DURATION: 10 Days
Since ancient times, the Great Silk Road has attracted people from different countries. This road has become a bridge between nations. Now you have a great opportunity to visit Kyrgyzstan, a small unique part of the Great Silk Road, to return to the past.
This tour offers you an excellent chance to get acquainted with the history, nomadic style of lile, hospitality of local people and nature of Kyrgyzstan. During this tour you will visit magnificent historical places dating back to 9-11th Century, see the incredibly beautiful Kyrgyz Mountains, relax on the shore of Issyk-Kul Lake – the Pearl of Kyrgyzstan, experience to live like a nomad in a yurt high in the mountain pasture – on Son – Kul Lake, stay with local families, learn about the culture of the people and eat the tastiest national dishes.
Day 1
BISHKEK – KOCHKOR (260 km, 4-5 hours of driving)
Arrival in Bishkek (the old name is Frunze), the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Transfer to the hotel. After some rest transfer to Kochkor village along the mountainous road. Kochkor is a village where local women created cooperatives and produce felt carpets and handycraft souvenirs. On the way, we will stop not far from Tokmok town (60 km) and have excursion to Burana Tower, a place on the Great Silk Road dated to 11th century. Upon arrival to Kochkor we can visit felt shop where you can buy some souvenirs and for additional payment you may take part in the process of felt carpet production. We will be accommodated in a family guesthouse. You will have traditional dinner with Kyrgyz family.
(Altitudes above sea level during the day: start point – 800 m in Bishkek, 1700 m in Kochkor village)
Day 2
KOCHKOR – KYZART trek to KILEMCHE (150 km, 3 hours of driving)
After breakfast in the family transfer to the Kyzart village from where we will start the trekking to Son-Kul lake. Trekking to the foot of the Pass Jalgyz-Karagay (3300 m above sea level)and then to the place called Kilemche jailoo (4-5 hours). Dinner and overnight in yurt camp (2800 m above sea level).
(Altitude during the day –Kochkor 1700 m, end of the day in Kilemche jailoo 2800 m above the sea level)
Day 3
KILEMCHE – SON-KUL (3-4 hours of trekking)
Breakfast. Trekking over the Jalgyz-Karagay pass towars yurt camp not far from Son – Kul Lake (3-4 hours). You will meet local shepherds on the way. Arrival on the mountain lake Song-Kul, which is located on the altitude of 3015 m. Local people live and graze their livestock on the meadows (jailoo) around the lake, from June till September. You will taste the wilderness and freedom of nomadic life here. It will be possible to taste the Kyrgyz traditional drink kymyz (fermented mare’s milk) and see how locals bake traditional Kyrgyz bread. Overnight in the yurt camp (3015 m above sea level).
(Altitude during the day – Kilemche jailoo 2530 m, end of the day in Song-Kul Yurt camp 3015m above the sea level)
Day 4
SON KUL
Breakfast. Free day in Song-Kul. This is a popular place among the local people, who come here every summer with their families and cattle. You can do one day hiking to mountains, meet local shepherds, watch the shepherd’s way of life: taste bread and kumyz (the national Kyrgyz drink from mares’ milk). For walking excursion and visit nomads the guide will be with you. It is different possibilities of walking distances on Song-Kul.
Local shepherds families stay around the camp on distance about 1 km.
It is no special walking routes on Song-Kul. You can do walking for yourself and spend time for walking from 1 hour and up to 5-6 hours. If you go for whole day walking, we will organize packed lunch and you do not need to come back to the camp for lunch time. You can have free fly program for walking this day and stay along on the nature.
If you like to do a day of horse riding, we will organise this for you. It will be for additional payment. For horse riding we will organize local stableman for escorting. Accommodation and dinner in the yurt camp.
(Altitudes above sea level during the day: -3015m in Song-Kul Lake)
Day 5
SON KUL – TAMGA (320 km, about 6 hours of driving)
Breakfast. Transfer to Tamga village along the shouthern shore of Issyk – Kul Lake. Issyk Kul is the second largest mountain lake in the world after Titicaca Lake in South America. Issyk kul –means warm lake, not freeze in winter as it is salty lake with length 200km and wide is 60km, with the deepest place is 730m. Optionally, a visit to Kyzyl Tuu village, here you can see how the wooden parts of the yurts (dwelling house of nomad people) are made. Dinner and accommodation in the yurts.
