Welcome to Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan (Кыргызстан) is a nation defined by its natural beauty. Joyously unspoilt mountainscapes, stark craggy ridges and rolling jailoos (summer pastures) are brought to life by semi-nomadic, yurt-dwelling shepherds. Add to this a well-developed network of homestays and visa-free travel, and it's easy to see why Kyrgyzstan (officially the Kyrgyz Republic), is the gateway of choice for many travellers in Central Asia.
Top experiences in Kyrgyzstan
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Kyrgyzstan activities
Tajikistan Discovery Tour- The Kyrgyz Nomadic Lifestyle
Visit the summer pasture (locals call it “jailoo”) and experience the traditional ethnic Kyrgyz nomadic lifestyle. Spend your days with locals walking or riding horses, donkeys, and yak. Then, relax near cold, clear streams. Join the shepherds as they follow their flocks of sheep, yak, and goats across the expansive landscape. Test your skills while baking local bread, and milking yak. Later, spend your nights in local homestays or authentic Kyrgyz yurts. The tour will take you from Osh City in Kyrgyzstan to KaraKul Lake to Murghab in Tadjikistan to Job Borluk and back to Osh City. Day 1 Leave Osh City early in the day and travel by car to Tulpar Kol, a beautiful mountain lake where you’ll get a chance to get used to the altitude while taking in the wonderful views. Day 2 Early in the morning travel by car to KaraKul Lake, located in the Tajik National Park in the Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan. You’ll stop for a short break in and enjoy lunch around the areas. After, drive to Murghab, where you’ll spend the night in the home of a local family. Day 3Start your day with a visit to the local bazaar in Murghab before stopping for a traditional lunch at a yurt café. After lunch, drive from Murghab to Jol Borluk jailoo, keeping your eyes peeled for yak, sheep, and old tombs on the way. From the side of Rang-Kul village, you may even be able to see the top of Mustak Ata peak, over 7,500 meters tall! A trail in the gorge takes you up to the hill where you will be greeted by a stunning view of beautiful pastures. Descend the hill and cross the river to reach the local pasture. Observe and experience the daily routine of the nomads living there. Walk up to the hills around the jailoo and visit the yurts. Then, join women from the community and learn how to make bread in a special local oven called a “kazan.” Enjoy lunch in the yurt with fresh bread and butter. Later, spend the night in the yurt. Day 4 After an early breakfast, see how the locals milk yak and sheep before giving it a try yourself! Special boots and aprons will be available if needed. After enjoying some fresh yak milk with the families, learn how to use the separator to turn the milk into “kaymak,” the most delicious local butter! After lunch, go for a walk or ride a donkey, horse, or camel on the jailoo. Then, have a picnic with a tasty traditional meal. Later, return to a homestay for the night in Murghab. Day 5 Early in the morning, it’s time to leave for Osh! Stop in several places along the way, like Karakul village for lunch and Chiyirchik to taste horse milk. Later, spend the night at Ethno Hotel in Osh. Day 6 Return to the airport for your departure. Revenue from this experience will be invested in the construction of a new kindergarten in Murghab as well as training seminars for local service providers.
Son-Kul Lake Tour
The first stop at the Burana Tower - today the tower is a heritage of UNESCO and Kyrgyzstan. You will have a tour to whole complex, an excursion to Tower and a panoramic view from the Tower itself. In addition you will also be able to see the balbalas that are located around and were created by the ancient Turkic tribes. You continue the trip through the Boom Gorge - a kind of a thread that connects the three regions - Chui, Issyk-Kul and Naryn. On the road you can enjoy beautiful views of high mountains - somewhere steep and rocky, as well as the rapid flow of the Chu River. The next stop will be in the water reservoir Orto - Tokoi. Located on the Chu River, 2 km west of the village of Orto-Tokoi, on the border of the Naryn and Issyk-Kul regions. You will stop for lunch in Kochkor village, you can also visit open bazaar there. You will have another stop in the mountains for spring water tasting. It is a beautiful area with its flora and fauna, and if you are lucky you can observe yuks there (wild cows).Arrival at the mountain lake Son-Kul. Enjoy he cleanest mountain air, clear water of the lake, a peaceful place surrounded by mountains and settled with yurt camps. The local inhabitants here are simple Kyrgyz shepherds, that keep all the spiritual valuesand human purity. Overnight stay at yurts.On the second day rest in Son - Kul, have a ride on the horse, taking a walk around the lake. Lunch will be served at one of the local yurts, where you can enjoy Kyrgyz national food.After lunch you will return back to Bishkek. The road leads through very picturesque places. On the way you will visit the salt cave Chon - Tuz, the medicinal properties of which have healing effects. On the way, you'll stop in Boom Gorge for biological break and if you want you can buy some food. In the late evening you will arrive to the city of Bishkek.
