Cultural Tour 6: Mountain Life8 Days | Bishkek, Son-Kul, Tash-Rabat, Kochkor, Karakol, Altyn-Arashan, Cholpon-Ata

As you arrive in Bishkek, you will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel. After some rest sightseeing tour around Bishkek: you will visit central Ala-Too Square, Duboviy Park (Oak Park), Pobeda Square (Victory Square), Museum of Fine Arts, National Philharmonic Hall, Oriental market – Osh Bazaar, Art Gallery and many other places of interest. Overnight at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner

After breakfast transfer to the second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan - Son Kul Lake.It is situated at the height of 3013 meters above sea level and surrounded by beautiful mountains. It is a great place where you can experience a nomadic life style and relax from busy city life. On arrival, you will be free to explore and enjoy the virgin nature of the lake and its surroundings. You will have dinner and overnight at Kyrgyz yurts, which are made of a wooden skeleton, covered with felt coverings. Yurts are built without nails.
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner

After breakfast transfer to the Tash Rabat- Caravanserai on the Great Silk Road (Stone Castle from the 14th century). Tash Rabat is located in the very heart of Tian Shan Mountains. And it has no analogue in the whole world, because it was made of stones and, moreover, was built inside a mountain at a height of 3200 m above sea level. This building relates to the remains of one of the cities on the Great Silk Road and it had been used as a hotel and shelter for travelers. In total, there are 31 rooms in the mountain. The thickness of walls reaches 1 m. There are also underground prison cells for criminals.Dinner and overnight at yurts near by the Tash Rabat caravanserai.
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner

After breakfast transfer to Kochkor village.On arrival atKochkor you will visit a felt carpet workshop where you can watch the process of making Kyrgyz national felt carpets and souvenirs, and even take part in making carpets. Dinner with a Kyrgyz family and overnight at the home stay.
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner

After breakfast transfer to Karakol along the southern shore of the Issyk-Kul lake (200 km), the second largest alpine lake in the world (1608m.(it should be consistent either m or m. or meters above sea level). The Lake is also called "Kyrgyz Sea" because of its huge size. On the way you will drive through the gorgeous valley and pass the Orto Tokoi reservoir and Jety-Oguz Gorge. Picturesque Jeti-Oguz gorge is located 28 kilometers to the south-west of the town of Karakol. Its name in Kyrgyz language means “Seven bulls”. The name is symbolic, because there is a 35 m long wall of seven huge red-brown cliffs resembling ranked furious bulls standing together.
In front of the cliffs there are flat mountain slopes, thickly overgrown with grass and pine trees. Especially romantic look has the rock "Broken Heart", located at the entrance to the gorge. Jeti-Oguz is also famous for its hot springs rich in radon and hydrogen sulfide. There is a resort where the springs hit out of the ground, at the altitude of 2200 m.
The water in springs is useful for the treatment of rheumatism, gastric and nervous system diseases. Climbing higher, you can reach the pan of Kok-Dzhayyk with wonderful views of the gorge, or the Valley of Flowers strewn with poppies. At the upper part of Jets-Oguz there are also mountain lakes and roaring waterfalls.
After hiking in the Gorge transfer to Karakol town.Lunch in a local café. Sightseeing tour: visit to the museum of M.V. Prejvalsky, one of the world’s greatest explorers. His main achievements were crossing of the great desertTaklamakan and discovering more than 4000 animals, including the Horse of Prejevalsky. Later, you will visit the Dungan mosque. One of its unique aspect is the fact that it was built in Chinese style without using a single metal nail. This will be followed by the visit to an old wooden Orthodox Church. Dinner with Uigur family. Kyrgyzstan is multiethnic country and today you will have a chance to taste Uigur food and get acquainted with their culture and traditions. Overnight at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner

In the morning transfer to Altyn-Arashan gorge by Russian military 4WD vehicle.Altyn-Arashan ("Golden Spa") gorge is one of the most famous gorges in Karakol, where you will see wonderful fur tree forests and thermal springs all over the gorge. Afterwards you will have 1 hour for hiking in the gorge and then you will be transferred to the city and continue your trip to Cholpon-Ata town. Upon arrival free day to spend your time on the beach.
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner

After breakfast transfer to Bishkek along the northern shore of the Issyk-Kul lake. On the way visit to an open air museum of petroglyphs (dating back to 800 B.C.), including the local museum. Continue driving to Bishkek by car through a stunning Boom Gorge. Overnight at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast/Dinner

After breakfast transfer to the airport.End of the tour.
Meals: Breakfast