Tuesday 30th August – Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Morning

• Arrive at your convenience and meet your YPT guide and driver at Manas International Airport.
• We’ll begin the tour in a grand Soviet way by driving 45 minutes to Ala Archa gorge – a natural park which during the Soviet Union only VIPs had permission to visit. The gorge is apart of the Tien Shan mountain range. Here we’ll have a short hike to see the spectacular panoramic views.
• Drive 45 mins to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

Afternoon

• We’ll have lunch on arrival before we set out to explore the capital.
• Visit Ala-Too Square – located in the heart of the city the square opened in 1984 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic. Formally known as Lenin Square a Lenin statue was placed in the square’s centre. Once Kyrgyzstan gained its Independence from the USSR in 1991 the statue was relocated. Today a monument called Manas stands to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Kyrgyzstan’s independence.
• On the hour, every hour, there’s a changing of the guards by the largest Kyrgyz flag in the country by the square which we’ll hopefully catch.
• Drop by the National Museum, which is especially unique because of the spectacular Soviet murals that cover the ceilings of the three-storey museum, it is currently being renovated and funded by the Turkish government.
• Being a YPT tour you’ll visit the relocated Lenin statue which is now in a smaller park nearby
• Visit the Frunze Museum, dedicated to Mikhail Frunze, whom the city of Bishkek used to be named after and why the airport code is still FRU!
• Check into our centrally located hotel to freshen up
• Head out for dinner to eat Beshbarmak – the national dish of Kyrgyzstan. It consists of horse meat but there are options for lamb or beef, boiled in its own broth for several hours and served over homemade noodles sprinkled with parsley. Incredibly delicious! Vegetarian options available too.
• Overnight in our Bishkek hotel – or for those up for an adventure we’ll set out to experience the nightlife of Bishkek

Wednesday 31st August – Bishkek – Kyrgyzstan Independence Day Morning

• Bishkek comes alive today with people from all over Kyrgyzstan coming for the Independence Day celebrations taking place all over the city. Celebrations begin in the centre of the city, with performances of traditional music and dances from many different backgrounds, including Kyrgyz, Russian, Ukrainian, Dungan, Caucasian and of course some classic Central Asian pop.
• There is a military parade expected this year with a whole host of helicopters, light aircraft, missiles, tanks, soldiers etc. And of course, there will be the every-inspiring Presidential speech.

Afternoon

• Lunch in town as we try a famous local dish called Kuurdak which consists of mostly meat, added onions, salt and spices.
• Explore Victory Square – this square is dedicated to the Victory over Nazi Germany. It was opened in 1985 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the end of World War II.
• Drop by the uniquely shaped Kyrgyz State Circus – designed in 1976, this UFO-shaped structure was built to welcome circus acts from around the world—or, more likely, from around the USSR.
• Option to attend a concert in the Bishkek Philharmonic Concert Hall – tickets are paid at entrance and will be confirmed on the day.
• In the evening, when all the official celebrations are over, Ala-Too Square becomes a giant dance floor, local pop stars take to the stage and Kyrgyzstan’s youth continue the party well into the evening.
• And to top it all off, like any good celebration, there’ll be a fireworks show to end the night.
• Dinner at one of our favourite joints in town
• Overnight in Bishkek

Thursday 1st September – Bishkek – Burana – Chon Kemin: Kyrgyzstan Independence Day Morning

• Breakfast at hotel and begin our drive to Chon Kemin gorge – located 148km east of Bishkek, it lays between the two branches of the Tian Shan mountain range separating Kyrgyzstan in the south and Kazakhstan in the north. This unique region holds rare animals such as the snow leopard, Turkestan lynx, deer and the Tian-Shan bear. Through the gorge the mighty Chon-Kemin river rips through it.
• On way the we’ll stop at Burana Tower – an 11th century minaret and all that remains of the ancient city of Balasagun, which was established by the Karakhanids at the end of the 9th century. You’ll also explore the open air museum of Balbals – the nomadic ancestral monuments of Central Asia.
• We’ll visit the Kyzyl Suu Soviet Health Resort, which although being a bit tired, is still functioning. There may be an opportunity to get a massage or take a dip in the pool (not included in tour price), but even if not you can enjoy taking a step back in time.

Afternoon

• On arrival in Chon Kemin gorge you’ll be greeted by our homestay family. They’ll show us around, prepare our lunch, and introduce you to your horse. For those inexperienced they’ll teach you the basics of horse riding to build up your confidence and we’ll embark on an adventurous three hour gentle horse ride to the mountains and through the forests. Once reaching the top we’ll have a panorama view of the gorge and a fantastic spot for photos.
• We’ll return to the village below for dinner and entertainment to celebrate the national day!
• Overnight in our family guesthouse.

