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Highlights
This 10-day tour will showcase the beauty of nomadic life
Explore the streets of the capital Bishkek and visit its many cultural and historical highlights.
Wander through Ala Archa National Park and experience its pristine terrain.
Spend time acquainting yourself with the traditions and customs of nomadic families.
Investigate interesting petroglyphs that date back thousands of years.
The Kyrgyzstan Nature and Nomadic Life Tour offers the unique chance to experience and learn more about the nomadic traditions of the Kyrgyz people. Travellers will explore the areas surrounding two of the countries’ biggest alpine lakes, visit cultural highlights, and witness the well-preserved nomadic lifestyle in Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyz nomads are hospitable and happy to offer tea or traditional milk products to visitors, so get ready to step into nomadic life and experience all that it has to offer. This trip is full of emotions and brings you a life changing experience!
The Kyrgyzstan Nature and Nomadic Life Tour offers the unique chance to experience and learn more about the nomadic traditions of the Kyrgyz people. Travellers will explore the areas surrounding two of the countries’ biggest alpine lakes, visit cultural highlights, and witness the well-preserved nomadic lifestyle in Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyz nomads are hospitable and happy to offer tea or traditional milk products to visitors, so get ready to step into nomadic life and experience all that it has to offer. This trip is full of emotions and brings you a life changing experience!
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Kyrgyzstan Nature and Nomadic Life Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Bishkek and City Tour
On the first day of your adventure you will arrive at Manas Airport, where you will meet your guides and transfer to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Early check-in is included at your hotel.
In the afternoon, you will set out on an excursion in Bishkek, where you will walk around the main Ala Too Square with the Monument of Great Manas, Kurmanzhan Datka Monument, Main governmental buildings, Oak Park, Opera and Ballet theatre. The tour will finish at the Victory Square.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Bishkek
Meals: Breakfast
Day 2 Excursion to Ala Archa
Today you will head out on an excursion to Ala Archa National Park to experience the picturesque gorge of Ala Archa. This is a popular place for hiking, skiing, and mountaineering, as people can explore more than 20 glaciers. The altitude of mountain ranges here varies from 1500m on the low end to 4895m (Peak Semenov Tien Shanskii) at the highest. After the excursion , you will return to Bishkek for an overnight stay in a hotel.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Bishkek
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Drive to Kochkor Village – Burana Tower and Shyrdak Tour
After breakfast, you will drive to Kochkor village. Along the way in Tokmok town, you will visit Burana Tower (old minaret). The minaret was constructed in Balasagun town; one of the capitals of Karakhanid State existed in the 12th Century AD. Explore ruins of that important trading point at the Great Silk Road and visit a little local museum telling about that civilization.
After arriving in Kochkor, you will visit a local women’s cooperative where they produce felt and felt carpets (shyrdak). Shyrdak is a traditional carpet used by nomads. Overnight in a local family house.
Overnight Location: Homestay in Kochkor Village
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4 Drive to Bokonbaevo – The Yurt and Eagle Hunting Tour
Day 4 of the tour will see you drive to Issyk Kul Lake, the second-largest alpine lake in the world after Lake Titicaca in South America. On the way you will visit local families in Kyzyl Tuu village, who are all craftsmen that specialize in fabricating yurts. Discover all of their secrets and try to put one up yourself!
Upon arrival in Bokonbaevo, you will take in a fascinating eagle hunting demonstration. Take a chance to ask the hunter about the tradition of eagle hunting and its importance to the local people. Daring adventurers can even take a closer look at the bird and hold it in their hands.
Overnight Location: Homestay in Bokonbaevo
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5 Drive to Karakol – Skazka, Oguz, Mosque and Cathedral along the Way
After breakfast, you will drive to Karakol town along the southern shores of the Issyk Kul Lake. On the way, you will visit “Skazka” canyon and the Djety Oguz Gorge.
Upon arrival in Karakol, you can spend some time on a short sightseeing tour that will take you to Dungan mosque, a unique construction in Chinese style. Dinner will be enjoyed with a local Dungan family, where guests can learn more about the traditions and culture of the Dungan people.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Karakol
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 6 Drive to Karkara Valley
Today you will make your way to Karkara Valley, stopping on the way to visit the Przhvalskii Memorial complex. After reaching Karkara, you will have some free time in the afternoon for walking in the gorge.
