Cultural tour 7
Kyrgyzstan tour: Tour 7
Destination: Kyrgyzstan
Activity: Cultural tour
Duration: 13 days
Places to visit: Bishkek - Chong Kemin - Son Kul Lake - At Bashi - Tash Rabat Caravanserai - Kochkor valley - Tamga village - Karakol - Altin Arashan - Karakol - Cholpon Ata - Bishkek
Many travelers say «If you have not seen Central Asia, you have not seen the world!". You can not guess how many wonderful places you are going to see! During your tour you have a chance to visit ancient Burana Tower and cemetery of tone warriors, the second largest lake in the world Issyk-Kul, Stone Castle in the heart of mountains Tash Rabat Caravanserai, ancient stone inscriptionsand many others places of interest. Kyrgyzstan is the country of virginal nature and good traditions. You touch to the nomadic life, taste national dishes and drinks.
Tour summary:
Day 1: Bishkek city
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. The entire day is dedicated to a guided city tour including 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 descriptiont. Traditional dinner will be served at 7 p.m. you will spend the night in a Hotel****.
Day 2: Bishkek - Chon Kemin valley
The day starts with a breakfast at 8 o'clock. Then you will move to marvelous Chon Kemin valley (120km) by car. On the way visiting of Burana Tower (25 m minaret of the ancient city 11 century) and an open air museum of Balbans (stone warriors). After having a traditional lunch you will have a short hike in Issyk-Ata gorge. For night you stay at the Kalmak Ashuu Guesthouse at 7 p.m. After having checked in, you will be served dinner.
Day 3: Chong Kemin - 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 4: Son Kul Lake
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 5: Son Kul Lake - At Bashi
We leave the Guesthouse at 8 o'clock by car that brings us to the At Bashi valley (200km). The amazing scenery offered through views the unsullied nature will touch your heart. Your dinner will be served at 7 p.m. After that you will spend the night in yurts.
Day 6: At Bashi - Tash Rabat Caravanserai (Stone castle)
After packing your backpacks, you will be served breakfast at 8 o'clock Then you will go to the Tash Rabat- Caravanserai on the Great Silk Road (Stone Castle from the 14th century). The stout building is a unique one there no other building like Tash Rabat in the whole world. It located at the very heart of Tian Shan Mountains at a height 3200 m above sea level. And it was built inside a mountain. The thickness of walls is 1 m. There are also gloomy underground prison cells for ancient thieves. Traditional dinner will be served at 7 p.m. You will spend the night in yurts near by the Tash Rabat caravanserai.
Day 7: Tash Rabat - Kochkor valley
strengthening breakfast will be followed by transfer to Kochkor village (185 km). At the Kochkorka village you meet a family that produces national woolen felt carpets. You will be able to create your own carpet. A traditional dinner with a local family will be accompanied by a special national music show. Overnight in the Kochkor Guesthouse.
Day 8: Kochkor valley - Tamga village
You will be served breakfast at 8 o'clock. After that you transfer (200 km) to the divine Issyk-Kul Lake1608m.above sea level). The Lake is also known as "the pearl of Central Asia". On the way you will drive through the gorgeous valley and you will pass the sparkling Orto Tokoi reservoir. In Tamga village you will have a rest on the southern beach of the lake . Issyk Kul possesses curative qualities because of the salty water. Your dinner will be served at 7 p.m. in Tamga Guesthouse, where you will also spend the night.
Day 9: Tamga - 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 start your trip to Karakol city by car (50km). You will take lunch in the Karakol. 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. National dinner will be at 8 p.m. Night in a Guesthouse.
Day 10: Karakol - Altin Arashan - Karakol
After a strengthening breakfast you will be tranmitted to the Altin Arashan Gorge by a heavy Russian military 4WD vehicle. Altin Arashan ("Golden Spa") gorge is one of the most magnificent gorges in Karakol because of the oldest Tian-Shan fir trees that grow everywhere and you will take lunch in the gorge of unreal beauty. Afterwards you will have 1 hour hiking in the gorge and then you will come back to the city. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Night in a Guesthouse.
Day 11: Karakol - Cholpon Ata
Breakfast is served at 8 o'clock. After the breakfast you will be transferred to Cholpon Ata at the northern shore of the Issyk-Kul Lake(120km). On the way, there will be a short stop to see ancient stone inscriptions (dating 800 B.C.) and the local museum. Before continuing our way to city we will have lunch and a one hour cruise on a steam boat. Your dinner will be served at 7 pm in a Hotel, where you will also spend the night.
Day 12: Cholpon Ata - Bishkek
Breakfast at 8 o'clock. And then you have time to have fun on the beach till 11 o'clock. After that you will be transported to Bishkek city (280km) by car through a grand Boom Gorge. At 7 pm a farewell dinner is served. Night in a Hotel****.
Day 13: 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.