Summer 2023
Kyrgyzstan is home to the magnificent Tien Chan mountain range, which offers many trails for lovers of trekking. Hiking through the valleys, forests and mountain trails is a great way to spend a vacation and explore the natural beauty of the country.
Duration: 15 days / 8 days of trekking
Day 1. Airport – Bishkek (ca. 30 km, 40 min)
We will pick you up at the airport/border point and bring you to the capital (check-in at 14:00).
After some rest, the visit to the city center is planned. We will discover the sights such as the central square Ala Too with its monuments and Oak Park.
After lunch at the local restaurant, we visit the famous market Osh bazaar. Just as you step into the market, you plunge into the colorful oriental atmosphere: an endless stream of people and a big variety of goods.
Dinner in the traditional restaurant where you can taste the national Kyrgyz cuisine.
Meals included: lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel 3* (Rixon Hotel or similar)
Day 2. Bishkek – Burana – Iskra village – Chon Kemin (ca. 200 km, 3h)
Breakfast in the hotel.
Our journey begins with a visit to the Burana Tower. The Burana Tower is an ancient minaret in the Chuy Valley in the north part of Kyrgyzstan. The tower with funerary monuments, earthworks, remains of the castle, and three mausoleums – that’s all that last out of the ancient town Balasagyn founded by Karakhanids at the end of the ninth century.
Lunch in Iskra village with a Doungan family, the Chinese Muslims who had to flee China. You taste their national cuisine.
Then we head to the Tar Suu village located in Chon Kemin Valley, known for its beauty and the rich diversity of animals and plants. You go for a walk in the village to explore the lifestyle of the local people.
Dinner in the guesthouse.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse (Kemin Guesthouse or similar)
Optionally: horseback riding (13 USD /person horse rental + 25 USD local horse guide service). Possible to book and pay on site
Day 3. Chon Kemin – Toru Aigyr (Trek)
After breakfast, transfer to the starting point near the Chon Kemin River. From here we start our 4-days trek to the north shore of Issyk Kul Lake.
The luggage is carried by the horses (You only take the necessary things for 4 days of the trek and the rest of the luggage you leave in the vehicle with your driver).
The slopes of the mountains are covered with fir trees. We have a picnic on the way. After we continue our trek through the forest to the pastures of Toru Aigyr. We set up our tents there. Dinner and overnight in a tent.
Trek: 10 km, +750m, 4h
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Tent
Day 4. Toru Aigyr – Kol Kogur Lake (Trek)
After breakfast, we start hiking towards Kol Kogur Lake at 2,500 meters. The lake is located on the northern slope of the Kungey Ala-Too mountains in a picturesque wooded area. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful mountain lakes in Northern Tien Chan. The lake has a trapezoidal shape.
On the shore of the lake, we set up tents, and we enjoy the magnificent landscapes around us. Dinner and overnight in a tent.
Trek: 11 km, +300m, -320m, 5h
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Tent
Day 5. Kol Kogur Lake – Kyzyl Aska (Trek)
After breakfast, we go towards the pastures of Kyzyl Aska.
We cross the 3347-meter-high pass. Coming down from the mountain pass, we set up our tents not far from the river.
Dinner and overnight in tents.
Trek: 14 km, + 880m, -800m, 5-6h
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Tent
Day 6. Kyzyl Aska – Сholpon Ata /Issyk Kul (Trek)
Today is the last day of the trek. From Kyzyl Aska we follow our path.
We go to Achyk Tash, where our driver picks us up and brings us to the north shore of Issyk Kul Lake, the pearl of the Kyrgyz land. Issyk Kul is the second largest alpine lake in the world after Titicaca. Its name means “hot lake” in Kyrgyz language.
When you arrive to hotel, you take a shower and have a rest. If you want, you can swim in the lake and have a little rest on the beach.
Dinner at the restaurant.
Trek: 11 km, -500m, 3-4h
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel 4* (Kapriz Resort Hotel or similar)
Day 7. Cholpon Ata – gorges Grigorievskoe and Semienovskoe – Karakol (ca. 160 km, 3h)
After breakfast, we visit the Grigorievskoe and Semienovskoe Gorge. These places are some of the most famous attractions of the Issyk Kul region. You can go for a walk, enjoy the wild nature around you and spend some pleasant time in this beautiful place.
Picnic in the gorge or lunch in the cafe on the road.
As we arrive in Karakol, we visit its famous sights such as the Orthodox Church and the Dungan Mosque.
You have dinner in the local restaurant. After dinner, you have a rest in the hotel.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel 3* (Nomad Hotel / My Hotel or similar)
Day 8. Karakol – Jety Oguz – Barskoon – Tamga (ca. 135 km, 2-3h)
After breakfast, we depart to the gorge of Jety Oguz.
The red rock Broken Heart located at the entrance of the mountain gorge creates a romantic ambiance in this beautiful place. You have time to walk here and enjoy the marvelous views on the rocks of Jety Oguz. Picnic or lunch in the yurt.
Then we go to the Barskoon gorge. The gorge is famous for its waterfalls. One of the best known is The Tears of a Leopard. Here you find the monument for the first cosmonaut Yu. A. Gagarin, who liked this place very much and was having a rest in the nearby military sanatorium of Tamga.
Dinner in the guesthouse with a Russian family.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse (U Pavla Guesthouse or similar)
Day 9. Tamga – Skazka – Bokonbaevo – Kyzyl Tuu – Kochkor (ca. 170 km, 3h)
After breakfast in the guesthouse, we leave towards the village Kochkor. Driving along the southern shore of the lake, we visit the Skazka canyons. Its name means “fairy tale” in Russian. Here you can find objects of surprising shapes and sizes. A real skyscraper or an animal can appear in front of you. Walking in the canyons (1-2h).
