Kyrgyzstan Experiencing Nomadic Culture: 4 Days Issyk-Kul Lake Round Tour

This tour covers all those important sites and famous cities around Issyk-Kul lake, and tourists will experience the traditional nomadic culture.

We will first visit the Burana Tower, which is located along the important branch of the Silk Road. It is now UNESCO World heritage.

In Cholpon-Ata, we will visit the World Nomad Games, the open-air museum of petroglyphs, Issyk-Kul State Historical and Cultural Museum.

In Karakol, you will find The Russian Orthodox Cathedral and Dungan Mosque; it is also a famous hiking and skiing base. Also we will visit Jety Oguz gorge, Barskoon gorge and Fairy Tale Canyon.

You will also experience the traditional nomadic culture in eagle hunting observation, visit to horse breeding farm. Upon request, tourist group can also stay in Yurt.

Each group can specify its requirement. There are many other local attractions around Issyk-Kul Lake (for example, hotsprings, traditional handcrafted workshop, visiting traditional Dungan village, etc.)

Itinerary

Day 1: Bishkek - Cholpon-Ata

Stop At: Burana Tower, Don-Aryk, Tokmok 722201 Kyrgyzstan
Pick up at hotel at 8am in Bishkek

You will first visit Burana Tower and ruins of Balasagun in the morning (about 1.5-hour drive from Bishkek)

Duration: 1 minute

Stop At: Hippodrome Cholpon-Ata, A363, Cholpon Ata 722315 Kyrgyzstan
We will arrive Cholpon-Ata (North shore city of Issyk-Kul Lake) in the afternoon.

There you will visit Nomad Game Stadium, open-air museum of petroglyphs and/or Cultural Museum in Cholpon-Ata (depending on how long we will stay in every site)
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Stay at a 3-star hotel at Cholpon-Ata for the first night

Day 2: Cholpon-Ata - Karakol

Stop At: Karakol Gorge, Karakol Kyrgyzstan
We will mainly spend our second day at Karakol (about 2-hour drive from Cholpon-Ata)

In the morning, we will visit The Russian Orthodox Cathedral and Dungan Mosque at Karakol

After lunch, we will go to the beautiful mountain site at Karakol. We can arrange trekking with various levels (from 2 hours to half day), depending on the physical condition of tourist group.

Duration: 6 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Stay at a 3-star hotel at Karakol for the second night (upon request, we can arrange the tourist group to live in Yurt)

Day 3: Karakol - Jety Oguz gorge - Barskoon - Bokonbaevo

Stop At: Jeti-Oguz Canyon (Seven Bulls Rocks), Kyrgyzstan
Continue driving to the south shore of Issyk-Kul Lake, you will first see the marvelous Jety Oguz gorge

During summer, we will also visit the Bee farm nearby
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Barskoon Waterfall, Barskoon Kyrgyzstan
You will then have adventure at Barskoon gorge (with a beautiful waterfall)
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Canyon Fairy Tale, Tosor Kyrgyzstan
In the fairy tale canyon, you can see the red sandstones have been eroded and shaped into different forms.

While you are walking in the canyon, you can find a dragon, the Great Wall of China, Castle... Just like walking in a fairy land.

Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Stay at 3-star hotel at Bokonbaevo (upon request, we can arrange the tourist group to live in Yurt)

Day 4: Bokonbaevo - Bishkek

Stop At: Barskoon Gorge, Barskoon Kyrgyzstan
You will see "Salbuurun" in the morning. “Salbuurun” is the traditional hunting activities for nomad, which includes golden eagle, taigan dog and traditional archery on horseback, and it can only be found in Kyrgyzstan

In the afternoon, you will visit local horse breeding farm, in which you will learn about horse farming in Kyrgyzstan, and you will also see a mock training race

Finally, it is expected that we will return to Bishkek by 8pm
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.