Arrive early into Bishkek, a surprisingly leafy city framed by snow-dusted peaks. After a warm welcome, transfer to your hotel for check-in and a chance to refresh.

Later, begin your discovery of Kyrgyzstan with a guided city tour. You will explore some of Bishkek’s key landmarks, such as its spacious commemorative squares, the Philharmonic Hall, and the atmospheric Oak Park, known for its sculptures and shady pathways.

Next, step into the colourful world of Osh Bazaar, a buzzing marketplace where locals shop for everything from spices and traditional breads to felt crafts and horse-tack. It’s the perfect place to orient yourself to Central Asian life.

Return to the hotel for dinner (at leisure).

Overnight in Damas , Bishkek

Meal plan: Breakfast

After breakfast, depart for the southern shores of Lake Issyk Kul. En route, stop in Kyzyl-Tuu, a village celebrated for its skilled yurt makers. Visit a local artisan who will explain the centuries-old craft of yurt construction. Hands-on participation is encouraged-you will have the opportunity to help prepare one of the wooden structural elements and observe the creation of decorative felt pieces.

Enjoy a hearty home-cooked lunch with a local family before continuing to your lakeside yurt camp. On arrival, settle into your yurts and enjoy free time to swim in the shimmering waters of Issyk Kul.

In the evening, gather inside the main yurt for a traditional folklore performance, introducing you to Kyrgyz musical instruments, epic songs, and nomadic storytelling.

360 km | 5–6 hrs driving | Altitude: 900m → 1,600m

Overnight in Royal Gate Yurt Camp, Issyk Kul Lake

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

After breakfast, travel to one of the most enthralling cultural events in Central Asia: the Salbuurun Festival, typically held from 10:00 to 16:00.

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The Salbuurun Festival is not merely a festival but a living celebration of ancient nomadic hunting traditions, deeply rooted in the lifeways of the Kyrgyz people. It is an evocative representation of skills that once enabled communities to survive in the wild, high-altitude expanses of the Tien Shan.

Events at the festival:

1. Eagle Hunting (Bürkütchü tradition)
Watch the majestic golden eagles - symbols of Kyrgyz pride-demonstrate their speed, accuracy, and the remarkable bond they share with their handlers. Perched regally on the hunter’s gloved arm, these birds respond to calls, swoop with astonishing precision, and occasionally practice mock hunts using specially prepared lures. Seeing an eagle dive from the sky, talons extended, is one of the region’s great spectacles.

2. Taigan Dog Demonstrations
Marvel at the graceful Kyrgyz taigan, a rare sighthound breed prized for its agility, speed, and keen eyesight. Demonstrations typically include mock chases, agility tests, and coordinated exercises involving both eagle and dog-showcasing how nomads once hunted in teams.

3. Mounted Archery & Traditional Weaponry
Salbuurun also encompasses horseback archery, where riders demonstrate remarkable accuracy while galloping at full speed. You may also observe displays of traditional weapons such as spears and slings, used in coordinated hunting simulations.

4. Folk Music, Dance & Cultural Displays
Enjoy live performances featuring the haunting melodies of the komuz (a three-stringed lute), throat-singing, and energetic dances reflecting the rhythm of nomadic life. Handicraft stalls showcase feltwork, embroidery, leather goods, and hunting gear.

5. Traditional Kyrgyz Cuisine
Taste authentic dishes freshly prepared on-site: fragrant plov, hand-pulled laghman noodles, steaming breads, and fermented drinks such as kumis (mare’s milk), enjoyed by nomads for centuries.

This festival offers an immersive window into Kyrgyz identity-its history, artistry, and the intimate relationship between humans, animals, and nature.

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After attending the festival, travel to the surreal Skazka Canyon-the ‘Fairy Tale Canyon’. Wander among its wind-sculpted red sandstone formations admiring the shapes and colours carved by time.

Return to the yurt camp for dinner and overnight.

