Kyrgyzstan Explorer
Group Tour
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Overview
Kyrgyzstan is quite simply one of the most beautiful countries on earth. The aptly named Tien Shan or “Mountains of Heaven” that stretch across its length and breadth are lush and green, high and wild, and are dissected by sweeping steppe lands, primal forests, crystal streams and turquoise lakes.
Far away, scratching the belly of the endless sky is a never-changing vista of lofty snow-capped peaks. With 90% of the country lying above 1500m this is very much a destination ...
Kyrgyzstan is quite simply one of the most beautiful countries on earth. The aptly named Tien Shan or “Mountains of Heaven” that stretch across its length and breadth are lush and green, high and wild, and are dissected by sweeping steppe lands, primal forests, crystal streams and turquoise lakes.
Far away, scratching the belly of the endless sky is a never-changing vista of lofty snow-capped peaks. With 90% of the country lying above 1500m this is very much a destination for lovers of epic mountain scenery and this comprehensive “Kyrgyzstan only” trip seeks to do justice to one of our favourite countries.
From the beautiful alpine scenery of Sary Chelek and the ancient walnut forests of Arslanbob, to the dramatic Silk Road valley of Tash Rabat and the endless grasslands that surround Son Kul, we’ll not only be endlessly awed by the stunning landscapes of the “Switzerland of Central Asia”, but in addition we’ll meet the nomads who call this land home and who are amongst the most welcoming people on the planet.
HIGHLIGHTS
At a glance
MEALS
TRANSPORT
On this tour we will use minibuses and our feet(!). There is also the option to go horse riding.
GROUP SIZE
EXPERT TEAM
ACCOMMODATION
ENTRANCE FEES
FITNESS RATING
WILD MILES
ACCOMMODATION
As an overall ethos, wherever possible we aim to use characterful accommodation that enhances the overall travel experience, not just offers a bed for the night. This can obviously vary dramatically from country to country and from trip to trip. On this particular trip we will stay in a wide variety of accommodation, ranging from hotels and guesthouses to yurts and homestays as part of local community-based tourism projects.
In the yurts and homestays it may be necessary to share a room/yurt with up to 4 or 5 people. In the yurts, you should be prepared for long-drop toilet facilities and no showers for part of the trip. Please note that the accommodation mentioned in the itinerary is intended as a guide only and is always subject to availability.
FITNESS RATING
LOW: You should be comfortable walking around towns and cultural sites. May include some optional walks (typically 1-2hrs).LOW/MODERATE: May be of a long duration and/or involve numerous border-crossings. May include easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-3hrs/day). You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle.
MODERATE: May include several easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-5hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle. Previous experience of similar trips helpful.
MODERATE/HIGH: May involve several days of moderate hiking (up to 3-6 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
HIGH: May involve several days of moderate/strenuous trekking (up to 4-7 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a very fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
Wild Miles Club
When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:
| Blue | More than 10,000 points | 2.5% discount |
| Bronze | More than 30,000 points | 5% discount |
| Silver | More than 45,000 points | 7.5% discount |
| Gold | More than 60,000 points | 10% discount |
Map & Itinerary
Individual departures may vary so please refer to the information in the tour specific links in the Dates and Prices section below
Day 1 Join tour in Bishkek
Day 1 Join tour in Bishkek
The tour starts around lunchtime in Bishkek. This afternoon we will have a look around this city, one of the world’s more relaxed capitals, visiting the excellent National History Museum and taking a wander around one of the bustling bazaars.
Day 2 Bishkek - Chychkan Gorge
Day 2 Bishkek - Chychkan Gorge
Leaving the capital today, it is not long before we get into the mountain scenery for which Kyrgyzstan is so rightly famed. Our route will take us over two mountain passes - the dramatic Tuu Ashuu (3586m) and the Ala Bel (3184m) which in Kyrgyz means “colourful pass”. As we travel through the Suusamyr Valley we will make several stops for some short acclimatisation walks and opportunities hopefully to meet some of the nomads who are often found here in the summer. We should be able to see their traditional yurts; observe mare milking and see how they control their huge flocks of sheep. This is a great introduction to the life of the nomadic shepherd. Upon arrival at Chychkan Gorge there should be time to explore some of the surrounding area. Driving distance 250km, 5 hours approx.
