Nomad Academy - 12 days

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Arrival in Kyrgyzstan and drive to Lake Issyk-Kul.

  You will be taken care of as soon as you arrive at the airport, where you will be welcomed by your guide/interpreter. Stop by our office/guest house in downtown Bishkek, rest, breakfast, and administrative formalities. Transfer (4h) to the north of Lake Issyk Kul, the second largest mountain lake in the world after Titicaca, and settle in with Bilim's family, where you will spend the night. Discover the area and the surroundings of Lake Issyk Kul. Spending the night on the shore of Lake Issyk Kul allows you to benefit from the lake's climate, and above all to gradually gain altitude, thus allowing for good acclimatization to the altitude.

• day 2

  Meeting in unknown land...

  Today, you have a long journey (6-7h) on the ancient Silk Road to reach the wild regions of the country, inhabited by semi-nomadic Kyrgyz herders. Depending on the itinerary, there will be several opportunities along the way to enjoy the scenery and stretch your legs. Arrival at your hosts' home at the end of the day and the beginning of your nomadic experience...

• day 3

  Nomad Academy... Act 1

  During these 4 days, you will live with a family at the pace of herds of horses, sheep, goats, cows, and yaks on the jailoo, the Kyrgyz alpine pasture. On the program: milking animals, gathering herds, participating in cooking, making various livestock products, all kinds of games, but also exploring the surroundings on foot or on horseback and observing the local fauna and flora. Your French-speaking interpreter will be there to facilitate communication with the family, but also to liven up the days. Horses optional (10 € per horse).

• day 4

  Nomad Academy... Act 1

  During these 4 days, you will live with a family at the pace of herds of horses, sheep, goats, cows, and yaks on the jailoo, the Kyrgyz alpine pasture. On the program: milking animals, gathering herds, participating in cooking, making various livestock products, all kinds of games, but also exploring the surroundings on foot or on horseback and observing the local fauna and flora. Your French-speaking interpreter will be there to facilitate communication with the family, but also to liven up the days. Horses optional (10 € per horse).

• day 5

  Nomad Academy... Act 1

  During these 4 days, you will live with a family at the pace of herds of horses, sheep, goats, cows, and yaks on the jailoo, the Kyrgyz alpine pasture. On the program: milking animals, gathering herds, participating in cooking, making various livestock products, all kinds of games, but also exploring the surroundings on foot or on horseback and observing the local fauna and flora. Your French-speaking interpreter will be there to facilitate communication with the family, but also to liven up the days. Horses optional (10 € per horse).

• day 6

  Nomad Academy... end of the first act.

  During these 4 days, you will live with a family at the pace of herds of horses, sheep, goats, cows, and yaks on the jailoo, the Kyrgyz alpine pasture. On the agenda: milking animals, gathering herds, participating in cooking, making various livestock products, all kinds of games, but also exploring the surroundings on foot or on horseback and observing the local fauna and flora. Your French-speaking interpreter will be there to facilitate communication with the family, but also to liven up the days. Horses optional (10 € per horse) At the end of this day, you will hit the road again to the nearest village (3 hours by road), where you can enjoy a well-deserved good shower after these first 4 days with the shepherds.

• day 7

  Nomad Academy... Act 2

  We leave in the morning (3 hours by road) for the new region where, during these 4 days, you will live with a family at the pace of the herds of horses, sheep, goats, cows, and yaks on the jailoo, the Kyrgyz mountain pasture. On the program: milking the animals, gathering the herds, participating in cooking, making various livestock products, all kinds of games, but also exploring the surroundings on foot or on horseback and observing the local fauna and flora. Your French-speaking interpreter will be there to facilitate communication with the family, but also to liven up the days. Horses optional (10 € per horse)

• day 8

  Nomad Academy... Act 2

  During these 4 days, you will live with a family at the pace of herds of horses, sheep, goats, cows, and yaks on the jailoo, the Kyrgyz alpine pasture. On the program: milking animals, gathering herds, participating in cooking, making various livestock products, all kinds of games, but also exploring the surroundings on foot or on horseback and observing the local fauna and flora. Your French-speaking interpreter will be there to facilitate communication with the family, but also to liven up the days. Horses optional (10 € per horse).

• day 9

  Nomad Academy... Act 2

  During these 4 days, you will live with a family at the pace of herds of horses, sheep, goats, cows, and yaks on the jailoo, the Kyrgyz alpine pasture. On the program: milking animals, gathering herds, participating in cooking, making various livestock products, all kinds of games, but also exploring the surroundings on foot or on horseback and observing the local fauna and flora. Your French-speaking interpreter will be there to facilitate communication with the family, but also to liven up the days. Horses optional (10 € per horse).

• day 10

  Nomad Academy... Act 2

  During these 4 days, you will live with a family at the pace of herds of horses, sheep, goats, cows, and yaks on the jailoo, the Kyrgyz alpine pasture. On the program: milking animals, gathering herds, participating in cooking, making various livestock products, all kinds of games, but also exploring the surroundings on foot or on horseback and observing the local fauna and flora. Your French-speaking interpreter will be there to facilitate communication with the family, but also to liven up the days. Horses optional (10 € per horse)

• day 11

  Back to civilization

  In the morning, gathering of belongings and departure for Bishkek. Arrival in Bishkek in the middle of the afternoon and quick discovery of the city and the bazaar. End-of-stay dinner and night at our guesthouse.

• day 12

  Kosh Bulunguz... Goodbye, Kyrgyzstan...

  Transfer to the airport Return home, with memories full in your mind, at least we hope so! We seriously recommend this kind of trip once a year to keep the possibility to disconnect... Try it, it feels so good...