Hiking and Riding Tour in Kyrgyzstan - 12 Days

Arrival in Bishkek, transfer to the hotel. After a short rest our City Tour begins. Visiting of Victory Square, Oak Park with stone sculptures, Old Square, The House of Parliament, Main Ala Too Square, White House, Manas Hero Square, City Hall and many other interesting places.

After breakfast we drive to Tamga. On the way to Tamga we visit Burana Tower. It was built in the 11th century. There was a flourishing town on the Great Silk Road, where the Stone Warriors – Balbals can be found today. After this Burana Tower excursion we drive to the Issyk Kul Lake! Issyk Kul is the largest mountain lake in Central Asia and the second largest mountain lake in the world! It is 180 km long and 60 km wide! Issyk Kul has clear blue Water and is surrounded by high Tien Shan Mountains! You can swim in the lake or relax by the lake! The water temperature in summer is 22-23 degrees. We drive on and on the way we visit the hunter family with eagle! There are still some people in villages who continue this old tradition. Dinner and overnight stay with a Kyrgyz family in the village of Tamga (drive: 330 km).

After breakfast we hike to Barskoon Gorge ( 2 hours ). From this point the first part of our riding tour will start. The length of this gorge is more than 30 km. Along the gorge there is the path that connects the Issyk Kul Valley with the Inner and Central Valleys of Tien Shan. Right at the beginning the slopes of the gorge are covered with steppe flora and rare bushes. Then the fir forest grows (along the way we can see an interesting mixture of fir trees and various colorful shrubs of barberry, rowanberry, sea buckthorn, currant, raspberry, rose hip and a beautiful waterfall). We will have a riding day with Mountain Landscapes, Exciting Climbs and Descents. The Dunguromo Pass is 3736 meters above sea level. We climb up into the Mountains and visit many small Mountain Lakes. The riding tour takes about 6 hours. Dinner and overnight stay in the tents.

After breakfast we start our riding tour and cross the Dzhukuu Pass (3512 m) with breathtaking scenery. At the top of the Pass we have a Picnic Break and enjoy the amazing Views. We visit the Jashil Kul Lake, which is hidden in the rocky Mountains! The Nomadic Families come to these Mountains with their cattle in Summer times and change their place every week to find fresher grass for their cattle. We visit a Nomadic Family and learn about their way of life. During the day we ride through the amazing Landscapes of the impressive Mountains and Gorges. Dinner and overnight stay in the Tents.

Breakfast in the Tents. This day is dedicated to the horseback riding tour from Dzhukuu Gorge to Ashu Kashka Suu Gorge. The path will lead us through high Mountains covered with Fir and Juniper Trees. Because of its beauty, Fir Trees are called the queens of Tien Shan and Juniper Trees count as sacred Trees for Nomads (Junipers live more than 2000 years and people believe it is the tree of life and rebirth). Our riding tour takes place in Central Tien Shan, along the ridge Terskey (Tien Shan is the Chinese name. The Kyrgyz name is Tenir Too – Heavenly Mountain). Dinner and overnight stay in the Tents.

Breakfast in the Tents. Today we ride through the Gorge along to Jukuchak Gorge. In the afternoon we visit another Nomadic Family in the Yurt. In the late afternoon we come to the hay spring water and depending on your wishes you can go swimming. The riding tour takes about 6-7 hours. We spend the night at 2250 m altitude. Overnight stay in the tents.

After breakfast we start our riding tour to the Promontory of Orto Bulak. After the crossing we reach the Gorge of Kichi Kyzyl Suu. The Mountain Pass is 2543 meters above sea level and a fantastic View awaits us! Overnight stay in the Tents.

Early in the morning after breakfast we continue our tour to the Chon Kyzyl Suu Gorge. On the way we meet the nomadic families, so there is the possibility to have our lunch picnic with a nomadic family. In the afternoon we return to our tent camp and there is the possibility to relax in the hot spring water “Jili Suu” after the riding tour. Dinner at the campfire and overnight stay in the Tents.

Breakfast in the Tents. Today we continue our riding tour towards the Jeti Oguz Gorge. To reach this Gorge we have to cross a Mountain River and the Pass Trail “Kok Dzhayyk” (2751 m). In the evening we eat traditional Kyrgyz food with a nomadic family and spend the night in the Yurt.

After breakfast in the Yurt we visit the Red Rocks “Jeti Oguz” (Seven Oxen). Our guide will tell you fascinating Legends about these Rocks. Afterwards we continue our journey to Karakul. The city of Karakul was built in the Russian Empire and the main sights are the Russian Orthodox Church and the Dungan Mosque. In the late afternoon we continue to Cholpon-Ata. Dinner at a local Restaurant and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast we visit Petroglyphs (rock paintings) near Cholpon Ata. The Petroglyphs are estimated to be over 2000 years old and were most likely drawn by a Shaman. In the afternoon we drive on to Bishkek. Dinner at a local Restaurant and overnight stay in a 3-star hotel.