Tour Program

Special Announcement:

During the 2022 season Supplier SR1401 will have permanent tent camps set up along this entire trekking route. This ensures a number of things:

1)    Your journey will be easier and more comfortable than ever since you do not need to carry any food, tents, kitchen utensils, etc.

2)    This lessens the overall cost of your tour since you will have no need to hire porters, cooks, etc.

3)    Your journey is safer. There are means of communication available at every tent camp.

Day
1
Airport – Bishkek (Drive 40 km, 45 minutes)
Itinerary
Upon arrival to the international airport Manas meet local guide and driver and transfer to Bishkek
city. On arrival accommodation at the hotel (early check-in is included).

After some rest we go to visit famous Osh bazaar. This is the brightest example of trading and boiling life. This a good chance to buy handmade souvenirs, dried fruits etc. After visit the market we head back to the city center to start walkingtour around the main Ala Too square to see the legacy of the Soviet Union. There are several objects on our way: Manas Monument, the main national hero of Kyrgyz people; the State Flag and the ceremony of changing the Guards of Honor; the monument of the Revolution of 2010 and the White House, Lenin statue and the old Ala Too Square with number of interesting buildings of the past; Oak park and museum under the clear sky; unique fine art gallery and Kurmanjan Datka monument, finishing walk back at the main Ala Too square and transfer to the Victory Square dedicated to the WWII to finish the city tour by short excursion there.

Lunch and dinner at a local cafe.

Overnight.

Meals
B L D
Accommodation
Hotel
Day
2
Bishkek – Burana Tower – Lake Song Kul (Drive 390 km, 8-9 hours, + 2300 m.)
Itinerary
In the morning transfer to the Son Kul lake and en route visit to Burana Tower (old minaret) near
Tokmok city. That minaret was constructed in Balasagun town, one of the capitals of Karakhanid State
existed in 12 centuries AD. Also, watch a collection of Balbals, Turkic ancient stone statues.

After excursion lunch at the Kazakh family house in Tokmok, where we can learn more about life of local people.

In the afternoon continue the journey to Son Kul lake, the second largest mountain lake in Kyrgyzstan. Upon arrival accommodation in the yurt camp located on the south shore, not far from the water of the Song Kul Lake.

Dinner at the yurt camp. Overnight.

Meals
B L D
Accommodation
Yurt camp
Day
3
Full day at Son Kul lake
Itinerary
Today, we step into the nomadic life at the Son Kul Lake. Here, Kyrgyz people still live in traditional houses of nomads – yurt. Yurt – is a traditional dwelling of nomadic people of Central Asia. The foundation of yurt consists of wooden carcass and several felt layers. The construction of such dwelling doesn’t require a lot of time that makes it practical and useful for locals.

We can optionally have horseback riding (own arrangements) or just hiking, spend time with friendly Kyrgyz families and taste their products, like Airan (yogurt) and Kymys (a fermented national drink from mare’s milk).

Lunch and dinner at the yurt camp. Overnight.

Meals
B L D
Accommodation
Yurt camp
Day
4
Lake Song Kul - Karakol town (Drive 350 km, 7-8 hours, - 1400 m.)
Itinerary
In the morning continue the trip and head further to Karakol town along the south shore of Issyk-Kul lake.

Lunch in Bokonbaev village at a local kyrgyz family house.

On the way stop to visit and walk around Skazka canyon. The canyon looks scenic with the dark blue Issyk-Kul Lake on the background. After walk we continue drive and in a few hours reach the town.

Upon arrival dinner at a local cafe and accommodation at the hotel. Overnight.

Meals
B L D
Accommodation
Hotel
Day
5
Tour of Karakol town and transfer to Karakol Gorge (Drive 25 km, 1 hour, +800 m.)
Itinerary
In the morning we have sightseeing tour, visit Memorial Complex of N.M. Przhevalsky a Great Russian explorer and researcher of Asian continent, which is in 12 km far from Karakol. Later visit Dungan mosque a unique building in a style of the Chinese pagoda, which is functioning mosque up to now. In addition, we visit Russian Orthodox Holy Trinity Church. In the miraculous iconostasis of the church there is the famous Tikhvinian icon of Divine Mother, painted in 1897.

After sightseeing, lunch at a local cafe.

After lunch we meet mountain guide and porters, further drive to Karakol gorge on a special military truck.

Dinner and accomodation at the tent camp.

