Trekking Tour in Kyrgyzstan9 Days | Kochkor, Karakol, Chon-Kemin valley, Bishkek

Minimum group size: 2 pax
The 9-day trekking tour in Kyrgyzstan is an unforgettable journey through the mountains, valleys and villages of the Tian Shan Range. Join hikers from around the world on this guided group tour to discover glaciers, waterfalls, rivers, wildlife and bands of shepherds as you hike through Ukok Valley, Tuura-Beshik, Sary-Bel Pass and Jety Oguz Valley. You’ll experience local culture as you stay with families, overnight in yurts and visit the famous Chon-Kemin Valley. In addition to hiking you will visit historical sites in Bishkek and beautiful Karakol, learn about felt making in Kochkor village and see the medieval Burana Tower.

Tour itinerary:

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Day 1: Bishkek (30km, about 40minuts of driving) – Kochkor ( 240 km about 3-4 hours of driving).

Arrival early in the morning in Manas Airport. Transfer to Bishkek (the old name is Frunze), the capital of Kyrgyzstan for the breakfast. (Early arrival night in hotel is not included) After breakfast transfer to Kochkor village (about 240 km). On the way visit Burana Tower the remaining of Karakhaned empire dated to 11centure. Lunch on the way. Visiting woman group who is producing traditional nomad’s carpets from the felt which call “Shiyrdak’” and “Ala Kiiz”. Preparing to the trekking at Family guesthouse. Dinner and overnight in the Nomad Lodge hotel.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Altitudes above sea level during the day: beginning of day – 800 meters in Bishkek, end of the day – 1800m in Kochkor village.

Day 2: Kochkor – Trek

Breakfast. Transfer to Issakeev village to the Kol Ukok gorge (about 30 km-1 hour). Meet the horses and local trekking staff. Start the trekking to Ukok lake about 4-5 hours. The trail goes along the Ukok valley over the small pass Kichi Ukok 3130 m. Tent camp at the shore of Ukok lake. The shepherds come to the pastures of the lake for the summer time with the cattle.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Trekking time during the day about 5-6 hours
Distance is about 16 km
Altitudes above sea level during the day: beginning of day – 1800m in Kochkor village, highest point – 3110m at Kichi Ukok pass, end of the day –3060 m in Ukok Lake.
Altitude difference during the trek is +1164 m first half and -50m second half.

Day 3: Trek

Breakfast. Trekking to Tuura-beshik About 2 hours. Cross the small river. Lunch. Trekking over the Ukok Pass (3519 m). From the pass the panorama of the mountains will amaze you. The pass is rocky. Trekking down to Mazar Ukok valley about 2-3 hours. On the way you will cross the small river. Overnight in the Mazar Ukok valley in tents by the river.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Trekking time during the day about 3-4 hours
Distance is about 11 km
Altitudes above sea level during the day: beginning of day – 3060 m in Ukok Lake, highest point – 3519m at Ukok Pass, end of the day – 3572 m in the tent camp.
Altitude difference during the trek is +459 m first half, descent from the pass to 3149m -370m and +423m second half.

Day 4: Trek

Breakfast. Trekking up to the Sary-Bel pass 3867 m above sea level about 1-2 hours. On the way it is possible to see the marmots, Golden eagle and at the pass possible to see the trails of the Ibex. The pass is rocky in Some places you could still see the glacier. Picnic for lunch. Descent to the Taldy gorge about 2-3 hours. On the way you will cross the river about 2 times. Overnight in the tents by Taldy river.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Trekking time during the day about 4-5 hours
Distance is about 17 km
Altitudes above sea level during the day: beginning of day – 3572 m in the tent camp Mazar Ukok, highest point – 3860m at Sary Bel pass, end of the day – 2670 m in Taldy gorge.
Altitude difference during the trek is +480 m first half and -960m second half.

Day 5: Trek - Tamga Yurt Camp (140 km, about 3 hours of driving)

Breakfast. Trekking down along the river Taldy to the valley of Tura Suu about 16 km. On the way you could meet the local shepherd and see the Yaks. Meet with the car at the junction of Taldy and Tura-Suu valleys and transfer to the yurt camp in Tamga village. Overnight in the Yurt camp Nomad Lodge.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Trekking time during the day about 2-3 hours
Distance is about 9 km
Altitudes above sea level during the day: beginning of day – 2670 m in Taldy gorge, end of the day – 1600 m in Issyk-Kul Lake.

