Kyrgyzstan:
Sample Itinerary
Itinerary Outline
Bishkek | Hyatt Regency | 1 night
Chon Kemin | Kemin Guesthouse | 1 night
Aksay Canyon | Yurt | 1 night
Karakol | Hills Hotel | 2 nights
Bishkek | Hyatt Regency | 1 night
day 1 | BISHKEK
Arrival. Your guide meets you at Manas International Airport and transfers you to the city.
Bishkek. A capital that surprises. Wide poplar-lined boulevards, Ala-Too Square, the State History Museum, the Osh Bazaar. A city shaped by Soviet urban planning and a distinctly Central Asian rhythm. Your guide will take you through it.
Hyatt Regency Bishkek | Breakfast
day 2 | CHON KEMIN VALLEY
Burana Tower. En route from Bishkek, stop at this 11th century minaret rising from the Chuy Valley plains. The surrounding open-air site preserves ancient stone figures and structural ruins that trace the valley's role as a Silk Road corridor between the 9th and 13th centuries.
Chon Kemin Valley. A long green corridor of forested slopes, alpine meadows, and the Chon Kemin River running through its center. The scale and the landscape stand in clear contrast to the city you left this morning.
Horseback Riding. Through open pastures and along mountain paths with the valley spreading out on either side. A guide who knows this land. The silence here is the complete kind.
Kemin Guesthouse | Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 | ISSYK-KUL LAKE
Kok-Boru. Before leaving the valley, witness a private demonstration of the traditional Kyrgyz horseback game that has been played across the steppe for centuries. One of the most direct expressions of the nomadic culture that still defines life in this part of Central Asia.
Kyzyl-Tuu. A stop in this village for a close look at traditional yurt making. The craft has been passed within families here for generations. The demonstration goes beyond display into the actual process of construction.
Issyk-Kul Lake. One of the largest alpine lakes in the world. The water holds a deep, shifting blue that changes with the light and the hour. You spend the night in a yurt on the shore, with the Tian Shan range framing the horizon.
Yurt on the shore of Issyk-Kul Lake | Breakfast, Dinner
day 4 | KARAKOL
Southern Shore Drive. The route along the southern shore earns itself. Several stops break the journey, each distinct.
Eagle Hunting Demonstration, Bokonbayevo. A private demonstration of one of the oldest hunting traditions in Central Asia. The relationship between a berkutchi and his bird takes years to build and it shows.
Skazka Canyon. Sandstone formations in deep reds and ochres shaped over millennia by wind and water into forms that explain why the name translates as Fairytale.
Barskoon Gorge. A waterfall dropping through forested slopes into the valley below. A brief stop that earns its place in the day.
Jeti-Oguz Gorge. Red sandstone cliffs rising sharply from surrounding green. Known locally as the Seven Bulls. The contrast is worth stopping for.
Arrival in Karakol.
Hills Hotel Karakol | Breakfast
day 5 | KARAKOL
Altyn Arashan. A hike into a valley tucked into the Terskey Ala-Too range. Approximately 7 kilometers uphill through pine forest, open meadow, and along a fast-moving river fed by snowmelt from higher ground. Around midday you reach the Altyn Arashan hot springs. A picnic lunch. The option to soak in the natural thermal pools before heading back. The full outing takes approximately 6 to 7 hours at a moderate pace.
The rest of the day is yours in Karakol.
Hills Hotel Karakol | Breakfast
day 7 | BISHKEK
Northern Shore Drive. The return to Bishkek along the northern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake. A different perspective on the water. Several stops along the way.
Arrive Bishkek in the late afternoon. The evening is at your leisure.
Hyatt Regency Bishkek | Breakfast
day 6 | KARAKOL
Altyn Arashan. A hike into a valley tucked into the Terskey Ala-Too range. Approximately 7 kilometers uphill through pine forest, open meadow, and along a fast-moving river fed by snowmelt from higher ground. Around midday you reach the Altyn Arashan hot springs. A picnic lunch. The option to soak in the natural thermal pools before heading back. The full outing takes approximately 6 to 7 hours at a moderate pace.
The rest of the day is yours in Karakol.
Hills Hotel Karakol | Breakfast
end of journey
Pricing & Inclusions
See our Booking Terms & Conditions here.
Starting at $800 per person per day
Based on two people in double occupancy and subject to increase depending on itinerary specifics and dates.
Accommodation: Boutique hotels and guesthouses throughout, selected for their character, location, and authenticity, plus one night in a traditional yurt.
Transport: All private transfers with a personal guide for the entire trip.
Tours & Activities: All tours, activities, and excursions with an expert English-speaking guide as listed in the itinerary, along with the required entrance fees associated with the tours.
Meals: All breakfasts, some meals.
Other: City taxes associated with your accommodations. Restaurant reservations and coordination.
Exclusions
Flights · Travel insurance · Tips