Lakes, Mountains and Kyrgyz People

Discover Kyrgyzstan through alpine lakes, mountain passes, traditional yurts and the hospitality of local families. Travel from Chon-Kemin to Karakol, explore the southern shore of Issyk-Kul, experience nomadic life at Son-Kul and journey through the remote valleys around Tash-Rabat, Kyzyl-Oy and Toktogul.

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📅 14 Days

🚗 Road Trip

🥾 Hiking

🏇🏼 Horseback Riding

Lakes, mountain landscapes and nomadic traditions

This journey combines scenic drives, hiking, horseback riding and cultural experiences across Kyrgyzstan. Discover the historic Burana Tower, explore Jeti-Oguz Valley’s red rock formations, meet a traditional eagle hunter and learn about yurt-making.

Spend nights in traditional yurts and local guesthouses, enjoy a meal with a Dungan family, ride toward the yak pastures around Tash-Rabat and experience the vast high-altitude landscapes of Son-Kul Lake. The route continues through the Kokomeren River valley and the mountains around Toktogul before returning to Bishkek.

Route: Bishkek → Chon-Kemin → Konorchek Canyon → Karakol → Jeti-Oguz → Issyk-Kul → Kochkor → Tash-Rabat → Chatyr-Kul → Son-Kul → Kyzyl-Oy → Toktogul → Ak-Kol Lake → Bishkek

Route map of the Lakes, Mountains and Kyrgyz People tour

Road trip tour

from €1,540
/ person · group 6 people

Duration

14 days

Activities

Season

June–September

Airport Transfer

Book This Tour

Day by day

Detailed Program

1 Day. Arrival in Bishkek

BISHKEK → CHON-KEMIN

Meet your guide at the airport and transfer to the center of Bishkek. Rest at a guesthouse before driving to Chon-Kemin village (150 km). Arrive in the afternoon and enjoy a two-hour walk exploring the village. Dinner and overnight stay with a local family.

📍 150 km transfer · 2-hour walk · Local family stay · Dinner

2 Day. Transfer to Karakol

CHON-KEMIN → KONORCHEK CANYON → CHOLPON-ATA → KARAKOL

After breakfast, depart from the guesthouse and walk through Konorchek Canyon, known for its red-ochre landscape. Have lunch at a restaurant in Cholpon-Ata or earlier along the route. Continue to Karakol, at the eastern end of Issyk-Kul Lake. Explore the city on foot before dinner and an overnight stay in a guesthouse.

📍 180 km · Canyon walk · Lunch · Karakol city stroll · Guesthouse

3 Day. Jeti-Oguz Valley

IRDIK VALLEY → JETI-OGUZ VALLEY → YURT CAMP

Begin a day hike from Irdik Valley, a green meadow at the foot of the Terskey Ala-Too mountains. Walk through pastures and forests to reach Jeti-Oguz Valley and its iconic red rock formations. Enjoy a picnic along the way and meet the driver near the Jeti-Oguz sanatorium. A short transfer brings you to a yurt camp for dinner and overnight accommodation.

📍 Day hike · Pastures and forests · Picnic · Yurt camp

4 Day. Transfer to the Southern Shore of Issyk-Kul

MOUNTAIN PASS → SUTUU BULAK VALLEY → BOKONBAEVO

Start with a morning hike across a 2,800 m pass, descending into Sutuu Bulak Valley. Enjoy a picnic and meet the driver before continuing by road to a yurt camp in Bokonbaevo. Arrive in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay in a yurt.

📍 2,800 m pass · Morning hike · 100 km road transfer · Yurt camp

5 Day. Day at the Beach

BOKONBAEVO → ISSYK-KUL SOUTH SHORE → BOKONBAEVO

Meet a traditional eagle hunter in the morning to learn about falconry and the role of birds of prey in nomadic life. Walk through the arid landscape, then enjoy a picnic near the beach and time to relax by the lakeshore. Return to the same yurt camp for dinner and overnight accommodation.

