Immerse yourself in Kyrgyzstan with hiking, horses and yurts

Our trip gets off to a flying start. In the morning, we bid farewell to the capital. We head towards charming Karakol, the country's fourth-largest city, on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul. This journey by local bus will allow us to discover the Kyrgyz way of life.

Karakol, surrounded by mountains, is easily explored on foot. You'll have the opportunity to discover the Dungan Mosque, the Orthodox Cathedral, and its charming 19th-century "gingerbread" houses, built when Russian expansion was significant in the region. To further immerse yourself in the culture, take a local cooking class. You might even learn to prepare Ashlan-fu, the traditional dish of the Dungan people. Then all that's left to do is enjoy!

We arrived in Karakol on a Sunday, where an incredible livestock market, open to everyone, takes place early in the morning. The best time to arrive is around 5 a.m., when it's still dark. You'll see herders selling, buying, and haggling over animals. It's an extraordinary cultural experience. The spectacle continues all morning, like an invitation to step back in time. A true celebration for the locals, the Karakol livestock market will leave a lasting impression. We won't spoil the surprise! So, are you ready to hit the road again on horseback?

Enjoy the rest of the day relaxing, as tomorrow the Ala-Kul Lake trek awaits. Why not spend the afternoon exploring the area around Karakol and enjoying some outdoor activities? The town is only a 15-minute drive from Lake Issyk-Kul, the second largest alpine lake in the world. With its sandy beaches, it's the perfect place to unwind!

For one evening, embark on a boat cruise to observe the sunset behind the glacier-covered mountains, while sipping a cold beer accompanied by fried beans.

At 7:00 AM, a military truck will pick us up from our accommodation in Karakol for a transfer to the Sirota Bridge. From there, we'll begin our trek to Lake Ala-Kul, renowned as the most beautiful trek in Kyrgyzstan. It's a demanding trek requiring nerves of steel, but rest assured, the effort is well worth it.

After lunch along the way, we will arrive at the camp on the shores of Lake Ala Kul in the mid-afternoon.

For this first day of trekking, the elevation gain is +1200m. Free time upon arrival at 3500m to enjoy the scenery. Dinner and overnight stay will be in tents.

Very early in the morning, full of motivation, we tackled the Ala-Kul Pass. The challenging climb (400m elevation gain) to 3900m takes two hours. But what a reward awaits at the summit! You'll likely be deeply moved by the sight of the peaks soaring over 5000m. And what a sense of accomplishment to have succeeded, thanks to the positive energy of the group and your guide. A long descent (1300m elevation loss) awaits you down to the Altyn Arashan Valley. You'll enjoy a picnic lunch along the way.

At the end of the day, you'll arrive at camp with stars in your eyes. As a reward, you can enjoy the hot spring before dinner and spend the night at the refuge, at 2600m.

Very early in the morning, the military truck will pick us up at the refuge. We'll take a beautiful mountain road to the meeting point with the minibus driver. Transfer to the Jety Oguz red gorge, where we'll have lunch amidst the pastures in a breathtaking setting. This viewpoint is featured on every postcard in the country. We're sure to love it!

In the afternoon, we'll head back towards the beach. We'll arrive and settle into a yurt camp on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul at the end of the day. We'll have some free time on the beach. In the evening, we'll visit the magnificent Skazka Canyon. You'll easily understand why it's called "the fairytale canyon." Dinner will be with the Kyrgyz family at the yurt camp.

Meeting with an eagle hunter

This morning, we'll have the opportunity to discover an ancient practice from the Bokonbaievo area: eagle hunting. We'll learn more about this extraordinary Kyrgyz custom from an eagle trainer. He'll explain the tradition and give you a short demonstration—using a lure, of course.

Kyrgyz crafts and gastronomy

After our meeting with the eagle hunter, we'll stop at a yurt maker's workshop. You know by now that this is another local specialty, right? Upon arrival in Kochkor, you can have lunch with a Dungan family and visit a craft center. Perhaps an opportunity to buy some beautiful Kyrgyz felt items.

At the end of the day, we will arrive in Kizart, the starting point of our horseback trek the next day. We will have dinner and spend the night with a friendly Kyrgyz family.

The horses will pick you up at the guesthouse. We'll then depart for the Tuz Ashu pass at 3300m. The horseback ride to Son Kul Lake takes 5 to 6 hours but is suitable for beginners. You'll have a picnic lunch midway through the ride. At the end of the day, we'll arrive at the yurt camp north of the lake. Dinner and overnight stay (3 or 4 people in a yurt) at 3016m.

Following the western shore of the lake, we head south towards Lake Son-Kul. Along the way, there's the opportunity for a short gallop, as the terrain allows it. We cover 30 km on horseback. At the end of the day, we arrive at the camp, delighted with this unforgettable experience. Overnight stay and dinner (3 or 4 people in a yurt).

In the morning, before leaving our horses and the yurt camp at Lake Son Kul, we'll be treated to a demonstration of equestrian games, another tradition of the Kyrgyz nomads. You've already been adopted by the nomads, haven't you? It's already time, however, to return to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, by minivan.

After a roughly 6-hour drive to Bishkek, you'll settle into a guesthouse in the capital. You can spend the evening discovering the banya, the traditional Russian steam bath, a kind of Kyrgyz sauna. Watch the locals massage themselves with birch branches! Then it's time for our last meal together. Why not take this opportunity to experience one last Kyrgyz evening?

It's time to say goodbye: see you on the next adventure!