(Altitudes above sea level during the day: -3015m in Song-Kul Lake, end of the day in Issyk – Kul – 1600m above the sea level)
Day 6
TAMGA
Breakfast. Free day in Tamga. Possible activities to do during the day:
Visit Barskoon Gorge. You can see nice mixture of fir trees and different colored bushes of barberry, mountain ash, sea-buckthorn, currant, raspberry, dog rose and honeysuckle. And also you can see wonderful view of Issyk-Kul Lake. From this gorge you can observe wonderful view of different tops. They are: peak of Heroes-Panfilovzev (4610 m), peak of World Peace Soviet (4310 m). And very interesting Barskoon waterfalls just the reverse fourth bridge of Barskoon river. There are two interesting monuments along the road – a bust of Yuri Gagarin, who holidayed on the South shore of Issyk Kul after his historic first manned space flight. Have a walk there. Here, specially for you, for additional payment we may arrange Eagle Hunting show.
Visit Fairy – Tale Canyon. Turning after Tosor village towards Terskey Ala-Too mountains and after passing about 4 km, we will notice how mountains part, and immediately, as if by the wave of a magic stick we will find ourselves in this valley of fairytales. In Russian, the word Skazka means “Fairy Tale” and the place is certainly a magical place, full of mystery and mysticism, sufficuent to stimulate the imagination of those with the inclination to stand, and stare, and wonder. Walking there.
If you prefer not to do hikings you are wellcomed stay and relax near the shore of the Lake or on the territory of the yurt camp. If the weather allow, you can experience swimming in the Lake. Accommodation and dinner in the yurt camp.
(Altitudes above sea level during the day: -1600m in Issyk-Kul Lake)
Day 7
TAMGA – SVETLAYA POLYANA trek to JETY OGUZ (130 km, 2 hours of driving)
After breakfast in the yurt camp, transfer to Svetlaya Polyana, from here we will have a light trek to Jety-Oguz gorge about 3-4 hours. This place is famous for its red rock formations in the form of the Broken Heart and Seven Bulls, the translation of the place is «Seven Bulls». Local people tell a lot of legends about this place. We will enjoy the beautiful mountain views and fresh air. Upon arrival to Jety Oguz yurt camp, dinner in the yurt. After the dinner we can seat at the fire place organized on the shore of the river and contest in song competition called Yr Kese. Overnight in the yurt.
(Altitudes above sea level during the day: start point of trek – 1600 m in Tamga, highest point -2800m the Pass Jety-Oguz, end of day -2250m in the yurta camp)
Day 8
JETY OGUZ – KARAKOL – SEMENOVKA village (250 km, about 4-5 hours of driving)
After breakfast transfer to Karakol. Every Sunday there is a Sunday animal market in Karakol, if today is Sunday we should leave Jety Oguz without breakfast at 6 a.m. to visit the market, as it starts working from 4 a.m. Then a city tour of Karakol with visiting Russian Orthodox Church made of wood, Muslim Mosque in Chinese Style and Museum of Prjevalsky, the Russian explorer of Central Asia areas. After the visit of the cultural places we can have lunch in the local Uigur family (Uigurs are Chinese Muslims). Later transfer to Semenovka village, along the northern shore of Issyk-Kul lake. Upon arrival to Semenovka village dinner with kids from orphanage. It is a local family who gather homeless kids and create small orphanage called: “Friendly Family”. Overnight in the family guesthouse.
(Altitudes above sea level during the day: beginning of the day – 2250 m in Jety-Oguz, end of the day -1600m in Issyk – Kul)
Day 9
SEMENOVKA village – BISHKEK (260 km, about 5-6 hours of driving)
After breakfast transfer to Bishkek. On the way visit Open Air Museum of Petrogliphs in Cholpon-Ata. The Open Air Museum, sometimes referred as a Stone Garden, covers some 42 hectares and contains a number of prehistoric monumental structures (stone circles, tombs, the remains of a boundary stone wall, balbals) and Petroglyphs (dating from the II millennium BC upto the Middle Ages upto the VI century AD). Optionally it is possible to arrange motorboat cruise along the Lake. Upon arrival to Bishkek city tour, with visiting of Ala-Too Square, walk along the Oak Park to the open art gallery of Sculptures. Visit of Manas Sculpture and a walk along the alley of the youth next to Philharmonic Hall. A visit to Osh Bazaar and Frinze Museum. Farewell dinner at around 7 pm in the local restaurant. For the evening, we can optionally arrange folklore program in the restaurant, when the group of people song the Kyrgyz songs and play national instruments.
Overnight in the hotel.
(Altitudes above sea level during the day: beginning of the day – 1600 m in Issyk – Kul, end of the day -800m in Bishkek)
Day 10
BISHKEK
After breakfast transfer to airport for the flight home.
