- Overview
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Well, this is literally the one and only tour in Kyrgyzstan you’ll ever need if you have a bit more than a week for your vacation… We, at Ventura Tours Kyrgyzstan sat down at the table with an intention to create a masterpiece tour of our country. The benchmark of Kyrgyzstan’s representation. Therefore the aim was to come up with something unique and elaborate but yet simple and universal…something not so long but so full of experiences and thrills…versatile, extreme yet safe, adventurous and cultural, wild and fancy, active yet relaxed. For the awesome ones! For everyone! For yourself…
Grab this journey and get ready for the blast – because Ventura Tours team is about to take you through the dreamland!
What to expect from this tour:
1) A LLOT of nature: mountains, canyons, gorges, alpine lakes, waterfalls, summer pastures, high mountain passes, forests, rivers and more.
2) Numerous awesome activities: White river rafting, horseback riding, ship cruising on the second largest alpine lake of the world, hiking and trekking, off-road rides on SUVs, motorboat rides, eagle hunting and archery.
3) Authentic Kyrgyz experiences: Sleeping 3 nights in yurts (traditional nomadic housing) during the trip, tasting the delicious local cuisine, watching a Kyrgyz family’s folklore concert, learning about our history and Silk Road.
4) And last but not least: spending some quality time with the badass Ventura Tours crew and your tour mates.
Tour details:
Duration: 8 days / 8 nights
Level of difficulty: easy-moderate
Tour type: mini group tour (6-12 people)
Transport type: Comfortable 4*4 SUVs (Toyota Sequoia); 3-4 people per car
Fixed dates for summer 2023:
June 1 – June 8
June 25 – July 2
July 6 – July 13
July 24 – July 31
August 5 – August 12
August 25 – September 1
Price: $1500 per person – all inclusive package
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Day by day itinerary
Itinerary
1 day
Bishkek - Chon Kemin valley - Kok Moinok canyon - Cholpon Ata town
Highlights: Horseback riding, white river rafting, hiking in the canyon.
In the morning we’re setting off from Bishkek and driving towards the picturesque Chon Kemin valley (150km). Here we’re going to embark on a beautiful horseback voyage up the mountains to the panorama (2,5 hours both ways). Return back down. Lunch in the loveliest restaurant amidst the valley with a 360 view. Getting back to the cars and moving on. Halfway before the exit from Chon Kemin we are going to embark on a breathtaking rafting down the famous Chu river (1,5 hours). Let’s get some adrenaline! Meeting our cars down on the main road. Moving on. Visiting the nearby Kok Moinok canyon for a light but enjoyable hike with some otherworldly views. Resuming the road and heading to the legendary Issyk Kul - Kyrgyzstan’s pride and the second largest alpine lake in the world. (1,5 hours). Arrival in Cholpon Ata (central town of Issyk Kul’s north coast). Dinner in a restaurant. Check in to a hotel. Free time. Overnight.
2 day
Cholpon Ata - Grigoriev gorge - Semyonov gorge - Karakol town - Ak Suu village
Highlights: Ship cruising on the second largest alpine lake of the world, swimming, hiking in the mountains, relaxing in hot spring pools
Waking up in Cholpon Ata. After breakfast we’re heading to the local dock to start a lovely private ship ride on Issyk Kul lake (2 hours). We’re going to be cruising and evaluating the immense scale of the lake, contemplate the mountains on the horizon, cook barbecue onboard and swim with life jackets at the depth of 120m. Return back to the dock. Driving along the north coast towards Karakol town. On the way, we’re visiting the two mountainous gorges: Grigoriev and Semyonov. Off-road driving and hiking up the mountains to discover a small hidden green lake (2,5 hours both ways). Tea time on the vast green pastures. Moving on. Arrival in Karakol (the town between the north and south coasts of Issyk Kul lake). Check in to a hotel. Rest time. Now we’re driving to the neighbouring village Ak Suu to relax in the hot spring pools that are located at a river bank close to a forest. It will be a lovely touch after such an active day. Return to Karakol. Dinner in a restaurant. Overnight.
3 day
Karakol - Ski base - Jeti Oguz valley - Off-road drive back to Karakol
Highlights: Cable car up to 3040 meters, cultural excursion, horseback riding, hiking up to the waterfall, off-road drive
Today we’re exploring Karakol and its surroundings. In the morning, heading to the best ski resort of the country. Here, the cable car will take us to the height of 3040m. Walking on the plateau and enjoying the views of snow capped mountain peaks, Issyk Kul lake and alpine meadows. Return back to Karakol. Short city excursion. Lunch in a restaurant. Now we’re driving to the famous Jeti Oguz valley (Seven Bulls). Driving deep into the valley through several river bridges we’ll arrive at “jailoo” (alpine pastures). Here we’re going to saddle up local horses and go uphill till the hidden lovely Maiden Braids waterfall (1,5 hours) both ways. Tea time in the nature. Return back to Karakol through the off-road mountain paths. Rest time at the hotel. Dinner in a restaurant and a bit of partying (optional). Overnight.
