Day 01 Almaty
Arrival in Almaty.
Day 02 (Almaty – Bishkek)
Arrival in Almaty in the morning. Our local Guide/ Driver will be there with our TLC Sign to meet & welcome you. After clearing the Kazath/ Kyrgyzstan border at Korday, we will continue our drive to Bishkek about 230 km. away. Enroute, we will stop for early lunch at Avrasia – a nice Turkish style restaurant.
Enjoy the changing landscapes from city to countryside and the snow-capped mountain views as we slowly make our way to Bishkek, the Capital of Kyrgyzstan which borders Central Asia’s Tian Shan mountain range and the Gateway to the Kyrgyz Ala-Too mountains and Ala Archa National Park.
We will check in (subject to room availability) at our hotel in Bishkek to freshen up if possible. After a short break at the hotel, we’ll proceed to the picturesque Ala-Archa National Park known for its breathtaking Alpine views of pine trees, snow-capped mountains and beautiful streams. Upon arrival, we’ll do a short walk/ hike along the Ala-Archa River enjoying the panoramic view of the Ala-Archa Glacier. For those who are fit, fast and adventurous, you may wish to do a longer hike to explore some of the hiking trails further up at the mountains. After enjoying this lovely National Reserve, we’ll drive back to Bishkek.
Thereafter, we’ll do a city tour of Bishkek and its main attractions visiting the Kyrgyz Historical Museum and the Ala-Too Square. Once done, to enjoy our dinner at the local-themed colorful Navat Restaurant.
Thereafter, it’s time to head back to our hotel for a well-deserved rest.
Day 03 (Bishkek – Chon-Kemin Valley)
After breakfast, we’ll proceed to the buzzling Osh Bazaar where you’ll find a fascinating range of interesting products & local homegrown produce on sale. We’ll spend an hour exploring this chaotic colorful market.
Afterwards, we’ll drive to Chon-Kemin Valley. Along the way, we’ll stop at the historical Burana Tower – a large minaret in the Chuy Valley that still stands and probably the only remains of the Ancient City of Balasagun established by the Karakhanids at the end of the 9th century. In Burana village we will enjoy the Buzkashi – a traditional Kok-Boru Horse game performance. Afterwards, lunch at Mukan’s family hosted.
Upon our arrival at Kalmak-Ashu village, we may check-in first at the lovely Ashu Guest House located in the picturesque valley of Chon-Kemin. Thereafter, we will spend time exploring this lovely valley, enjoy the landscape and take some photos of the beautiful nature & its surroundings. For those who are adventurous and keen, you may try horse riding (optional) to the summit of the Kalmak-Ashu mountains where you’ll get to enjoy a panoramic view of the whole region.
Dinner. Enjoy the night at a fire place under the stars with a spectacular night sky star view.
Day 04 (Chonkemin Valley – Songkul Lake)
After our early breakfast, we may head to Kochkor Village where will learn about the felt making process. Here you’ll also get to visit the local Women Co-operative Altyn-Kol Souvenir Shop where many of the products are handmade to help these local ladies.
As we continue our journey to SongKul Lake, you’ll be mesmerized by the beautiful sceneries along the Kalmak-Ashu Pass (3200 m).
Lunch may be along our intended route at a local village or at some scenic lookout point (Picnic Lunch). Depending on the pace of the group, there will be some photo-stops for us to enjoy the sceneries and amazing landscape before we finally arrive at Songkul Lake – an alpine lake located at 3030m in the Naryn Region.
Local people call the green pastures around the lake as nomad’s paradise. Hundreds of local shepherds will stay here during the warmer months around the lake in local traditional felt houses called Yurta to keep themselves warm while tending their flocks on the lovely green pastures.
Our accommodation tonight will be at a nice cozy shared Yurt-Camp (4 pax) with flushed toilets and shower. Around our Yurt, there may be shepherds tending their sheep and cattle and you’ll see many horses running around freely in these lush green meadows. Take a walk to the beautiful lake; enjoy the reflection of the sunset on the waters or just simply sit back, relax, find a quiet spot to day-dream & soak in the spectacular view of the green meadows, lake & snow-capped mountains.
