10-day cycling around Issyk-Kul lake

Arrival at Manas airport where you will be met by your guide/interpreter and transfer to Umai hotel. After lunch preparation of bicycles followed by some sightseeing around Bishkek. Accommodation in the hotel _ L D Hotel

Leave Bishkek by minibus and near Tokmok stop to visit the Burana Tower, an architectural complex from the 10 th century that survived from the times of the Great Silk Road. We will see the 24-metre minaret and mausoleums that have been reconstructed. You can also see Balbal, grave stones from the middle ages. From here we start cycling, over a secondary rather flat road to the crossroad with Kemin (42 km). Here we get into the minibus again and drive along the main road to Balykchy at the west end of Lake Issyk-Kul. Start cycling again along the side of the lake and after 35km we reach the village Kara Talaa where we will stay with a local family. B L D Local family

Leave after breakfast and cycle along the south side of the lake to Kara Koo where we leave the main road and turn into the Köngur Ölung Valley, famous for its birds of prey and wonderful flora. Continue to the village of Toguz -Bulak. Here we will stay in a B&B. Total 45km with a rather long but not steep climb from 1600 till 2200m. B L D B&B

Today only a short ride. Continue through the valley and in Temir-Kanat we will stay in a yurt camp. This yurt camp is located on a plateau above the village (2450 metres). The last 100m up we will have to walk or go on horseback as it is not easy to reach the yurt camp by bike. From here we have a beautiful view of the lake and, on the far side of the lake, the mountains beyond that border Kazakhstan. Stay in yurt. Here there are horses and it is possible to go riding. Stay in yurt. B L D Yurt

Descend to Bokonbaevo, the district capital of the region. Here we will meet a man who hunts with golden eagles. We will see his bird(s) and he will tell about his profession and the way he trained his eagles. From here cycle another 40 km to the yurt camp Manjyly in the so called “badlands”. On the way stop to visit Fairy Tale Valley, a small valley with strange eroded rock formation in different colors. Stay in yurt. Possible to go for a swim. Total 70 km cycling. B L D Yurt

Visit Manyly Ata, a nearby sacred place of the Kyrgyz, hidden amongst the gentle clay hills. There are holy trees, 7 healing springs, old graves and a dilapidated mosque. Continue along the south shore of the lake to the village Jengish. Here again we can swim. Stay in guesthouse. Total 50 km. B L D Guest house

Cycle over a tarmac road into a nice valley with red rocks, at the end there is a traditional hot spa where it is possible to take a bath. Return to the main road and from here by minibus to Karakol. Total 63km cycling, rest by minibus. Stay in guesthouse. B L D Guest house

If a Sunday, first visit the famous animal market, next cycle further east and climb up to the San Tash Pass. (2210m). We will descend into the Kegen Valley and from here turn west again. and cycle till Taldy Bulak . Here the asphalt road starts and we continue in the minibus to Cholpon Ata on the north side of Lake Issyk-Kul. Stay in hotel. Total 98km cycling. B L D Hotel

In Cholpon Ata visit an open-air museum of petroglyphs - a unique monument of the bronze times. The rock drawings date back from the 2 nd to 9 th century. Return to Bishkek.
In the afternoon some time for shopping. Stay in hotel. B L D Hotel

Departure home. B - - - - -