Overnight Location: Camping in Karkara
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7 Drive to Cholpon Ata for Excursion
After breakfast, you will have some free time to explore the area, followed by a drive to Cholpon Ata town via Grigorievka gorge, where you can walk around and enjoy nature. Here, you will also set out on an excursion to visit a famous petroglyph site that dates back thousands of years.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Cholpon Ata
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 Excursion on Issyk Kul Lake and Drive to Chon Kemin Valley
Today you will be able to enjoy a relaxing boat excursion on Issyk Kul Lake after breakfast. Guests will be inspired by the captivating views across the lake that extend out to the surrounding mountains.
Afterwards, you will drive to Chon Kemin Valley to take in the natural beauty of the wilderness, which is perfect for nature lovers and hikers. In the afternoon, take some time to watch the national horse games. Horseback riding games played a vitally important role for Kyrgyz people, as much of their time is spent alongside these majestic animals.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Chon Kemin
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9 Drive to Bishkek
After breakfast, you will enjoy a bit of free time to walk and explore the area. In the afternoon, you will drive to Bishkek, where you can visit the Osh Bazaar (closed on Mondays) and ZUM mall to buy souvenirs and mementos of your adventure.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Bishkek
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 10 Transfer to Manas Airport and Departure
Sadly, this amazing tour will end today with a transfer to Manas airport for a departure flight.
Overnight Location: None
Meals: Breakfast
Kyrgyzstan Nature and Nomadic Life Tour Price and Dates
This guided sightseeing tour in Kyrgyzstan is always run as a private tour for your group only and the price depends on the size of your group. The prices below are per person:- Guided group of 4: USD1775 per person
Accommodation on the Kyrgyzstan Nature and Nomadic Life Tour
This tour is based in hotels, homestays, and guesthouses. Hotels on this trip are 3-star and offer modern conveniences that can make this trip more pleasant. The accommodation in mountain lodges and mountain huts is more rustic and, in some cases, you’ll be staying in a dormitory-type accommodation where you’ll share your living space with other travellers.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
Rooms are double occupancy. You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel where possible. Please note that single rooms are only available in hotels.
What’s Included in the Kyrgyzstan Nature and Nomadic Life Tour?
Meals
9 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 5 dinners are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 9 nights are included.
Transportation during the Tour
Vehicles and drivers for you and your luggage are provided throughout the tour. A boat cruise on Issyk Kul Lake is included as well. Transportation from and to the airport are also included.
Also Included
- Experienced English-speaking guide
- Entrance fees to sights and museums as per program
- Mineral water 1L per person daily
- Eagle hunting demonstration in Bokonbaevo
- National horse games in Chon Kemin
- Boat cruise in Issyk Kyl Lake
- Karkara border zone permit
Not included
- Photo/video fees at museums
- Alcoholic drinks
- All types of personal expenses
- Insurances
- Visas
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Meals not previously mentioned
- Anything not mentioned as included
Optional Extras
- Anything not mentioned as included
- Single occupancy upgrades where available
- How hard is the Kyrgyzstan Nature and Nomadic Life tour?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Kyrgyzstan?
- When is the best time to travel to Kyrgyzstan for this tour?
- Are meals included in the Kyrgyzstan Nature and Nomadic Life tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Bishkek to start this tour?
- Is the Kyrgyzstan Nature and Nomadic Life tour in English?
- Where does the Kyrgyzstan Nature and Nomadic Life tour end?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to Kyrgyzstan?
- Are there any travel restrictions for Kyrgyzstan?
We rate this tour as a 1/5. The minimum traveller’s age is 6 years old. You should be comfortable with daily walking to points of interest and staying in occasionally simple accommodation, but overall, this is not a physically demanding tour.
Due to the location in the border zone, a visit to Karkyra requires special permission that will take approximately 30 days to receive, so make sure to factor that into your planning. Reach out if you have any questions about this.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
The best time to travel to Kyrgyzstan for this adventure is from March-November. Any time outside of this period will see colder temperatures that are unsuitable for travel.
9 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 5 dinners are included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip.
Fly into Manas Airport (FRU) by Turkish Airlines (TK). You will be greeted at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
Yes, the tour guide is English-speaking.
The tour ends in Bishkek where you will be taken to the airport.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
Customer Ratings
Oasis International Travel is an Uzbek tour operator and a travel company located in Tashkent with reliable representatives in other Central Asian countries along the Great Silk Road. This company consists of a qualified team with more than 15 years of experience in the travel industry.