And in the evening, if the skies are clear you may get to see thousands of stars and maybe even the Milky Way!
Dinner and overnight in Muras Yurt Camp.
Day 05 (Songkul Lake – Kyzyl-Tuu – Tamga)
Rise and Shine. After our breakfast, we’ll first visit Kyzyl-Tuu Village a small community of just 1800 inhabitants where we’ll get to meet the village Yurt-Makers and learn the elaborate process on how to set up and construct a Yurt Tent together with them. To know more about their lifestyle and culture, we’ll enjoy a lovely lunch at their homes and get to meet their families. Afterwards, we’ll do a short drive to Jaichi Pasture to meet an Eagle man with his Golden Eagle and enjoy an Eagle-hunting performance. If time permits & conditions are favourable, we may get to try archery as well. Before arriving at Tamga Village, we will do a brief stop to enjoy the view of Lake Issyk-Kul – an endorheic lake in the Tian Shan mountains and the 2nd largest saline lake in the world after the Caspian Sea.
After enjoying the view, we continue our drive and for tonight, we’ll get to stay with a Russian Family – at their huge home with a beautiful garden – the Tamga Guest House! You’ll love this place.
Dinner and overnight in Tamga.
Day 06 (Tamga – Yrdyk Village – Karakol)
After breakfast, we’ll do a morning drive to the beautiful Barskoon Gorge – known for their cascading waterfalls, which have enchanting and very poetic names, such as Tears of Barca or Spray of Champagne. Take time to explore & admire this scenic place and its onrushing rivers. For those who are keen, you may like do a hike to the 90m tall waterfall.
We continue our drive to Yrdyk Village – a former Soviet Union Territory which is populated by the Dungan people of Hui origin from the Xinjiang Province in Northwestern China. Dungans are a small ethnic group in Kyrgyzstan who migrated to the territory of Central Asia to set up home in Soviet territory. Here, you’ll get a chance to mingle with them and enjoy your local lunch with an ethnic Dungan family.
In the afternoon, we’ll start our drive to Karakol – the 4th largest City in Kyrgyzstan. Along the way, enjoy the lovely scenery and alpine views. Upon arrival in Karakol, we’ll do a City tour visiting the colorful Dungan Mosque and the beautiful wooden Russian Orthodox Church!
Dinner & overnight at Karakol
Day 07 (Altyn-Arashan – Karakol)
Rise and shine! This morning, we’ll have an interesting experience & adventure taking a ride on the Russian Military 4X4 all-road truck (the Russian GAZ-66 or Kamaz) up to the scenic mountains.
Note: Our coach will not be able to bring us up to this picturesque alpine region. Along the way, there will be a nice photo-stop for you to enjoy the “Swiss Alps” scenery before we head further up to the beautiful Altyn-Arashan Gorge & Valley (2480m) – which means “The Golden Sources”. The region around our Yurt Camp is very scenic famous for its natural hot-springs, alpine meadows, forested mountain slopes and views of the Palatka snow-covered Peaks.
You can enjoy a lovely hike here in the valley, chill along the streams or just enjoy a rejuvenating soak at one of the hot springs with or without your swimming attires. After enjoying the lovely alpine Swiss views, we’ll have our lunch up at the mountains in a huge, nice cozy Yurt Tent.
Thereafter, we continue our drive to Karakol. Along the route down if it is safe, we may stop for you to enjoy a light hike walking down the valley before continuing on our journey.
Dinner and overnight at Karakol.
Day 08 (Karakol – Saty Village – Kazakhstan)
Morning drive to Kyrgyz-Kazakh Border in Kegen. After our border crossing, we’ll drive to Saty – a small picturesque Kazakhstan Village located in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau. Check in at our little Saty hotel. Lunch.
