The Pearls of Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan Tour: Issyk Kul and Son-Kul Lakes, Tien Shan and Pamir Mountains

Kyrgyzstan & Uzbekistan Tour: Issyk Kul Lake, Tien Shan and Pamir Mountains,
local culture and crafts, ancient cities of the Fergana Valley

Country:	Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan	Route map »»
Tour duration:	12 days / 11 nights
Itinerary:	Bishkek – Lake Issyk-Kul – Semenovskiy Gorge – Karakol – Jeti-Oguz Gorge – Karakol – Bokonbaevo village – Kochkor village – Bishkek – Osh – "Edelweiss Meadow” yurt сamp – Alay Valley – Osh – Rishtan – Kokand – Tashkent

Join our exciting tour of the most interesting sights of Kyrgyzstan, which are hidden deep in the Tien Shan and Pamir mountains! Kyrgyzstan is an incredible country of nomads. Immense landscapes, high mountains, green hills, alpine meadows, and dense pine woods, deep canyons, wild rivers, and crystal mountain lakes – all these wonders are part of the nature of Kyrgyzstan. You will see a quite different culture and different lifestyle. There you can find boundless scenery and nature’s beauty, witness and experience the way of living of nomads in their traditional housing – yurts, as well as taste the unique Kyrgyz cuisine, take part in handicraft and culinary master classes and watch real falconry.

Then we cross the Fergana Valley that is famous for its rich ancient crafts and history. We shall visit the region’s three most outstanding cities: Osh, Rishtan and Kokand. Osh is Kyrgyzstan’s second largest city with lively streets, a remarkable oriental bazaar and the sacred Sulayman-Too Mountain towering above the city centre. Rishtan is the main pottery of Uzbekistan. The unique blue-glaze ceramics produced there are incredibly beautiful and very specific to the place, which makes souvenirs from Rishtan highly popular among travellers. Ancient Kokand is a concentration of original architectural monuments built at the time of the powerful Khanate of Kokand. And finish our journey in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.

Itinerary
Services & Cost
Visa
Useful Information

Itinerary:
Day 1.	Arrival in Bishkek. Meeting at the airport “Manas” (Bishkek). Transfer and check in at a hotel after 14:00. Leisure time without transport and excursion services. Bishkek is the capital of Kyrgyzstan, a cozy green city with a population of about 1 million people which is located in the middle of the Chuy valley, at an altitude of 750 meters, and right at the foot of Kyrgyz part of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too Range. One of its distinguishing features is that all roads in Bishkek were designed and projected very strictly and cross only at right angles. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2.	Bishkek (sightseeing). Bishkek – Lake Issyk-Kul (250 km, 4 h). Sightseeing in Bishkek: visit the central Ala-Too Square, flagstaff (and changing of the guard), statue of Lenin and Freedom Monument, Monument to Manas the Great. Transfer to the Lake Issyk-Kul, Cholpon-Ata town. Check in at a hotel. High-altitude Lake Issyk-Kul (“warm lake”) – is the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan, the second largest alpine lake in the world after Lake Titicaca in South America, and the second (after lake Baikal) lake with the clearest water in world. The lake is located at an altitude of 1620 meters and is surrounded by mountains all around. The water in Issyk-Kul is a little salty, it does not freeze in the winter and in the summer its temperature warms up to 24 degrees Celsius. The northern shore of Issyk-Kul is a famous resort zone with well-developed infrastructure. Meals: breakfast. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3.	Lake Issyk-Kul (sightseeing). Sightseeing tour around Issyk-Kul Lake: cultural center «Rukh Ordo» named after Chingiz Aytmatov, an open-air museum of petroglyphs in Cholpon-Ata, where you can see more than 1000 stones with drawings. Transfer to Semenovskiy Gorge, which is one of the most beautiful natural attractions in Kyrgyzstan. The gorge stretches out across 30 kilometers inside the Kungei-Alatoo mountain range. Its valley is crossed by the Ak-Suu river; its slopes are covered by coniferous forest with huge Tian-Shan firs which is hundreds of years old. Summer is the season for local yurt camps. Meals: breakfast. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4.	Lake Issyk-Kul – Karakol (140 km, 4-5 h). Transfer along the Eastern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake to the city of Karakol. Sightseeing in Karakol: Memorial complex of the great traveler N.M.Przhevalskiy – the place where you can find a museum, monument, and tomb of the infamous expeditor; wooden Russian Orthodox Church (Holy Trinity Cathedral, 19th century) and impressive wooden Dungan mosque, built without metal nails by the Dungan people. Lunch in Karakol – tasting of the national dish of the Uighurs and Dungans, Karakol ashlamfu. Transfer to the Jeti-Oguz Gorge on the northern slopes of the Terskey Ala-Too Ridge, viewing red rocks "Broken Heart" and "Rocks of Seven Bulls". Huge dark green woods spread over red sandstone mountain slopes and create an incredible color contrast. Return to Karakol, check in at a hotel. Meals: breakfast, lunch. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5.	Karakol – Bokonbaevo village – Kochkor village (280 km, 5-6 h). Transfer along the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul to “Skazka” canyon (Fairytale canyon). Sightseeing in the picturesque canyon, which consists of sand and red clay. It has been forming for millions of years under the influence of geological processes, water, and wind. You can wander for hours between fabulous castles and towers through a winding labyrinth, the bottom of which is strewn with ephedra bushes. There is even an unusual canyon that looks kind of like the Great Wall of China. Lunch en route at a guest house or cafe. Transfer to the village of Bokonbaevo. Locals have been famous for breeding birds of prey since ancient times. Demonstration of falconry. Transfer to the village of Kochkor, the handicraft center of Kyrgyzstan, where the authentic traditions of felt production have been preserved intact. Accommodation and dinner at a guest house. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight at a guest house.

