Tour Bishkek-Burana-Northern shore of Issyk-Kul-Lake Issyk-Kul-Karakol-Altyn Arashan-Karakol-Jeti Oguz-Lake Issyk Kul-Kochkor-Tash Rabat-Son Kul-Pass 33 parrots-Bishkek-Tashkent for 8 days

An accompanying guide will meet you at Manas International Airport, from where you will go to the capital - Bishkek city (30 minutes’ drive from the airport). Your first day in Kyrgyzstan will be completely devoted to a tour of Bishkek. You will visit Victory Square, Oak Park, Ala-Too Central Square, Old Square, National Philharmonic Hall and many other attractions. After a traditional lunch, you will be taken to Issyk-Kul Lake. On the route, visit the Burana Tower (11th century minaret) and the Balbals (stone warriors) museum in the open air. Lake Issyk-Kul is the second largest alpine lake in the world (1,608 m above sea level). The lake is called the "pearl of Central Asia". Your dinner and overnight will be at the hotel.

The day starts with a breakfast at 8 o’clock. Afterwards, you will start your trip to Karakol city. On the way, we will take a short break to give you the opportunity to visit ancient stone inscriptions (dating back to 800 B.C.). These petroglyphs were made more than 2 000 years ago by shamans. Then we continue our way along the northern shore of the lake to the town of Karakol. You will visit the Dungan mosque. One of its highlights is the fact that it was built in a Chinese style without using a single metal nail. The mosque will be followed by a visit to an old wooden Orthodox Church. The night is spent in a hotel.

After a strengthening breakfast you will be transferred to the Altin Arashan Gorge by Russian military vehicle. Altin Arashan (“Golden Spa”) gorge is one of the most famous gorges in Karakol because of the Tian-Shan fir trees that grow everywhere there. You will have a picnic in the incredibly beautiful gorge. Afterwards you will have 1 hour for hiking in the gorge and then you will be transferred back to the town. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. in a local restaurant. Night is in a hotel.

Today we will drive to Jeti Oguz gorge. It’s famous for its red rocks formations that have a name Seven Bulls – Jeti Oguz. Also you will see there the Broken Heart Mountain. If you want it is possible to go on a top of a mountain (20 minutes) to see a panorama view of the gorge. Then we continue our trip, breaking in Bokonbaeva village, where we will meet a local eagle-hunter. He hunts hares and foxes with the help of eagles (a traditional way of nomadic hunting). When we arrive at Kochkor village you will meet a family who will show you how to make national woolen felt carpets. Night is in a home stay.

After breakfast you will be transferred to the Tash Rabat Caravanserai on the Great Silk Road (Stone Castle from the 14th century). The building is unique. Tash Rabat is located at the very heart of Tian Shan Mountains.  Tash Rabat was built of stone blocks inside a mountain at an elevation of 3200 m above sea level. In total there are 31 rooms in the mountain. The walls are 1 m thick. There are also underground prison cells formerly used to incarcerate thieves in ancient times. There will be a traditional dinner and the night will be spent in yurts near Tash Rabat Caravanserai.

After breakfast we start our drive to the second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan – Son Kul Lake. This lake is surrounded by mountains and it is the highest alpine lake in Kyrgyzstan, situated at an altitude of 3013 meters above sea level. Kyrgyz nomads started to come to this wonderful area with their families for rest and relaxation. Herders of the Naryn region come to the lake to use it as a pastureland. After our arrival, you will be free to explore and enjoy the virgin nature of the lake and its surroundings. Dinner and overnight is in nomadic collapsible dwellings – yurts. They are made of a wooden skeleton, covered with felt coverings.

After meeting with locals, we will drive to the capital of Kyrgyzstan – Bishkek city. The road to the city goes through 33 parrots pass (3 133 m). In Kochkor village you will spend some time with a family that will show you the way our national felt carpets are produced. Also you will visit a small handicraft museum there. They have many examples of silver decorations, coats made of wolves, horse saddle decorations, carpets and more. Afterwards you will be transferred to the capital of Kyrgyzstan – Bishkek city. Night is in a hotel.

In the morning is transfer to airport