Heart of the nomads
A 12-Day Journey Through Kyrgyzstan's Wild Landscapes and Living Traditions
An unforgettable journey through Kyrgyzstan’s stunning mountains, serene lakes, and ancient Silk Road heritage. This exclusive program blends adventure, cultural immersion, and comfort, offering you the best of nomadic traditions and natural beauty.
Day 1 – Arrival in Bishkek & Ala-Archa National Park
Arrival at Manas International Airport. Private transfer to the hotel in Bishkek
Morning: Rest and enjoy breakfast. Optional currency exchange and short city walk.
Afternoon: Drive to Ala-Archa National Park for a light hike amid snow-capped peaks and alpine rivers.
Evening: Welcome dinner at the ethno- complex Supara.
Overnight: Bishkek hotel
Meals: B / L / D
Day 2 – Burana Tower & Chon-Kemin Valley
Scenic drive (~3 hrs) to Chon-Kemin Valley, stopping at the Burana Tower, an 11th-century Silk Road minaret surrounded by ancient stone carvings.
Afternoon: Guided hike (2-4 hrs) through the valley’s contrasting landscapes-forested hills on one side, open steppe on the other.
Evening: Traditional dinner and warm hospitality at a family guesthouse.
Overnight: Guesthouse in Chon-Kemin
Meals: B / L / D
Day 3 – Chon-Kemin – Son-Kul Lake (Nomadic Life on the Plateau)
Morning: After breakfast, embark on a 2-3-hour horseback ride in Chon-Kemin, immersing yourself in breathtaking scenery and experiencing Kyrgyz nature in its most authentic form.
Afternoon: Transfer (~5 hrs) to Son Kul Lake. Drive over the breathtaking Kalmak Ashuu Pass (3,446 m) to reach Son-Kul Lake (3,016 m).
Overnight: Yurt camp (Nomads Yurt or Ak-Say Travel)
Meals: B / L / D
Tip: Nights are cold-bring warm clothes.
Day 4 – Nomadic Adventures at Son-Kul Lake
Morning: 3-4 hr horseback ride in the rolling hills around Son-Kul. Afternoon: Optional swimming in the lake or relaxing by the shore. Short lakeside walk (30 min) and optional 3-4 hr hike in the surrounding highlands.
Visit nomadic shepherd families and see horses, yaks, and sheep grazing freely.
Overnight: Yurt camp
Meals: B / L / D
Tip: Warm layers are essential for the cool evenings.
Day 5 – Song-Kul Lake – Naryn
Morning: After breakfast, drive for approximately 2 hours via the spectacular 33 Parrots Pass, enjoying several photo stops along the way. After descending the pass, visit a beautiful waterfall, where you will spend 1-2 hours relaxing, taking photos, and enjoying a picnic lunch surrounded by nature. Afternoon: Continue to Naryn City and check in to your hotel. Later, enjoy a city tour, including visits to the local museum and mosque, offering insights into the region’s history and culture.
Evening: Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight: Hotel in Naryn.
Meals: B / L / D
Day 6 – Naryn – Kel-Suu
Morning: After breakfast, depart from Naryn and drive through the remote landscapes of At-Bashy District toward the Kok-Kiya Valley, the gateway to Kel-Suu Lake. Along the way, enjoy breathtaking mountain scenery, vast high-altitude pastures, and photo stops at panoramic viewpoints. Afternoon: Arrive at the yurt camp in the Kok-Kiya Valley and check in. After lunch, take a short walk around the valley to enjoy the dramatic alpine scenery and observe local nomadic life. Evening: Dinner at the yurt camp and free time to relax under the star-filled sky.
Overnight: Yurt Camp in Kok-Kiya Valley
Meals: B/L/D
Day 7 – Kel-Suu Lake
Early Morning: After breakfast, set out toward the spectacular Kel-Suu Lake. Depending on your preference, reach the lake by horseback or on foot (approximately 2-3 hours each way). The route passes through stunning mountain landscapes, river crossings, and dramatic rock formations. Arrive at Kel-Suu Lake, one of Kyrgyzstan’s most breathtaking alpine lakes, renowned for its turquoise waters and towering cliffs. Spend time exploring the shoreline, taking photographs, and enjoying the unique atmosphere of this remote natural wonder. Afternoon: Return to the yurt camp by horseback or hiking, have lunch. Overnight: Yurt Camp in Kok-Kiya Valley.
Meals: B / L / D
Day 8 – Kel-Suu & Felt-Making in Kochkor
Morning: After breakfast, transfer (~5 hrs) to Kochkor, a hub of Kyrgyz handicrafts.
Afternoon: Lunch in Kochkor and after participate in a felt-carpet (shyrdak) making demonstration and shop for handmade crafts.
Overnight: Guesthouse in Kochkor
Meals: B / L / D
Day 9 – Kochkor – Bokonbaev
Drive (~3 hrs) along the scenic southern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake. Stop in the village of Kyzyl-Tuu, famous for its generations of master yurt makers. Visit a local family workshop and participate in a yurt-building demonstration to learn about this essential element of Kyrgyz nomadic heritage. Enjoy a traditional homemade lunch with the family. In the afternoon, continue driving to Bokonbaevo. En route, stop at a lakeside yurt camp on the shores of Issyk-Kul Lake, where you can relax on the beach, enjoy the stunning views of the lake and surrounding mountains, or take a refreshing swim. In the evening, enjoy a traditional folklore performance showcasing Kyrgyz music and cultural traditions.
Overnight: Yurt Camp (private toilets and showers)
Meals: B / L / D
Day 10 – Bokonbaev – Karakol Fairy-Tale Canyon & Barskoon Gorge
Morning: Swim in Issyk-Kul Lake.
Late morning: Witness an eagle hunting demonstration with a local falconer and try your hand at archery.
