ETHNOGRAPHIC TOUR IN KYRGYZSTAN
SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE TOUR
To touch the history and get closer to the mysteries of the ancient state, to expand the borders and get the brightest impressions — all of this is possible if you choose this route. During the tour you will visit national parks, museums that open the world of ancient culture, as well as places that most clearly reflect the traditions of the great people who lived here in the remote past and living now.
DETALES
Season: May – September
Location: Kyrgyzstan
Duration: 10 days (tour duration can be changed according to the interest of participants)
PRICE
Price on request
PROGRAM
DAY 1 Arrival to Bishkek
Arrival to the capital airport by morning flight. Our representative will meet you at the airport and arrange group transfer to 3* hotel in Bishkek. After a short rest you will join an excursion to Ala-Archa National Park and stay for lunch there. City sightseeing tour.
DAY 2 Bishkek – Chon Kemin National Park
Transfer to the National Park Chon-Kemin after the breakfast, the distance from the capital is about 140 km and it takes 2-3 hours. We will visit the ancient architectural monument –Burana Tower on the way.
Accommodation in comfortable rooms of local guest house. Internet and three meals a day will be provided. Folklore programs, horseback riding, cart (telega) riding or show “Kyrgyz Yurt installation” can be arranged on request.
DAY 3 National Park Chon Kemin – Issyk-Kul Lake
Transfer to the Northern coast of the Issyk-Kul Lake and stay close Cholpon-Ata town. Transfer takes about three and a half hours. The hotel is located on the coast.
Additionally, we can arrange visit to the local village for traditional boorsok show on the way to the hotel. Boorsok is local bread. You can taste this delicious national dish and try to cook it by your hands.
DAY 4 Cholpon-Ata – Karakol
Transfer to Karakol city. The trip takes approximately two hours; the distance between two cities is 140 km. Excursion to the Museum of petroglyphs (stones’ park in the open air; unique drawings of animals and plants still clearly visible on the stones, as well as action painting, which reflects people life in different eras) on the way.
Sightseeing tour in Karakol town.
DAY 5 Karakol – Tamga
Transfer to the southern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake, Tamga village. It takes no more than two hours, the distance is about jne hundred kilometers. On the way, we will visit to Djety-Oguz gorge, where you can walk along the gorge and ride horses.
DAY 6 Tamga village – Kochkor village
Transfer to Kochkor village, visit the local Handicraft Museum, get to know more about the culture and life of the Kyrgyz people. Here you can learn techniques of national carpets (Shyrdak) manufacture and produce your own.
DAY 7 Kochkor village – Son-Kul Lake
Transfer to the coast of the picturesque alpine Son-Kul Lake, located 120 kilometers far from Kochkor. You will have time to take a walk along the shore of the lake, visit the yurts of local shepherds, will get to know life of nomadic Kyrgyz, taste kymyz (Kyrgyz national drink made from fermented mare’s milk) and ride on horses.
DAY 8 Son-Kul Lake – Tash-Rabat caravanserai
After a delicious breakfast, we will have quite long journey via Naryn Town to the caravanserai Tash-Rabat. The total distance is 260 kilometers; time for transfer is about five hours. On arrival we will visit famous historical monument, walk along the stone corridors of ancient building and along the valley covered with flowers.
DAY 9 Tash-Rabat – Bishkek
Transfer from Tash-Rabat Valley to the capital of Kyrgyzstan – Bishkek. It takes about 8 hours. The distance is 470 km along the roads of beautiful Kyrgyzstan.
DAY 10 Departure
Airport transfer after breakfast in the hotel.
INCLUDED IN PRICE
Twin bed accommodation in the Guest House, Home Stay and Hotels – standard rooms
Transport: Car (3 seats) for groups of 2 people
Minivan (7 seats) for group of 4 people.
Minibus Mercedes Sprinter (15-17 seats total) for group of 4 to 10 people
Extra vehicle for luggage for groups of 11 people or more
Meals as specified in the programme itinerary
Bottled water (1 liter per person per day)
English speaking local Guide
Entrance fees for museums
NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE
Additional services available at extra cost:
Shyrdak making demonstration in Kochkor
Borsok show in Tamchi village
Folklore show in Bishkek
Photo fee in museums
Alcoholic beverages in cafes and restaurants
Note:
-Accommodation in Yurt Inn is usually 5-6 people of the same gender in a yurt. Double and Single occupation may be arranged at extra charge. If the Yurt is not fully booked at the time of the group arrival, double accommodation may be arranged without extra supplement.
– Weather in the area of Son-Kul Lake and other mountain areas of the Kyrgyz Republic is quite cold at night. It is highly recommended to have warm clothes and a raincoat.
