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Off-road tour «High Passes of Kyrgyzstan

KYRGYZ ADVENTURE TRIP

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Tour route

Days with mapped stops: 10 / 10

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KYRGYZ ADVENTURE TRIP

Photos from this journey

Off-road tour «High Passes of Kyrgyzstan — 1

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Off-road tour «High Passes of Kyrgyzstan — 2

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Off-road tour «High Passes of Kyrgyzstan — 3

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Duration10 days

DifficultyChallenging

RegionBishkek / Kyrgyzstan

We offer you to join an amazing trip for 10 days to discover high passes of the land of celestial mountains - Kyrgyzstan.

This tour is designed for self-driving on SUV with technical support and staff (guide, cook and mechanic). This tour passes through the picturesque and rough places, that’s why tourist should have 3 years of driving experience and age over 25 years. Provided cars are insured.

Your itinerary

Day 1

Bishkek - Chunkurchak, up to 100 km

Meeting at Manas airport. At the airport after signing the agreement with car rental agents and paying the insurance, you will be given the documents and keys of the car. Right after receiving the cars, we set out to Kashka-Suu valley with further proceeding to Chunkurchak valley. Picturesque valleys are in 45 km from Bishkek. Reaching the Supara 2 restaurant, lunch and walking around. After lunch, we move to Kara-Bulak hotel complex, which is at the altitude of 1800 m. Accommodation and dinner in Kara-Bulak hotel.

Day 2

Kara-Bulak - Kyzyl-Oy, up to 250 km

After breakfast, we set off on a long journey to Kyzyl-Suu village through the beautiful Too-Ashu pass. The Too-Ashuu pass is a majestic place, which is 135 km away from Bishkek and lies at the altitude of 3400 meters above sea level and on the way to Son-Kul lake. The road, which connects the north and south capitals. This place has amazing landscapes which will take your breath away. After we proceed to Suusamyr valley, which is between Kyrgyz and Talas Ala-too ranges. The Suusamyr valley is located on the altitude of 2000-3200m and its length is 155 km. Suusamyr is one of the best grasslands in Kyrgyzstan. The pass attracts many alpinists, ski lovers and simply people who love fresh mountain air. Accommodation and dinner in CBT guest house in Kyzyl-Oi village.

Day 3

Kyzyl-Oy - Son-Kul lake, up to 150 km

In the morning departure to Son-Kul lake. Son-Kul is an alpine lake in northern Naryn Province, Kyrgyzstan. It lies at an altitude of 3016 m, and has an area of about 270 km2 and volume of 2.64 km3. Lake's maximum length is 29 km, breadth about 18 km, and extreme depth f 13.2 m. It is the second largest lake after Issyk Kul Lake, and the largest fresh water lake in Kyrgyzstan. Its name, meaning "following lake", is popularly considered to refer to this relation. It is surrounded by a broad summer pasture and then mountains.

There are no facilities on the lake, such as electricity and so on, but local herders will provide supplies and rent yurts. The area is inhabited and safely accessible only from June to September. There are a lot of horses and other animals and people live only in yurts. Here you will feel the real nomad spirit. The mean temperature in the lake basin is −3.5 °C (25.7 °F) with mean temperature of −20 °C (−4 °F) in January, and 11 °C (52 °F) in July.

Accommodation and dinner in yurt camp at Son-kul lake. Demonstration of national equestrian games Kok-Boru, Kyz-Kumai and Tyiyn-Enmei.

Day 4

Son-Kul lake - Naryn, up to 120 km

Our next point is Naryn town, which is located in Naryn kettle at the feet of Naryn-Too range at the altitude of 2000 m, at the shore of Naryn river, on the crossing of Bishkek-Torugart highways. We will descent along the pass named «33 parrots». On arrival to Naryn accommodation and dinner in hotel «Khan-Tengri/Celestial mountains».

