Off Road Adventure

Trip Essentials

Trip Code: ADV – 10

Tour Type: adventure  – off road

Total Duration: 9 days

Best Season: mid-June – end of September

Level of Difficulty: medium

Maximum Altitude on the Trip: 4 000 meters ASL

Start and End Point: Bishkek

Accommodation: home stays and yurts in rural areas

Best group size: 2- 11 persons

 

Trip Highlights

Lake Song-Kul – in Kyrgyz “the final lake”.  Son Kul gleams like a brilliant sapphire on it’s lush green mountain plateau.  At 3016 m it is inaccessible during winter months, and even in summer weather conditions can change rapidly. “The Last Lake” is considered one of the most beautiful areas for summer pasturing with an area of 270 km sq.  In winter the lake freezes over with ice more than a meter thick.

Nomads have been making the upland trek to this 3016 m asl lake since ancient times with their livestock.  Some left mysterious “standing stone” arrangements.

Lake Son-Kul is a beautiful place to experience life on a jailoo – summer pasture.  Ride horses in the surrounding mountains, or stay in a yurt and experience an old-fashioned Kyrgyz summer.

Issyk-Kul Lake – the crown jewel of the Tian Shan, Lake Issyk-Kul is 6232 sq m of sparkling blue paradise.  The second largest saline lake in the world, its name in Kyrgyz means “hot lake”– though surrounded by spectacular snowcapped peaks, the water never freezes.  Silk Road traders stopped here to recover from the grueling trek over the passes of the Tian Shan, and it is still the most popular destination in Kyrgyzstan to relax for both tourists and locals.

Chong-Kemin Valley – In the Chuy region this small 500 hectare park covers an incredible range of terrain, from semi desert to glacier.  Trek the gorge and check out the extreme landscapes, and unique animal and plant life including the Tolai Hare, pheasant, and fir-needle ephedra.

Burana Tower – Balasagun was a city in the Chuy region during the Karakhanid Khanate.  Excavations have revealed that the double walls of the settlement enclosed 30 sq km, including a fortress, many workshops, bazaars, a bathhouse, and a plot of arable land.  Water brought by a large pipe from a neighboring canyon.  As the Karakhanid rule was shaken by Mongol invasions, Balasagun began a slow decline, eventually becoming a ghost town in the 15th century.

 

Services Included

Price includes: 

• Accommodation according to the program (home stays, guest houses and yurt camps)
• Meals during tour (9 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 6 dinners), except alcoholic drinks
• Transport services 4 tourist in one jeep
• Visiting cultural/historical places and entrance fees
• Cultural events and show according to the program
• 1 day driving to Altyn-Arashan hot springs by military UAZ
• Border permit to Kel-Suu lake

Price doesn’t include: 

• Accommodation in Bishkek;
• meals at cafe;
• English Speaking touring guide
• single supplement;
• activities out of program;
• travel insurance;
• tips;
• international air fare;
• Boat and rafting

 

Day 1

In the morning leave Bishkek for Suusamyr valley via Too-Ashuu pass (3180 m. a.s.l.) following the highway Bishkek – Osh road then turn in Suusamyr to the east direction of the river Karakol. Coffee/tea stop en route. Arrival in the village, lunch. Meals and overnight in at home stay at Kyzyl-Oi village

Day 2

After breakfast take the direction to Song-Kol Lake via Djumgal valley crossing the pass Kara-Keche (3384 m a.s.l.). Lunch on the way picnic in the wild. Arrival in Song-Kol, overnight in the yurts (southern shore)

 

Day 3

After late breakfast drive to Tash-Rabat caravanserai via Moldo-Bel and MELS passes. Lunch en route in cafe. By dinner time arrive to yurt camp, dinner and B&B at yurt camp.

Day 4

Morning transfer to Kel-Suu lake via border zone make a coffee break on the way in Ak-Say valley. Upon arrival to yurt camp, have a lunch and rest at yurt camp. Dinner and overnight at yurt camp.

Day 5

After breakfast make 2 hours trek to Kel-Suu lake, optional horse trek to the lake and back. Make a picnic lunch at Kel-Suu lake. Walk at surrounding area. Optional: horse riding. By lunch time return to yurt camp. Than transfer to Naryn. Upon arrival to Naryn, hotel accommodation. Dinner at café.

Day 6

After early breakfast travel to Bokonbaevo. Evening arrival in Bokonbaevo. B&B in guest house. Lunch picnic in the wild on the way.  There will be also coffee stops in nature. Upon arrival to Bokonbaevo village, dinner and B&B at home stay or yurt camp.

Day 7

After breakfast  drive to mountain area and see eagle hunting show.  Continue the journey to Jeti-Oguz and Kok-Jayik gorge where people can enjoy the next nature view with a coffee break. Lunch en-route. Arrival in Karakol, accommodation in the guest house.

Day 8

Today will be driving to Altyn-Arashan hot spring by vehicle. You will be dropped to the place then have a lunch up there. Then trek down (or drive) to Karakol. Free time, dinner at café. B&B at guest house.

Day 9

After breakfast transfer for Bishkek, on the way  we will make 2 stops to visit open air museum petroglyphs (rock painting) gallery, have a lunch at café in Cholpon-Ata. Continue your way to Bishkek, on the way visit Burana tower (the main historical complex from 10-11 centuries on the Silk-Road). Upon arrival to Bishkek, hotel accommodation. End of the tour.