Hidden Gem

By the footsteps of Tamerlane

A authentic adventure with Kyrgyz nomads on the Great Silk Road.

Duration
8 days
Countries
Kyrgyzstan
Discover the journey
Kel-Kogur lake
Private field journal 8 chapters

The story

The journey

Un programme actif, court mais original

8 days discovering Kyrgyzia with 2 days of trekking in the national park of Chong Kemin and walks at Song Kul's lake.

Route map

The route

Day by day

The journey, day by day

8 chapters

Day 01 Meeting at Bishkek's airport, visit of the capital and Burana tower, then drive to Chong Kemin National park
Day 02 Trek to lake Kel-Kogur - First day hiking of a 2 days trekking to Issyk Kul lake
Day 02

Trek to lake Kel-Kogur - First day hiking of a 2 days trekking to Issyk Kul lake

Chong Kemin Kel-Kogur lake

In the morning, after a short transfer by vehicle along the river canyon Chong Kemin, you will hike to lake Kongur at 2500m. alt. Slopes of this area are covered by fir forests. This mountainous lake has a unique trapezoidal shape. On the shore of the lake, we set up the camp and enjoy the wonderful sceneries around us. Dinner and overnight stay in a tent. (part of a minimum 2 days trekking program to Issyk Kul lake)

Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Kel-Kogur lake
Day 03 Hiking day through the Kungey Alatoo and the pass Koel Toer, then drive to Tamchy
Day 03

Hiking day through the Kungey Alatoo and the pass Koel Toer, then drive to Tamchy

Kel-Kogur lake Tamchy

In the morning, we pass the pass at 3350m. alt. and we go down with a magnificent view of Lake Issyk Kul and the chain of Terskey Alatoo rising to over 5200 meters. By late afternoon, we reach our vehicle and we go along the north shore of Issyk Koel, "warm lake", the second largest alpine lake after Titicaca is the pearl of Kyrgyzstan. We stop in Tamchy, to spend the night. Free time for swimming. Overnight in guesthouse or homestay.

Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Stay Homestay

Kel-Kogur lake
Day 04 Transfer to Song Kul's lake (Tash Doeboe) through the Kalmak Ashuu pass 3446m
Day 04

Transfer to Song Kul's lake (Tash Doeboe) through the Kalmak Ashuu pass 3446m

Tamchy Tash Doeboe (Song Kul)

Morning, drive to Song Kul's lake, at 3016 meter alt. This a pearl of Kyrgyzia, paradise for shepherds who are coing here during summer time with their stocks. Song Kul means the "farest lake". On the road, visit of handicraft women's association in Kochkor. Lunch at the inhabitant. Then drive to the South shore of the Song Kul's lake. Installation in a yurt camp. Free time for walking end of the afternoon. Dinner and night under yurt.

Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Tamchy
Day 05 Discovery's day at Lake Song Kul
Day 05

Discovery's day at Lake Song Kul

Tash Doeboe (Song Kul) Tash Doeboe (Song Kul)

The whole day is at our disposal to enjoy the silence and to discover the daily life of nomadic yurt. (options: demonstration nomadic games; hunt petroglyphs, walk or riding to the lake; discovery of nomadic lifestyle; Kyrgyz cooking classes.) Dinner and overnight in yurt.

Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Petroglyph ibex
Day 06 Drive to Bishkek through Karakitchi pass and Kekemeren valley
Day 06

Drive to Bishkek through Karakitchi pass and Kekemeren valley

Tash Doeboe (Song Kul) Bishkek

In the morning, drive to Kyzyl Oy village where we will have lunch, through the Karakitchi pass 3350 m. Then we drive to the high valley of Suusamyr, visit of the Kojumkul village, name of a Kyrgyz hero of the last century. After, the road cross by a tunnel the mountains of the Kyrgyz Alatoo, and down to Bishkek. Dinner in local restaurant. Night in guesthouse.

Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Tash Doeboe (Song Kul)
Day 07 Enjoy a full day's tour of the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic
Day 07

Enjoy a full day's tour of the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic

Bishkek Bishkek

We will meet at 8 am at your guesthouse.  We will start our walking tour of Bishkek at the Frunze museum, which we will head thought he Panfilov Park, to Ala Too Square, Frunze museum in Oak Park, with a stop at the Museum of Fine Arts, then we will head to Victory square where we will have a traditional lunch.  In the afternoon we will visit Osh bazar where you will be able to get close to local people and buy some souvenirs.  We will be able to enjoy dinner at a traditional restaurant where we will be able to sample many dishes.  After dinner, we will be transferred back to the guesthouse. 

Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Bishkek
Day 08 Transfer from Bishkek to Manas International Airport
Day 08

Transfer from Bishkek to Manas International Airport

Bishkek Manas International Airport

Depending on your flight time, your guide will join you to the airport and help you check in for your flight.  If your flight is later in the day your guide will show you more places in Bishkek before your flight. We hope you enjoyed your trip to Kyrgyzstan and we hope you come back again to explore other counties in Central Asia with us. 

Manas International Airport

Further reading

More from this journey

Practical information

Prepare for the journey

  • All transportation in a private vehicle
  • All airport transfers
  • Accommodation as described in the program
  • Meals (3 per day)
  • Bottled water (when possible) & tea
  • English-speaking trekking guide
  • Pack horses with saddle bags & horsemen
  • Camping & cooking equipment (tents, mats, gas, stove, etc)
  • All the activities listed in the program
  • Entry fees at national parks and/or border zones listed in the program
  • Entry fees at museums and historical sites listed in the program
  • Domestic flights mentioned in the program
  • A contribution to our sustainable development projects
  • Organisation of the trip & local taxes

Reviews of Nomad's Land

Travelers, in their own words

Published reviews of our team and service.

Nous tenions à vous remercier pour l’organisation de notre voyage au Kirghizistan. Ce pays est magnifique avec des personnes très accueillantes. Grâce à l’énergie positive de notre guide Baktygul, nous avons pu entrer en contact avec la population locale, aidée par quelques vodka bien sûr.

Hélène and Stan B.
Nomad's Land
Read the complete review

Nomadsland organized a 5 days 4 nights winter tour from Bishkek to Issyk Kol lake via Chom Keming (horse riding), Jyrgalan (snow shoeing), Karakol (museums) and Bokanbaevo (fairy canyon, 7 bulls, eagle hunting), then back to Bishkek. Nikita, our guide, picked us up from the airport and drove us round the snowy roads in his excellent v8 4wd.

Nick Read the complete review

4 Day Hike through Archa Tor pass It’s my first trip to Kyrgyzstan! My wife and I are independent travelers and prefer the solitude of traveling without guide or porters. I found Aibek Nomad's Land online as we were on a short 5 day trip, 3 or which were full day hikes so transport to and from the exact start and end points were essential.

Marc James Read the complete review

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