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Itinerary
Embark on a journey to discover the peaks of the Tien Shan, the “celestial mountains,” bordering China. We’ll traverse lush valleys and thermal springs, reaching the magnificent Ala Kul Lake at 3,900 metres. This alpine lake boasts turquoise waters that will steal your heart at first sight! Kyrgyzstan is a land as untouched and wild as it is rich in history and culture, from the caravans of the Silk Road to the Mongol domination. It’s a country that still preserves the ancient traditions of nomadic peoples, their customs, and their culture. Amidst the imposing Kyrgyz mountains, we'll meet modern nomads, people who haven't changed their lifestyle in centuries. In fact, we'll be part of these traditions for ten days. Our adventure kicks off in the capital, Bishkek, which we'll quickly wave goodbye to as we head towards nature. Our compasses are set for Lake Issyk-Kul, the second-largest alpine lake in the world. But first, we'll explore the remnants of the ancient city of Balasagyn and the symbolic Burana Tower, before arriving at the stunning, little-known "white" canyon of Ak-Say, a place of extraordinary beauty.
From Day 3 to Day 7, during our trek, we'll be utterly mesmerised by the lush nature of this corner of the world: endless valleys with grazing herds, mountain passes, alpine lakes, natural hot springs, and breathtaking views! We'll sleep in a traditional yurt, skilfully set up and adorned with colourful fabrics and carpets. We'll follow the routes of the Kyrgyz nomads, skilled shepherds who carved the trails in these rugged mountains. We'll sample local dishes and witness a real Eagle Hunting show, the traditional eagle hunt. After so much time immersed in nature, we'll return to the civilisation of Karakol and Bishkek to explore local markets and snag some souvenirs to forever remember this marvellous land.
Day 1
Welcome to Kyrgyzstan!
Check-in: our adventure kicks off in Bishkek
Flights to and from the destination are not included in the package, so you can decide where to depart from, at what time, and with the airline you prefer. This is to give you maximum freedom of choice.
Check-in at the hotel in Bishkek and it's time for the Welcome Meeting! After the entry formalities, we're ready to dive into the local culture of the Kyrgyz capital with a guided tour. Our guide will take us to one of the city's many parks, and we definitely won't miss the Osh Bazaar, the city's largest market, where we can try our first local specialties. Shall we start with Oromo or Piroshki? Take a look at the photos to wet your appetite!
Day 2
On the road to the borders of China
The historic site of Burana and the Ak-Sai Canyon
Our adventure in Kyrgyz land officially kicks off this morning: we'll meet the guide and driver who will accompany us for the next few days! We load our backpacks onto the van and off we go, heading for Lake Ysykköl!
Along the way, we visit Burana, located about 80 km from the capital. The tower, with its funerary monuments, ramparts, the remains of the castle, and three mausoleums: this is all that remains of the ancient city of Balasagyn, founded by the Karakhanids at the end of the 9th century.
The White Canyon and the tradition of eagle hunting
In the afternoon, we head east towards Bokonbaevo. Our first stop will be the Ak Sai Canyon, whose name means “white stream” because you can see traces of dried-up rivers that flowed here many years ago. The rocks range in colour from white to light grey. A short walk will take us to viewpoints offering breathtaking views of this canyon, stretching from the Tien Shan mountains to the shores of Lake Ysykköl.
To wrap up the day in style, at sunset, we’ll meet a falconer who will show us the traditional eagle hunting. In Kyrgyzstan, it's more than just a custom; it's one of the most important traditional games at the Nomad Games. Finally, we get ready for our first night in a yurt, right on the lake shores!
Day 3
From Skazka canyon to Boz-Uchuk Valley, the trek begins!
Start the adventure!
Today marks the beginning of our real adventure: we say goodbye to Bokonbaevo and set off for the starting point of our trek. Our first stop is Skazka Canyon, also known as Fairy Tale Canyon, one of the most spectacular places in the region—a surreal landscape sculpted by wind and rain, where shades of yellow, orange, red, and gray blend into striking rock formations.
After a quick lunch in Karakol, we head to the entrance of the Boz-Uchuk Gorge, where an iconic Russian military vehicle will take us up to around 2,700 meters above sea level. From there, our trek begins!
We’ll cross the mountain pass at 3,516 meters, surrounded by breathtaking scenery, before descending into the valley to reach the first camp at Jergez, located at 2,900 meters.
Ready for our first night at high altitude?
Day 4
The Ailanysh Pass and breathtaking landscapes
Second day of trekking along the Ak-Suu river
After a fantastic breakfast at high altitude, we start our ascent towards the next stop: Lake Ailanysh! We'll take a break on the lake's shores, soaking up the mountain air, before continuing towards the Ailanysh Pass, at a whopping 3676 metres above sea level.
Once we've conquered the pass, we've only got 5km left to go along the Ak-Suu River. We're constantly accompanied by breathtaking landscapes, with views of the surrounding peaks and glaciers. When we reach the camp, we'll get ready for another night in a yurt, but first, we'll cook together with the nomads hosting us!
Day 5
The Altyn-Arashan Valley
Between nature and relaxation
Today’s day will be a bit less strenuous, even though it starts with a bang, with a beautiful climb to Ortok Pass, at an altitude of 3650 metres. The route continues on the eastern bank of the river, towards the day’s final destination, the Altyn-Arashan Valley (2500 m).
