| Tour dates | 1-8 September 2018 |
| Route | Bishkek – Issyk Kul – Cholpon Ata – Karakol – Jyrgalan – Chon Kemin – Bishkek |
| Duration | 8 days/7 nights |
| Days | Route | Description |
| Day 1 1 Sept. | Airport Manas-Bishkek 40km – 30min | Meeting with a guide and a driver at the airport and transfer to Bishkek city. Upon arrival check in at hotel (standard check in time 14:00) After lunch in a local café you will have city tour including Ala-Too main square, Open air Art Gallery, Panfilov Park, Oak Park, Erkindik Boulevard, State Museum of Fine Arts, Victory Square, walk along the youth alley, surrounded by two main buildings of the University (State National and International Universities), the National State Philharmonic, the statues of Manas and Manaschi. You can arrange a visit to the colorful Osh market to feel the real meaning of Central Asian life, watching how locals selling their products, people of all ages and different ethnic groups, nationalities who live in Kyrgyzstan. Dinner in a local café. Free time. Overnight at hotel.
Meals: lunch and dinner -independent |
| Day 2 2 Sept. | Bishkek-Issyk Kul 285 km – 5h | After breakfast depart to Issyk Kul with en-route stop to visit a historical site: remains of ancient city Balasagyn (10- 12 th century) consisting of a minaret, an open air museum of Balbals (carved stone figures) and a small archeological museum in Tokmok town. Continue driving to Cholpon Ata. Lunch in a local café. Visiting of open air Museum of Petroglyphs (stone inscriptions) that contains more than 2000 petroglyphs dating from 800 BC to 1200 AD. On the rocks you can see drawings that depict hunting scenes, sacrifice, victory, war, and everyday activities. Rukh-Ordo cultural complex and Regional Museum. Check in to the hotel. Optional/supplement: In the evening attend World Nomad Games opening ceremony. Overnight at hotel.
Meals: breakfast. Lunch, dinner – independent. |
| Day 3 3 Sept. | Cholpon Ata | Breakfast at the hotel. Today you will be transferred to Kyrchyn jailoo (Semenov Gorge) where the Kyrgyz village will be settled during the festival (detailed program of games and activities will be provided). In the afternoon you will visit games that are planned in Cholpon-Ata right on the shore of the Issyk-Kul Lake. Overnight at hotel. Spend full day on a World Nomad Games.
Meals: breakfast. Lunch, dinner – independent. |
| Day 4 4 Sept. | Cholpon Ata -Karakol 150km – 3h | Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the scenic road to Karakol town located at Far East part of the lake. On the way visit a farm called Reina-Kench at Tepke village. Upon arrival to the farm you will have a guided tour by the farmer (non-English speaking) who will show you his stable where he keeps racing horses, animal farm, and gardening. Afterwards, you will be offered lunch inside or outside depending on weather condition. Lunch is prepared from eco products from the farm. Upon arrival to Karakol you will have a short sightseeing tour: visit local Sunday Bazaar, beautiful Russian Church made entirely of wood (built without nails), the Dungan Mosque (Dungan’s are minority group of Chinese Muslims living in this region and originally from Western China), the museum of Przewalski, a soviet renowned explorer of Central and East Asia. He contributed significantly to European knowledge of Central Asia and was the first known European to describe the only extant species of wild horse, which is named after him: Przewalski horse. One-Village – One Product local shop. This shop is run by the association of local women who produce wide range of products from wild berry jams, handy crafts, herbal soaps and other souvenirs, all using products and materials found in Issyk-Kul region. Dinner at a local Uigur family’s house with Uigur food specialties. Overnight at guest house.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. |
| Day 5 5 Sept. | Karakol- Jyrgalan 75km – 1h. | After strengthening breakfast at guest house depart to Jyrgalan valley (60 km/1 h). Arrival to the village, meet with locals who will great you there and take you to their homes. After guided tour around the village you will participate in a whole process of cooking Kyrgyz type of bread Boorsok – small pieces of dough fried in oil; making the dough, cutting them into small diamond shape pieces and frying them in big Kazan (steel pot) on a fire. Afterwards, taste freshly cooked boorsoks with jam/honey over the tea. You will participate in cooking homemade food and have lunch together with the family who will tell stories of that region (locals don’t speak in English, their language is pure Kyrgyz not mixed with Russian). Dinner and overnight.