4 day
Karakol - Barskoon valley - Arabel mountain pass - Skazka canyon - Bel Tam yurt camp
Highlights: Off-road drive up to 3800 meters, hiking, folklore concert, yurt camp
Today we’re heading along the south coast of Issyk Kul lake. Visiting the picturesque Barskoon valley. Driving up through the serpentine road towards the mountains we’ll reach a high mountain plateau Arabel (3800m above sea level). Walking around among the numerous small ponds. Descending back to Barskoon. Hiking uphill to see the 3 waterfalls. Picnic in the valley. Moving on. Visiting the magnificent Skazka (Fairy Tale) canyon for a fascinating walk. Driving to the nearby Bel Tam yurt camp that’s located on the wild beach of Issyk Kul’s south coast). Check in to yurts. The camp has all necessary facilities like: showers, toilets, laundry, bar. Dinner in a big kitchen yurt. Here we’ll be visited by a local Kyrgyz family. They will perform several national old songs and play the traditional instruments. Now it’s a chill time! Let’s gather up outside and make a big bonfire. Relaxing and tasting the local beer. Overnight.
5 day
Bel Tam - Ak Sai village - Canyon of Forgotten Rivers - Orto Tokoi reservoir - Naryn town
Highlights: Eagle hunting and archery, hiking, picnic on the wild beach, swimming
Today we’re transitioning onto another region of Kyrgyzstan - Naryn - the closest one to China. In the morning we’re heading to the neighbouring village Ak Sai. Here we’ll witness a breathtaking process of the eagle hunting. You will learn all key facts about these majestic birds and by the end of the process everyone will participate in the national archery. Now we’re driving towards the Canyon of Forgotten Rivers. A beautiful but light hike up to the panorama. Picnic on the wild beach. Swimming in Issyk Kul once again and saying goodbye to this fairy region. It’s time to move on. Passing by Orto Tokoi reservoir on the way. Arrival in Naryn town. Check in to a hotel. Rest time. Dinner in a restaurant. Overnight. Tomorrow is going to be even more exciting!
6 day
Naryn - Kel Suu lake
Highlights: Off-road drive, motorboat ride on the alpine lake Kel Suu, bonfire time, yurt camp
Today we’re heading to another top destination of Kyrgyzstan - Kel Suu lake. It’s a remote alpine lake located close to the Chinese border. Driving 100km off-road. Passing through the border checkpoints with the special permits. Arrival at Kel Suu. Lunch. Check in to a yurt camp. Now we’re walking for about 1,5 hours to reach the turquoises lake itself (horseback transfer optionally). Exploring the magical lake on a motorboat, through the rocky mountains on both sides. Return to the camp. Free time. Dinner. Stargazing and chilling. Overnight.
7 day
Kel Suu - Son Kol lake
Highlights: Off-road drive, mountain passes, Horseback riding on the meadows of Son Kol
Today we’re transferring from a magnificent alpine lake to another out-of-this-world alpine lake - Son Kol (3000m above sea level). Off-road drive from Kel Suu to Kochkor town. Lunch. Off-road drive from Kochkor up to Son Kol. Arrival and check in to a high-end yurt camp. Horseback riding time on the vast green meadows. Free time for exploring Son Kol, here it feel like the edge of the world! Dinner. Bonfire time and counting millions of stars. Overnight.
8 day
Son Kol - Kara Keche mountain pass - Kokomeren river - Suusamyr valley - Too Ashuu mountain pass - Bishkek
Highlights: Off-road drive through the breathtaking mountain passes, Bishkek
Today is the last day of our sumptuous journey however it doesn’t mean the adventure is over. We still have a couple of mountain passes to wade and some valleys to see. Spending some more time at Son Kol in the morning. Setting off and overcoming the Kara Keche mountain pass. Driving along the atmospheric Kokomeren river. Picnic in Suusamyr valley. Driving through Too Ashuu mountain pass. Arrival in Bishkek close to the evening time. Check in to a 4* hotel. Rest time. In the evening we’re gathering up one last time for a farewell dinner within our super team!
Thank you so much for being a part of such an incredible journey! We hope to see you again! Bye!
End of the tour.
Comfortable 4*4 SUVs with professional drivers throughout the whole tour (Toyota Sequoia 1 generation)
English speaking guide/translator throughout the whole tour
Accommodation for 8 nights: double or twin stay in 3* 4* hotels, private yurts (2-4 people inside)
Meals: 7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners
All activities due to the program: Horseback riding in Chon Kemin valley (including stable men), White river rafting, Private ship ride on Issyk Kul lake, Hot thermal springs, Ski passes for the cable car in Karakol, Eagle hunting with archery, Kyrgyz family folklore concert, Motorboat on Kel Suu lake, Horseback riding at Son Kol lake
Admissions: canyons, parks, museums, border permits for Kel Suu lake, etc.
International flights
Health insurance
Personal expenses: alcohol, souvenirs, etc.