Meals
B L D
Accommodation
Tent camp
Day
6
Radial hike to the foot of Karakol peak (trek 16 km, 6-7 hours, +700/-700 m.)
Itinerary
Today, we have radial hike to the foot of Karakol peak. We go along Uyun Tor river, the part of the way is old dirt-truck road that ends after a small river. After we crossed the river the trail is going through Tien-Shan blue spruce forest (starting from May there are flowers blooming on the meadows – snowdrops, tulips, primerose, white anemone, alpine Aster, edelweiss (really big ones), etc.

After forest zone we go up to the stone hill and reach the point with a view at the highest peak of Terskei Ala Too – Karakol peak. Here is a nice place to have lunch with a wonderfull view. Later, we walk back to the tent camp with the same route.

Dinner and overnight at the tent camp.

Meals
B L D
Accommodation
Tent camp
Day
7
Karakol gorge - Ala-Kul Lake (trek 10 km, 6-7 hours, +1100 m.)
Itinerary
After breakfast we descent along the gorge about 1 km and later cross the river over a bridge and the trail leads us into a forest.

Rather long ascent finishes at a steep slope covered with grass, the trail turns into a serpentine, passes by a river overflow, and arrive to an unusual place, which is called Sirota mountain log hut. There is a table, benches, fireplace inside. We can find a number of sculptures of animals and idols carved in wood around the hut. It looks like a fairy tale place. It is a nice place to sit down, rest, have a snack.

Later, the trail goes up higher, leaving the forest behind we hike along the river and reach a beautiful waterfall, flowing down from Ala-Kul Lake. We pass the waterfall and ascent on a natural dam,
from where we can see Ala-Kul lake. The last kilometer till the tent camp goes along the lake.

Dinner and overnight at the tent camp.

Meals
B L D
Accommodation
Tent camp
Day
8
Ala-Kul lake – Altyn Arashan gorge (trek 18 km, 6-7 hours, +200 m/-1200 m.)
Itinerary
Moraine Lake of Ala-Kul stretches from east to west for 2.8 km, its width is 500 m and depth 70 m. Ala-Kul means Colorful Lake in Kyrgyz language. Depending on the light the water might change its color. It can be emerald green, turquoise with white clouds reflected, light green or dark grey, or even black.

After breakfast we start the ascent to Ala-Kul pass. During the ascent, we enjoy wonderful views of the lake. Arriving closer to the lake we see the main range of Terskei Ala-Too with a number of peaks – Ak-Suu, Djigit, Karakol, Oguz Bashi, etc. From the lake edge, it will take us another hour and half to the pass.

Descent from the pass along a talus slope, and later across a wide valley of Keldike with picturesque landscapes, herds of cattle and flocks of sheep grazing.

Upon arrival to the tent camp you may use an opportunity to relax in the hot springs. There are thermal baths (up to +50C) in the valley.

Dinner and overnight at the tent camp.

Meals
B L D
Accommodation
Tent camp
Day
9
Altyn Arashan Gorge – Cholpon Ata town (Drive 185 km, 4-5 hours, -1000 m.)
Itinerary
There is a resort Altyn Arashan, founded in 1963, famous for its hot mineral springs. The resort represents several wooden huts located on a big treeless meadow on the right bank of Arashan river. The Northern slopes of the left river bank are covered with fir trees. It gives an unforgettable picture – dark green trees with snowcapped mountains Ak-Suu wall (5022m) in the background.

In the morning special military truck will come to the tent camp to pick us up. After breakfast we start drive towards Karakol town along the gorge. The descent is over green fields with blooming flowers and crystal mountain springs.

The final 5 km of the gorge are very narrow, not more than 30 m width with high rock walls. At the entrance to the gorge we pass by a village – Ak Suu (the name comes from the hot springs). Here you will take place inside the car and drive to Karakol.

Lunch at a local cafe in the town.

After lunch continue drive to Cholpon Ata town. Upon arrival accommodation in a hotel on the north shore of Issyk-Kul Lake.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Meals
B L D
Accommodation
Hotel
Day
10
Cholpon Ata town – Bishkek city (Drive 270 km, 5-6 hours, -800 m.)
Itinerary
In the morning transfer to the Bishkek city. En route we also visit so called Stone garden or Cholpon Ata Petroglyphs site, the temple in the open air of Scythians and Hung suns civilizations dated back 9-8 centuries BC till 3-4 centuries AD. The area of those stone drawing lies at the foot of Kungei Ala-Too Range with a beautiful view of the whole lake.

Continue driving to Bishkek. Lunch en route.

Upon arrival to the capital accommodation at the hotel. Last dinner at the cafe.

Meals
B L D
Accommodation
Hotel
Day
11
Bishkek – Manas International Airport, Drive 40 km, 45 minutes
Itinerary
Early in the morning transfer to the airport. Departure back home.
Meals
B - -
Accommodation
- - -