The Nomadic Kyrgyzstan Tour Itinerary

Day 1 City of Bishkek Tour

Welcome to Kyrgyzstan! Your guide will meet you in the airport and then you will drive together to the hotel. After a short rest, start a city tour. The main buildings in Bishkek were built during Soviet times. During the tour, you will learn the history of the capital and visit Victory Square, Oak Park with stone sculptures, Old Square, the House of Parliament, Main Ala Too Square, White House, Manas Hero Square, City Hall, and many other interesting places. Finally, it is not a real city tour without visiting an Asian bazaar! The bazaar is very colorful and noisy.

In the evening you will go to a local restaurant to eat Kyrgyz food. After dinner, you can go for a walk to the main square, Ala Too. There are special fountains and colorful lights.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Bishkek
Distance: 10km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 2 Visit to Burana Tower and Chon Kemin

Today you’ll visit the famous Burana Tower, built in the 11th century. This was part of a thriving city on the Great Silk Road. Many caravans came though while moving from China to Rome. You will also see Stone Warriors, or Balbals. If a famous soldier was killed during a war, then people would make a statue for them. They come from the 7th-8th century.

Next, you’ll drive to Chon Kemin village. This village is situated in a national park and you will see amazing mountain views. Rural regions remain delightfully unspoiled, traditional, and rich in culture. Tourism is still in its infancy and vast areas are largely untouched by foreign visitors. Beaming smiles, open arms, and unrivalled hospitality await those who do make this tour. Optionally, you can book a short horseback riding tour near the mountains here.

Tonight you will stay in the house of a very friendly Kyrgyz family. You will see the way they live. In the evening you will have an excellent homemade dinner.
Overnight Location: Homestay in Chon Kemin Village
Distance: 20km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3 Visit to the Pearl of Central Asia and Tamga Village

Today you will drive to the most famous place in Kyrgyzstan: Issyk Kul Lake! Issyk Kul is the biggest mountain lake in Central Asia and the second biggest mountain lake in the world. The view of the lake is fantastic–it has pure blue water and it is surrounded by the Tien Shan Mountains. Take a swim if you’d like! Optionally, you can hike to the Red Rocks at Konorchek.

On the way to Tamga, you will visit one of the most interesting families in Kyrgyzstan, the family of Eagle Hunters. There are still some people in the villages that continue this ancient way of hunting. They train eagles and hawks when they are young and go with them every winter to the mountains for hunting. You can snap some photos holding their eagles. Tonight you will stay in Tamga village in the house of a very friendly Kyrgyz family.
Overnight Location: Homestay in Tamga Village
Distance: 13km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4 Challenging Trek to Chokolu Lakes

Begin today by driving to the Barskoon Gorge, where you will start the trekking part of the tour. In the beginning of the gorge its slopes are covered by steppe flora and sparse bushes. Then, fir tree forests take over. At 2800 meters above sea level, juniper forests appear. Watch for a very beautiful waterfall.

You’ll be hiking a challenging route over a mountainous landscape. Ascend to a pass 3736 meters high for a panoramic view.
Overnight Location: Camping in Chokulu (3,663m/12,017ft)
Distance: 6 hrs, 10km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 5 Jashil Kol Lake and the Wonders of Dzhukuu Gorge and Nomad Visit

Today you will drive over Dzhukuu Pass (3512m). The road is just breathtaking! On the top of the pass, stop for a while to enjoy the amazing views. Today you may meet real nomads, who come to these mountains in summer with their cattle. Nomads still live in their felt houses (yurts), and your guide will tell you about them and their traditions and introduce you to them.
Overnight Location: Camping in Dzhukuu (2,719m/8,920ft)
Distance: 20km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6 Trekking in Tien Shan

This day is devoted to trekking from Dzhukuu to the Ashu Kashka Suu Gorge. The path will lead you along high mountains covered with fir trees and junipers. Fir trees are called the Queens of Tien Shan because of their beauty and juniper trees are the most sacred trees for nomads. Juniper lives more than 2000 years and are considered the tree of life and rebirth by locals. Very often you can see different pieces of colorful fabric tied onto them by locals for luck.

Your trekking takes place in the Central Tien Shan along the Terskey range. Tien Shan is the Chinese name. The Kyrgyz name is Tenir Too, or Celestial Mountains. Today during your trekking, you will visit places where nomadic life has hardly changed in hundreds of years. Following a path along mountain gorges, weaving between the dramatic peaks, this hike provides an ideal way to explore Kyrgyzstan.
Overnight Location: Camping Tien Shan (2,779m/9,117ft)
Distance: 13km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7 Panoramic View of Ashu Tor and the Nomadic Experience

Trek to the Jukuchak Gorge today, reaching a pass that is 3641 m high. Its name is Ashu Tor, and it is famous for its panoramic views. In the afternoon, you can meet some more nomads. All nomads are very hospitable. They will usually invite you inside their yurts to drink tea with them. They always say, “Guest is sent by God.” If you come up to their yurt, they will immediately take to hosting you.