In the early afternoon, after a tasty local lunch, we’ll take a short walk to the natural hot springs of Altyn-Arashan, which have made this valley famous since before the Soviet era. On with the swimsuits, a nice hot bath awaits us for complete relaxation!
Day 6
Finally Ala-Kul Lake: we're at 3,900 meters!
The turquoise waters of the most beautiful lake in Kyrgyzstan
Hey explorers, get ready for an incredible day! We're heading south from the Altyn-Arashan valley to a new one. From here, it's an 8km tough climb to the Ala-Kol North pass, sitting at 3906 metres altitude.
After lunch, we'll keep climbing for about 3 hours to the 3,907m of the Ala-Kol North pass – the highest point on our Kyrgyzstan trek. The last 200m feel almost vertical as we scramble up scree slopes beaten by hikers. The view from up here is something else: a fan of peaks over 5000m opens up before us, and the vast Ala-Kol lake stretches out. This mystical lake was first described by a Russian explorer back in 1811. 30 years later, German biologist Alexander Schrenk visited the spot and confirmed the earlier findings. Since then, the lake has been a popular hiking destination, and rumour has it its waters even have healing powers. We'll set up camp at a strategic spot near the lake today, so we can soak it all in at both sunrise and sunset.
Day 7
Sunrise over Ala-Kul Lake and the return to Karakol
Our trek is coming to an end!
For the bravest among us, the day kicks off with a spectacular sunrise over the celestial Tien Shan mountains! Alternatively, we can decide to give our legs a rest and paddle across the lake by kayak. In fact, today we have the last 11 km of descent from Ala Kol lake to Karakol Valley ahead of us.
From the camp, we'll start our descent towards Karakol. It's our final trekking day, so let's soak in the last views of the Kyrgyz mountains. Our final destination is a Soviet-era alpine camp. There, after a tea break, we'll find our driver waiting to take us back to Karakol. Tonight, we have to celebrate our epic achievement properly! Let's pick a restaurant to try the cuisine of Karakol, a crossroads of cultures brought by the caravans of the ancient Silk Road.
Day 8
From Karakol to Bishkek
The last day of Kyrgyzstan
Karakol is known as the gateway to Asia. We'll notice this right away as we explore its most famous spots like the Russian Orthodox Church and the Dungan Mosque. In fact, a Chinese Muslim minority has lived here for years, and the two religions coexist peacefully. Afterwards, we'll head back towards the capital, stopping along the way in the well-known seaside resort of Cholpon-Ata, on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul.
Upon arrival in Bishkek, we'll grab some last-minute souvenirs and get ready for our farewell dinner at a traditional spot to celebrate the end of this incredible journey!
Day 9
Goodbye Kyrgyzstan!
Check-out and goodbyes
What's included
8 nights, including:
3 nights in hotel
1 night in a guesthouse in a twin or triple room with private bathroom
3 nights in a yurt
1 night in a tent
All breakfasts
Private Mercedes Sprinter minibus hire with driver from Day 2 to Day 3 and from Day 7 to Day 8
Hiking guide and assistance from Day 2 to Day 8
Eagle Hunting Show with an eagle hunter on Day 2
Medical and baggage insurance - (coverage limits by destination country/region - €10,000 Italy, €20,000 Europe, €30,000 World, €50,000 USA/Canada)
What's not included
Roundtrip flight to/from destination
- Food and beverages when not specified
Tips for local guides, and driver
Hot Springs on Day 7 - approx. USD5
- All the extras you'll be able to fit in your backpack :)
- All that is not mentioned in "What's included"
Optional activities
Please see below extra optional activities that you can experience during your trip. Your Group Leader will be happy to assist with organizing these activities for the group. Availability may vary depending on location and group preferences.
Please note these activities are provided by third party suppliers and liability rests exclusively with these third party suppliers.
Cooking class - bread making on Day 7 - approx. USD12
Horse Riding or the use of the horse to carry the backpack during trekking days
Additional info
Learn more about accommodation, transport, and other useful travel information.
AccommodationCozy hotels, guesthouses with a local family in Bokonbaevo for an authentic experience with the local community.
Yurt camps set up for the summer season in the trekking areas.
The private room option isn't always available and needs to be agreed upon for the specific date.
- Transport
Van, local transport where possible and private transfers for the itineraries on routes less travelled.
Altitude informationThe itinerary includes a total elevation gain of approximately +2,700 meters, ascending from around 800 meters above sea level in Bishkek to approximately 3500m at Kol-Suu Lake. This altitude change will be covered by van.
- Info on private roomsShow all details
Why WeRoad
Small groups, on average 11 people
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The Group Leaders
Our Group Leaders are chosen because they’re people just like you: passionate travelers who share the experience authentically, while having the skills to take care of the organisation, and help you get the most out of every moment of the trip.
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For this trip, we recommend arriving and departing from these airports.
ArrivalBishkek (FRU)
ReturnBishkek (FRU)
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This is a WeRoadX
A trip designed and created entirely by an experienced WeRoad Travel Group Leader.
This is a trip designed and created entirely by an experienced WeRoad Travel Group Leader. They organise the whole trip: from defining the itinerary to selecting accommodation and on-site experiences. On the WeRoad website you can book the trip and manage it in MyWeRoad, just like any other WeRoad.
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