Kyrgyzstan Express Tour
The Loop of the Issyk Kul lake is a great trip for anyone who doesn’t have much time but still wants to see the best highlights that Kyrgyzstan has to offer. Bringing you the sheer beauty of the night sky exploring at Son Kul alpine lake, coastline of the Issyk Kul , loosen up in Arashan hot springs plus some delicious Kyrgyz food tasting in Karakol, this is the perfect family or couple’s road trip encompassing Mountains, Lakes and even some horseback ride and hiking activity along the way!
This trip is suitable for any time of year between mid May dash late October and does not require any physical fitness except kicking back with view enjoying
DETAILS:
Locations: Bishkek, CholponAta, Karakol, Altyn Arashan hot springs, Sonkul lake, Issyk Kul lake
Exstension: Terrain: asphalt 87%, gravel 10%, off road 3%
Mileage: 1500 km / 932 miles
Styles: Roadtrip/Off road tours
Horseback rides/Hiking
Yurt living experience
Elevation: Start point at 900m in Bishkek city
The highest Yurt stay branched at 3016m
Season/Days: Our season for this trip starts from the last dates of May and stretches till the end of October. The groups should plan on having at least ten days in the country beside having extra days off.
FOOD:
Breakfasts: Are starts with a tea/coffee which ends with omelettes, french toasts, porages and lots of sweets
Lunches: Packed lunchboxes for the field on the hiking/riding days.
Apres hike: You are welcome to our kitchen/dining areas anytime after riding day to hang there for some tea with bred and cheese, where we pull out the maps and discuss the routes for further days.
Dinners: As we following the shepherds trail we won’t know what waits us for dinner in each district but here is the list of a local regular dinners up in the mountains: Lagman (Meat and vegetables with spicy sauce on top of a hand-stretched noodles). Plov (Rice with mutton and vegetables). Kuurdak (Fried beef/lam or chicken with potatoes). Shorpo (Soup with chunks of vegetables and lam). Oromo (vegetables and mints rolled in the pasta cooked on steam) Besh barmak (Lam, noodles, onions with a soup of a mutton). Dymdama (Vegetables with beef covered by cabbage and steamed in Kazan). Almost all the meals are have ability to be cooked as a vegetarian one.
In the cities like Bishkek, Karakol, Colpon ata we just go and take a chance to get into local restaurants and have a dishes by the personal choice.
Drinks: Unlimited Tea, French press coffee and crystal clean water of Tien Shan from the springs
REQUAREMENTS:
Experience: For joining our trips you should have just an adventurous nature. The trip doesn’t require any skills of a horseback rides or trekking but you have to be confident spending up to 6 to 7 hours a day on the car sit.
Group size: 2 person min – 12 person max. For all groups our services are works privately. We don’t like mess in our bases and we never mix 2 different groups in one. Most of the time the group size depends on our served vehicle like a “Mercedes Sprinter’ kind of a van, If the number of participants are more than 12, shoot us an email for discussing for how we roll in that case
Insurance: Every one who joining us for trip in KG should have a personal MED-EVAC insurance which can be easily paired with Kyrgyz mountain rescue service.
Gear: Must: Whole structure of a personal travelling gear in the daypack. For camping session everything is provided except personal sleeping bags.
PRICE:
Group of 6-12: 470 $/person/tour
Price includes:
• Kyrgyz Tours Guides
• SUV kind of a vehicle for the group less than six person
• “Mercedes Sprinter” minibus for the group over six person
• Hotel in Bishkek
• Hotel in Cholpon Ata
• Guesthouse in Karakol
• lodges, Yurts, Tents with all meals and drinks at the tripping time
• Horseback ride in Son Kul lake/Altyn Arashan
• One satellite phone for the crew
Not included:
• Visa support (Kyrgyzstan offers a visa free policy for most countries)
• International flights to and from Bishkek
• Medical/evacuation insurance
• Dinners in the restaurants/alcohol drinks
DAY PLANS:
Day 1:
Cholpon Ata
Altitude: 900m to 1600m
Exstension: 270 km, approx 4-5 hours, asphalt 100%, gravel 0%, off road 0%
Accomodation: Hotel
First day leads to Cholpon Ata in the beautiful Yssyk Kul region. Easy driving up to east after meeting at the airport via Tokmok town where you head up to Burana tower (the ruins from the capital city of the Karakhanid empire). Stop for petroglyphs located next to Cholpon-Ata resort town where is more than hundred petroglyphs showing animal, people, hunting from andronic tribes and the latest petroglyphs from Turkic period. Be sure to visit nicest beach in Issyk Kul next to the Ornok village.
Day 2:
Altyn Arashan
Altitude: 1600m to 2500m
Exstension: 170 km, approx 6-7 hours, asphalt 70%, gravel 0%, off road 30%
Accomodation: Hut/Yurt/Tent
After two hours driving on the north shore of the Lake you will arrive to Karakol town where you will get brunch or whatever you call as a late breakfast and early lunch and change the vehicle for ultimate off road trip to Altyn Arashan valley. As soon as you arrive to the trekkers village welcome to dip in the hot springs and hike around. Evening return back to Karakol town, stay in the guest house.
Day 3:
Barskoon
Altitude: 1600m
Exstension: 150 km, approx 6-7 hours, asphalt 50%, gravel 50%, off road 0%
Accomodation: Side house
This morning you set out for Issyk Kul lake but south shore this time. The first stop is Jeti Oguz red roks for a spectacular panoramic view of the bloody canyons. Next tackle is the Ara bel outback with its rugged landscape of the high plateau 3800m. Late afternoon you arrive to the Yssyk Kul lake where you can have a small hike at the Skazka canyons and meet with a Eagle hunters down at their village for witness their training young eagles for their winter hunt ventures. Try to get time for another lakeside kick back session and let the kids burn some energy.
Day 4:
Son Kul lake (Batay aral)
Altitude: 1600m to 3016m
Exstension: 270 km, approx 5-6 hours, asphalt 80%, gravel 20%, off road 0%
Accomodation: Yurt
This day will take a particularly beautiful route on the south shore of the lake through the villages, mountains and summer pastures. Accessing the Son Kul lake via Kalmak ashuu pass 3300m on the dirt road. As soon as you arrive to the south Shore of the lake and organized in the traditional Kyrgyz Yurts you going for a evening horseback ride which will smoothly float trough the host and shepherds yurts, along the lake side. Very flat and easy terrain which is just right for first time horse riders and enjoyable galloping ability for skilled cowboys. Definitely be prepared for stunning sunset view with ever-changing landscape around the lake and make sure you have a spare battery for starry night photography.
Day 5:
Bishkek
Altitude: 3016m to 900m
Exstension: 300 km, approx 5 hours, asphalt 80%, gravel 20%, off road 0%
Accomodation: Hotel
Easy road trip back to capital. Afternoon joy the last moments of the Kyrgyzstan express tour vacation before heading to the Manas airport for your flight home. It's the time to explore the colourful Osh bazar, downtown of the capital, shop some souvenirs and say goodbye to the home of mountains, lakes and rivers.
Booking: Shoot us an a e-mail for additional informations and booking requirements.