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner |
| Day 6 6 Sept. | Jyrgalan-Chon Kemin 380km – 7h | After breakfast drive to Jeti-Ogyz, a lush valley with some striking red sandstone rock formations including the “Seven Bulls” from which the valley takes its name. It is also possible to visit a spa built during Soviet time and still in operation. Here you can take a bath. Do not expect anything luxurious, it is still functioning as it did in Soviet times! Also visit Skazka (Fairy Tale) Canyon. Picnic lunch in the open air (lunch-boxes). The canyon was named due to its bizarre rocky landscape, which for many years has been transformed by wind into fabulous sculptures and formations. Some formations in “Skazka” have been named for their similarity to well-known objects. For example, one set of ridges in the canyon is named “The Chinese Wall” due to its similarity to the Great Wall of China. You can also find what appear to be statues of a hippopotamus, snake, dragon, sleeping giant and even whole castles. Because the different rocks have amazing colors, the rocky statues not only have unusual shapes, but also magical colors. Upon arrival to village, accommodation at family-run friendly guesthouse After delicious home cooked dinner, enjoy a walking excursion around the village and the valley to introduce with countryside natural beauty and local people. Available activities upon request: – excursion around the valley on a Retro Jeep – excursion around the valley on a horse-cart – master-class on felt craft making – national horseback games show Dinner in GH will be followed with folklore performance by villagers. For the group more than 5 pax, there will be campfire in the evening in the garden. Overnight.
Meals: breakfast, lunch-boxes, dinner. |
| Day 7 7 Sept. | Chon Kemin –Bishkek 145km – 3h | After breakfast depart for whole-day horseback riding tour to Kalmak-Ashuu Gorge. Arrival to guesthouse and lunch. After some rest depart back to Bishkek. Drop-off in the city. Arrival to Bishkek late in the afternoon, check-in to hotel. Dinner at a local restaurant Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner. |
| Day 8 8 Sept. | Bishkek-airport Manas 40km – 30min | Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport to your flight.
Meals: breakfast |
Tour price in USD (per person)*:
| Number of pax | 5 |
| Price per person | $752 |
| Supplementary for single rooms | $175 |
| *The price is guaranteed with minimum 5 people in the group
For individual departures, please, contact us |
Price includes:
| Accommodation | Hotel | Location | Nights |
| Double/Twin standard Check in – 14pm Check out – 12pm | Bugu 3* Karven Issyk Kul Green Yard GH Emil GH Ashuu GH Bugu 3* | Bishkek, Issyk-Kul, Karakol, Jyrgalan, Chon Kemin, Bishkek | 1, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1 |
| Transport | 5 -9 person a/c minibus (14-16seats), 10-15 person a/c bus (45-50seats) | ||
| German speaking guide | One guide from arrival to departure except Day 8 (airport transfer) | ||
| Meals | 7 breakfasts +3 lunches+ 4 dinners +1 lunch box | ||
| Folklore musical show during dinner in Сhon Kemin | Included | ||
| Process of cooking Boorsok | Included | ||
| Mineral water | 1l/person/day | ||
| Entrance fees & excursions | As per program | ||
Price excludes:
| International airfare | Not included |
| Visa/registration expenses | If required |
| Entrance ticket for Nomad games opening ceremony | ~85USD/person. Price is subject to change |
| Felt making master class in Tamchi, Issyk-Kul | USD 45 per group |
| Personal expenses & other services not included in the offer | Not included |