Kyrgyz festivals Tour 1

Tour: Kyrgyz Festivals-1, Departure Date: 19 July 2007, Request

Price:

• Tour departs with minimum 4 persons;
• Travel agent commission 10%

Festivals to attend:

• Kyrgyz National Ceremonies and Traditions Festival
• National Horse Games Festival
• Festival of folklore and Cuisine

Places to visit: Bishkek – Kochkor – Naryn – Tash-Rabat – Son-Kul – Chui River – Issyk-Kul – Cholpon-Ata – Jety-Oguz - Bokombaevo - Bishkek

Duration: 15 days

Tour summary:

Day 1: Airport – Bishkek - Kochkor (19.07.2007, Thursday)
Arrival to Bishkek, transfer to the hotel. After lunch transfer to Kochkor ( 230 km ). Dinner. Overnight in Kyrgyz family.

Day 2: Kochkor – Naryn (20.07.2007, Friday)
After breakfast you will experience the procedure of making felt carpets in Kochkor. Lunch. Transfer to Naryn ( 160 km ). It is a long, thin town that straddles the fast flowing Naryn River and is set between high, steep cliffs. Naryn is located 200 km away from Chinese border and from ancient times travelers used to stop for a night in Naryn. Lunch and dinner in Naryn. Overnight in the guest house.

Day 3: Naryn – Tash-Rabat (21.07.2007, Saturday)
Kyrgyz National Ceremonies and Traditions Festival
In the morning transfer to Tash-Rabat ( 115 km ) towards the Chinese border. Tash Rabat, Caravan Saray 11th century, served as a fortress for travelers along the Great Silk Road. This is a carefully restored stone building. This day you will get to know more about Kyrgyz national traditions and rites, will listen to Kyrgyz music and taste national food. Overnight in yurts (Kyrgyz dwelling).

Day 4: Tash-Rabat (22.07.2007, Sunday)
Kyrgyz National Ceremonies and Traditions Festival
After breakfast walk to Tash-Rabat Pass. Good view of Chatyr-Kul Lake from the pass in a clear day. Picnic. Return back to yurts. Overnight in yurts.

Day 5: Tash-Rabat - Naryn (23.07.2007, Monday)
Transfer back to Naryn ( 115 km ). Sightseeing tour in Naryn. Overnight in the guest house.

Day 6: Son-Kul Lake (24.07.2007, Tuesday) – Son-Kul Lake
In the morning drive to Son-Kul Lake ( 180 km ). This is a remote mountain lake situated on a treeless, high mountain plateau ( 3016 m ) where shepherds bring the livestock in the summertime, establish a camp where they will live – setting up their yurts. Dinner and overnight in yurts.

Day 7: Son-Kul Lake – Chui River (25.07.2007, Wednesday)
Transfer to Chui river ( 250 km ). After lunch you will have rafting on Chui River , category of difficulty is 3,4. Experience guides will be with tourist group during the rafting. Dinner. Overnight in the tent camp.

Day 8: Chui River - Konorchak canyons - Chui River (26.07.2007, Thursday)
After breakfast you will have the walking to Konorchak canyons. They were formed about one and a half to two million years ago and since that time erosion by wind and water has turned a plain plateau into gigantic stone pillars, some of which are 400- 500 meters high. Picnic. Return back. Dinner and overnight in the tent camp.

Day 9: Chui River – Issyk-Kul (27.07.2007, Friday)
Drive to Issyk-Kul Lake ( 100 km ). Free at leisure. Accommodation in a hotel at the North coast of Issyk-Kul Lake .

Day 10: Issyk-Kul – Cholpon-Ata (28.07.2007, Saturday)
National Horse Games Festival. Click for info and photos
A fter breakfast transfer to Cholpon-Ata ( 25 km ). During a day you will see Kyrgyz national horse games where the best riders of Issyk-Kul valley will participate. Lunch in Cholpon-Ata. Transfer back to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation in the hotel.

Day 11: Issyk-Kul – Jety-Oguz (29.07.2007, Saturday)
Festival of folklore and Cuisine. Click for info and photos
A fter breakfast transfer to Jety-Oguz gorge ( 200 km ). Display of making felt, contest of folklore groups (traditional music, songs and dance), national cuisine contest (Dungan, Kyrgyz, Russian-Ukrainian, Tartar, Uigur-Uzbek cuisines. Dinner and overnight in yourts.

Day 12: Jety-Oguz (30.07.2007, Monday)
Free day in the gorge. Today you can ride a horse or go for a short walk toward Tilety Pass or Jety-Oguz waterfall . Overnight in yurts.

Day 13: Jety-Oguz - Bokombaevo (31.07.2007, Tuesday)
Drive to Bokombaevo ( 100 km ). One the way you may swim in the Issyk-Kul lake. Picnic. Eagle show hunting upon arrival to village. Dinner and overnight in Kyrgyz family.

Day 14: Bokombaevo - Bishkek (01.07.2007, Wednesday)
Transfer to Bishkek ( 270 km ). Short sightseeing tour in Bishkek. Farewell dinner. Accommodation in the hotel.

Day 15: Bishkek – Airport (02.07.2007, Thursday)
Transfer to the airport ( 30 km ), departure.

Accommodation:

Standard tour price includes:
1. Accommodation;
2. Kyrgyzstan - full board.
3. Transportation throughout the whole trip. Driver has limited English knowledge;
4. English speaking guide;
5. Sightseeing tour program in all cities according to the program, including entrance fees to sights, museums,. Camera/video fees are not included and paid separately;
6. Rafting on the Chui River;
7. Entry fee to all festivals;
8. Eagle show hunting in Bokombaevo;
9. Visa support.

Tour price does not include:
1. Hotel charges for additional services;
2. Single supplement;
3. Horse back riding;
4. Consular fees paid upon collection of the entrance visa to Kyrgyzstan;
5. Registration in Kyrgyzstan;
6. International airfares;
7. Personal insurance and items not mentioned above.