Lakeside Rides In Kyrgyzstan – Nomadic Trails of Central Asia

After pick up at the airport / border point, you will be transferred to your hotel, situated in the capital (early check-in at hotel after 06:00).

After some rest, the visit of the city Bishkek is planned.
We will visit sights such as the central square Ala Too with its monuments and the Oak park.
After lunch at the local restaurant, we  willvisit the famous market, Osh bazar.
Just as you step the market, you will plunge into the real oriental atmosphere: an interminable stream of people, a big variety of goods and colors.
Dinner in the traditional restaurant where you can taste the national Kyrgyz cuisine.

Meals included: breakfast (it is served at hotel until 10:00)
Accommodation: Hotel 3* (My Hotel or similar)

After breakfast in Bishkek, we go towards Burana Tower.
Burana Tower is an ancient minaret in the Chuy Valley in the north part of Kyrgyzstan.
It is close to the city of Tokmok.
The tower with funerary monuments, earthworks, remains of the castle and three mausoleums – that’s all what last out of the ancient Balasagyn town that was founded by Karakhanids at the end of the ninth century.
Then we head to the Tar Suu village located in Chon Kemin Valley, known for its beauty and the rich diversity of animals and plants.
You go for a walk in the village to explore the lifestyle of the local people.
Dinner and overnight in the guesthouse.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: Guesthouse (Kemin Guesthouse or similar)

After breakfast in the guest house you start 2-day horse trek to the northern shore of Lake Issyk Kul.
We head towards the pastures of Akkytay, around noon we will climb to the point where we will have a panoramic view of the entire valley.
We have a picnic there.
Horses can rest too.
After lunch we continue our trek.
We go towards the Kalmak Ashu pass.
We install the tents on the foot of the pass.
Dinner around the fire and rest in the tents.

Horse riding: 6 hours
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Tent

Breakfast in the camp.
Then we take our horses and we go down towards Issyk Kul Lake.
Picnic on the road.
At around 15 hours we reach the point where our trek ends.
We are already in the region of Issyk Kul in Balykchy.
Your driver picks you up.
Your horse guide returns with his horses to Chon Kemin.
You go to the guesthouse where you rest and take a shower.
You can swim in the lake later and relax a bit on the beach.

Horse riding: 6 hours
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Accommodation: Guesthouse (Tamchy Guesthouse or similar)

After breakfast in the guesthouse we go towards Kochkor village.
On the way we can stop in the small village Kyzyl Tuu.
Here you will see how the Kyrgyz family makes the yurts and you try to set up with help of local people the real Kyrgyz yurt.
This family is engaged in this unique art from generation to generation (option).
Lunch in the guesthouse or in the local restaurant.
Free time before dinner.
You can stroll through the village and visit the local market.
Kyrgyz women can show you the process of producing traditional felt handicrafts (option).
Dinner and overnight in the guesthouse.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: Guesthouse (Mira Guesthouse or similar)
Optionally: yurt show (70 USD per group), felt show (60 USD per group). You can book and pay on spot

Breakfast in the guesthouse.
Transfer by car from Kochkor to Isakeev village (15 minutes).
From here you start the horse trek towards Ters Tor pastures, famous for their pure air and crystalline waters. Picnic on the way.
Arrival in the shepherds’ yurt in Kol Ukok.
You can walk around and take nice photos of the lake and surrounding mountains.
Dinner in the yurt.

Horse riding: 15 km, +1000m, 5h
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Yurt camp
Note: yurt capacity 4-6 people. Toilets are outside. No shower in the camp.

After the breakfast in yurt we return on horseback by the same path to the starting point of our trek where the driver is waiting for us.
Lunch in Kochkor in the local restaurant or guesthouse.
Transfer by car to Kyzart village (1 hour).
On arrival you can rest and take a shower / sauna.
Dinner and overnight in the guesthouse.

Horse riding: 15km, – 1000m, 4h
Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: Guesthouse (Maksat Guesthouse or similar)

Breakfast at the guest house.
Transfer to the starting point.
The 2-day horse trek to Son Kul Lake begins.
We will ride down through the Kilemche valley.
The valley’s name means in Kyrgyz language “like a carpet”, and this carpet is presented by the variety of mountain herbs and alpine flowers covering all the nearby slopes.
Picnic on the way is planned.
We arrive at the shepherds’ yurt camp where we spend the night. Dinner in the yurt.

Horse riding: 17 km, + – 200m, 4h
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Yurt camp
Note: yurt capacity 4-6 people. Toilets are outside. No shower in the camp.

After breakfast we continue our trek.
Horseback ride provides a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the beauty of these places and feel a part of the nature.
Today we cross Tuz Ashu pass (3 400m).
From the pass Son Kul Lake seems very small, but as we go down and approach the lake, it appears as a big and gorgeous lake.
When we arrive in the yurts camp, you get to know the hospitality of the nomads, their lifestyle and their customs.
Diner and overnight in the yurt camp.

Horse riding: 14 km, +800m, -400m, 5h
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Yurt camp
Optionally: national horse games demonstration (150-200 USD per group). Possible to book
and pay on site.
Note: 4-6 people per yurt. Toilets and shower are outside.

Breakfast in the yurt.
We suggest you go horseback riding on the large meadows with an unforgettable view of the lake and take pictures of this magical place.
You can learn a lot about the way of life of the Kyrgyz shepherds, the semi-nomads.
We also advise you to taste the kymys, the famous national drink (mare’s milk).

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Yurt camp
Optionally: national horse games demonstration (150-200 USD per group). Possible to book and pay on site.
Note: 4-6 people per yurt. Toilets and shower are outside.

Breakfast in the yurt camp.
Transfer to Bishkek.
We will return to the civilization by descending from Kalmak Ashu pass (3400m) and through Boom gorge.
You can take pictures of this beauty and breathtaking sceneries.
Lunch on the road in the café in Kochkor.
Upon arrival in Bishkek we will have time to visit the local market and buy some presents.

Meals included: breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel 3* (My Hotel or similar)

Transfer to the airport. Departure.