B-10. Issyk-Kul - Son-Kul.
Itinerary: Bishkek - Ala-Archa - Bishkek - Burana - Cholpon-Ata - Chon-Ak-Suu - Ak-Suu - Karakol - Altyn-Arashan - Jety-Oguz - Barskoon - Fairytale - Manjyly - Kadji-Sai - Kara-Kel - Kochkor - Chon-Tuz - Kochkor - Son-Kul - Kok-Moinok - Bishkek
Duration: 15 days
Best season: May - September
Accommodation: hotels, tents, yurts
Tour grade: moderate
Max. altitude: 3400 m
Total distance: 1400 km

You will travel across northern Kyrgyzstan from the West to the East to Naryn Region. On your way you will intersect several crossings. Generally, the road is good, however some strips of land lie across hillsides. You will have the opportunity to see many landscapes of different climate zones: green valleys, fir forests, the Alpine meadows, snow, fast rivers and pure crystal lakes.
Along side the nature’s beauty - you will have the opportunity to live in yurts and observe daily life of local nomads – shepherds.

Itinerary
Day 1
Bishkek.
Arrival to Bishkek city. Settlement in a hotel or a guesthouse. Sightseeing tour around the city.
Bishkek, Opera and Ballet Theater.
Day 2
Bishkek - Ala-Archa - Bishkek.
Excursion around Ala-Archa gorge .Rise to Ak-Sai waterfall. Lunch by the waterfall. Return to the city.
Ala-Archa.
Day 3
Bishkek - Burana - Cholpon-Ata.
Transfer to the Issyk-Kul lake to Cholpon-Ata city. On the way to the lake – visiting the historical complex of the “Burana Tower”. A stop in the hotel or a resort. Rest and swimming.
Burana Tower.
Day 4
Cholpon-Ata - Chon-Ak-Suu - Ak-Su - Karakol.
Transfer to Karakol city. On the way observation of the petroglyphs in Cholpon-Ata city. Visit Chon-Ak-Suu gorge and mountain lakes. Lunch. Ak-Su gorge. Overnight stay in a guest-house.
Chon-Ak-Suu (Grigoriev).
Day 5
Karakol.
Excursion to N. M. Przhevalsky memorial complex. Visiting of the Saint Trinity Cathedral (Saint Troitsky cathedral, 1872 year). Look around Dungan Mosque. Karakol gorge. Overnight stay in a guest-house.

Monument Przhevalsky, Karakol, Issyk-Kul.
Day 6
Karakol - Altyn-Arashan.
Transfer to Altyn-Arashan gorge. An uphill walk to the gorge; visiting the hot springs bathing in mineral water. Stay at the camp-site.
Altyn-Arashan.
Day 7
Altyn-Arashan.
Relaxation and swimming in the hot springs. Walk to the Suuk-Top lake.
Altyn-Arashan.
Day 8
Altyn-Arashan - Jety-Oguz.
Transfer to Jety-Oguz gorge (“Seven Bulls”) the Valley of Flowers (which glows from lots of blossoming poppies, starting in May until beginning of the summer).
Stay in a resort or yurta.
In the upper reaches there are lakes, waterfalls, zoological reverse, interesting gorges-canyons. The highest part of the valley is blocked by multi-meter wall, in the middle of which is a beautiful double hill top Oguz Bashy (bulls’ head) 5170 m heigh.
Overnight stay in a yurta.

Jety-Oguz (Djety-Oguz)
Day 9
Jety-Oguz - Barskoon - Fairytale - Manjyly - Kadji-Sai.
Transfer to Barskoon gorge. Waterfall. Lunch. “Fairytale” canyon. Manjyly-Ata. Relaxation at the Issyk-Kul lake. Overnight stay in the village of Kadji-Sai.
Barskoon, waterfall.
Day 10
Kadji-Sai.
Relaxation and swimming in the Issyk-Kul lake. Overnight stay in a resort hotel.

Issyk-Kul.
Day 11
Kadji-Sai - Kara-Kel.
Transfer to salt lake Kara-Kel. Swimming and daub with the mud.
Overnight stay in a yurta or a tent.
Salt Lake Kara-Kel, Issyk-Kul.
Day 12
Kara-Kel - Kochkor - Chon-Tuz - Kochkor.
Transfer to Kochkor city. Excursion to the hydrochloric mine Chon-Tuz.
Visit to the museum and the workshop with traditional felt carpets manufacturing.
Overnight stay in a guest house.

Sanatorium Chon-Tuz, a salt mine.
Day 13
Kochkor - Son-Kul.
Transfer to Son-Kul lake. Overnight stay in a yurta.
Son-Kul.
Day 14
Son-Kul.
Walks around the Son-Kul lake. Visit to the burial mounds. Horse-riding. Fish soup (uha) of northern white fish. Overnight stay in a yurta.
Lake Son-Kul, burial mounds.
Day 15
Son-Kul - Kok-Moinok - Bishkek.
Observation of the ritual stone circles in the southern shore of the lake. The descent through the Teskei-Torpok crossing and observation of the gorgeous waterfall. Orto-Tokoisky water-reservoir. Kok-Moinok’s “Eolovye castlesi”. Return to Bishkek city. Overnight stay in a hotel or a guesthouse
*Rafting tour along the Chu river up to your wish.

Lake Son-Kul, the ritual stone circles.
Day 16
Return home.


*Fishing is possible in the small mountain rivers

Level of difficulty.
This tour for the people with the average level of preparation. There are no special difficulties in this rout.
Conditions:
You must take warm clothes , hiking boots, raincoat, sunprotective cream, a hat from the sun, sleeping suck.
Top

Kyrgyzstan travel
Issyk-Kul lake.