150 km | 2–3 hrs driving  |  Altitude: 1,600m

Overnight in Royal Gate Yurt Camp, Issyk Kul Lake

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

After breakfast, transfer to Karakol with scenic stops along the route. Visit the Barskoon Gorge, known for its beautiful waterfalls. Enjoy a gentle walk to the first cascade.

Continue into the dramatic red-rock valley of Jety Oguz. Learn the legends behind the striking formations known as the “Seven Bulls” and “The Broken Heart”.
Upon reaching Karakol, check into your hotel. Tonight, visit a local family for a hands-on cooking session, preparing a traditional Kyrgyz dinner.

160 km | 2–3 hrs driving | Altitude: 1,600m → 1,700m

Overnight in Green Yard Hotel, Karakol

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Explore Karakol’s unique architecture and history. Visit the Russian Orthodox wooden church, a striking 19th-century structure assembled entirely without nails, followed by the elegant Dungan Mosque, built in a Chinese architectural style-another reflection of the region’s multicultural heritage.

Continue to the museum of explorer Nikolai Przhevalsky, whose expeditions charted much of Central Asia and Tibet.

Travel to a local agricultural farm in Tepke, where you’ll meet domestic animals and learn about regional farming practices. Enjoy lunch on the farm before returning to Karakol. Optional visit to local hot springs. Dinner in a local restaurant.

Altitude:  1,700m

Overnight in Green Yard Hotel, Karakol

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Depart Karakol and follow the northern shore of Issyk Kul. Stop in the Semenovskoye Gorge for a scenic 1–2 hour walk and a picnic lunch.

Continue to Cholpon-Ata to explore its fascinating open-air petroglyph museum, home to ancient rock carvings depicting animals, hunters, and solar symbols.

Arrive in Kochkor for dinner and overnight.

350 km | 5–6 hrs driving  |  Altitude: 1,600m → 1,800m

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

After breakfast, visit a women’s cooperative, Altyn Kol, specialising in Kyrgyz felt craftsmanship. Learn about traditional techniques used to create shyrdaks and ala-kiiz rugs.

Drive over the Kalmak Ashu Pass (3,440m) and descend onto the high plateau that cradles Song Kol Lake, the country’s second largest. Lunch at Batai-Aral yurt camp.

Afterwards, enjoy an optional 8-9 km walk to your overnight yurt camp, engaging with nomadic families along the way and sampling local dairy products such as kumis.

Dinner and overnight in a yurt camp on the steppe.

120 km | 2-3 hrs driving  |  Altitude: 1,800m → 3,016m

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Spend the morning relaxing at Song Kul. Enjoy a light hike, or simply absorb the serenity of the open steppe.

After lunch, descend to the lush Chon-Kemin Valley. At your guesthouse, learn to prepare boorsoks, small deep-fried dough pieces enjoyed throughout Kyrgyzstan.

Dinner and overnight.

170 km | 3-4 hrs driving  |  Altitude: 3,016m → 1,800m

Overnight in Ashu Guesthouse, Chon-Kemin valley

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Enjoy a morning walk to a panoramic viewpoint before driving to Bishkek. En route, stop at the Burana Tower, a remnant of an ancient Silk Road city dating back to the 11th century. Explore the tower and the surrounding stone balbals (gravestones).

Arrive in Bishkek for dinner and overnight.

150 km | 2–3 hrs driving  |  Altitude: 1,800m → 800m

Overnight in Damas , Bishkek

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Head into the spectacular Ala Archa National Park, a dramatic alpine reserve spanning 16,000 hectares. Walk through valleys framed by steep granite walls and glacial streams, and enjoy breathtaking vistas of peaks reaching almost 5,000m.

Return to Bishkek to relax for the evening.

40 km one way | 1 hr  |  Altitude: 800m → 1,600m

Overnight in Damas , Bishkek

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight home.

Alternatively, why not extend your stay into Uzbekistan or Tajikistan? Contact us for more information.

Meal plan: Breakfast