In the afternoon, we’ll take a drive up to the beautiful picturesque Kaindy Lake! We’ll need to take a 4 WD van up as our coach is unable to access this region. You may like to do an easy walk/ hike there, take photos and enjoy the spectacular scenery around the mountains and lake.
Return back to Saty Hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Day 09 (Saty Village – Charyn Canyon – Almaty)
After breakfast we start our drive to Kol-Say Lake. Kol-say Lakes National Park is located on the north slope of the Tian Shan Mountains. Here you will have a chance to explore & enjoy the beautiful scenery or perhaps rent a boat to relax (if time permits) and admire the beautiful landscape from different viewpoints.
We continue with our adventure to Charyn Canyon – an amazing creation of nature that has existed for millions of years, picturesque and very diverse in geomorphological aspects. From here, you can see the height of the Canyon’s steep mountainsides reaching to a height of 150-300 meters. Several ravines and gullies make this place look like a dense rambling net. Wind and water have now created the stunning “Red Castles Valley”. All along the valley you will be surrounded by towers with amazing formations, built of sedimentary sand and natural wind water erosion. Through time, nature has on its own created these architectural wonders and majestic castles for us to behold and admire. We will do an easy hike here to soak in the surrounding wonders of nature.
Lunch will be at a local restaurant at or along the way to Almaty.
Afternoon drive to Almaty. Upon arrival, City Tour of Almaty. Visit the Panfilov Park – named after the 28 heroes, who died for freedom and independence of this country, the Zenkov Cathedral – the oldest building of the city, that is entirely wooden, built without any metal nails, visit the Memorial Complex devoted to the World War Two memories with eternal flame. Also, we’ll get to visit the Central Moslem Mosque, Independence Square with the 3 main symbols of Kazakhstan and Obelisk devoted to the country’s independence.
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Check-in and overnight in Almaty City.
Day 10 (Almaty City Tour – Shymbulak Ski Resort)
After breakfast, we’ll continue our tour at Almaty. We’ll visit Arbat Street, the Museum of Musical Instruments. Central Square with Golden Man Stella. Lunch at local restaurant.
In the afternoon, we’ll drive to Medeu Sport Complex – an Ice-Skating Ring opened during the winter months located at an altitude of 1691.2m. We’ll continue our tour and sightseeing by taking a nice cable car ride up to the Shymbulak Ski Resort. You’ll get to see Medeu Sport Complex from the cable car and will have some time to explore the beautiful European alpine views and sceneries at this Ski Resort located at an elevation of 2200m above sea-level.
Drive back to Almaty for our last-minute shopping/ early dinner.
Thereafter, since it is our last night, you’ll have a chance to explore the city on your own and do some shopping at the Mega Malls or at Arbat Square.
DAy 11 (Almaty – Airport – KL)
At 01:30am, Pick-up & transfer to Almaty Airport.
Finally … after all the beautiful sights, experiences and adventures, it’s back to Home, Sweet, Home!
Included:
- All Transfers (for Main Group)
- Twin/ Double room accommodation at the Hotel in Almaty
- Twin accommodation in Karakol; Bishkek
- Twin/ Double/ Triple accommodation in Tamga and Kochkor Guest Houses
- 4 pax accommodation in the Yurt Camp in Song-Kul
- All Meals included as per Itinerary
- Felt show in Kochkor
- Yurt Production Show in Kyzyl-Tuu
- Eagle Hunting Show & Performance
- Mineral water during the Tour (one liter a day per person)
- Entry fees to museums
- English Speaking Tour Guide
- Horse Games Kok-Boru
Excluded:
- Alcohol and soft drinks
- International and Domestic flight tickets
- Porter services in hotels and airport
- Horse Riding on Song-Kul Lake
- Single accommodation
- 2 people accommodation in a yurt (additional cost)
- All other arrangements/ activities/ places etc. not listed in the inclusions above
- Early Arrival/ Departure extensions and transfers
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