Day 3 Chychkan Gorge - Sary Chelek
Day 3 Chychkan Gorge - Sary Chelek
With an early departure from Chychkan, we aim to arrive by mid-afternoon at Sary Chelek, which was included in the list of UNESCO Protected Biosphere Reserves in 1978. This is one of Kyrgyzstan’s least visited but most striking locations. Centred around a spectacular lake, which sits at an altitude of 1873m, Sary Chelek is almost alpine in appearance and provides some of the finest scenery in Central Asia. We base ourselves here for two nights. Driving distance 280km, 5-6 hours approx.
Day 4 Sary Chelek
Day 4 Sary Chelek
Today we plan to head out with a picnic lunch and take an easy but exhilarating walk between and around two of the lakes of Sary Chelek. Being home to over 1000 species of plant, 160 species of bird and 34 different types of mammal we can never be sure of exactly what we might see, but the views all around are spectacular.
Approx. 5 hours walk, 8 km, altitude from 1800 to 2000 m.
Day 5 Sary Chelek - Arslanbob
Day 5 Sary Chelek - Arslanbob
Leaving Sary Chelek this morning we head south towards Arslanbob village. Considered to be one of the country’s most attractive villages, it not only sits in the middle of a vast walnut forest, but it is also interestingly predominantly inhabited by ethnic Uzbeks. On arrival we will visit the local bazaar and settle in to our community-based homestay, where we stay for the next two nights. Driving distance 220km, 4 hours approx.
Day 6 Arslanbob
Day 6 Arslanbob
Today we will have the whole day to explore on foot the surrounds of Arslanbob and to see its famous walnut forests, as well as some of the waterfalls and streams which dot the region. The walnut forests are believed to pre-date the 11th century and may even date back to the times of Alexander the Great. In fact legend has it that Alexander brought back large quantities of the nuts from Central Asia, but had to give them up once he reached Greece as payment to the boatmen who transported his troops. While this may just be the stuff of legend, what is certainly true is that Central Asian walnuts regularly formed part of the goods that were transported along the Silk Road, branches of which ran close to Arslanbob. Those preferring a less active day can take shorter walks and relax amidst the beautiful scenery of this small village.
Approx. 4-5 hours walk, 10 km, altitude from 1600 to 1800 m. Optional afternoon walk: 3 hours, 3-4 km, altitude 1600-1800 m.
Day 7 Arslanbob - Kazarman
Day 7 Arslanbob - Kazarman
We have a long drive today through the country’s interior as we head through the central ranges of the Tien Shan over the Kaldama Ashuu pass (3062m) to Kazarman. This remote town sits on the Naryn River, one of the major tributaries of the Syr Darya River which was known to Alexander and the ancient Greeks as the Jaxartes. Driving distance 230km, 8-9 hours approx.
Day 8 Kazarman - Son Kul (3,016M)
Day 8 Kazarman - Son Kul (3,016M)
Leaving Kazarman this morning we drive over the Moldo Ashuu pass (3660m), cross the Naryn River and head for Son Kul, a spectacular high mountain lake, to stay in our yurt camp. Arriving late afternoon, we will have a chance to venture out and meet the local nomads who spend their summers here. Driving distance 200km, 6 hours approx.
Day 9 Son Kul
Day 9 Son Kul
Today there will opportunities for full or half day walks (or horse rides) up into the hills to enjoy the mind-blowing views over this amazing lake. Alternatively, those wishing to can just hang out at the yurt camp and enjoy some down time. We also hope to be able to observe a game of kok buru (perhaps better known by its Afghan name buzkashi) in which riders compete to place a headless goat in a goal!
Approx. 3-4 hours walk before noon. 4-5 km, altitude 3000-3100 m.
Day 10 Son Kul - Tash Rabat (2,900-3,100M)
Day 10 Son Kul - Tash Rabat (2,900-3,100M)
This morning we’ll take another beautiful drive on to Tash Rabat, the famous ancient Silk Road caravanserai, where we will spend the next two nights. Dinner will be provided by the family of Jergal, the caretaker of the caravanserai with whom we have been staying for over a decade. Driving distance 230km, 5 hours approx.
