Cultural tour 5

Kyrgyzstan tour: Tour 5

Destination: Kyrgyzstan

Activity: Cultural tour

Duration: 8 days

Places to visit: Bishkek - Issyk Kul Lake - Karakol - Tamga - Bokonbaiva - Kochkorka - Son Kul - Bishkek

This tour offers you the huge opportunity to discover the adorable land of astonishing mountains, located in Central Asia. You will enjoy seeing our primordial nature, untouched places, and unforgettable ancient glimpses! The whole tour goes along the Great Silk Road passing through the astounding Tian Shan massif. You will visit the lake Issyk-Kul "The pearl of Central Asia" as well as the calm and peaceful Son Kul Lake, situated on a high plateau in the centre of Kyrgyzstan (3013m. above sea level). You will be taken back to traditions, culture and food of ancient nomads.

Tour summary:

Day 1: Bishkek - Issyk Kul Lake

Your guide will pick you up at Manas International Airport and accompany you to Bishkek City (30 min. drive), where you will start the day with a breakfast. Then you will be transferred to the celestial Issyk Kul Lake (200 km), the second largest alpine lake in the world (1608 m.above sea level). The Lake is also called "the pearl of Central Asia". On our way, we will visit the Burana Tower (minaret from the 11th century) and an open air museum of stone warriors Balbans Cemetery. After having a traditional lunch, we continue our way to the lake. Arriving to the northern beach of the lake we stay in Hotel where you will have a rest to lie on the warm sand or swim in the lake.,Lake Issyk Kul possesses curative qualities because of the salty water. Your dinner will be served at 7 p.m.

Day 2: Issyk Kul Lake - Karakol

The day starts with a breakfast at 8 o'clock. Then you swim in the lake and enjoy the beach till 12 pm. Afterwards, you will transfer to Karakol city by car (200 km). On the way, passing the place where you can visit ancient stone inscriptions (dating back to 800 B.C.), including the local museum. You will have a second stop at 12 o'clock to have a lunch in a relaxed atmosphere, before continuing our way to Karakol city along the northern shore of the glittering lake, which's amazing beauty you can see again during another break, where you go on a one hour cruise on a steam boat. Then you will be transferred to Karakol city. National dinner will be at 8 p.m. Night in a Guesthouse.

Day 3: Karakol - Tamga

Your breakfast will be served at 8 o'clock. Then you will have a guided Karakol City Tour. There you will visit the museum of M.V. Prejvalsky, one of the world's greatest explores and the Dungan mosque. This will be followed by the visit of an old wooden Orthodox Church. Tour ends with a traditional lunch and we departure from Karakol at 1 pm, to the picturesque gorge of 7 red rocks Jeti Oguz (30km). You will see the legendary Broken Heart Mountain. Then off to explore the Jeti Oguz valley or Chong Kyzyl Suu valley with its hot spring water and geophysics station built in 1948. Then we drive to Tamga village. Tamga was a place where in the 13th century used to live ancient Tibetan monks .Dinner will be served in the Tamga Guesthouse, where you will also spend the night; sauna optional.

Day 4: Tamga - Bokonbaiva - Kochkorka (120km)

Breakfast is served at 9 o'clock. Till 12 o'clock you have time to explore the village of Tamga or to have a rest on the southern beach of the Issyk Kul Lake. At 12 pm we departure to Kochkorka village by car. We will have a break in Bokonbaeva village, to have lunch in the house of a local eagle-hunter. He uses traditional nomadic way of hunting to hares and foxes. An fascinating eagle hunting show can be arranged. Afterwards, we will continue our way to Kochkorka via the heavenly beautiful Orto-Tokoi water reservoir. At the Kochkorka village you will learn the way of how national woolen felt carpets are produced. You even can create your own carpet. You will have a traditional dinner with a local family, accompanied by a special national music show. Overnight in the Kochkor Guesthouse.

Day 5: Kochkorka - Son Kul Lake

After breakfast we departure to the Son Kul Lake highest alpine lake in Kyrgyzstan. Lunch will be taken on the way. Son Kul Lake situated at an altitude of 3013 meters above sea level is surrounded by mountains and pasturelands . Herders of the Naryn region come to the lake for summer. You will be able to explore and touch the calm and peaceful nature of the lake and its surroundings. Traditional dinner and overnight is in yurts. It is nomadic collapsible dwellings made of a wooden skeleton, covered with felt coverings. Traditionally yurts are built without nails.

Day 6: Son Kul (3013m. above sea level)

The entire day is dedicated to exploring amazing nature of Son-Kul Lake. You may stay in camp relaxing in the atmosphere of the wild, but calm nature or you can ride a horse along the lake. Lunch will be served at 2 pm. Then you visit the place with ancient petrogliphs and ritual stones of shamans. It is a great chance to introduce nomadic traditions and culture that preserves from the old times. National dinner will be served yurts. You will spend the night in yurts as well.

Day 7: Son Kul - Bishkek

Breakfast at 8 o'clock. Then we start our trip back to the capital of Kyrgyzstan Bishkek city . As soon as we are in Bishkek you will have a guided city tour and lunch. The program includes visiting of the central Ala-Too Square, Duboviy Park (Oak Park), Pobeda Square (Victory Square), the History Museum, Oriental Bazaar, Art Gallery etc. You will be given a separate program, with all places visited including a brief description. At 7 pm you go to a farewell dinner. Night in a Hotel****.

Day 8: Bishkek - Europe
At the time arranged previously according to your flight details, your guide will meet you in your Hotel and accompany you to Manas International Airport.