Friday 2nd September – Chon Kemin – Issyk Kul lake – Grigorievskoye – Semenovskoye – Karakol Morning

• Our homestay family will prepare our breakfasts and we’ll bid farewell and thank them for their generosity but not for the hangovers
• We’ll begin making our way to the celestial Issyk Kul Lake – the second largest alpine lake in the world located 1608 meters above sea level. The lake is known as the “the pearl of Central Asia”.
• We’ll explore an old campground where the Young Pioneers of the Soviet Union held camps and retreats right up until the fall of the USSR, but now lies abandoned and overgrown. Assuming the local security guard lets us in, you may explore the dorms, industrial kitchens, shower blocks, theatre, and more.
• On our way we’ll take a short break and view ancient stone inscriptions dating back to 800BC – these petroglyphs were made more than 2000 years ago by shamans.
• We’ll continue driving along the Semenovskoe and Grigorievskoe gorge – these two gorges are incredibly picturesque. Both gorges are connected which means we’ll enter one and exit the other.

Afternoon

• We’ll have lunch along the way before stopping at the northern shore of the lake to the town of Karakol – a former Russian military outpost founded in 1869 and only 150 kilometres from the Chinese border. It’s currently the forth largest city in Kyrgyzstan.
• Visit the museum of N.M. Prjevalskii, a renowned Russian explorer of the 1800s.
• Visit the Dungan Mosque – unique to the region as the mosque adopted a Chinese technique of not using a single metal nail for construction.
• Drop by the old wooden Orthodox Church – originally built of stone, the church was destroyed by an earthquake in 1890. During the Soviet Union the church as used as an educational centre housing a school, a ladies gymnasium, a Sports Hall, a Theatre, a Dance Hall and even one time used as a store for selling coal. Since independence the building was returned back to the church.
• Dinner and drinks in town
• Overnight in hotel

Saturday 3rd September – Karakol – Jeti Oguz – Issyk Kul southern shore – Kochkor Morning

• Breakfast at our hotel and begin our journey to Jeti Oguz gorge – famous for its red rocks formations along a 35km wall. The name Jeti Oguz is translated from Kyrgyz language meaning “Seven bulls”. It’s symbolic as the rocks resemble furious bulls standing together.
• We’ll also view Broken Heart Mountain – an old legend tells of grief experienced from a woman. Couples and newlyweds come from all over the country to visit. You’ll have the chance to visit on top for amazing views.
• We’ll take a walk through the beautiful Kök-Zhaik area, which means “Valley of Flowers”, named for the poppies that are strewn all over the valley.

Afternoon

• We’ll arrive into Bokonbaeva village for lunch and to meet and greet a eagle-hunter. They use traditional nomadic ways of using their eagle to hunt hares and foxes on the surrounding plains.
• Drive along the southern shore of Issyk Kul Lake to arrive at Kochkor – a small village of only 10,000 located 1800 meters above sea level.
• We’ll explore the market and the streets.
• Dinner and drinks and spend the overnight in a guesthouse.
• Night is in a guesthouse in Kochkor.

Sunday 4th September – Kochkor – Kichi Naryn – Naryn

• Breakfast at our guest house
• The majority of our day will be driving – but it will be the most stunning drive of the entire tour. We’ll roll along the mountain tops passing through Jappak Bel with an altitude of more than 3000 metres and then head low through the Kichi Naryn gorge to finally reach the town of Naryn. During this you’ll experience the variety of mountains which make Kyrgyzstan so unique. We’ll stop along the drive for incredible photos, lunch and to meet nomadic families.
• Dinner, drinks and overnight in Naryn Hotel

Monday 5th September – Naryn – Tash Rabat

• Breakfast at our hotel
• Today we’ll be making our way to the Tash Rabat Caravanserai along the Great Silk Road – a former stone castle inhabitants by Buddhists during the 14th century located in the very heart of Tian Shan Mountains. The castle’s stones were dug out from the mountain at an elevation of 3200m and 31 rooms were created. Each wall is 1 metre thick. We’ll explore the underground prison cells formerly used to incarcerate thieves in ancient times.
• We’ll spend the evening camping nearby in nomadic collapsible dwellings – yurts. They are made of a wooden skeleton, covered with felt coverings. We’ll have breathtaking views of the stars above us, hot meals and drinks for dinner.
• Overnight in Tash Rabat

Tuesday 6th September – Tash Rabat – Son Kol Lake – Bishkek Morning

• Breakfast and begin or morning by exploring a fascinating old Soviet heavy water factory. Opened in 1955, needless to say, the experiment was a disaster from the beginning. Enduring almost 30 years of issues and failures, Manufacturing Workshop Number 7 wasn’t closed until 1982. Now it lies abandoned as a relic of one of the USSR’s many failed projects.
• Begin making our way to the highest alpine and second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan – Son Kul Lake. This is a spectacular example of Kyrgyzstan’s natural beauty. Set high in the mountains, the lake itself is in the middle of a fertile plateau, dotted with horses, sheep and yurts.

Afternoon

• Lunch by the lake
• Make our grand return back Bishkek passing over Kalmak Ashu which is 3225 metres high, stopping at Kockkor village where we’ll see examples of local families producing national felt carpets.
• Later arrival into Bishkek with a farewell dinner to thank our local guides and a chance for us to further explore the nightlife of Bishkek
• Overnight in Bishkek

Wednesday 7th September – Bishkek

• Tour concludes – YPT is also able to arrange post-tour accommodation or advice for flights.

Read More