Day 11 Tash Rabat
Day 11 Tash Rabat
Today is free to explore the stunning mountain surroundings. The walking in this area is wonderful and those wishing to ride also have the chance do so. We might head up to the 3,500m Tash Rabat Pass or follow another beautiful circular route, or you could just do your own thing. This valley, just 35km as the crow flies from the Chinese border, is lush and green, groaning with horses, yaks and sheep and the nomads who live by them. We will take a packed lunch with us, as the ride or walk will take most of the day. We’ll have a traditional dinner again with our friends.
Approx. 3-4 hours walk before noon. 3-4 km, 3100-3300 m.
Day 12 Tash Rabat - Naryn - Kochkor - Bokonbaev
Day 12 Tash Rabat - Naryn - Kochkor - Bokonbaev
This morning we’ll drive on to Naryn, stopping en route at At Bashy to view the 11th century ruins here. Continuing over the 3030m Dolon Pass, we will stop for lunch in Kochkor. There, we will meet a local women’s cooperative to learn more about the felt-making process and how they embroider the famed Shyrdaks – traditional Kyrgyz carpets. Reaching the southern shore of Issyk Kul Lake, we will stop off at the village of Kyzyl-Tuu to find out more about yurt production from the experts! Our final destination will be Bokonbaev Village, where we will spend the next two nights. Driving distance 350km, 5-6 hours approx.
Day 13 Bokonbaev – Fairy Tale Canyon – Jeti-Oguz Canyon - Bokonbaev
Day 13 Bokonbaev – Fairy Tale Canyon – Jeti-Oguz Canyon - Bokonbaev
Another day in Kyrgyzstan, another glorious hike! First up is Fairy Tale Canyon, which is in the name really. Set in the region of Kadji Sai, this unique magma formation is bursting with colour and makes for a fascinating wander. Continuing east, our next stop will be Jeti-Oguz Canyon. Here we have views on to the famed rock formations that are the Broken Heart and Seven Bulls, enjoying a picnic lunch. Our hike of approximately 2.5 hours will take us deep into the canyon to the Girl’s Braids Waterfall. Your Tour Leader will no doubt have many a tale to tell in this magical setting. Driving distance 280km, 5-6 hours approx.
Fairytale canyon walk: Approx. 1 hour, 1-2 km, 1600-1700 m.
Jeti-Oguz Canyon walk: Approx. 2-3 hours before noon, 2 km, 2200-2400 m.
Day 14 Bokonbaev - Bishkek
Day 14 Bokonbaev - Bishkek
Today we journey back to Bishkek, but not before meeting an Eagle Hunter and their Golden Eagle – witnessing this ancient nomadic tradition first-hand. We will also have a chance to visit the restored 11th century Burana Tower, once part of the Silk Road city of Balasagun. Returning to city life, we will check in to our hotel in time to freshen up for our final dinner together. Driving distance 300km, 5 hours approx.
Day 15 Tour ends Bishkek
Day 15 Tour ends Bishkek
The tour ends after breakfast today at the hotel
ACCOMMODATION USED ON THIS TOUR
B Hotel, Bishkek
B Hotel offers modern amenities and spacious guest rooms, all within a ten minute walk from Ala Toor Square. The décor is light and airy, making use of the large windows in each room. Some rooms also come with a private balcony, a great spot for a morning coffee. Just outside the lobby is a seating area leading out onto the street. The restaurant is known for its Italian menu from Chef Roberto Ricci using seasonal products and European imports, we recommend the pizza. Additionally, there are bikes you can use for exploring the city independently.
Son Kul Lake Yurt Camp, Son Kul Lake
This authentic yurt camp provides the ultimate adventure experience, sleeping in traditional nomadic tents beside the beautiful Son Kul. Surrounded by roaming herds of cattle, horses and goats, the snow-capped peaks and an impressive alpine lake, the camp has an inspiring backdrop to the puffing yurt chimneys and nomadic life. The camp itself is comprised of ten cosy yurts with original décor and traditional Kyrgyz Felt carpets – each of which sleeps up to five people. With simple wooden beds, clean bed linen, blankets, pillows and a stove lit each night before dinner, your stay will be both warm and comfortable. Nearby there are two larger yurts used for dining where you can sample hearty local cooking and even fresh fish caught from the lake. After a full day’s activities, riding, walking and exploring the surrounding area, a session in the camp’s homemade, rustic sauna is a relaxing experience.
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Accommodation displayed here should be taken as a guide only. *Please refer to the Detailed Itinerary of your individual departure for more information.