Day 6: Tamga Yurt Camp – Jety Oguz (100 km, about 2 hours of driving) – Karakol (40 km driving)

Breakfast. Morning drive to Svetlaya Polyana. Easy hike for about 3 hours to Jety Oguz valley. On the way visit the waterfall. Lunch boxes for lunch. On the way stop to the rock formation Seven Bulls and Broken heart. Dinner with Uighur family (small Muslim nationality migrated from north of China). Accommodation Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunchbox/Dinner
Altitudes above sea level during the day: beginning of day – 1600m in Issyk-Kul lake, end of the day – 1700m in Karakol.

Day 7: Karakol – Chon-Kemin valley (340km bout 4-5 hours driving)

Breakfast. City tour in Karakol with visiting central bazaar, Prejevalskiy (famous Russian traveller) museum, Russian Orthodox Church, Muslim Mosque in Dungan style. Transfer to Chon-Kemin along the Northern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake (340 km). Excursion on the way to an Open-Air Museum of stone inscription. On the way lunch. Upon arrival in Chon-Kemin. Accommodation and dinner in the guesthouse of local family.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunchbox/Dinner
Altitudes above sea level during the day: start point - 1700m in Karakol, end of day – 1800 m in Chon-Kemin.

Day 8: Chon-Kemin valley – Bishkek (180km , about 2 hours of the driving)

Breakfast. Transfer to Bishkek about 180 km, 2 hours of the driving. Lunch. City tour of Bishkek with visiting Central Ala-Too square, Oak Park, a walk along the Alley of the Youth next to Philarmonic Hall, a visit to Victory Square and Panfilov park. Optionally folklore show during the dinner. Dinner and Overnight in Bishkek.
Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner
Altitudes above sea level during the day: beginning of day – 1600 m in Chon-Kemin, 800 m in Bishkek.

Day 9: Bishkek – Departure

Early breakfast and transfer to airport. End of trekking tour in Kyrgyzstan.
Meals: Breakfast

Inclusions
Exclusions

Transport for all excursions and transfers according to the program;
English speaking escorting guide;
Double/Twin room accommodation in the hotels and family guesthouses;
Four people accommodation yurt camp;
Meal as indicated each day;
Mineral water during the tour (one liter a day per person);
Trekking personal (cook, horsemen) during treks;
Trekking equipment (tents, kitchen etc.);
Horses for carrying trekking equipment and luggage;
Entrance fees.

Early arrival night in Bishkek;
Single tent supplement;
Visa cost;
Full board;
PCR Test;
Personal travel insurance;
Flight tickets;
Alcohol and soft drinks;
Folklore show in Bishkek.

Conditions:

Single supplement (available in Bishkek only) 68 USD per person per night.
Early arrival night in Bishkek is 64 USD per double room.
Single tent supplement; 12 USD per person.
Folklore show in Bishkek during the dinner is 80 USD for the group.

Equipment:

Down jacket, warm sweater, silk sleeping bag liner, rain gear (waterproof trousers should have an opening on the outside at the bottom of the leg in order to put on and take off without removing your trekking boots), 2-3 pairs of warm socks, waterproof trekking boots, gloves, sunglasses, sun cream with high UV-protection, lip balm with UV-protection, horse chaps and safety horse riding helmets.

Health

If you have some specific sicknesses, you need to bring own first aid kit with necessary medicaments.

Responsibilities of clients

Your clients should recognize and accept the risk that circumstances may arise which would cause some activities to be shortened or eliminated altogether without reimbursement or refund. Such circumstance includes weather conditions, earthquakes and other acts of nature, injuries or other medical problems, which they may experience. However, you recognize and accept that none of the eventualities described above will give you a right to a refund or other forms of reimbursement.

NOTES:

The price is given based on 3 star’s hotel accommodation in Bishkek. We can change it for hotels with higher level upon request for additional payment.
Please keep in mind that people in the countryside do not stick to time and can be late for 20-30 minutes. So, it may not always be on time according to the itinerary, especially when local people cook and serve food or organize horses for riding.
People in Kyrgyzstan are very friendly and like to take pictures. But please do ask for permission if you take a picture of old people, mosques, churches, funerals etc. or in countryside as people may be offended.
The same tour program can be organized for another date upon request or for individual groups with the same conditions and same price.

Dates & Prices

Group size: 2-9 persons

Please note that itinerary and prices are subject to change due to airline and train schedule changes, currency fluctuations and other unforeseeable events.