📍 Eagle hunter visit · Walking · Lakeside picnic · Beach time · Yurt camp

6 Day. Transfer to Tash-Rabat

BOKONBAEVO → KOCHKOR → DOLON PASS → TASH-RABAT

Visit a yurt craftsman in the morning and learn about the structure of a traditional yurt. Drive to Kochkor for lunch with a Dungan family. After lunch, cross Dolon Pass (3,030 m) and continue to the yurt camp near Tash-Rabat, a 14th-century stone caravanserai. Dinner and overnight stay in a yurt at approximately 3,200 m.

📍 320 km · Yurt craftsman · Family lunch · 3,030 m pass · Yurt at 3,200 m

7 Day. Horseback Riding

TASH-RABAT → YAK PASTURES → MOUNTAIN PASS → TASH-RABAT

Set out on horseback to explore yak pastures, reaching a mountain pass at 4,000 m with panoramic views of Chatyr-Kul Lake. Enjoy a picnic along the way and look out for herds of yaks. Return to the yurt camp for dinner and overnight accommodation.

📍 Horseback riding · Up to 4,000 m · Chatyr-Kul views · Picnic · Yurt camp

8 Day. Transfer to Son-Kul Lake

TASH-RABAT → NARYN → MOLDO-ASHU PASS → SON-KUL LAKE

Depart in the morning for Son-Kul Lake, a high-altitude destination surrounded by vast pastures used by nomadic herders in summer. Travel through Naryn and across Moldo-Ashu Pass before reaching the lake at 3,016 m. An optional walk is possible along the way. Dinner and overnight stay in a yurt camp.

📍 Approx. 270 km · Moldo-Ashu Pass · 3,016 m · Optional walk · Yurt camp

9 Day. Free Day at Son-Kul Lake

SON-KUL LAKE → SURROUNDING PASTURES → SON-KUL LAKE

Spend the day exploring nomadic life. Walk from yurt to yurt in search of petroglyphs and enjoy a picnic in the mountains. Optional horseback riding is available. In the evening, watch a demonstration of traditional equestrian games before returning to the yurt camp for dinner and an overnight stay.

📍 Nomadic culture · Petroglyphs · Mountain picnic · Optional horse riding · Equestrian games

10 Day. Transfer to Kyzyl-Oi

SON-KUL LAKE → KARA-KECHE PASS → CHAEK → KOKOMEREN RIVER → KYZYL-OI

Depart early via Kara-Keche Pass (3,325 m), with panoramic views of a coal mine. Descend through Kara-Keche Canyon into the Jumgal Valley. Stop at Chaek village market to buy picnic supplies, then have lunch beside the Kokomeren River before continuing to Kyzyl-Oi. Dinner and overnight stay with a local family.

📍 3,325 m pass · Kara-Keche Canyon · Chaek market · Riverside lunch · Local family stay

11 Day. Day in Kyzyl-Oi

KYZYL-OI VILLAGE → SURROUNDING HILLS → KOKOMEREN RIVER

Take a morning hike in the hills surrounding the village. Temperatures can be warm in summer, so prepare accordingly. Have lunch at the guesthouse and spend the afternoon beside the Kokomeren River. Return to the guesthouse for dinner and overnight accommodation.

📍 Morning hike · Village scenery · Lunch at guesthouse · Kokomeren River

12 Day. Transfer to Toktogul

KYZYL-OI → KIRK-KIZ PASS → TOKTOGUL

Travel off-road over Kirk-Kiz Pass (3,000 m). The route crosses rivers, slopes and pastures, with opportunities to encounter nomads and their livestock in the Tien Shan. Enjoy a picnic en route and arrive in Toktogul, near the reservoir, by evening. Watch a demonstration of traditional Kyrgyz music, then have dinner and stay overnight in a guesthouse.

📍 Off-road journey · 3,000 m pass · Picnic · Traditional music · Guesthouse

13 Day. Ak-Kol Lake

TOKTOGUL → AK-KOL LAKE → TOKTOGUL

Take an early transfer of approximately 40 km to the starting point of a hike to Ak-Kol Lake at 2,800 m. Enjoy a picnic beside the alpine lake. Return to the vehicle and spend the rest of the day relaxing on the beach. Dinner and overnight stay in the same guesthouse in Toktogul.