PRIVATE HOLIDAYS: DATES DON’T FIT?
All group tours can be taken on a private basis.
Additional Details
Responsible Travel
With local people, culture and eco-systems in mind, responsible travel and sustainable tourism are at the core of Wild Frontiers. We believe that a successful trip not only delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our travellers but also benefits the people and places we visit.
When designing our tours, we actively seek out experiences that have a positive impact on the communities and precious environments we visit - from supporting social enterprises; resting our heads in rural homestays; and eating at locally owned restaurants; to helping fund conservation projects that protect wildlife and their habitats.
Visit the Responsible Travel area of our website to read more, including the work of the Wild Frontiers Foundation through which we fundraise to aid community empowerment and education projects.
Travel, Discover, Help
For every passenger that our local agent in Kyrgyzstan hosts, $1 per day is donated to their charitable project during your stay.
Travel, Discover, Help enables children from orphanages to learn more about Kyrgyzstan, by offering excursions to the countryside and events throughout the year.
Additionally, they provide 40,498 days of work for locals annually and support ecological campaigns - transporting waste from glaciers and mountain gorges across this beautiful country.
Reducing Single Use Plastic
We recognise the environmental issues and challenges around single-use plastic in many countries we visit and are actively working with our partners on the ground to reduce plastic waste on our tours and within the hotels and restaurants we visit. You can help to reduce your personal plastic waste by taking a refillable, filtered water bottle with you on your trip. Filtered water bottles can be refilled from water sources including your hotel room and restaurant taps, drinking fountains and refill stations. Every time you refill your bottle without the use of single-use plastic, you will be helping to reduce waste and protect the environment. Filtered Water Bottles | Wild Frontiers (wildfrontierstravel.com)
Getting There
If you would like us to send you a quote for the suggested tour flights or on any alternative flight that may suit you better, please let us know, noting that for our US clients, we will most likely refer you to one of our preferred partners. For this trip our suggested flights from the UK (subject to change) are shown below.
If you wish to arrange your own flights you are completely free to do so and in this case we can arrange any transfers or supplementary accommodation that you may require. However please note that if you are planning on making your own flight arrangements, we recommend that you first check with us to see if the trip is guaranteed. We then suggest that you purchase flights that are flexible and ideally refundable as due to the nature of adventure travel, itineraries and destination accessibility can change at any time. For more information, please refer to our booking conditions.
| Flight Code | Departing | Arriving |
|---|---|---|
| TK 1986 | London Heathrow (LHR) 16:40 | Istanbul (IST) 22:35 |
| TK 344 | Istanbul (IST) 00:45 | Bishkek Airport (FRU) 08:55 |
| TK 345 | Bishkek Airport (FRU) 10:20 | Istanbul (IST) 13:20 |
| TK 1971 | Istanbul (IST) 14:45 | London Heathrow (LHR) 16:45 |
Visas & Vaccinations
VISAS
Visas are necessary for many of the destinations we travel to and while we aim to provide you with the most up-to-date information, requirements frequently change and as such for the latest advice we advise that you check with the relevant embassies or contact a reputable visa agency. More details can be found here - https://www.wildfrontierstravel.com/visa
For this tour UK passport holders currently do not require a visa for Kyrgyzstan.
Passports should ideally be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the end of your tour.
Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements.
VACCINATIONS & ADDITIONAL TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements for travellers to Kyrgyzstan.
For all destinations, please make sure you are up-to-date with any standard vaccinations (e.g. MMR, Hepatitis A, Tetanus) as recommended by your local health care provider.
For the most up-to-date information on all vaccination requirements and the most suitable anti-malarial tablets, we strongly suggest that you seek advice from your local travel centre or consult an official travel health website such as www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk or www.travelhealthpro.org.uk
Covid Testing: No mandatory testing is currently required for vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers.
If necessary further details will be sent out to you upon booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas & vaccinations are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client.
Extensions
If you have more time available, why not arrive early to adjust to a new time zone or just to get a feel for the country before your tour starts? Alternatively, you might choose to allow a few extra days after the tour to relax or to undertake some further exploration.
The choice is completely yours and we can usually arrange anything from simply additional accommodation and transfers to full tailor-made itineraries*. Please contact the office for more details and to discuss your requirements.