At the end of the day, take a refreshing swim in natural hot springs.
Overnight Location: Camping in Ashu Tor (2,223m/7,293ft)
Distance: 6-7 hrs, 24km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 8 The Beauty of Kichi Kyzyl Suu Tour

After breakfast, start your trekking to the foothills of Orto Bulak Pass. This pass is 2543m above sea level and you will be surprised by its obvious beauty.

The landscape of Kyrgyzstan is complicated and varied and it is dominated by mountain ranges that crisscross the country. In addition to the peaks, gorges, and valleys, there are also steppes and hollows. In a small area it is possible to see a wide variety of landscapes and experience different climates.
Overnight Location: Camping Kichi Kyzyl Suu (2,300m/7,546ft)
Distance: 19.5km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 9 Trip to the Jili Suu

Begin the day with a trip to the Chon Kyzyl Suu Gorge. The gorge is very popular among nomads because it has plenty of green grass and a fast mountain river. You will see some families with cattle and yurts.

In the evening, relax in the natural hot springs of Jili Suu.
Overnight Location: Camping in Jili Suu (2,531m/8,303ft)
Distance: 15km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 10 Jeti Oguz Trek and the Yurt Camping Experience

Continue your nomadic trekking tour by heading to the famous Jeti Oguz Gorge. To reach the gorge, you will cross Kok Dzhayyk Pass (2751m). From this pass, you will enjoy unforgettable views.

At the end of the day, arrive at a yurt camp. A yurt is a collapsible dwelling made of felt and wood. It takes just one hour to collapse or to erect a yurt. It is very nice to sleep in during the summertime and it stays warm enough to sleep in during the winter.
Overnight Location: Yurt in Jeti Oguz (2,259m/7,411ft)
Distance: 12.5km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 11 Oguz Bashi Day Tour

Begin today with a hike to the Oguz Bashi glacier, which translates to “head of a bull.” You’ll see why when you arrive! There are nomadic yurts on the way as this location has very nice pastures. Take some time to enjoy a very nice picnic with a view of the snow-white peaks.

At the end of today, you will have time to rest after completing the trekking part of the tour. There is a nice mountain river along the gorge and you can sit nearby enjoying the amazing nature of Kyrgyzstan.
Overnight Location: Yurt in Oguz Bashi (2,252m/7,388ft)
Distance: 9km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 12 Jeti Oguz – Karakol Town Tour

After a night in yurts, you will see the famous red rocks of Seven Bulls, or Jeti Oguz. This is one of the most well-known places in Kyrgyzstan. Your guide will tell you a beautiful legend about these rocks. Also, you will see the amazing Broken Heart Mountain. If you want, it is possible to reach the top of the mountain to see a great view of the gorge.

Next, drive to Karakol town. Karakol is an old town that was built under the Russian Czar. Many houses still have decorated wooden frames of windows. The main highlights of Karakol town are the Russian Orthdox Church and Dungan Mosque. Today you will visit a very famous museum devoted to the great Russian explorer Prejvalskiy. He traveled extensively around Central Asia and discovered many unknown places.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Karakol
Distance: Flexible
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 13 Tour to Cholpon Ata Town and the Sacred Lake

Today you will drive to Cholpon Ata town. The road goes along the northern shore of a scenic lake and you can take lots of photo stops. You will also have time to swim in the lake. For more than 1500 years, local people considered the lake to be a sacred one. Nobody was allowed to swim in it or even to touch the water! Only in the 19th century were people allowed to swim in the lake and to go fishing.

In the afternoon you will visit petroglyphs. These petroglyphs were created more than 2000 years ago by shamans. All these stones are still at the same place they were at that time. You can see a great view of Issyk Kul Lake from this place. Notice that all the pictures were drawn on the southern side of the stones. People believed that this would allow the God of the Sun to see their messages.
Overnight Location: Homestay in Cholpon Ata
Distance: Flexible
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 14 The Boom Gorge and a Farewell in Bishkek City

Begin today with a visit to Cholpon Ata. There is lots to see here from Kyrgyz history: handicraft, musical instruments, and a lot of other interesting artifacts. Afterwards you will drive to Bishkek city. You can choose to take a short hike to break up the drive.

In Bishkek you will have time to go and buy souvenirs. Eat a farewell dinner, then you can go for a walk to see nighttime in Bishkek. After a night in a hotel, you will be transferred to the airport early in the morning.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Bishkek
Distance: Flexible
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 15 Departure

“Chon Rachmat! Ak Jol!” Thank you and have a good flight!
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast