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Classic · 9 days

Kyrgyzstan – Land of Mountains and Traditions, in 9 Days

Issyk-Kul, the Ak-Suu hot springs, the red rocks of Jeti-Oguz, the canyons of the southern shore and a night in a yurt on Son-Kul – with a local guide.

9 days · June–September from 3 people up to 3,000 m
Season
June–September · your dates
Length
9 days
Price from
€1,050 / person
Group
from 3 people
Guide
Beka · Czech, Russian, English on request
Difficulty
Comfort4/5Activity2/5
Enquire on WhatsApp Call

Nine days across northern Kyrgyzstan: the second-largest mountain lake in the world, the petroglyphs and Rukh Ordo in Cholpon-Ata, the Ak-Suu hot springs near Karakol, the Jomok and Ak-Sai canyons, an evening of folklore and one night in a yurt camp on Son-Kul. You sleep in 3–4* hotels and eat three meals a day.

Why go

  • Issyk-Kul – the second-largest mountain lake in the world, and it never freezes
  • The petroglyphs of Cholpon-Ata: hunting scenes, goats, lions and everyday life from thousands of years ago
  • Rukh Ordo, the “Order of the Soul” – a place symbolising the unity of the five world religions
  • The Ak-Suu hot springs: mineral water that helps release the muscles after travelling
  • The red rocks of Jeti-Oguz (the “Seven Bulls” and the “Broken Heart”), the Barskoon waterfalls and the Jomok and Ak-Sai canyons
  • A night in a yurt on Son-Kul (3,000 m): welcome tea with bread and home-made cream, a horse ride and storytelling by paraffin lamp

Is it for you? Honestly

  • One night is in a yurt: 2–4 people per yurt, shared facilities outside the yurt, sleeping on mattresses under warm woollen blankets.
  • The other nights are in 3–4* hotels; the night before Son-Kul is in the Ski Paradise mountain area above Karakol.
  • Physically the programme is easy. The longest walk is the hour or so up along the river to the Barskoon waterfalls; otherwise it is strolls through the canyons and in Ala-Archa.
  • The highest point and the highest overnight stop is the yurt camp in the Son-Kul area (3,000 m).
  • Breakfasts, lunches and dinners are included; on day eight lunch is on your own. Kyrgyz cooking is meat-heavy – vegetarian food can be arranged.
  • Flights to Bishkek are not included; from Prague you usually fly via Istanbul.

Who will guide you

Guide Beka pointing at the turquoise Ala-Kul lake below snow-capped peaks

Bekmyrza “Beka” Abidinov

founder and guide, Elimtour

Beka was born in Kyrgyzstan and lived in Czechia for several years, which is why he can explain the mountains in Czech. He runs small groups only, you eat with local families, and the money from the trips stays with the people in the valleys you pass through. He is with you the whole way, from Manas airport to your flight home.

Message Beka +420 773 627 002

Altitude profile

  1. Day 1800 m↑ 2,100
  2. Day 21,650 m
  3. Day 31,750 m
  4. Day 41,650 m↑ 2,200
  5. Day 51,650 m↑ 2,650
  6. Day 63,000 m
  7. Day 7800 m↑ 1,900
  8. Day 8800 m
  9. Day 9800 m

Overnight altitude; peaks mark the day's highest point.

Altitude profile
Day 1800 m a.s.l.2,100 m a.s.l.
Day 21,650 m a.s.l.
Day 31,750 m a.s.l.
Day 41,650 m a.s.l.2,200 m a.s.l.
Day 51,650 m a.s.l.2,650 m a.s.l.
Day 63,000 m a.s.l.
Day 7800 m a.s.l.1,900 m a.s.l.
Day 8800 m a.s.l.
Day 9800 m a.s.l.

Route

Issyk-KulKazakhstan123456789101112141516
  1. 1Manas Airport
  2. 2Bishkek
  3. 3Ala-Archa
  4. 4Cholpon-Ata
  5. 5Karakol
  6. 6Ak-Suu hot springs
  7. 7Jeti-Oguz
  8. 8Barskoon
  9. 9south shore
  10. 10Jomok canyon
  11. 11Shatyly panorama
  12. 12Ak-Sai canyon
  13. 13south shore
  14. 14Son-Kul
  15. 15Kok-Moinok
  16. 16Burana tower
  17. 17Bishkek
  18. 18Manas Airport

