Hiking, Lakes, Mountains & Cities

A Cultural and Active Adventure in Kyrgyzstan

DAY 1 Depart for Bishkek

Your adventure in Kyrgyzstan begins today with a four-hour flight from the UK to Istanbul. From here, you'll connect to your second flight to Bishkek in the far north of Kyrgyzstan, which takes five hours and arrives the following morning.

DAY 2 From Bishkek to Son Kul Lake

This morning you will be met by your private guide and driver and transferred south to Son Kul lake. This is a long drive but worth it for the epic scenery en route, especially over the last four hours of the journey. The road to the lake lies through Boom Gorge, Orto Tokoi Reservoir, and the dramatic Kalmak Ashuu pass which sits at a lofty at 11,300ft high. Along the way you'll stop at a local family house in Kochkor for a light meal before you make the final ascent to Son Kul lake along one of the most scenic and beautiful roads in the world with hair pin bends that twist and turn up the mountain side with verges filled with wildflowers and the sound of the occasional squark of a skittish marmot.

Your destination is just as beautiful as the journey, so be sure to soak up your surroundings as you arrive at your yurt camp at Som Kul - a perfect blue lake ringfenced by meadow and mountains. In late afternoon enjoy a sunset walk down to the lake to watch nomads herding their horses. Get cosy in your yurts before having supper in the communal dining tent; the food here is hearty, wholesome and delicious!

DAY 3 Depart Son Kul Lake for Karakol Town

After breakfast it's time to depart this beautiful area and head to another - the southern shore of Issyk Kul lake and onto Karakol town. This is a long journey, taking over six hours, but along the way you'll go through the most beautiful pass known as 33 Parrots Waterfall. At the foot of the pass you can take an optional hike to the waterfall, formed by the only river flowing out of Song Kul lake, then continue on for lunch with a local family in Korchor. You could also stop at the fairytale canyon of Skazka - a scenic spot with the dark blue lake of Issy Kul in the background. On your trip you'll also make a visit to Bokonbaevo village, where you will stop to meet a hunter and his eagle. There are two types of demonstration on offer, either hunting with a live rabbit, or hunting with a fox skin. After the demonstration there will be time to ask the hunter about the tradition of eagle hunting and you may want to have a go at holding the bird.

On arrival to Karakol town, check in and have supper in a local restaurant.

DAY 4 From Karakol Gorge to Ala Kul Lake

Wake up in your little tent this morning and after a hearty breakfast in the communal dining tent, select your picnic lunch and start the descent along the gorge about for about 0.6 miles. You'll cross the river over a bridge and head into the forest. This is a long ascent through a forest that finishes at a steep slope covered with grass. The trail turns into a winding path and arrives at the Sirota mountain hut, a log hut that's reminiscent Peter and the Wolf. The carpenter and mountaineer who built it created a table, benches and fireplace inside, and he also sculpted a number of animals and idols carved into wood around the hut. This hut is reminiscent of a fairytale scene, and is the perfect place to rest and explore the carvings whilst enjoying a snack.

Later in your hike the trail goes up higher, leaving the forest behind to instead follow along the river, eventually reaching a beautiful waterfall that flows down from Ala Kol Lake. Your hike will finish when you arrive at your Ala Kol tent camp which sits at a at almost 12,000ft high. Arriving late afternoon, you'll have time to rest before dinner in the communal dining tent, possibly with fellow hikers.

DAY 5 Altyn Arashan Gorge to Karakol town

The next stop on your adventure in Kyrgyzstan is Altyn Arashan. Founded in 1963, this picturesque location on the banks of the Arashan River is famous its hot springs and its incredible natural beauty. The northern slopes of the bank are covered with fir trees with snow capped peaks providing a backdrop - it's a spectacular finish to your hike. Next, tansfer to Cholpon Ata town in a fantastic ancient Russian military truck that bumps and grinds down the rough track back into civilization in Karakol. Once there you will meet your private driver and go to have a celebratory lunch in a local restaurant.

After lunch head to your local centrally located hotel to rest before you head out for an afternoon of sightseeing in Karakol. You'll visit the Dungan mosque, an unusual unique building in the style of a Chinese pagoda; and the Russian Orthodox Holy Trinity Church built of wood without a single nail.

Dinner tonight is with a local Dungan family and you can even try your hand at making laghman - the traditional delicious noodle dish.

DAY 6 Karakol Town to Cholpan Ata

After breakfast it's time to depart Karakol and head to the north side of Issy Kul lake and the fantastic open-air museum that is Cholpon Ata town. The journey takes around two-and-a-half hours and if you fancy it and the weather is nice you may be able to stop for a swim in the lake en route. Here, visit the open-air Petroglyphs Museum, which is home to some petroglyphs that date back to the Sak-Usun period from ninth century BC to the third century AD. The territory where the Petroglyphs are found lies below the Kungey Alatoo Mountains and is overlooking the lake, meaning that your dose of culture and history is enveloped in scenic views.

In the late afternoon check into your hotel on Issyk Kul lake for one night and enjoy dinner in a local restaurant.

DAY 7 Back to Bishkek

Depart Cholpan Ata this morning and head west back towards the capital, Biskey for the final full day of your adventure in Kyrgyzstan. The total driving time today isa round six hours, but during the journey you can visit the UNESCO site known as Burana Tower - originally of great importance on the Silk Road, all that is left of this ancient city is the minaret tower and some Turkish bulbuls (grave markers) that have been moved here.

The site is fascinating and it's worth spending a good while simply wandering around it. After you're done meandering, have lunch in a local restaurant before continuing the journey back to the capital to check into your hotel for your last night.

After you've checked in to you hotel and freshed up, the evening is yours to explore some of the city's grandiose architecture, including Victory Square, the Square of the Revolution, and the National Hero Manas. Witness the spectacle of the changing of the guards and perhaps finish with an optional folklore show at a good local restaurant.