Short tour to Issyk-Kul lake
The tour starts with heading to the village of Bokonbaevo.On the way you will visit Burana Tower an ancient minaret, recognised as UNESCO Heritage. You will have an excursion throughout the complex, go to the museum and see the panorama view from the tower itself. You will also see balbals on the territory of the complex - gravestones made by ancient Turkish tribes. Then you continue the scenic drive through Boom Gorge canyon along the Chu river with views of the mountains in the distance. Bokonbaevo village is a picturesque village on the southern shore of the lake Issyk-Kul, which is the center of ecological tourism in Kyrgyzstan. You will get acquainted with simple rural life and with the original Kyrgyz traditions.Lunch will be served in traditional way in one of the yurts, where you will have national food. The rest of the day you will spend in the Yurt camp, where you can learn about the yurt installation process. You will have the chance to meet experienced berkutchi, who will share the story of hunting with golden eagles, their habits and features. Demonstration of the eagle hunting can be arranged for tourists for an additional fee.You will have national food and Kyrgyz Folklore performance for the Dinner. In the evening, after sunset, you can conveniently sit on the mat wrapped in blankets, choose the movie you like and watch in the big screen under the sky strewn with stars. On a second day, you will go to the Canyon Skazka (Fairytale). The canyon is an amazing place where sandy red formations take various fabulous forms. Walking along this gorge during the rest in Issyk-Kul brings not only aesthetic pleasure, but also unity with nature. You will also see a canyon called "China Wall" with a length of 5 kilometers. Optional to visit: Barskoon waterfall, Mandjyly-Ata sacral place After a walk you will have lunch stop on the way back to Bishkek. Arrival to Bishkek in the evening.
Osh City Tour
Take a 2 days tour to second largest city and "southern capital" of Kyrgyzstan - Osh city and to see all its most famous sights.First, transfer to the airport for local flight to Osh. After arrival and hotel check in, the city sightseeing tour in Osh will take place.You will visit the Central Square and “Big Lenin” statue, Soviet mosaics, murals, and public art, the Russian Orthodox Church, the WWII and Chernobyl memorials, the Major architecture along Lenin Street, the Navoi Park, the Love Park, the Alymbek Datka Park and also the holy mountain Suleiman-Too. For travelers these parks not only are pleasant places to walk and relax surrounded by trees and green space, but they also are great places to engage with and meet locals who are out with their families and friends enjoying the games, tea houses, and walking paths of the parks.You will have lunch in the local cafe and after you will visit the major sight - the holy mountain Suleiman-Too and the museum inside the mountains. Suleiman-Too is also a tangible heritage of UNESCO. Inside the museum you will find out more about the lives of people of that time which were found during the archeological works. Also there is a Park of Alymbek datka located at the base of Sulaiman-Too Mountain, the Alymbek Datka park represents a complex of activities and things to do and places to eat. Today it is an exhibition about 19th-century Kyrgyz heroes Alymbek and Kurmanjan Datka (she is considered a hero of freedom for Kyrgyz women). The Alymbek Datka Park is also a popular place for wedding photoshoots, so if you’re lucky you might catch sight of a colorful local wedding. In the evening you will have the chance to participate in the Plov cooking master-class. Learn the traditions and specifics of Osh plov and enjoy the dinner.On a second day in the early morning drive to Uzgen city you will visit a Silk Road Mausoleum, which consists of three mausoleums conditionally named Northern, Middle and Southern. These monuments are considered the classics of Karakhanid epoch. There the governors of Karakhanid dynasty are buried. After taking in the historical Silk Road sites in Uzgen, seek out the story behind Uzgen Rice. Visit traditional rice factory and see how the red rice is grown. Lunch in the local cafe. After returning to Osh, you will go to the Jayma Bazaar for shopping before flight back to Bishkek. One can find everything there: food products, clothing, household goods, textiles, souvenirs and even a cattle market. And what is more, it has been operating on the same place over 2,000 years, since the time when Osh was crossed by one of the branches of the legendary Silk Road. Transfer to airport, arrival and transfer to Bishkek.
