosque visit
- Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity visit
- Nikolay Przhevalsky Museum visit
- Jety-Oguz Gorge sightseeing
Landmarks Dungan Mosque Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Trinity Nikolay Przhevalsky Museum Jety-Oguz Gorge - Day 5
Lake Issyk-Kul to Kochkor
After breakfast you'll follow the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul toward Skazka Canyon, a landscape where wind and water have carved red and yellow clay into towers, castles, and ridges that resemble the Great Wall of China. You'll take a short walk through this otherworldly terrain. Continue to Bokonbaevo village to meet local eagle hunters and watch a traditional falconry demonstration passed down through generations. Have lunch with a hunter's family to get their perspective on this ancient practice. Then drive to Kochkor, a village known for felt handicrafts, for dinner and the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (with eagle hunter's family), Dinner
Included Activities
- Lake Issyk-Kul drive
- Skazka Canyon walk
- Falconry demonstration
- Lunch with eagle hunter's family
Landmarks Lake Issyk-Kul Skazka Canyon Bokonbaevo 
- Day 6
Kochkor to Bishkek
Start the day with a felt-making class in Kochkor where skilled artisans show you how colorful shyrdaks (felt carpets) are crafted from scratch. You'll join in and learn about the symbolism behind their intricate patterns. Head back to Bishkek in the afternoon, arriving with the rest of the day free to explore the lively Osh Bazaar. Wander through stalls filled with fragrant spices, dried fruits, textiles, and handicrafts to experience how locals shop and pick up souvenirs. Spend the night in Bishkek.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Felt-making master class in Kochkor
- Shyrdak (felt carpet) crafting participation
Optional Activities
- Osh Bazaar exploration and shopping
Landmarks Osh Bazaar - Day 7
Bishkek
After breakfast you'll take a guided city tour of Bishkek starting with the Monument to Manas, the legendary hero of Kyrgyz epics. Head to Ala-Too Square to watch the solemn Changing of the Guard ceremony. Visit the State Historical Museum to trace Kyrgyzstan's story while you see statues representing both Kurmanjan-Datka and Lenin, reminders of the country's complex past. Walk through leafy Oak Park dotted with sculptures and visit the Fine Arts Gallery before ending at Victory Square, a moving memorial to World War II. The afternoon is free for your own exploration.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Bishkek
- Monument to Manas visit
- Ala-Too Square Changing of the Guard
- State Historical Museum visit
- Oak Park walk
- Fine Arts Gallery visit
- Victory Square visit
Landmarks Monument to Manas Ala-Too Square State Historical Museum Oak Park Fine Arts Gallery Victory Square - Day 8
Bishkek Departure
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before checking out by noon. Transfer to the international airport for your onward flight, carrying with you warm memories and vivid impressions of your journey through Central Asia.
- End point
- Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (International Airports)
- Meals
- Breakfast
