The Faces of Asia: Travel from Kyrgyzstan to China

AM. Arrival to Osh early in the morning. Transfer to guesthouse. Rest till 10.00AM. Late breakfast. Visiting Suleiman mount. Lunch.

PM. Transfer by mountain road to Sary-Tash village (200 km, 5 hours) or base of Lenin Peak (230 km, hours). You will see here steps of Shamanism on graveyards and test real life of Kyrgyz people. Dinner. Overnight stay in very siple house of local people in Sary-Tash or tents in the base camp.

B L D Tent Camp

Early breakfast is around 6.00am. Transfer to the pass Irkeshtam 4 hours. Checking control on the border around 1 hour. Transfer to the border line between Kyrgyzstan and China (3 km). See of with the Kyrgyz Guide.

At the Irkishtam Pass we will cross into Kashgar where our Kashgar team will be waiting. We will then continue on towards to Kashgar along good road, this time with the high Pamirs rising to the south, and stay the night hotel. It is also provides a welcome shower!

B L D Hotel

Today we will visit Id Kah Mosque. It is the largest Mosque in China and most famous one in Xinjiang.

After this place we will continue to Apak Hoja. Apak Hoja Tomb is Mazar. It is the holiest place in Xinjiang and an architectural treasure. Then we will drive to Old town. Kashgar is an ancient city, and while walking along the streets of its Old Town, you will get a sense of what this legendary Central Asian hub was like in the days when the Silk Road was at its zenith. After these very interesting and unusual excursions you will drive to Shipton's Arch.

B L D Hotel

Today is a further day in Kashgar for us to experience the famous Yakshambe Bazaar - the Sunday Market. In the morning we will first visit the famous animal market. Here we will spend the morning watching the locals trade everything from woodwork and iron wear to sheep, donkeys, cattle, horses and camels before progressing onto the covered bazaar, believed to be the biggest in Central Asia. The afternoon & evening will be free for you to spend at your leisure and you may want to hire bicycles and head off into nearby fields to explore. B L D Hotel

After breakfast drive on the China and Pakistan highway to visit the Karakul Lake and enjoy the Pamir landscape. Karakul Lake is situated at the altitude of 3,600 m. It is the highest lake of the Pamir plateau, near the junction of the Pamir, Tianshan and Kunlun Mountain ranges. Surrounded by mountains which remain snow-covered throughout the year, the three highest peaks visible from the lake are the Muztag Ata (7 546m), Kongur Tagh (7 649m) and Kongur Tiube (7 530 m). The lake is popular among travelers for its beautiful scenery and the clarity of its reflection in the water, whose color ranges from a dark green to azure and light blue. You will have to walk along the lake and then we will drive to Tashkorgan. This is an interesting frontier town that is famed for its old fortress. We will have time to walk around. Night is in a hotel. B L D Hotel

The distance we travel today is not so far, but expect a long day as we navigate our way through the first of the trip’s land border crossings, over the Torugart Pass into beautiful Kyrgystan.

Meet at Kyrgyz-Chinese Border. Assistance with formalities on the border, cross the border. Transfer to Naryn (200km). Short visit the historical resting place on the Great Silk Road - the Tash-Rabat Caravan-Sarai (12th C). Dinner and accommodation in the guesthouse.

B L D Guest House

Breakfast. Transfer to Issyk-Kul lake to Tamga village. Issyk-Kul is the second largest mountain-lake (1,600 m above sea level) after Lake Titikaka in South America. By depth, (668 m) and water volume it is the biggest in the world. The average water temperature during the summer is 19-22ºC. F. Visit a handicraft workshop where local women produce felt carpets. Optionally you can not only buy souvenirs here, but also take part in the process. Dinner and Accommodation in the Tamga guest house. B L D Guest House

After breakfast transfer to Chon-Kemin. You can stop for swimming on the lake if it is good weather. Upon arrival to Chon-Kemin, that is a National Park a walk to the gorge. Optionally a horse riding in the gorge. Dinner and overnight in the guesthouse. B L D Guest House

Transfer to Bishkek after breakfast. On the way a visit to Burana Tower, that is a place on the Great Silk Road dating to XI century. A city tour in Bishkek with visiting Central Ala-Too Square, Historical Museum, Oak Park, Philharmonic Hall. Farewell dinner in the local restaurant. Accommodation in the hotel. B L D Hotel

Transfer to the airport. Flight to home. - - - - - -