TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

Burana Tower - Balasagun was a city in   the Chuy region during the Karakhanid   Khanate.  Excavations have revealed that the double walls of the   settlement enclosed 30 sq km, including a fortress, many workshops, bazaars,   a bathhouse, and a plot of arable land.  Water brought by a large pipe   from a neighboring canyon.  As the Karakhanid rule was shaken by Mongol   invasions, Balasagun began a slow decline, eventually becoming a ghost town   in the 15th century.

Burana Tower is the most visible   remnant of the old city.  Built in the 11th century, the tower is   thought to have been a minaret.  It was originally double it's current   height of 24.6 meters.  Historian's believe the top half to have been   destroyed in a 15th century earthquake.

Chong-Kemin   Valley - In   the Chuy region   this small 500 hectare park covers an incredible range of terrain, from semi   desert to glacier.  Trek the gorge and check out the extreme landscapes,   and unique animal and plant life including the Tolai Hare, pheasant, and   fir-needle ephedra.

Issyk-Kul   Lake - the crown jewel of   the Tian Shan, Lake Issyk-Kul is 6232 sq m of   sparkling blue paradise.  The second largest saline lake in the world,   its name in Kyrgyz means "hot lake"-- though surrounded by   spectacular snow capped peaks, the water never freezes.  Silk Road traders stopped here   to recover from the grueling trek over the passes of the Tian Shan, and it is   still the most popular destination in Kyrgyzstan to relax for both tourists   and locals.

Lake Son-Kul-- in Kyrgyz "the final   lake".  Son Kul gleams like a brilliant sapphire on it's lush green   mountain plateau.  At 3016 m it is inaccessible during winter months,   and even in summer weather conditions can change rapidly.   "The Last Lake" is considered one of the most beautiful areas for   summer pasturing with an area of 270 km sq.  In winter the lake freezes   over with ice more than a meter thick. 

Nomads have   been making the upland trek to this 3016 m asl lake since ancient times with   their livestock.  Some left mysterious "standing stone"   arrangements.

Lake   Son-Kul is a beautiful place to experience life on a jailoo   – summer pasture.  Ride horses in the surrounding mountains, or stay in   a yurt and experience an old-fashioned Kyrgyz summer.

This day drive to Chong-Kemin Valley. Visit the Burana Tower architectural complex (10th-11th century, an important point on the Great Silk Road) on the way (15 km from the main road, 1 hour). Upon arrival to Chong-Kemin have a lunch at home stay. Accommodation in a local guesthouse. Optional: horse riding or walk around the village.  

 After breakfast drive to Karakol (about 5-6 hours). On the way make a stop in Cholpon-Ata to visit an open-air petroglyph (rock painting) gallery (5km from Cholpon-Ata, heading to the mountains). Continue your way to Karakol, make another stop for lunch at cafe. Upon arrival to Karakol, visit Dungan Mosque and Russian Ortodox Church. Dinner will be at café, overnight at guest house.  

 Morning after breakfast transfer from Karakol town to Ak-Suu. Meet your guide team and start trekking up to the river Ak-Suu. Ascent the hot spring first day. Overnight in a hut or yurt. Trekking time: 4 hours 

After breakfast at Altyn-Arashan trek back to Ak-Suu village, where driver will pick up you. You will never be able to forget the sight of the snow on Peak Palatka (Tent) 5260 m. or “Swallow’s Nest Pool”, nestling beneath the open sky. Walk from Altyn Arashan resort down by Arashan Gorge (3hours). Dinner at café, accommodation at guest house.  

 Leave to the southern shore of Issyk-Kul lake. On the way visit Jeti-Oguz Gorge (Seven Bulls Rock) and Skazka Canyons (Fairy Tale Canyon). Have a lunch upon arrival to yurt camp. Then free time, you can swim at the lake. Dinner and accommodation in a yurt camp at the lakeshore.  

Afternoon transfer to Jaychi yurt camp, where you will see eagle hunting show. Then continue your way to Kochkor village, have a lunch at home stay at Kochkor village,

 Transfer from Kochkor to Kyzart pass. Arrival at Kyzart pass, meet your guides team and start the tour. Within sight of the road, cross Kyzyl-Kiya jailoo, an enormous, relatively flat sea of grass. Continue over the Chaar-Archa Pass (3  061 m) into the Chaar-Archa Valley and eat a tasty lunch by the racing river, with views of holy 4400 m Baba-Ata Mountain. Sated, ford the river and follow the trail over verdant hills to Kilemche Jailoo. The name means “like a carpet,” and this swathe of grass covers whole mountain ranges, with shadings as subtle as any shyrdak (shyrdak is a Kyrgyz felt carpet). Dine and sleep in a yurt, naturally.  

 After breakfast at Kilemche, spend the morning climbing to Jalgyz Karagai pass (3400 m), over the Song-Kol Mountains and into the lake’s basin. The morning climb affords wonderful views of Kilemche jailoo, and the pass itself is rocky and exciting. From the pass, Song-Kol is still distant, but as you traipse down the slopes, it gets larger and larger; the mountains on the other side get higher and higher, until finally the lake fills most of your field of view and the southern mountains tower above it. After lunch at Jaman Echki, transfer the lakeshore east to the yurt at Batai-Aral.  

Upon arrival meet your host family of Kyrgyz shepherds. Meals and overnight are in a yurt of shepherds.  

 After breakfast transfer to Bishkek, via Kalmak-Asuu pass. Upon arrival to Bishkek, end of the tour.