WORLD NOMAD GAMES TOUR
After you are picked up at the airport, enjoy a comfortable ride to Cholpon-Ata city with a stop for a meal. Upon arrival to the city, you may take a rest, stroll along the lake Issyk-kul and have delicious dinner. The next day you will explore the city and have excursion in the famous cultural center “Ruh Ordo”. Then you will visit petroglyphs of Cholpon-Ata, that constitute a temple under the open sky, where the religious rituals were performed associated with the spiritual world and life of the nomadic population of Issyk-Kul, optional visit to historical museum. In the evening, you will witness the Grand Opening Ceremony of The World Nomad Games, which includes many famous entertainers from the participating countries and around the world.On the 3rd day, you will head to watch competitions in the ethnic sport games, such as: Kok-Boru, Ordo or Salburun - the hunting with eagles, and many more. You will also be able to see cultural performances and ethnic bazaars at different locations. Enjoy the traditional dinner and rest in the evening. The next day will be spent in the Kyrchyn Gorge, where colorful performances of different cultures will take place. You will be able not only watch the different sport games, but also enjoy the culture, ethnic dances, songs, crafts and food. You will have the chance to see and participate in the amazing nomad fest and ethnic fair. This evening you can choose to stay in the Yurt for overnight to feel the nomadic lifestyle inside (optional on prior request) or return to the hotel.The 5th day enjoy the continuation of festival and witness ethnic sports of Er-Enish, Toguz Korgool, Jirith, archery and many others.In the evening optional to stay for Nomadic Fest “Universe of Nomads” with concert performance and bazaar. The 6th day will be packed with all the actions of the nomadic games, watch the finals of all equestrian competitions: Er-enish, Jirith and etc. This day it also will be closing of Kyrchyn Gorge and Nomadic Fest “Universe of Nomads”. Have a relaxed evening and dinner. The next day you will head to Karakol, on the way there is a stop for swimming in hot springs for 1 hour in Oruktu. It will be good resting experience for you to try different temperature of swimming pools with hot springs. Explore the city of Karakol with our experienced guide and and enjoy local traditional food for lunch. Return to Cholpon-Ata city for the overnight.The 8th day you can spend time on the beach, or independently choose the locations and watch the final games. In the evening, watch a spectacular Closing Ceremony of the World Nomad Games. Return to the hotel. Rest. The next day head to Bishkek and on the way visit tower of Burana, a UNESCO heritage site and Kyrgyzstan. Upon arrival to Bishkek, have a city tour and visit its famous sights. Enjoy a traditional dinner in the best restaurant of the city and have a rest in the evening. Depart the next day.
Highlights of Kyrgyzstan around Issyk-Kul lake
On a first day, you will be picked up and head to the village of Bokonbaevo.On the way you will visit Burana Tower an ancient minaret, UNESCO Heritage. You will have an excursion throughout the complex, go to the museum and see the panorama view. Arrival to Bokonbaevo village, where you will acquainted you with simple rural life and with the original Kyrgyz traditions. Lunch will be served in traditional way, where you will have national food. At a yurt camp, you can learn about the yurt installation process. (Optional to arrange demonstration of yurt installation where you can even participate.) Watch the Kyrgyz Folklore performance for the Dinner. On a second day, travel to the Canyon Skazka (Fairytale). The canyon is an amazing place where sandy red formations take various fabulous forms. Walking along this gorge brings not only aesthetic pleasure, but also unity with nature. On the way back, you will have the chance to meet berkutchi, who will share the story of hunting with golden eagles, their habits and features. Demonstration of the eagle hunting can be arranged for tourists for an additional fee. Visit Jeti-Oguz gorge the next day, a picturesque mountain gorge in Kyrgyzstan. On the way you will also visit Barskoon Waterfall and the holy place of "Mandjyly-Ata". "Mandjyly-Ata" is a valley, with labyrinth of shallow gorges between clay hilly steppes and healing springs. The name "Jeti-Oguz" (translated as "seven bulls") came from a chain of weathered red rocks, similar to bulls lying on the ground, and became a visiting card of the gorge. For an additional fee, you can ride horses and try traditional dishes in yurts. On a fourth day, you will have an excursion in Karakol city. For lunch, try the famous local dish - Ashlyan-Fu. Contiue the excursion and rest in the evening.The 5th day you will head back to Bishkek through the northern shore of the Issyk-Kul lake. You will stop at Oruktu village for hot springs swimming for 1 hour. Continue your trip with the stop for lunch in Cholpon-Ata. After lunch you will visit the famous cultural center of Ruh Ordo. Then you will visit the petroglyphs located between the northern and north-western outskirts of the city of Cholpon-Ata and the southern part of the Kungei Ala-Too mountain range. Petroglyphs (rock carvings) of Cholpon-Ata represent a big open-air temple where religious rituals related to the spiritual world and the life of the nomadic population of Issyk-Kul were performed. Depart to Bishkek. On a 6th day, there is a short trip to National Park Ala-Archa. There you will have a small trek to the river, surrounded by high junipers on the snow covered peaks even during summer time. In the afternoon explore the Bishkek city with our experienced guide. Departure the next day.