Day 6.	Kochkor village – Bishkek (250 km, 5 h). Bishkek – Osh (domestic flight). Master class on making of Kyrgyz traditional felt carpet shyrdak. Traditional Kyrgyz felting and decorating of felt carpets is one of the most complicated folk crafts, it is included in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Felt is made from sheep's wool; it is absolutely eco-friendly and incredibly convenient in nomad’s life. Transfer to Bishkek. Sightseeing in the Burana Tower complex (minaret of the Burana settlement, 10th-11th centuries). It is an archaeological and architectural monument located in the depth of the ruins of Buraninsky settlement. It is an outstanding ancient building and plays a very important part in the Kyrgyz cultural heritage. Its height today is 21.7 meters, but initially the tower was at least 40 meters tall, however, its upper part was subsequently destroyed by an earthquake. Arrival in Bishkek. Domestic flight to Osh in the evening. Meeting at the airport of Osh. Transfer and check in at a hotel. Meals: breakfast. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7.	Osh – Edelweiss meadow (280 km, 5 h). Transfer to the Pamirs, “Edelweiss Meadow” yurt camp. Transfer along the Pamir Highway to the yurt camp located on the Edelweiss meadow at the foot of Lenin Peak. Arrival at the camp, accommodation, lunch. Walking to the Lukovaya (Leek) Meadow (3800 m). Travel time: 3 hrs; altitude difference: +200 m, -200 m. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight at “Edelweiss Meadow” camp (3600 m).

Day 8.	Hiking to sacred Tulpar-Kel Lake (10 km). Travel time: 5 hrs; altitude difference: -100 m, +100 m. Hiking to the lake. Getting familiar with everyday life and traditions of Kyrgyz nomads. Tasting koumiss (traditional Kyrgyz milk beverage). Return to the camp. Master classon cooking Uzgen plov. Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. Overnight at “Edelweiss Meadow” camp (3600 m).

Day 9.	“Edelweisse Meadow” camp – Alay Valley – Osh (280 km, 5 h). Transfer to Osh through the famous Alay Valley, high-altitude Taldyk pass (3645 m) and Chiirchik pass (2408 m). Ethno tourism in the Alay Valley: tours to traditional villages of Kashkasu and Daraut-Kurgan, immersion into the life and traditions of the locals. We will see how they make felt carpets and other handicrafts. Lunch at a national house, tasting of national Kyrgyz dishes. Arrival in Osh and check in at a hotel. Meals: breakfast, lunch. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 10.	Osh (sightseeing). Osh – Rishtan – Kokand (180 km, 5 h). Osh is the “southern capital” of Kyrgyzstan. The city is located on the east side of the Fergana valley, at an altitude of roughly 1000 meters, and is surrounded by low rocky spurs of the Alai Range on three sides. Sightseeing in Osh: sacred Sulayman-Too Mountain and museum in a cave. The national historical and archaeological museum complex Sulayman-Too Sacred Mountain is the main attraction of Osh and the only site located entirely on the territory of Kyrgyzstan that has been included in the World Heritage List by UNESCO. Transfer to the land border with Uzbekistan. Border formalities. Transfer to Rishtan, the main ceramics center of Uzbekistan. The city is famous for its incredible glazed ceramics which are popular among tourists as souvenirs. Visiting the Center of Ceramics, acquaintance with the masters and their crafts. There you can dive deep into the mystery of creating the finest lace Rishtan ceramics in all its oriental charm, painted in all shades of blue and aquamarine.Demonstration of ceramic pottery making process. Transfer to Kokand, the former capital of the Khanate of Kokand (18th-19th centuries). Meals: breakfast. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 11.	Kokand (sightseeing). Kokand – Tashkent (240 km, 4 h). The end of the program. Kokand is located right at the entrance to the fruitful Fergana valley, used to be an important stop point of the Great Silk Road and used to be a part of the ancient state of Davan. Its flourishing happened in the 18th century when it became the capital of Kokand khanate and the religious center of the region – in the past, there were 40 madrasas and 300 mosques in Kokand. Sightseeing in Kokand: Khudoyar-Khan Palace, Modari-Khan Mausoleum, Djami Mosque, Necropolis Dakhma-i-Shahon. Transfer to Tashkent via the Kamchik pass (2285 m). Meals: breakfast. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 12.	Tashkent. Transfer to the airport. The end of the tour program. Departure from Tashkent. Meals: breakfast.

