Special Tours

Tour type: Horseback riding tour and trekking

Difficulty: Moderate

What's included: Guide, food, luggage transportation, transport and accommodation

Departures: from July - September 2024

Duration: 07 days, 06 nights

Accommodation: Hotel, yurt-nomad accomodation, camp

Meeting point: Airport, meeting with guide

Group size: Minimum 08 pax, maximum 15 pax

Language: English or another language avilable

Trekking per day: - 5-6 hours

Day 1. Arrival day. Bishkek.

Flight to Bishkek, the greenest capital city in Central Asia.

Arrival at Bishkek International Airport, transfer to the hotel. Drop off the bags or check-in.

After check-in: Ala Archa National Park is located in a picturesque gorge of Ala Archa (~35 km from Bishkek, ~ 40min). It's a popular place for hiking, skiing and mountaineering including trips to more than 20 glaciers. It covers an area of 200 square km. Mostly forested valleys, waterfalls and rivers rich in trout. Several rare species of diverse fauna and especially traditionally revered juniper trees are under protection in the Natural Park. 

Take an easy walk high up to observe the view of mountains and rich Kyrgyz nature, spectate birds and animals living their lives, watch how cold water of Kyrgyz rivers falling down the mountains and continue its way among ancient trees and gorge itself. Time to explore the area, take photos and enjoy the fresh air and beautiful nature views. Back to Bishkek, short city tour. Resting time in the evening.Overnight at the hotel. 

 

Day 2. Bishkek-Too-Asuu

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Too Ashuu Pass (3586 m).

 - Too Ashuu pass is located about 135 km from Bishkek leading to green Suusamir valley and ski base. Due to high altitudue and the location, the pass is rather windy, one can see gorgeous snow-peaked mountains even in summer.

On arrival start flower and nature watching, here one can see unique flowers such as

- Glaucium squamigerum;

- Impatiens parviflora;

- Myosotis alpestris;

- Geranium saxatile;

- Ligularia alpigena;

- Polemonium caucasicum and many others.

Exploring the pass area, nature and bird watching.There will be photo stops en-route to  enjoy the beatiful nature and taking photos.

Transfer back to Bishkek.

Dinner in a national restaurant with folk-show.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel. 

 

Day 3. Bishkek-Cholpon Ata 

Breakfast at the hotel. 

08:00 Transfer to the Issyk Kul Lake.

- Ancient stone inscriptions (dating back to 800 B.C.). These petroglyphs were made more than 2 000 years ago by shamans. They depict wolves, long-horned ibex, goats, horses, snow leopards, sacrifices and some hunting scenes.

- Issyk-Kyl lake is one of the most wonderful lakes in the world, located in the north-eastern part of the Kyrgyz Republic. Issyk Kul is translated as “Hot Lake” and is considered as one of «the pearls of Central Asia». Due to the salty water, Lake Issyk Kul possesses curative qualities. There are many activities that entertain people on the beach: windsurfing, scooters, aqua parks, parachutes and rides on boats and ships. In winter there are also spots of alpinism where people enjoy incredible landscapes.

Issyk-Kul is the nonfreezing lake of the tectonic origin, situated in a deep mountain hollow between the ridges of the Kyungey Ala-Too and the Teskey Ala-Too range at an altitude of 1609 meters above sea level. Because of the large depth of the lake water does not become completely cool – the lake never freezes even in winter, except some places in shores.

 

Upon arrival in the lake accommodation and lunch in the hotel.

In the afternoon trip to Chon Aksuu gorge. There is a chance to see very rare species in the gorge:

 

- Selaginella aitchisonii;

 

 

- Hepatica falconeri;

 

 

- Kaufmannia semenowii that are included into The Red Book of Kyrgyzstan.

 

Dinner and overnight in the hotel at the northern shore of the Issyk Kul Lake.

 

Day 4: 

 

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:00 Transfer to Jeti Oguz gorge via Karakol town situated in the eastern tip of the lake area for light sightseeing:

-Jeti Oguz gorge is famous for its red rocks formations that have the name Seven Bulls – Jeti Oguz. One can see there the Broken Heart Mountain, one of the most popular places among locals and visitors. By request, light hiking tour to go on a top of a mountain (20 minutes) to see a panorama view of the gorge.