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Level of difficulty:
There are no difficulties on the route, but tourists should have an average level of fitness because sometimes they have long transfers 4-6 hours by mountain roads.
Conditions: It is necessary to bring warm clothes, trekking boots, rain coat and etc. Weight of personal things is not limited.
Service is included:
Transport for transfers and excursions (good condition car with a/c)
1-2 people – 4WD jeep
3 people – 4WD minivan
4-9 – one Mercedes Sprinter of 14 seats
Double room accommodation in the hotel in Bishkek
Four people accommodation in yurts in Song-Kul, Kilemche, Tamga and Jety Oguz.
Double room accommodation in the family in Kochkor and Semenovka (shared toilet and shower)
Three time meal from the breakfast in Day 1 till breakfast in Day 10;
Mineral water during the tour (one litter a day per person);
English speaking tour guide;
Entry fees to museums and nature parks according to the program;
Service is not included:
Single room accommodation
Alcohol and soft drinks;
Horses for riding in Song-Kul
International flight tickets;
Cost for Kyrgyz visa;
Any deviation from the program
Eagle hunting show
Felt carpets show in Kochkor village
Yurt production show in Kyzyl – Tuu
Motoboat cruise
Foloklore show during the dinner in Bishkek
Airport taxes in Bishkek;
Porter service in hotels and airport.
Tips for the escorting staff
Price for the tour:
The price of this tour is
2 pax - 1364 USD
3 pax - 1096 USD
4-5 pax - 961 USD
6-7 pax - 815 USD
8-9 pax - 742 USD
Single supplement is 48 USD per person (possible only in hotel in Bishkek, no in yurts and family guesthouses)
Terms of payment: Given price is valid if the payment is done via bank transfer.
Conditions of the tour:
This is a first of its kind tours in Central Asia and unique opportunity for travellers to experience warm hospitality and see real life of people in a Kyrgyz village and pastures. During this tour you will stay in the families gusthouses with share facilities on the floor, sleep like a nomad in yurts with all facilities: European style toilet and showers. You will have the hotel accommodation only in the beginning of the tour and at the end of it. The list with accommodation type is given below.
List of accommodation during the tour:
Bishkek – Futuro or Shah-Palace Hotel ***
Kochkor – family run guesthouse (with toilet and shower inside, for share; one house for 4-5 people)
Kilemche –Shepherds Life yurts (4 people accommodation in a yurt, with simple shared toilet cabins outside)
Son – Kul –
NoviNomad Yurt Camp (4 people accommodation in a yurt, shared European style toilets and showers)
Tamga –
NoviNomad Yurt Camp (3-4 people accommodation in a yurt, shared European style toilets and showers outside each yurts)
Jety – Oguz –
NoviNomad Yurt Camp (4 people accommodation in a yurt, shared European style toilets and showers)
Semenovka –
family guesthouse ( two people accommodation in a room, with shared toilet and shower on the floor)
NOTES:
Please keep in mind that people in the countryside do not stick to time and can be late for 20-30 minutes. So it may not always be on time according to the itinerary, especially when local people cook and serve food or organize horses for riding.
People in Kyrgyzstan are very friendly and like to take pictures.But please do ask for permission if you take a picture of old people, mosques, churches, funeral sets or in countryside as people may be offended.
During the trek in days 2-3, you have to pack all necessary belonging for 1 night in Kelimche valley in your backpacks, as the rest of luggage will be in the car which will drive to Son – Kul by another road. During the trek you have to bring your bagpacks. If you do not want to carry your staff we can arrange horse for luggage. The price for this service of one horse with stableman is 135 USD for 2days of trek;
Supplements:
Supplement for FeltArt master class is 35 USD per group;
Supplement for Eagle Hunting Show is 80 USD per group;
Supplement for Yurt Installation Show in Kyzyl Tuu is 100 USD for the group;
Supplement for Yurt production in Kyzyl Tuu (will show how to make the wooden part of the Yurta ) is 35 USD per group;
Supplement for Folklore show in Bishkek is 90 USD per group;
Supplement for 1 hour motorboat cruise in Issyk – Kul (one boat for up to 12 people) is 120 USD per group;
Supplement for ticket to shared motorboat cruise in Issyk – Kul is 12 USD per person (available only from mid of June till beginning of September)
Supplement for horse riding in Son – Kul: If 2 pax do riding it will be 28 USD per person. If 3 pax do riding, it will be 24 USD per person. For every 2-3 person we will provide escorting stableman.
The programm can be changed according to your request.
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For more information please contact us: info@agrotourism.com