📍 40 km transfer · Hike · 2,800 m · Alpine lake picnic · Beach time · Guesthouse

14 Day. Transfer to Bishkek and Departure

TOKTOGUL → BISHKEK → MANAS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Drive back to Bishkek (200 km), arriving in time for lunch at a restaurant. Check into a guesthouse and spend the afternoon shopping or preparing for departure. The original program schedules dinner and an overnight stay in a guesthouse, followed by a transfer to the international airport for your return flight. These two original days are combined here for the page layout; the overnight stay and next-day departure remain part of the itinerary.

📍 200 km transfer · Lunch in Bishkek · Guesthouse · Airport transfer

2027 prices

Price depends on group size

€1,540/person

6 travellers

€1,680/person

5 travellers

€1,900/person

4 travellers

€2,260/person

3 travellers

€2,975/person

2 travellers

What’s included

Bishkek airport transfers
Local transport throughout the tour
English- or French-speaking guide/translator
Meals according to the program
Accommodation in local family homes and a guesthouse in Bishkek
Horse rental and equestrian guide
Visit to a yurt factory
Entrance fees to museums along the route
Visit to an eagle hunter

Not included
Travel insurance
International air tickets
Single-room supplement
Alcohol and mineral water
Final dinner and optional disco, bar, karaoke or spa expenses
Other services not mentioned in the program

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a visa to enter Kyrgyzstan?

Citizens of the EU, Canada, Japan, Singapore and some other countries can enter visa-free for up to 60 days. Your passport should be valid for at least six months from your entry date. If your nationality is not visa-exempt, check the official Kyrgyzstan e-visa website before traveling.

How physically demanding is the tour?

This is a road trip through mountain regions, with additional hiking and horseback riding. The itinerary includes a canyon walk, a mountain hike in Jeti-Oguz, horseback riding at high altitude near Tash-Rabat, and walking around Son-Kul and Ak-Kol. The route crosses several high mountain passes, including one reaching approximately 4,000 m. You should be comfortable with outdoor activities and changes in altitude.

What should I know about safety and medication?

Your guide carries a basic first-aid kit. Bring all personal medication you may need during the journey. If you have concerns about altitude or strenuous activity, consult your doctor before departure, especially because the itinerary includes high mountain passes and overnight stays above 3,000 m.

Where will we stay during the tour?

Accommodation includes guesthouses, local family homes and traditional yurts. At Tash-Rabat, the yurt camp is at approximately 3,200 m; at Son-Kul, it is around 3,016 m. Facilities vary by region, and shared bathrooms may be used in rural and mountain accommodation.

What food is provided, and can dietary needs be accommodated?

The tour serves traditional Kyrgyz meals featuring meat, rice, noodles and vegetables. Meals are Halal. Breakfast is served at guesthouses or yurt camps; lunch may be at a café or as a picnic; dinner is served at a café, guesthouse or yurt camp. Vegetarian meals are available. If you have strict dietary requirements, bring suitable food for remote sections. Gluten-free options are more readily available in larger cities. Drinking water is not included.

What should I bring?

Temperatures vary by location and altitude, and nights can be cold at high-altitude yurt camps. Check the weather forecast for the route before departure. Pack layers, a warm layer, a warm hat, extra socks and underwear, comfortable trekking shoes, a headlamp, sunglasses and sunscreen.

What equipment is provided, and how much luggage can I bring?

KAGAN provides picnic dishes and kitchen equipment. Bring a reusable filter bottle or plan to buy water along the route; shops are available on most days. A small backpack of approximately 20–30 liters is recommended for personal items you need during the day. Porter horses are available for luggage, so avoid bringing heavy or bulky items.

What are the booking and payment conditions?

A €300 deposit is required to confirm the booking. The remaining amount can be paid in cash upon arrival in Bishkek. Bank transfer and credit card payment are also possible, with bank fees not included. The deposit is non-refundable but can be used for a future trip.

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