Welcome to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan!

Upon arrival, you will be picked up from the airport and head to the hotel to meet the other travellers and get a good nights rest.

Bishkek & Ala-Archa National Park

After breakfast, we set out for Ala-Archa National Park, where you’ll enjoy a refreshing hike through dramatic alpine landscapes, rushing rivers, and fragrant pine forests. By afternoon, we return to Bishkek for a guided city tour, exploring highlights such as Victory Square, Oak Park, Ala-Too Square, the National Arts Museum, and the National Philharmonic Hall.

No visit to Bishkek is complete without experiencing the Asian Bazaar—a vibrant whirlwind of colors, sounds, and scents, where locals trade everything from spices to fabrics. It’s the perfect place to capture dynamic photos of daily life. Overnight stay in Bishkek hotel.

Bishkek – Burana Tower – Chon-Kemin Gorge

Today’s journey takes us deep into history and nature. En route to Chon-Kemin Gorge, we stop at the Burana Tower, an ancient 11th-century minaret surrounded by an open-air museum of mysterious stone warrior statues, known as balbals.

Continuing into the Chon-Kemin National Park, you’ll saddle up for an exhilarating 3-hour horse trek through lush valleys, mountain forests, and high ridges offering panoramic views of the gorge. Tonight, immerse yourself in Kyrgyz hospitality with an overnight stay in a cozy guesthouse.

Chon-Kemin – Song-Kul Lake

After breakfast, we travel to the breathtaking Song-Kul Lake, a high-altitude jewel of the Tian Shan Mountains, perched at 3,015 meters. Famous for its pristine beauty, vast summer pastures (jailoo), and nomadic traditions, this is one of Kyrgyzstan’s most beloved spots.

Here, you’ll have the chance to hike, ride horses, or simply take in the lake’s serene charm. At night, you’ll sleep in a traditional Kyrgyz yurt, sharing the landscape with roaming horses and sheep. After dinner, step outside to count the stars under one of the clearest night skies you’ll ever see.

Song-Kul Lake – Issyk-Kul – Tamga Village

This morning, we set off toward the southern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake, the world’s second-largest alpine lake.

Along the way, we stop in Kyzyl-Tuu village, where a local craftsman demonstrates the art of yurt-making.

Lunch is hosted by a warm Kyrgyz family in Bokonbaeva village, before continuing to Tamga, a charming lakeside settlement.

Upon arrival, we stroll to the historic Soviet-era military resort nearby. Dinner and overnight at a Tamga guesthouse.

Tamga – Chong Kyzyl-Suu Gorge – Karakol

After breakfast, we head to Chong Kyzyl-Suu Gorge, where you can hike among wildflower meadows and red cliffs. For those who wish, take a dip in the natural hot springs—steaming mineral waters at around 43°C, known for their healing properties.

Enjoy a delicious home-cooked lunch at a local resort before driving on to Karakol, where we’ll check into a guesthouse for the night.

Karakol & Jety-Oguz Gorge

Our morning begins with a cultural exploration of Karakol: the iconic wooden Russian Orthodox Church (1885), the striking Dungan Mosque (1910), and the museum dedicated to the legendary explorer Przhevalsky.

In the afternoon, we journey to the famous Jety-Oguz Gorge, a lush valley with striking red sandstone formations, including the legendary “Seven Bulls” cliffs. A gentle hike lets you enjoy the fresh mountain air before we return to Karakol for dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Karakol’s Green Yard hotel.

Karakol – Kegen Border (Kyrgyz/Kazakh Border) – Saty Village & Kolsai Lakes (Kazakhstan)

Today we cross into Kazakhstan! After border formalities, we continue to the stunning Kolsai Lakes, often called the “Pearls of the Northern Tien Shan.” These mountain lakes shimmer like jewels among pine-covered hills.

After exploring Kolsai-1 Lake, we return to Saty village, where you’ll enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in a local guesthouse.

Kaindy Lake (Sunken Forest) – Saty Village

This morning we travel to the magical Kaindy Lake, also known as Birch Lake. Created by an earthquake in 1911, its turquoise waters are pierced by the ghostly trunks of submerged spruce trees, creating an otherworldly, almost mystical sight.

After a picnic lunch in nature, we return to Saty village for another warm evening of Kazakh hospitality.

Saty – Charyn Canyon – Almaty

Prepare for one of Central Asia’s natural wonders: the dramatic Charyn Canyon, often nicknamed the “Grand Canyon of Central Asia.” Stretching 154 km along the Charyn River, its sheer cliffs, carved by time over 12 million years, tower up to 300 meters high.

We’ll hike through its “Valley of Castles,” where fantastical rock formations ignite the imagination. In the afternoon, we continue on to Almaty, Kazakhstan’s cultural capital.

Overnight in Almaty hotel.

Almaty City Tour

Today we dive into the history and charm of Almaty.

Highlights include Panfilov Park, with its powerful WWII monument, and the Zenkov Cathedral, one of the world’s tallest wooden buildings, built entirely without nails.

We also visit the Museum of National Instruments, the Central State Museum (featuring the legendary “Golden Man”), and the beautiful Medeo Valley, home to the world’s largest outdoor speed skating rink.

Return to the Almaty hotel.

Departure

All good things come to end.

Take a transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Farewell to Central Asia—until next time!