Day 5

Naryn - Tosor, up to 230 km

We will have exciting off road tour by highland road, which connects Issyk-kul and Naryn regions. On the way, we will pass through Tosor pass, which is located on Terskey-Ala-Too range at altitude 3893m, where amazing view on Issyk-kul lake opens. Tosor pass is difficult enough for passing, steep descent and stony snowy pathways. On the way to Tosor pass, there is a village and encampment of ancient people, where probably different tools were produced. On arrival main highway we will move to to Tamga village accommodation and dinner in family guest house.

Day 6

Tosor - Karakol, up to 150 km.

Next point is Djety-Oguz. On the way, we will visit main local attractions, Broken heart, Seven bulls, brief walking in Djety-Oguz Canyon, which looks like small Grand Canyon. Further, we will proceed by cars to Kok-Jayik valley and then walking to the waterfall which name is Lady’s Plat (40 min). After lunch we will proceed deeper to Yrdyk valley, on the way we will see a lot of archa bushes (Turkic names of the different species of large juniper tree). Local people use “archa” for cleaning the air from germs, disease and evil spirits. Also we will pass through grazing animals and we will see nomad way of life. We will have an opportunity to try national beverage “kymys”. Reaching Karakol town, accommodation and dinner in hotel Green Yard/Amir/Altamira/Tagaytay. After dinner folk show of local group Azem, who will sing national songs with playing on national instruments.

Day 7

Karakol - Sary-Jaz - Karakol, up to 350 km

Early in the morning (around 7:00 am) we departure to Sary-Djaz valley via Chon-Ashuu pass, which is at the altitude of 3822m. The landscapes at that day will be most beautiful during our trip. The Sary-Jaz valley is located at the altitude of 2700-3600m.

There are peak Semenov 5816m and peak Karakol 5280m at the upper part of Sary-Jaz valley. We will visit cave “Ak-Chunkur” (white hole) which is on the height of 3150 7 km away to the east from Echkili-Tash. The length of this cave is 70m, the height 10m. The traces of an ancient man and cave paintings were discovered in this cave. In this mountainous kingdom, many animals inhabit such as: argali, ibex and others. In Echkili-Tash you can see many snow peaks. You can see summit of famous Khan-Tengri peak (7010m) in clear weather. After lunch moving to Karkyra through Turuk pass 3350m. This place well known for its green diversity.

We will visit Tamerlane’s stones at Karkyra valley. There are many beekeepers in summer time. Not far from Santash village, there are kurgans and remains of the Caravanserais, where the Tamerlane’s troop used to pass. The legend has it that they were composed by the army of Tamerlane when he went to the West with Great War. When the commander went on his campaign, he ordered each soldier to take a stone with them, and here, at the pass, they all laid these stones into a large mound. Upon return, soldiers who survived took a stone each from the mound and placed it by their side. Therefore, there are now two mounds made of stone, one of which became a monument of the victims who died on a foreign land. Arrival to Karakol via Basharin valley. Accommodation and dinner in hotel Green Yard/ Tagaytay/ Amir.

Day 8

Karakol - Cholpon-Ata, up to 190 km

On the way to Cholpon-Ata along the north shore of Issyk-kul lake we will visit Semenov gorge with further proceeding to Grigoriyev gorge and visit small mountain lakes.

On arrival to Cholpon-Ata accommodation and dinner in hotel Three crowns/Akun/Zeto.

Day 9

Cholpon-Ata - Bishkek, up to 300 km

After breakfast we set off to Bishkek. On arrival to Bishkek – lunch in popular national café named Faiza, accommodation in hotel Asia mountains/Green city/Deluxe hotel. A brief town sightseeing and return cars. Dinner in traditional restaurant Supara.

Day 10

Bishkek- Manas airport

Transfer to the airport. Finish of service.

What is included

Meeting at the airport and transfer back to the airport at the end of the program
Car rent (SUV) during the full period of tour (Toyota 4runner/Sequoia/GX470)
English speaking guide, mechanic and cook on technical SUV
Three meals a day during the tour according to the program
Festive dinner in traditional Supara restaurant (except alcohol drinks)
Accommodation and dinners in hotels and guest houses
Double or Twin accommodation
Border permissions to get to Sary-Jaz and Karkyra valley
Admission fee in national valleys
Folk show in Karakol
Demonstration of national equestrian games in Son-Kol lake