Issyk-Kol circuit in 6 days: nature and culture in Kyrgyzstan

Beschrijving van de reis

Accommodatie

Programma van het verblijf

• dag 1

  Arrival in Bishkek – first steps in Kyrgyzstan

  

  Arrival at Bishkek International Airport, where you will be warmly welcomed by your French-speaking guide and your driver. Transfer to your hotel to rest after the journey. Depending on your arrival time, first discovery of the Kyrgyz capital, a green city located at the foot of the Tian Shan mountains. You will visit the National History Museum, ideal for better understanding the history, culture and traditions of the country. Then, immersion in local life at the Osh Bazaar, one of the liveliest markets in Central Asia, where colors, spices, dried fruits and scenes of everyday life mingle. Lunch and dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel in Bishkek.

• dag 2

  Bishkek – Chon Kemin | Between history and nature

  

  Departure around 8:30 a.m. towards the Chon-Kemin valley, one of the most beautiful natural regions in northern Kyrgyzstan. On the way, stop at the Burana Tower, the remains of an ancient 11th-century minaret, a witness to the Silk Road. Visit of the site and the small open-air museum. Lunch with a Dungan family, an opportunity to discover a unique cuisine and authentic hospitality. Arrival in Chon-Kemin in the afternoon. Check-in at a guesthouse, then a walk on foot in the surroundings of the village, between alpine meadows, forests and mountains. Free time to enjoy the calm and nature. Dinner and overnight in a guesthouse in Chon-Kemin. Elevation gain: +700 m

• dag 3

  Chon Kemin – Karakol | Heading for Lake Issyk-Kol

  

  Departure for Lake Issyk-Kol, the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan and one of the largest mountain lakes in the world. You will follow the north shore of the lake, offering superb panoramas between turquoise waters and snow-capped peaks. Stop in Cholpon-Ata to visit the open-air petroglyph museum, a fascinating site featuring rock carvings dating back several millennia. Arrival in Karakol, a town with multicultural charm. Visit the Dungan mosque, built without nails, and the wooden Orthodox church, symbols of the region’s religious diversity. Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel in Karakol. Elevation gain: +200 m

• dag 4

  Karakol – Altyn Arashan – Karakol | Mountain hot springs

  

  In the morning, departure in a Soviet 4x4 to reach the Altyn Arashan valley, nestled at 2 400 meters of altitude in the heart of the Tian Shan mountains. This wild region is famous for its alpine landscapes and its natural hot springs. Free time for a mountain walk, admire the grand panoramas and relax in the thermal pools: a unique experience in the middle of nature. At the end of the day, return to Karakol via the same track. Dinner in a restaurant. Night at the hotel in Karakol. Elevation gain/loss: -600 m / +600 m

• dag 5

  Karakol – Bokonbaev | Canyons and nomadic traditions

  

  Departure towards the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kol. On the way, visit the spectacular Jeti-Oguz gorges, famous for their red rock formations, then the Skazka canyons ("fairy tale canyon"), with astonishing shapes and colors. Arrival in Bokonbaev, a village renowned for the tradition of eagle hunting. Participation in an eagle hunting demonstration, showcasing this ancestral know-how passed down from generation to generation. Dinner and overnight in a yurt near Bokonbaev. Elevation change: -100 m

• dag 6

  Bokonbaev – Bishkek | Latest discoveries

  

  Return to Bishkek along the shores of Lake Issyk-Kol one last time. On the way, stop for a walk in the Ak-Say canyons, an impressive natural site that is still little visited. Arrival in Bishkek at the end of the day. Dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel in Bishkek. Elevation change: -900 m