Day by day

  1. Day 1Welcome to Bishkek, gateway to the Celestial Mountains
    • Morning: your adventure begins when you land at Manas international airport. Our local guide, who speaks Czech, will be waiting for you, welcome you and take care of the transfer to your hotel in the centre of Bishkek. After the long journey there is time to settle in and recover during a short rest.
    • Your first Kyrgyz meal is waiting – a late breakfast or an early lunch, over which you get to know your guide and the rest of the group.
    • Then we dive into the pulsing life of the capital. We visit one of the traditional city markets, where the smells of spices, fresh fruit and baked bread mingle. It is the perfect place for your first souvenirs.
    • Time for the first big experience! By car (or bus) we drive out to Ala-Archa National Park (2,100 m), only 40 kilometres from the city. This magnificent piece of nature in the foothills of the Tian Shan will astonish you with its wild beauty – mountain rivers, steep peaks and alpine meadows. We walk the main trail along the river and take in our first proper lungful of mountain air.
    • We round the day off with a genuinely authentic experience – dinner in the home of a traditional Kyrgyz family. You sit down to a laid table, taste home-made specialities (lamb with noodles), manty (steamed dumplings) and, in an informal atmosphere, discover the famous Kyrgyz hospitality.
    800 m a.s.l. (↑ 2,100) Stay: hotelminibus / car, on foot
  2. Day 2The road to the legendary Lake Issyk-Kul
    • 9:00: after a hearty breakfast and unpacking we set off east. One of the most scenic drives of the trip lies ahead.
    • The road suddenly opens up and Lake Issyk-Kul appears in front of you like a giant blue mirror. It is the second-largest mountain lake in the world and never freezes, thanks to its salty water and the thermal springs on its bed. We take our first photographs and let the sheer scale of it sink in.
    • Our next stop is the little town of Cholpon-Ata (1,650 m), famous for its open-air museum. Here, on flat stone boulders, you will see petroglyphs – ancient rock carvings depicting hunting scenes, goats, lions and the everyday life of people from thousands of years ago.
    • Next comes a visit to the spiritual and cultural complex of Rukh Ordo. This unique place, whose name means “Order of the Soul”, was built as a spiritual centre and symbolises the unity of the five world religions. Walking among its chapels with the lake in view is a powerful experience.
    • Afternoon: lunch in a local restaurant, where you can taste fish from Issyk-Kul for the first time. After lunch you have free time to rest and do your own thing. You can make the most of being right by the lake and walk one of the beaches in Cholpon-Ata (1,650 m), considered among the finest on its shores. It is an ideal chance to cool off, take a swim or simply enjoy the calm atmosphere of the shore.
    • Evening: we spend the night in Cholpon-Ata itself (1,650 m). This town is the main tourist centre of the northern shore.
    1,650 m a.s.l. Stay: hotelminibus / car
  3. Day 3Getting to know the town of Karakol
    • After breakfast we pack up and leave Lake Issyk-Kul in the direction of Karakol (1,750 m). The road runs along the lakeshore and offers beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and the calm water. Along the way we make a few short stops to rest and take photographs.
    • We reach Karakol (1,750 m) at about midday. First we stop for lunch in a local restaurant, where we can taste traditional Kyrgyz dishes and get to know the local cooking. After lunch we check in briefly at a hotel or guesthouse and get ready for the afternoon.
    • Then we head for the Ak-Suu hot springs (1,900 m), not far from Karakol. Here we enjoy a rest in the warm mineral water, which is good for your health and helps release the muscles after travelling. The time in the springs gives us a chance to relax and recover.
    • Back in Karakol we carry on exploring the town. We visit its notable landmarks, such as the Dungan mosque and the wooden Orthodox cathedral, which are among the best-known buildings here. We then move on to the Ski Paradise area, where we walk around and take in the calm mountain atmosphere.
    • In the evening we check in right in this area. We end the day with dinner and a rest after a full programme.
    1,750 m a.s.l. Stay: hotelminibus / car, on foot
  4. Day 4In the realm of red rocks and rushing waterfalls
    • 9:00: breakfast, check-out from the hotel and departure from Karakol.
    • We head for Jeti-Oguz National Park (2,200 m). The place is famous for its fantastic red sandstone formations. The best known is called the “Seven Bulls” and looks like the backs of a herd of them. We will not miss the “Broken Heart” rock either, which has a romantic legend attached to it.
    • A walk among these majestic rocks and photographs in the best morning light.
    • We have lunch in a restaurant with a view over breathtaking scenery.
    • Then we move on to the Barskoon waterfalls (1,800 m). An hour or so of climbing along the river brings us to a powerful waterfall dropping from a height of more than 20 metres. You feel the force of the falling water in your whole body.