 

In firry forest and alpine grasslands of the gorge watching and examining flowers.

 

Take time for easy hiking and nature watching, taking photos.

Return to  Karakol.

Resting time in the evening. Overnight in Karakol. 

 

Day 5 Breakfast at the hotel.

 

08:00 Transfer to Terskei Ala Too gorge.

Start researching the vegetation of the gorge watching the flowers.

One can see few kinds of rare flowers included into The Red Book of Kyrgyzstan such as 

- Saussurea involucrata;

- Pyrethrum leonthopodium.

Easy hike in Chon Ashuu along Turgen Ak Suu River for nature and flower watching.

Time for photographing and leisure exploring the surroundings.

Picnic lunch.

Transfer back to Karakol.

Start light sightseeing in Karakol visiting:

- The wooden Russian-orthodox church;

 

- Dungan mosque is one of the most famous places in Karakol town. The most interesting thing is that it is built without a single metal nail. More than 100 years ago there was a Chinese master who lived in this town. Dungans are people from China who had Muslim religion. The construction was made of bricks and wood and decorated with various ornaments.

 

 

- Museum of N.M. Przewalski (Russian explorer of Asian continent).

 

 

Resting time in the evening. Overnight at the hotel.

 

 

Day 6. Breakfast at the hotel.

 

09:00 Transfer to Bishkek en-route photo stops for exploring the vegetation on the foothills along the southern shore of Issyk Kul lake visiting:

- Skazka Canyon. Red clay Canyons were called by locals as Skazka (Fairy tale) canyon for its unusual beauty and wonderful landscape that remind figures of various mystical animals, bizarre castles or people faces that with continuous watching seem to change their shapes.

The place is full of mystical splendor and really fabulous beauty and attract many visitors.

Lunch in a guesthouse.

Continue to Bokonbaevo village, to stop for a local eagle-hunting show.

The eagles are fed to hunt hares and foxes (a traditional way of nomadic hunting). After excursion continue to Bishkek.

Arrival in Bishkek the evening.

Dinner and overnight in a guesthouse.

 

Day 7 Breakfast at the hotel.

09:00 Transfer to back to Bishkek.

 

Start walking city tour around Bishkek visiting:

 

 

- Oak Park, the city center. It is known also as Dubovy Park – today it is one of the favorite places among locals and tourists in Bishkek. 

 

 

- Ala-Too Square is the central square in Bishkek. It serves as a place for state events and celebrations. Philharmonic hall – situated at the top of Rose Alley.

 

 

- Statue of Manas (Manas is a legendary Kyrgyz hero and the classic centerpiece of Kyrgyz literature).

 

 

- Victory Square where one can see the Victory monument, a memorial was completed in 1984. Usually, the main festival events are held in Bishkek at the eternal flame, on Victory Square with the guard of honor, forces of Kyrgyz garrison and a military band.

 

 

- State History Museum is a perfect display of the Kyrgyz people and the history of the country of Kyrgyzstan.

 

 

- Visit the colorful central bazaar and TSUM (Department Store).

 

 

- In the afternoon, transfer to the National Flag hill located on one of the highest points of Bishkek where one can see the panoramic view of the city in sunset time. 

 

 

Transfer to the hotel.

 

 

Resting time in the evening, Overnight at the hotel.

 

 

Day 8. Breakfast at the hotel,

 

 

Transfer to the airport.

 

 

Morning departure flight from Bishkek.

 

 

End of the tour.

 

 

NOTES: 

 

Check-in 14.00, checkout time 11.00. No early check in, late check out are included, unless indicated.

 

• Please note that the drivers do not speak English or can speak only basic English.

 

• All the changes in the basic itinerary, timing for transfers depending the international flights departure/arrival time are to be discussed and pre-agreed with Tour Operator

 

• Train tickets are booked/bought as per the actual schedule and train tickets availability. Please note that the train trip/s MIGHT be replaced for transfer/s by car depending on train tickets availability and trains schedule