The cost of the tour includes:

Meeting/seeing-off at airport according to tourist's flight arrival/departure time; group transfer airport – hotel – airport for each flight.
Accommodation at the hotels on twin/double sharing basis with breakfasts.
Accommodation at homestays and guesthouses in villages according to the program, 3-4 persons in a room.
Accommodation in "Edelweiss Meadow” yurt camp (3600 m):
- Standard Option - accommodation in heated camping tents.
- Comfort Option – accommodation in a comfortable heated yurt, 1–2 persons per yurt.
Meals according to the program.
Guided sightseeing tours according to the program.

The cost of the tour doesn’t include:

International flights.
Entrance fees at museums and monuments.
Cost of meals (except those specified in the tour program).
Medical costs and insurance.

Comfortable air-conditioned transport during the entire tour.
Domestic flight Bishkek – Osh (Economy class, weight limit for luggage is 15 kg).
Arrangement of all needed documents for visiting the Lenin Peak area.
Demonstration of falconry in Bokonbaevo village.
Master class on making of Kyrgyz traditional felt carpet in Kochkor village.
Master class on cooking Uzgen plov in "Edelweiss Meadow” yurt camp.
Demonstration of ceramic pottery making process in Rishtan.
Mineral water for each day of the tour.
Memorable souvenirs.

Additional Services:

Supplement for additional night on departure:
- Single room – 50 USD/per room /per night,
- Double room – 60 USD/per room /per night.

Supplement for an individual transfer airport – hotel – airport:
- sedan: +25 USD one way,
- minibus: + 40 USD one way.

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Accommodation.
This tour comes with the following types of accommodation:

Location	Accommodation
Bishkek	Olive Bishkek Hotel 3* or similar
Issyk-Kul Lake	Kapriz / Raduga or similar
Karakol	Green Yard 3* / Amir 3* or similar
Kochkor village	"U Miry" guest house
Osh	Sunrise 3* or similar
"Edelweiss Meadow” yurt camp	Standard Option or – accommodation in camping tents Yurts – accommodation in yurts
Kokand	Silk Road Kokand 3* or similar
Tashkent	Reikartz Xon / Sato 3* or similar

Hotels
We offer accommodation in cozy hotels often decorated in a national style. It is completely unique: it combines modern comfort and a unique culture of hospitality.

Guest house
Accommodation in guest houses will allow you to take a dip into traditions and habits of local people. These are traditional houses located in remote mountain villages.

"Edelweiss Meadow” yurt camp
► Standard Option – accommodation in heated camping tents, 1–2 persons per tent. The tents are equipped with electricity, individual heaters, beds, mattresses, blankets, pillows and changeable bed linen: flat sheets, bed sheets, and pillowcases.
► Comfort Option – accommodation in a comfortable yurt, 1–2 persons per yurt. The yurt is equipped with private bathroom (shower cabin, toilet, hot and cold water); heating, electricity, beds with changeable bed linen, wardrobes, desk, armchairs, electric kettle, toiletries, hairdryer; towels. The “Edelweiss Meadow” yurt campsite offers at your disposal a sauna and shower cubicles, washstand and toilet, Wi-Fi, a laundry, rental point, luggage storage room, volleyball court, and large traditional heated yurts for meals and leisure activities.

Transport.
During the tour the following types of transport will be provided depending on the number of people in a group:

In Kyrgyzstan:

Group	Type of transport
Group 1-3 pax	"Mitsubishi Delica"
Group 4-15 pax	"Mercedes-Benz Sprinter"
Group 16-40 pax	"Mercedes-Benz" / "Setra"

In Uzbekistan:

Group	Vehicle
Group of 1-2 persons	"Chevrolet Lacetti"
Group of 3-6 persons	"Hyundai Grand Starex"
Group of 7-9 persons	"Toyota Hiace" / "King Long"
Group of 10-15 persons	"Eurise"
Group of 16-30 persons	"Golden Dragon"

Visa to Kyrgyzstan

Under current rules visa-free stay within unlimited period on the territory of Kyrgyzstan is granted for the nationals of the following countries:

Armenia
Azerbaijan

Belorussia
Cuba

Georgia
Kazakhstan

Laos
Moldova

North Korea
Russia

Tajikistan
Vietnam

List of states granted visa-free stay up to 90 days: Mongolia, Ukraine.

List of states granted visa-free stay up to 60 days

Australia
Austria
Andorra
Argentina
Brazil
Bahrain
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Britain
Brunei Darussalam

Canada
Chile
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland

Ireland
Italy
Japan
Kuwait
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Monaco
Netherlands

New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Republic of Korea
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia

Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
United States of America
Uzbekistan
Vatican

Visa-free access to Kyrgyzstan up to 30 days: Malaysia.

Useful Information on Traveling to Kyrgyzstan:

► Memo: Useful tips for tourists »»

Photos of the tour:

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Video about Kyrgyzstan:

Charms of Kyrgyzstan’s nature

Base Camp surroundings (3600 M) at the foot of Lenin Peak

Base Camp surroundings at the foot of Lenin Peak

Kyrgyzstan painted with sand

Trekking to Lake Sary Chelek

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The Pearls of Kyrgyzstan and Fergana Valley