    • Back on the bus and off to our accommodation on the southern, less touristy shore of Lake Issyk-Kul (1,650 m).
    • Arrival, check-in and dinner. The southern shore has an atmosphere of its own – quieter and wilder.
    1,650 m a.s.l. (↑ 2,200) Stay: hotelminibus / car, on foot
  5. Day 5Canyons that look like another planet
    • 9:00: after breakfast, a free morning and a rest.
    • We have lunch at the hotel with a view of the lake and then head inland, where fascinating geological formations await us.
    • The first stop is Jomok canyon (1,900 m). This canyon is made of soft clay and sandstone rock that erosion has modelled into remarkable shapes resembling castles, towers and statues. The colours change with the angle of the sun.
    • On the way we visit the beautiful Shatyly panorama (2,650 m), from which the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul is clearly visible.
    • The road takes us into Ak-Sai canyon (2,500 m), rightly considered one of the most beautiful in Kyrgyzstan. Its steep, many-coloured walls and a crystal-clear mountain river create a perfect, almost mystical atmosphere. Walking its floor is like visiting a natural gallery, with plenty of time for photographs and for taking this beauty in quietly.
    • Back to our accommodation by the lake.
    • This evening belongs to Kyrgyz culture. A traditional folklore and Berkut show awaits us. You will see energetic dances in beautiful costumes, hear melancholy and cheerful songs played on traditional instruments such as the komuz, and over dinner you can let yourself be carried away by the rhythm of this ancient country.
    1,650 m a.s.l. (↑ 2,650) Stay: hotelminibus / car, on foot
  6. Day 6A day with the Kyrgyz nomads – life in a yurt
    • 9:00: breakfast, packing and leaving Lake Issyk-Kul.
    • Today we travel hundreds of years back in time. The road takes us up to the high pastures that are typical of the summer life of Kyrgyz herders. Our destination is an authentic yurt camp, which may be in the Son-Kul area (3,000 m).
    • Lunch on the way in a simple “chaikhana”.
    • We arrive at the yurt camp in the heart of Kyrgyz nature, surrounded by nothing but mountains, pastures and herds of horses and sheep. A welcome tea with bread and home-made cream is the traditional expression of hospitality.
    • We get into the saddle and set off on an afternoon horse ride. The point is not to cover as many kilometres as possible, but to savour the feeling of freedom and endless panoramas.
    • Back from the ride, a yurt demonstration awaits us. You will learn all about its symbolism, how the space inside is divided and how a whole family used to live in it. Dinner in the yurt often includes freshly made kumys (fermented mare's milk) and home-made specialities. Storytelling by the light of a paraffin lamp or a fire is an unforgettable experience.
    • Night: we sleep in traditional yurts on mattresses and under warm woollen blankets. The silence and the starry sky overhead will be your reward.
    3,000 m a.s.l. Stay: yurtminibus / car, horse
  7. Day 7Back to Bishkek with stops in the past
    • 9:00: breakfast at the hotel, goodbye to the nomadic way of life and departure towards Bishkek.
    • On the way we stop at Kok-Moinok canyon (1,900 m). This “lunar canyon” will astonish you with its surreal beauty. White and grey clay cliffs, eroded into remarkable shapes, make you feel you have landed on another planet.
    • Lunch in a restaurant along the route.
    • Our last big stop is at the roots of Kyrgyz history. We visit the archaeological complex of the Burana Tower, what remains of the ancient city of Balasagun from the 11th century. We climb the reconstructed minaret and look over the collection of old gravestones – the balbals.
    • Arrival in Bishkek, check-in at the hotel and dinner. You can enjoy one last Kyrgyz speciality or have something international.
    800 m a.s.l. (↑ 1,900) Stay: hotelminibus / car
  8. Day 8Bishkek – the soul of the city and the last shopping
    • 8:30: the last breakfast of the tour.
    • We head into the heart of everyday Bishkek – the famous Osh bazaar. This vast covered market is a place where you can buy absolutely everything: from heaps of spices, dried fruit and nuts through traditional hats, carpets and woodcarving to household goods. It is an experience for all the senses.
    • Lunch today is on your own. You can go back to the bazaar and taste something from the local street-food specialities, or choose from the many restaurants in the city centre.
    • The afternoon is given over to a walk through the centre of Bishkek. We stroll the green avenues, see the main Independence Square (Ala-Too), the philharmonic hall, and admire the mighty statue of the hero Manas, around whom the whole Kyrgyz national epic revolves.
    • Free time for your own plans. Last purchases, sitting in a pleasant café with excellent local coffee, or simply a rest in the park – the choice is yours.
    • A final farewell dinner, where in a relaxed atmosphere we look back on all the adventures we have shared.
    800 m a.s.l. Stay: hotelon foot
  9. Day 9Home, with a treasure of memories
    • Depending on your departure time we drive you to Manas airport. We help you with check-in and say goodbye at the airport.
    • End of the tour.
    minibus / car