Visit Skazka (Fairy-Tale) Canyon for a 1-hr trek among surreal sandstone formations.
Afternoon: Visit Jeti-Oguz Gorge (Seven Bulls) and hike (~2 hrs) to a panoramic viewpoint.
Evening: Explore Karakol City-Russian Orthodox Church, Dungan Mosque, and the lively bazaar.
Day 11 – Altyn Arashan Hot Springs
Adventure ride by Soviet 6×6 A/C truck to Altyn Arashan Gorge, famous for hot springs, alpine meadows, and pine forests.
Guided hike (2-5 hrs) through mountain landscapes with snow-capped peaks.
Return to Karakol in the evening.
Overnight: Karakol hotel
Meals: B / L / D
Day 12 – Kyrchyn Gorge & Cholpon-Ata
Drive (~1.5 hrs) along Issyk-Kulu2019s northern shore to Kyrchyn Gorge, once the main venue of the World Nomad Games.
Continue to Cholpon-Ata (~1 hr).
Afternoon visits: Ruh Ordo Cultural Complex and the open-air Petroglyphs site.
Final swim in Issyk-Kul.
Overnight: Hotel in Cholpon Ata
Meals: B / L / D
Day 13 – Return to Bishkek
Drive (~3 hrs) back to Bishkek, with a short stop in Balykchy.
Afternoon: Free time for shopping at Osh or Dordoi Bazaar.
Overnight: Bishkek hotel
Meals: B / L / D
What’s Included
Private Transportation – Comfortable, air-conditioned vehicles with professional drivers
Accommodation – Premium hotels (4-5 star), cozy guesthouses, and authentic yurts
Meals – Full board (Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner, selected for quality & authenticity)
Expert Guide – English-speaking professional guide & interpreter
Cultural Experiences – Felt-making, folklore shows, eagle hunting demo, yurt-building, etc.
Horse Rental – For riding at Chon-Kemin and Son-Kul
Entrance Fees – All parks, museums, historical sites, and natural reserves
Taxes & Road Fees – All applicable charges covered
Not Included
International flights
Travel & medical insurance (mandatory)
Personal expenses (souvenirs, laundry, etc.)
Entrance fees to private hot springs (Altyn Arashan)
Alcoholic & bottled beverages
Tips & gratuities
Optional activities not mentioned in the program
Recommended Personal Kit
Riding helmet (not provided, bring your own)
Riding boots or sturdy trekking shoes
Comfortable riding pants / trousers
Layered clothing (base layer, fleece, waterproof jacket)
Riding gloves
Sunglasses, sunscreen & hat
Warm clothes for cool nights (thermal underwear, fleece)
Sleeping bag (comfort rating 0-1 *C)
Daypack (15-20L) for essentials
Personal first aid kit & insect repellent
F.A.Q.
Because it remains one of the few places where you can experience untouched mountains, authentic nomadic culture, and genuine hospitality without mass tourism. Here, you can sleep in a traditional yurt, ride horses across alpine valleys, meet local families, and explore breathtaking landscapes that few travelers have discovered. Kyrgyzstan offers the kind of adventure that feels real, wild, and unforgettable.
Visitors from many countries around the world are able to visit the Kyrgyz Republic visa-free. Whilst there are a handful of countries who can visit the country with no limits on the length of their stay, most countries are limited to a 90, 60 or 30 days stay. There are also many countries around the world for which a visa is still required to visit Kyrgyzstan. (If you need visa, we provide support)
The local currency is the Kyrgyz som (KGS). You can pay in cash almost everywhere. ATMs are available in cities, but in remote areas we recommend carrying cash.
Money exchange – if you plan to exchange USD/EUR to KGS, we recommend to take notes of 50 or 100 USD/EUR without stamps, inscriptions or any other damage, because damaged banknotes are not accepted by banks and exchange offices.
We offer a mix of hotels, guesthouses, yurt and base camps. Staying in a yurt camp is a unique cultural experience, allowing travelers to discover the nomadic lifestyle of Kyrgyzstan while enjoying comfort.
The water in Bishkek is safe to drink, but we recommend visitors boil it before drinking. Bottled water is available almost everywhere in Kyrgyzstan, and is safe to drink.
Traditional Kyrgyz dishes feature a lot of meat and bread, but lots of other foods are available too. The main meats are lamb, beef, and chicken. Pork is hard to find, since the population is majority Muslim. Fresh fruits and vegetables are common, especially in the summer (just make sure to wash them well before eating). There are many restaurants that feature Russian, European, or Chinese dishes, too, especially in Bishkek.
Yes, they can.
Local SIM card can be bought at Kyrgyzstan International airports, in official service centers or in trading centers. The price of a SIM card starts from $5.
You can also buy an e-sim in advance to use it across Kyrgyzstan.
Our tours are suitable for most travelers with a basic level of fitness. The difficulty depends on the itinerary, but most activities are easy to moderate. Some tours include hiking or horseback riding, while others are more relaxed and focused on culture and sightseeing. We always provide detailed information before booking, so you can choose the tour that best matches your experience and fitness level
Yes, we offer tailor-made tours in Kyrgyzstan designed to meet your specific interests and preferences. Whether you’re seeking an adventure through the mountains, a cultural immersion, or a relaxing retreat by one of our stunning lakes, we can create a personalized itinerary that suits your needs. From bespoke hiking trips and cultural experiences to luxury stays and unique local experiences, our team is dedicated to crafting a memorable and customized journey just for you. Feel free to reach out with your travel goals, and we’ll work with you to design the perfect tour of Kyrgyzstan.
The best season is from May to October. Summer is ideal for hiking, horseback riding, and cultural experiences.
Contact us and we’ll help you plan the perfect Kyrgyzstan adventure. Start planning your journey today.