GSR-5
Lake Issyk-Kul - the Pearl of the Tien-Shan. Along the Route of Ancient Caravans I
Duration: 13 days
Best season: May-September
Accommodation: hotels, tents, yurts
Tour grade: moderate
Total distance: More than 2000 km by car
Price: ˆ 900-975 per person (from 2-15 pax)

This paradise in Central Asia offers an extraordinary opportunity to join a novel adventure. Make a list of everything you’d expect from a great trip – beautiful landscapes, exotic culture, activity, companionship – they all are here in this tour along the hidden valleys and verdant meadows of the airy Tien Shan mountains.
The Great Silk Route is one of the most significant achievements in history of world civilization. The widespread network of caravan ways crossed Europe and Asia from the Mediterranean coast to China, and in ancient times and Middle ages served as important means of business relations and cultural exchanges between East and West. The longest part of the Silk Route lay across the territory of Central Asia. Here is a chance to walk on the tracks of ancient caravans….

Itinerary
Day 1
 Meet the group at the Torugart frontier post. (3752 m.) Transfer from Torugart to the Tash-Rabat X th C AD caravanserai. (80 km. 3000 m.) Transfer from Tash-Rabat to Naryn town 100 km. Accommodation in a hotel (or in a yurta camp in the Salkyn-Ter gorge near Naryn, or with Kyrgyz families in At-Bashi village, 50 km. from Naryn).

Day 2
 Transfer from Naryn to lake Son Kul (90 km., 3016 m.). Stay overnight in Naryn.

Day 3
 Travel from Naryn to Karakol, along the southern coast of lake Issyk-Kul via the Dolon pass, 3030 m (380 km., 1850 m) stay overnight in a hotel in Karakol.

Day 4
 a.m. Sightseeing tour of Karakol (Muslim Mosque, built in the style of a Buddhist Pagoda, the Russian Orthodox Church ("St Trinity Cathedral"), the Memorial Complex of the explorer of Central Asia - Nikolai Przhevalski and an Oriental bazaar).
p.m. Take an excursion to the "Seven Bulls", the Red Rocks in the Jety-Oguz gorge (30 km., 2200 m.). Stay overnight in a hotel in Karakol.

Day 5
 Transfer from Karakol to Cholpon-Ata (140 km., 1609 m.) Take an easy walk to lake Suttu-Bulak (2200 m.) in the Ak-Suu gorge en route. Rest on the Issyk-Kul lake shore. Go yachting or take a steamer voyage on lake Issyk-Kul. Stay overnight in a resort.

Day 6
 Transfer from Cholpon-Ata to Bishkek (290 km., 750-900 m.), visiting the Stone inscriptions of Cholpon-Ata (petroglyphs of the II millennium B.C.) and the Burana tower XI c. (ruins of Balasagun, the capital of the Karakhanid Khanate) en route and stay overnight in a hotel.

Day 7
 a.m. Sightseeing tour of Bishkek and visit the History Museum and an Oriental bazaar.
p.m. Excursion to the Kyrgyz National Nature Park in the Ala-Archa gorge (40 km., 2100 m.) with an easy walk to the Ak-Sai waterfall. Stay overnight in a hotel in Bishkek.

Day 8
 Transfer from Bishkek to Toktogul, 300 km, over the Tyuz-Ashuu, 3586m and the Ala-Bel, 3184 m. passes and stay overnight in a hotel.

Day 9
 Transfer from Toktogul to the Sary-Chelek biosphere Nature Reserve, 300 km, 1873m. Stay overnight in a hut.

Day 10
 Rest at lake Sary-Chelek, trekking in the mountains round the lake. Stay overnight in a hut.

Day 11
 Transfer from Sary-Chelek to Osh (180 km.) stay overnight in a hotel (or in a private house).

Day 12
 a.m. Sightseeing tour of Osh, Suleiman mountain and the History Museum
p.m. Visit Uzgen (60 km.), Uzgen Minaret and Tower (XI c AD). Stay overnight in a hotel in Osh (or in a private house).

Day 13
 Check out of the hotel and depart for Kokand ( Samarkand , Bukhara - Uzbekistan )


Level of difficulty.
This tour can be recommended for the people who are able to make long walks and passes for 5-7 hours a day..
Conditions:
You must take warm clothes , hiking boots, raincoat, sunprotective cream, a hat from the sun, sleeping suck.

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