What's included

  • Transport by minibus as per the programme (min. 8–10 people) or by car (min. 3 people)
  • 7 nights in a 3–4* hotel
  • 1 night in yurts (2–4 people per yurt, shared facilities outside the yurt)
  • 9 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 8 dinners
  • Entry fees as per the programme
  • Folklore show
  • The services of a local guide who speaks Czech

Not included – budget for these

  • Flights to Bishkek and back (from Prague usually via Istanbul)
  • Travel insurance including medical cover
  • Drinks outside meals, tips and personal spending
  • Single room (see extras)

Optional extras

  • Single room (except the yurt): 7,100 CZK
  • Horse ride outside the programme: €25–30, paid locally

Where you stay

Seven nights in a 3–4* hotel or guesthouse (Bishkek, Cholpon-Ata, the Ski Paradise area above Karakol, the southern shore of Issyk-Kul) and one night in a traditional yurt in the Son-Kul area – mattresses, warm woollen blankets, shared facilities outside the yurt.

Price by group size

The more of you, the cheaper it gets: from 8 people we travel by minibus, up to 7 by car. You choose the dates within the June–September season.

8 or more · by minibus
€1,050per person
3–7 people · by car
€1,385per person

Extras

  • Full board is included
  • Single room (except yurt and mountain nights)CZK 7,100
  • Extra horse ride outside the programme (paid locally)25–30 €

You choose the dates: June–September. Flights to Bishkek aren't included; we're happy to help with connections.

Single room (except the yurt): 7,100 CZK Horse ride outside the programme: €25–30, paid locally

Common questions

How physically demanding is it?

Not very. The longest walk is the hour or so up to the Barskoon waterfalls; the rest are strolls. The afternoon horse ride on Son-Kul is gentle – the point is not to cover as many kilometres as possible, but to savour the feeling of freedom and endless panoramas.

What's the weather like and what should I pack?

We run these programmes in summer. By Issyk-Kul (1,650 m) it is warm and you can swim, but at the yurt camp at 3,000 m the nights can be cold even in summer – which is why the yurts have warm woollen blankets. We recommend layers, sturdy shoes, sun cream and swimwear for the thermal springs.

How many of us need to sign up for the trip to run?

Depending on the programme we travel by car from 3 people, or by minibus from 8–10 people – the price per person depends on which. You agree the dates directly with Beka. If there are fewer of you, write anyway: he may be able to put you together with other travellers.

I'm travelling alone. Can I join?

Yes. You join the group that comes together for those dates. Rooms are usually shared as doubles by arrangement; if you would rather have your own, the single supplement is 7,100 CZK. It does not apply to the yurt and the mountain nights, where 2–4 people sleep together.

Do I need a visa for Kyrgyzstan?

Citizens of the Czech Republic and most EU countries can enter Kyrgyzstan without a visa for a short stay, and your passport should stay valid for several months after you return. The rules change, so check them before you fly with your own ministry of foreign affairs.

What travel insurance do I need?

Insurance is not included and we do not recommend travelling without it. It should cover medical expenses and time spent hiking at high altitude – the highest point of these programmes is the Ala-Kul pass at almost 3,920 m – and, on the tours with horses, riding as well. Cancellation cover is worth having. Elimtour is a Kyrgyz tour operator, not a Czech travel agency under Czech Act No. 159/1999 Coll.; see the Terms page for the details.

Is Kyrgyzstan safe?

Kyrgyzstan is a calm and hospitable country. The usual common sense applies, as anywhere: documents on you, valuables in the safe, an eye on your pockets at the bazaar. A local guide who speaks Czech and knows the local customs is with you the whole time, and in the mountains local guides accompany you on horseback.

What are the yurts like – comfort and hygiene?

A yurt is shared by 2–4 people: you sleep on mattresses under warm woollen blankets. The facilities are shared and are outside the yurt. On the nine-day programme this is one night; the longer programmes add a mountain hut and a camp. Every other night you sleep in a 3–4* hotel. We recommend bringing a head torch, wet wipes and warm layers for the night.

How do I get to Bishkek?

From central Europe you fly to Bishkek with a change, most often via Istanbul. Flights are not included; we are happy to help you choose connections that fit the start and end of the programme.

What's the food like in Kyrgyzstan?

Traditional cooking is meat-heavy – lamb with noodles, manty (steamed dumplings), fresh bread, fruit and vegetables from the bazaar and dairy products; kumys is served in the yurt. By the lake you eat fish from Issyk-Kul. Vegetarian food can be arranged – just tell us when you enquire.

How and when do I pay?

Prices are set in euros; the koruna amounts on this site are only an indicative conversion. You agree the deposit and the balance directly with Beka; you get the exact deadlines and the cancellation terms in writing and they are on the Terms page – you pay nothing until you have them.

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Classic · 9 days

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