Our most-booked combination. A horseback day at Son-Kul, off-road to the remote Kel-Suu basin, and to close the loop around Issyk-Kul — all carried by legendary Kyrgyz hospitality.
From Bishkek into the Tian Shan: via Kochkor and the Kalmak-Ashuu pass up to the high plateau at Son-Kul — one night in a yurt, a horseback day on the lake. Then over the 32-Parrot pass into the Kel-Suu basin near the Chinese border, returning via Naryn, Bokonbaevo with its eagle-hunting demonstration, Skazka Canyon, Jety-Ögüs, Karakol, Chon Kemin and Burana Tower.
Drive to the village of Kochkor, a former trading post on the Silk Road. Photo stop at the Orto-Tokoi reservoir. Visit local artisans for a Shyrdak demonstration — the history and making of Kyrgyz felt rugs.
Drive to Son-Kul, Kyrgyzstan's largest freshwater lake at 3,016 m. Cross the Kalmak-Ashuu pass to the north shore. Check in at the eco-yurt camp and join in baking traditional national bread. In the evening, stories of the nomad queen Kurmanjan Datka against the dusk-lit lake.
Drive toward the Kok-Kiya valley, home to Kel-Suu lake. Views from the 32-Parrot pass (3,600 m), picnic by a quiet river. After a checkpoint, arrival at the yurt camp near the lake.
After breakfast, a three-hour horseback ride through the Kok-Kiya valley — alpine pastures, rivers, herds of yaks and horses against glacial peaks. At Kel-Suu: sheer rock walls, deep black water. Drive back to Naryn via the checkpoint.
A scenic drive from Naryn to Bokonbaevo on the south shore of Issyk-Kul. Eagle-hunting demonstration with a Berkutchi — a glimpse of one of the oldest traditions of Kyrgyz nomads. Dinner and overnight at a yurt camp.
Off to the mysterious "Fairy-Tale" canyon with its red clay rocks; a short walk. On to Barskoon Gorge with its waterfalls and dense spruce. At the entrance to Jety-Ögüs the rock "Broken Heart" greets you, with the "Seven Bulls" rising behind it. Overnight in Karakol.
Visit the Semenovka gorge, the village of Kyrchyn (a venue of the World Nomad Games) and Sutuu-Bulak lake. Down to the Grigorevka gorge to meet a beekeeper — including the world's most expensive white honey. Stop in Cholpon-Ata at the Ruh Ordo cultural complex with its five chapels for the four world religions. On into the Chon Kemin valley.
A four-to-five-hour morning hike through the Chon Kemin gorge. Then on to Bishkek with a stop at Burana Tower — its open-air museum and Balbal stone figures. A farewell evening in Bishkek over tea at a local restaurant.
Our most-booked trip — with a horseback day, a night in a yurt, and an eagle-hunting demonstration.
