LAKES OF KYRGYZSTAN
Being a mountainous country, Kyrgyzstan has many beautiful lakes such as Issyk-Kol – the largest lake in the country and the second largest alpine lake in the world after Titicaca, Son-Kol – surrounded by mountains, which is home to shepherds and their livestock during the summer, Chatyr-Kol, a lake not far from the Chinese border; Kel-Suu, a tiny turquoise lake; Kol-Ukok, a lake at an altitude of 3,000 meters; and other lakes.
DAY 1:
BISHKEK – KYZYL OI
Departure for the village of Kyzyl-Oi, a tiny village next to the Kokomeren River. On the way, a one-hour walk down from a ski resort to meet the driver waiting for us down in the valley. Upon arrival, we will take a short walk around the village.
Dinner and overnight stay in a guesthouse.
Elevation: +2300; –1200
DAY 2:
KYZYL OI – KYZART – KILEMCHE (TRANSFER + HORSEBACK TREK)
2-hour drive to the village of Kyzart where our groom and his horses await us. Lunch with locals. After lunch, we set off on horseback to the mountain pasture called Kilemche. We will ride for about 4 hours.
Dinner and overnight stay in a yurt.
Elevation gain: +800 m
DAY 3:
KILEMCHE – SON KOL (HORSEBACK TREK)
In the morning, after breakfast, we continue the trek. We climb to the Jalgyz-Karagay pass (3,300 m) and descend to the lake. Lunch in a yurt. Then we ride back up and arrive at a place called “Tuz Ashu”. 4-5 hours of horse riding. Dinner and overnight stay in a yurt.
Elevation: +850; -300
DAY 4:
SON KOL – TASH RABAT
We leave Lake Son-Kol and head for Tash Rabat, an 11th-century caravanserai located on the ancient Silk Road, which served as accommodation for caravans. Lunch in the town of Naryn, dinner and overnight stay in a yurt (but there is also the option of sleeping in a well-heated house).
Elevation: – 1,000; + 1,200
DAY 5:
TASH RABAT – PANORAMA PASS – TASH RABAT (HIKE)
Hike to the pass called “Panorama” (4050 m). This is an 8-9 hour hike (round trip) with the goal of climbing to the pass and seeing Lake Chatyr-Kol on the other side of the mountain range.
Elevation: +950; -950
DAY 6:
TASH RABAT – KEL SUU
Drive to Kel-Suu Lake. We will stop at a yurt camp located 7-8 km before the lake. Free afternoon, you can take a short walk around the area and admire the beauty of this magical place.
Dinner and overnight stay in a yurt.
Elevation gain: + 100
DAY 7:
KEL SUU – NARYN (HIKE + TRANSFER)
In the morning after breakfast, we will take a 3-4 hour hike (round trip) to see the lake. It is truly an extraordinary lake. After lunch in the yurt, we will drive to Naryn. Arrival in the evening. Dinner in a restaurant, overnight stay in a hotel.
Elevation: – 1200
DAY 8:
NARYN – KOL UKOK (TRANSFER + HORSEBACK TREK)
We arrive at the village of Isakeev (not far from Kochkor) after about 2 hours on the road. Our groom will be waiting for us there with his horses. Horse trek to Lake Kol-Ukok (4 hours). Picnic lunch.
Dinner and overnight stay in a yurt.
Elevation gain: +1,100 m
DAY 9:
KOL UKOK – KOCHKOR – BOKONBAEV (HIKING + TRANSFER)
We ride back down to the village of Isakeev and take the car to Kochkor for lunch, then drive to Issyk-Kol, the largest lake in the country. On the way, we visit the Ak-Say canyons.
Dinner and overnight stay in a guesthouse.
Elevation: – 1,100; +500
DAY 10:
BOKONBAEV – KARAKOL
We drive along the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kol and head towards Karakol, visiting the Skazka and Jeti-Oguz canyons. Arrival in Karakol in the afternoon. Visit to a Dungan mosque and an Orthodox church.
Dinner in a restaurant. Overnight stay at a hotel.
Elevation gain: +100 m
DAY 11:
KARAKOL – ALTYN ARASHAN
4-5 hour hike to Altyn Arashan. This is a beautiful place with hot springs.
Picnic lunch.
Dinner and overnight stay in a guesthouse.
Elevation gain: +650
DAY 12:
ALTYN ARASHAN – ALA KOL – ALTYN ARASHAN
In the morning, we set off on horseback towards Lake Ala-Kol. After about 3 hours on horseback, we arrive at the foot of the mountain behind which the lake is located. We leave the horses and the groom behind, as the horses cannot climb any further, and continue on foot. It takes us another 20-30 minutes of walking uphill to reach the Ala-Kol pass (3,800 m), where we are rewarded with a superb view of the lake.
Elevation: +1,400; -1,400
DAY 13:
ALTYN ARASHAN – KARAKOL – CHOLPON ATA
After breakfast, we take the same route back down to the village of Ak-Suu where the driver is waiting for us. Transfer to Karakol. Lunch. Then, drive to Cholpon-Ata, a seaside town on the northern shore of the lake. Visit to an open-air petroglyph museum. Dinner in a restaurant, overnight stay in a hotel or guesthouse.
Elevation: – 800
DAY 14:
CHOLPON ATA – BISHKEK
Return to Bishkek. On the road we visit the 11th-century Burana Tower. Upon arrival, short tour of the city: Ala-Too Central Square, Osh Bazaar market, etc. Dinner in a restaurant. Overnight stay at a hotel.
Elevation: – 650
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