*Please note bespoke, tailor-made itineraries need to be a minimum of 7 days and we can only offer them in countries where we have a tailor-made expert
Governmental Travel Advice
Many governments issue advice which highlights potential hazards their citizens might experience when travelling abroad. We strongly suggest you refer to your country’s particular advisory site before booking and contact us if you have any queries or concerns. Click to follow links to the advice of the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or the US State Department.
Non-UK citizens should consult the travel advice of their respective governments.
Key Information
CLIMATE
The weather conditions can be extremely varied during this tour. In the mountains you will often be travelling at heights in excess of 3000 metres, and even in the middle of summer it can turn bitter with snow falling, although on average at this time of year we would expect temperatures in the early 20s (C). At the same time mercury in the thermometers of Bishkek can be nudging 40C.
IS THIS TRIP FOR ME?
It may sound obvious but Wild Frontiers tours are not always for everyone and it is important to us that the tour you choose is the most suitable. All our tours have a fitness rating as a guideline but you should check the day-by-day itinerary carefully. In certain instances we may ask you to complete a travel questionnaire before confirming your booking in order to ensure your suitability. Should you have any concerns about your ability to partake in any aspect of the tour then please contact the office.
KEY ASPECTS TO CONSIDER
Anyone in a reasonable state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure should be perfectly able to cope with this tour, as many of the activities are optional.
Please note that in the yurts and homestays it may be necessary to share a room/yurt with up to 4 or 5 people.
In the yurts, you should be prepared for long-drop toilet facilities and no showers for part of the trip. But don’t panic too much… this is genuine adventure travel and your overall experience will easily make up for the lack of mod cons!
There are also some long drives involved in this tour due to the distances we need to cover, but the changing scenery
throughout make these an interesting aspect of the trip.
Please be advised that on this trip vegetarians can be catered for, but the selection and variety is likely to be limited.
THE NATURE OF ADVENTURE TRAVEL
We feel that it’s worth pointing out that while we will always strive to stick as close to the stated itinerary as possible, it may be necessary from time to time to make changes to our itineraries or services (due to weather, political and religious influences etc.) and this can happen with little or no notice. This unpredictability can be one of the most exciting aspects of adventure travel and for many of our clients often leads to unexpected highlights as the tour-leader necessarily adapts the tour to the changing conditions. However we are aware that this lack of assuredness may not suit everyone. As such, with the greatest respect, if you are someone who needs to know that everything will happen exactly as planned, we would kindly suggest that perhaps our tours are not for you. Adventure travel can be infectious and once you’ve caught the bug, it is likely to never leave you, but especially if this is your first such tour we would strongly urge you to give us a call if you have any concerns whatsoever about your suitability for this trip.
TRAVELLING SOLO AND SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS
As a company approximately 70% of our clients are solo travellers, so it’s very unlikely you’ll be alone!
Our prices are typically based on twin-share accommodation but single supplements are not compulsory for any Wild Frontiers tour. If you prefer not to pay a single supplement we’ll pair you with someone else of the same sex for you to share with throughout the trip.
On this trip, if you do opt to pay for a single supplement then please note that it will cover you for Bishkek and Chychkan Gorge only.
Please note that paying a single supplement entitles you to lone occupancy of a single room. In many cases these rooms will be of the same size as a double/twin room, but in some cases they may be smaller.
INSURANCE
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours. You should be aware that due to some of the geographical areas visited and some of the activities included on certain of our trips some standard insurance policies may not always provide adequate cover. As such we strongly recommend that you purchase a policy that adequately covers your trip. Please see the Insurance section for more details.
General Information
TOUR PRICE
All our tours are priced on a land-only basis, giving you maximum flexibility when deciding how to get to and from your tour.
DEPOSIT
A 10% deposit is required to confirm your booking.
PROTECTION FOR YOUR MONEY
For further details please see our travelling with peace of mind page
WILD MILES
This tour will earn you 6826 Wild Miles
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.
Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour/nationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatory
Tips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documents
International Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UK
Airport Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
WILD FRONTIERS COMMUNITY
If you’re still not sure if this trip is right or just want to see get some different perspectives, then why not have a look at the wide variety of resources we have on our website? Browse our community section to read our blogs, watch videos and find out about our events.
WHY WILD FRONTIERS?
We are frequently asked what makes Wild Frontiers different from other tour operators. Visit our Why Wild Frontiers page to find out.