All Kyrgyzstan: South & North

Overview

Our longest journey and the only one that covers the whole country. The first week takes you south — to the forest lake Sary-Chelek, ancient Osh and the Alay valley under Lenin Peak. Then a short flight back north and our Grand Tour: Song-Kul, Kel-Suu, eagle hunters and the hot springs of Altyn Arashan.

Highlights

• Trek to the viewpoint over Sary-Chelek and a boat ride on the lake
• Pamir Highway, Taldyk pass (3,615 m) and Lenin Peak (7,134 m)
• Horse ride to the Tulpar-Kul lakes
• Osh — Sulaiman-Too sacred mountain and the old bazaar
• Song-Kul, Kel-Suu, golden eagles and Altyn Arashan hot springs

Day by day

1. Day 1

   Bishkek

   Arrival and airport pick-up. City tour: Ala-Too Square, Oak Park and Osh Bazaar. Welcome dinner. Night in a hotel in Bishkek.

2. Day 2

   Bishkek – Too-Ashuu – Chychkan – Arkyt

   A scenic drive over the Too-Ashuu pass and through the Chychkan gorge to Arkyt village, at the gates of the Sary-Chelek nature reserve. Night in a guesthouse.

3. Day 3

   Sary-Chelek Lake

   Trek to the panoramic viewpoint above the lake (about 7 hours round trip), picnic with a view and a boat ride on Sary-Chelek. Night in a guesthouse in Arkyt.

4. Day 4

   Arkyt – Osh – Taldyk pass – Sary-Tash

   South along the Pamir Highway: lunch in Osh, the Taldyk pass (3,615 m) and arrival in Sary-Tash in the Alay valley. Night in cottages.

5. Day 5

   Sary-Tash – Sary-Mogol

   Views of the Lenin Peak massif, check-in at a yurt camp, an acclimatisation walk, kymyz tasting and boorsok baking with a nomad family. Campfire under the stars. Night in a yurt camp.

6. Day 6

   Tulpar-Kul lakes & Lenin Peak

   Horse ride to the Tulpar-Kul lakes with close views of Lenin Peak (7,134 m) and a visit to the Achik-Tash base camp area. Night in a yurt camp.

7. Day 7

   Sary-Mogol – Osh

   Back to Osh for a city tour: Sulaiman-Too sacred mountain, Osh Bazaar and the old quarter. Farewell-to-the-south dinner. Night in a hotel in Osh.

8. Day 8

   Osh – Bishkek – Kok-Moinok – Song-Kul

   Morning flight to Bishkek and drive past the red canyons of Kok-Moinok up to Song-Kul (3,016 m). Yurt-building master class with a nomad family. Night in a yurt camp.

9. Day 9

   Song-Kul – Naryn – Kok-Kiya

   Sunrise at the lake, lunch in Naryn and the drive into the Kel-Suu border zone. Evening by the campfire. Night in a yurt camp.

10. Day 10

    Kel-Suu Lake – Naryn

    Horse ride to the emerald Kel-Suu Lake, picnic by the water, afternoon drive to Naryn. Night in a guesthouse.

11. Day 11

    Naryn – Bokonbaevo – Issyk-Kul

    Golden eagle hunting show in Bokonbaevo and a free evening on the southern shore of Issyk-Kul. Night in a yurt camp by the lake.

12. Day 12

    Skazka – Barskoon – Altyn Arashan

    Skazka canyon, the Barskoon waterfalls, lunch in Karakol and an off-road ride up to Altyn Arashan with its natural hot springs. Night in a mountain guesthouse.

13. Day 13

    Horse day in Altyn Arashan

    A full-day horse ride up the alpine valley toward the glaciers, hot springs after the ride. Night in a mountain guesthouse.

14. Day 14

    Altyn Arashan – Karakol – Bishkek

    Descent to Karakol and a drive to Bishkek along Issyk-Kul. End of the tour.

Dates 2026 / 2027 & price

• June 19 – July 2
• Price per person: $1,900 until February 1, 2027 · $2,200 after