In Bokonbaevo, we meet an eagle hunter with his bird. You can appreciate the alertness and speed of the bird during the hunting. It is one of the oldest traditions of the Kyrgyz nomads.
Lunch in the guesthouse or cafe.
Our next stop is Kyzyl Tuu village, where the local family reveals the secrets of yurt production. This family is engaged in this unique art from generation to generation.
Dinner in the guesthouse in Kochkor.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse (Mira Guesthouse or similar)
Day 10. Kochkor – Kol Ukok (Trek)
Breakfast in the guesthouse. Transfer by car from Kotchkor to Isakeev village (15 minutes). From here, you start the trek on foot towards the pastures of Ters Tor. While hiking, you can enjoy the clean air and the calm of these places.
We will stop for a picnic on the way.
We arrive in the shepherds’ yurt in Kol Ukok. You can walk around and take photos of the lake and surrounding mountains.
Dinner and overnight in a yurt.
Trek: 15 km, 5 h, +1000 m
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Yurt camp*
* To note: 4-6 people per a yurt. Toilets are outside. No shower in the camp.
Day 11. Kol Ukok – Kyzart (Trek) (ca. 70 km, 1h)
After breakfast in a yurt, we return by the same path to the starting point of our trek. Here our driver is waiting for us.
Return to Kochkor. Lunch in the restaurant or guesthouse.
Transfer by car to Kyzart village (1 hour). Upon arrival, you can rest and take a shower/sauna. Dinner and overnight in the guesthouse.
Trek: 15km, 4-5 h, – 1000 m
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse (Maksat Guesthouse or similar)
Day 12. Kyzart – Kilemche (Trek)
Breakfast at the guesthouse. Transfer to the starting point.
The two-day hike to Son Kul Lake begins. We will cross the Kilemche valley which in Kyrgyz means “carpet”. A wide variety of mountain grass and alpine flowers cover all the slopes around the valley like a real colorful carpet.
Picnic during the hike is planned.
We arrive at the shepherds’ yurt camp where we spend the night. Dinner in a yurt.
Trek: 4-5h, 17 km, +- 200 m
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Yurt camp*
* To note: 4-6 people per a yurt. Toilets are outside. No shower in the camp.
Day 13. Kilemche – Son Kul (Trek)
After breakfast, we continue our trek.
Hiking offers an excellent opportunity to enjoy the beauty of these places. Today, we overcome the pass of Tuz Ashu (3400 m).
From the pass the lake Son Kul seems very small, but as we go down and approach the lake, it appears in front of us in all its grandeur and beauty.
Upon arrival at the yurt camp, you enjoy the hospitality of nomads, and you discover their lifestyle. Dinner and overnight in the yurts.
Trek: 5-6h, 14 km, +800 m, -400 m
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Yurt camp*
* To note: 4-6 people per a yurt. Toilets are outside. No shower in the camp.
Optionally: horse riding (13 USD horse rental + 10-25 USD service of the horse guide), horse games (100-200 USD per group). Possible to book and pay on site
Day 14. Son Kul – Bishkek (ca. 315 km, 5-6h)
We return to the capital after breakfast in the yurt.
We will return to civilization by descending from the Kalmak Ashu pass at the altitude of 3,400 meters and passing through Boom Gorge again.
Lunch in the restaurant in Kochkor.
When we arrive in Bishkek, we will have time to visit the Osh bazaar to buy gifts or souvenirs.
Farewell dinner in the traditional restaurant.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel 3* (Rixon Hotel or similar)
Day 15. Bishkek – Airport – Departure (ca. 30 km, 40 min)
Transfer to the airport. Departure.
General information
Duration Destination Departure
15 days / 14 nights Kyrgyzstan see below
| Dates of the trip | Maximum group size | Minimum group size |
| 09.07.2023 – 23.07.2023 | 10 pax | 4 pax |
| 30.07.2023 – 13.08.2023 | 10 pax | 4 pax |
| 20.08.2023 – 03.09.2023 | 10 pax | 4 pax |
| 10.09.2023 – 24.09.2023 | 10 pax | 4 pax |
Group tour (min. 4, max. 10 people): 15 days, 14 nights (8 days of trekking)
COST PER PERSON (US $)
| Double /twin room* | Single Room*
* Except for the guesthouse in Kyzart + yurt camps |
| 1900 USD | 2170 USD |
IMPORTANT NOTE
Travel insurance and assistance: it is compulsory and must be stipulated directly by the customer.
We will be happy to suggest the best available on the market !
PAYMENTS, RESERVATIONS AND PENALTIES POLICY:
Payments: 35% deposit upon booking – balance 30 days before departure.
Cancellation penalty: 35% for cancellation less than 30 days before departure; 100% for cancellations less than 8 days before departure
Booking deadline: 21 days before departure
Excursion as scheduled, organisation and assistance in preparing the programme by SUMMIT-8
- Group transfers in air-conditioned and comfortable vehicle (minibus type Mercedes Sprinter)
- Experienced driver
- English-speaking guide throughout the trip
- Accommodation mentioned in the program
- Full board
- Visits mentioned in the program
- Tents (2 pax per tent)
- Horses for carrying luggage during the treks (days 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- Cook during the treks (days 3, 4, 5, 6)
- Yurt production
- Eagle hunting
- International flights
- Personal expenses
- Single room supplement
- Insurance
- Tips for guide, driver etc.
- Optional activities
- Early check in & late check out*
- Porters for baggage in hotels and airport
- Alcohol
- Sleeping bags and mats
- Services not mentioned as included
*Check-in after 14:00, check-out before 12:00
Drinks, extras and everything not mentioned in “the price includes”.