– Tour duration and services can be changed according to the wishes of tourists
DESCRIPTION OF THE PLACES WE WILL VISIT DURING THE TOUR
Ala-Archa National Park
The National park located in the Northern part of Kyrgyz Range, 40 km far from Bishkek. Magnificent landscapes of foothills, fantastic vegetation and the smell of Tien Shan spruce, pure mountain air, coolness of rapid rivers – this is the perfect place to get away from heat of summer.
In addition, Ala-Archa is a Mecca for tourists and professional sportsmen from the Soviet era.
Ala – Archa National Park name in translation from Kyrgyz language means “motley juniper “. This is due to the fact that many kinds of this bushes grow in the Park. The river of the same name flows here. The Northern border of the territory is scenic Ala-Archa Gorge, popular among the guests of the Republic, where there are about 150 sports and tourist routes. On the territory of the Park there is also an Alpine camp, which operates year-round. Asphalted road goes from Bishkek to the Park.
Chon-Kemin National Park
This is unique in its beauty natural area with a total length of fifty kilometers located in the North of Kyrgyzstan in the valley of Chon-Kemin River. This is a real treasure trove of rare species of flora and fauna. Glaciers here harmoniously coexist with forest and steppe areas; landscape is natural and untouched by time. The territory has been put under State protecion in 1997 in order to preserve the natural heritage of Kyrgyzstan. Every year hundreds of naturalists and biologists come here for scientific research.
Moreover, Chon-Kemin is popular with extreme sportsmen. The Park is bordered by mountain system at the altitude 1400-2800 meters above sea level; that significantly reduces the frequency of winds in the area and creates comfortable conditions for active tourism fans. Chon-Kemin is very attractive place for lovers of rafting, trekking and horseback riding.
Issyk – Kul Lake
This is the pearl of Central Asia, a source of incredible energy and beauty, the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan, one of the largest in the world and takes the second position in size and quality of water resources in the world ranking, behind only the Baikal Lake. Astronauts said, that Issyk-Kul Lake is one of the most unusual objects on the surface of the Earth planet. It looks like the human eye from outer space. It is also interesting that the color of the water changes, it depends on the angle of sun’s rays fall, as well as the fact that the lake is enclosed, no one river flows out from the lake. Legend tells us and archeological research confirms that there are ruins of the sunken city at the bottom of the lake.
There is no sweltering heat in this area, despite the sun shine is quite active. Average temperature in July – August is 17 degrees; water temperature warms up to 18-23 degrees in the middle of the swimming season.
Tourists come to the lake not only for active holidays or beach rest. Issyk-Kul water possesses curative power, there are also hot springs located near the lake; fresh air by itself is very good for health.
Son-Kul Lake
The second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan behind Issyk-Kul Lake is located at an altitude of more than 3 thousand meters above sea level. A lot of people call Son-Kul “the soul of Kyrgyzstan”. The atmosphere here is very peaceful: fresh air, clean water, and the world of plants and animals is rich and varied. Tourists even first time visited the coast of Son-Kul Lake fill improving in their physical condition. Freshness and purity of mountain air has healthy effects on people. When the sun goes down, the sky is full of bright stars. Stars seems so close that you can touch them by hand.
Jety-Oguz Gorge
Jety-Oguz Gorge is famous with red rocks, lush vegetation, geothermal springs and fresh air. Kyrgyz people know many legends about this place. Magnificent beauty of this place will impress even experienced travelers. Flowers meadow, mountain lake Ak-Djailoo and twenty-meter waterfall Kok-Djailoo rightly regarded as the most beautiful places of Kyrgyzstan.
The name of gorge in translation from Kyrgyz means “seven bulls”. However, toreadors do not visit this place at all; it is popular among romantic couples. Seven bulls are red rocks, resemble bulls lying on the ground. One of the rock has the shape of a human heart and it has a name “Broken heart”. It is supposed to be good luck for lovers to come here.
Tash-Rabat
The ancient caravanserai Tash-Rabat (translated from the Kyrgyz “Stone yard”) is one of the few architectural monuments preserved at the territory of Kyrgyzstan. It dates from about the 15th century. It was built on three kilometers pass of Kara-Koun Gorge. This gorge is a pasture for wild yaks today, but it was a road for long trade caravans centuries ago. You will feel here the power of nature and the spirit of ancient civilizations, lived and moved along this road in different eras. Tash-Rabat building has a very original architecture; the most part is located underground. Perhaps Tamerlane or Babur were staying here or Tagay-Biy was preparing for the battle with the Kashgars. We cannot say for sure now, but the opportunity to touch the ancient history means a lot! We described here not all the attractions of the program. You will have the opportunity to visit museums of Kyrgyzstan, to taste national dishes, to know legends and discover Kyrgyz traditions in addition to natural and historical attractions.JOIN TOUR
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