Pearls of Kyrgyzstan: Issyk-Kul and Song-Kol lakes

Description
Trip Essentials
Trip Highlights
Itinerary
Tour Map
Dates & Prices

Description

Trip essentials

Tour Type: cultural tour with soft adventure

Total Duration: 9 days

Best Season: June – September

Level of Difficulty: easy

Maximum Altitude on the Trip: 3 400 meters ASL

Start and End Point: Bishkek

Accommodation: **** hotel in Bishkek, guesthouses and yurts outside Bishkek

Transport: car/van/minibus depending on the size of the group

Best group size: 4- 12 persons

Trip highlights

Burana Tower

Burana Tower is the most visible remnant of the old city of the Balasagyn city. Built in the 11th century, the tower is thought to have been a minaret. It was originally double it’s current height of 24.6 meters. Historian’s believe the top half to have been destroyed in a 15th century earthquake.

Balasagyn was a city in the Chuy Valley during the Karakhanid Khanate. Excavations have revealed that the double walls of the settlement enclosed 30 sq km, including a fortress, many workshops, bazaars, a bathhouse, and a plot of arable land. Water brought by a large pipe from a neighboring canyon. As the Karakhanid rule was shaken by Mongol invasions, Balasagyn began a slow decline, eventually becoming a ghost town in the 15th century.

Local Kyrgyz tell a Sleeping Beauty-esque fairy tale about the towers origins. According to legend, it was built by a powerful khan who had only one daughter, a beautiful young woman he wished to shield from every hardship. A seer foretold that despite his care, the girl would die on her 16th birthday. The furious Khan built the tower, and locked his daughter away from the world. On her 16th birthday he visited her with a gift of fruit, proud of having defeated the prophecy. To his horror, the girl collapsed before his eyes, and fell dead to the floor. Unbeknownst to him, a poisonous black spider had been concealed among the grapes. In his grief he destroyed the top half of the tower, and left the base as his daughter’s mausoleum.

There are several brick mausoleums nearby the tower, and a museum encompasses the area of the former town. Balbal, Turkic grave markers from the 6th century, and rocks with pertroglyphs from the 2nd century have been brought here for preservation.

Song-Kol Lake

Song-Kol Lake — «The Last Lake» is considered one of the most beautiful areas for summer pasturing. It is in the Naryn district, and Kyrgyzstan’s second largest lake with an area of 270 km sq. In winter the lake freezes over with ice more than a meter thick.

Chamomile, sage, friar’s cap and golden root are prized for their medicinal qualities, and wildflowers are abundant in spring. Migratory birds bisit the lake in summer as well as shy mountain wildlife like foxes and deer. Fish were introduced to the lake in 1959.

Nomads have been making the upland trek to this 3016 m asl lake since ancient times with their livestock. Some left mysterious «standing stone» arrangements.

Lake Son-Kul is a beautiful place to experience life on a jailoo. Ride horses in the surrounding mountains, or stay in a yurt and experience an old-fashioned Kyrgyz summer.

Issyk-Kul Lake

The crown jewel of the Tien Shan, Lake Issyk-Kul is 6232 sq m of sparkling blue paradise. The second largest saline lake in the world, its name in Kyrgyz means «hot lake»— though surrounded by spectacular snow capped peaks, the water never freezes. Silk Road traders stopped here to recover from the grueling trek over the passes of the Tian Shan, and it is still the most popular destination in Kyrgyzstan to relax for both tourists and locals.

Karakol is the regional center. On Sundays see a tradition which is reminiscent of Silk Road times, the famous animal bazaar. Shepherds from surrounding regions travel long hours to bring their livestock— on foot, by cart, by tractor, by car— even by motorcycle. Other cities in the region include Cholpon-Ata and Balykchi.

The mountains in Issyk-Kul rise over 7000 m, with Khan Tengri and Pobeda Peak being popular destinations for intrepid mountaineers. Trek to the massive Enilchek Glacier and the “dissappearing” Lake Merzbacher.

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival at Manas airport. Meet and transfer to Bishkek. After luncht city tour in Bishkek with visiting: Victory Square, Tsum Center, Opera and Ballet Building, Museum of Fine Arts, Oak Park, Mikhail Frunze Museum, Erkindik Boulevard, Open Air Art Gallery, Central Square Ala-Too, monument to Chingiz Aitmatov, Old Square, monument to Lenin, Panfilov Park, White House, Monument to Revolution, Philharmonic Hall Building, Monument to Manas, Osh bazaar. Accommodation in a hotel. Dinner at café/restaurant.

Day 2

Morning transfer to Ala-Archa National Park, 45 km from Bishkek. The park was created in 1976 and occupies about 2 280 hectares just 45km from the capital. Ala-Archa is translated from Kyrgyz language as “motley (or bright) juniper. Walk in the gorge. Picnic lunch en route. Drive to Ata Beyit Memorial Complex dedicated to the victims of Revolt against Tsarist Empire in 1916, victims of Stalin’s Repressions 1934-1938, and victims of 2010 Revolution. Return to Bishkek. Hotel accommodation ***. Dinner at café/restaurant.

Day 3

This day drive to Chong-Kemin Valley. Visit the Burana Tower architectural complex (10^th-11^th century, an important point on the Great Silk Road) on the way (15 km from the main road, 1 hour). Lunch near Burana at Kyrgyz Family. Arrive in Chong-Kemin. Accommodation in a local guesthouse. Dinner.

Day 4

Chong-Kemin — Karakol

After breakfast leave for Karakol Town via northern shore of Issyk-Kul lake. En route visit open air collection of petroglyphs near Cholpon-Ata. Lunch at café en route. Further drive to Karakol. Arrival in Karakol, accommodation in a guesthouse. Dinner

Day 5

After breakfast visit the Dungan Mosque and Orthodox Church. Further drive to Altyn-Arashan Valley (Golden Spa Valley) (about 40 km from Karakol, 16 km ascent drive by Russian Military 4WD truck in the gorge, around 3 hours). Arrival in Altyn-Arashan, lunch. Optional: bathing in the local hot springs. Drive down by 4 WD truck. Transfer to Karakol. Accommodation in the guesthouse. Dinner with Dungan family.

Day 6

Morning drive to southern Issyk-Kul Lake. On the way visit Jeti-Oguz Gorge (Seven Bulls Rock) and Skazka Canyon (Fairtale Canyon). Lunch in a Kyrgyz Family in Chyrak or Jeti-Oguz Village. Arrival in Bokonbaevo or Kadji-Sai Village, check-in in the local guesthouse. Dinner.

Day 7

Drive to Naryn region, Song-Kol Lake. Continue to Jaichy Valley. Experience hunting with an eagle demonstration. Tea and coffee time. Further drive to Kochkor Village, where lunch is waiting for you. Further transfer to Song-Kol Lake. Arrival in Song-Kol. Meet your host family. Dinner and B&B in a yurt.

Day 8

This day explore life of shepherds around. Ride a horse to neighboring gorges. Meals and B&B in a yurt.

Day 9

After delicious breakfast leave for Bishkek. Lunch en route. Leave for Bishkek, 6 hours. Arrival in Bishkek, overnight in a hotel. Farewell dinner at restaurant.

Day 10

Transfer to the airport. Departure.

Tour map

Dates and Prices

Trip date	Availability	Trip Status	Price
June — September	Any date	Upon request	From $ 990

TRIP INCLUSIONS:

Twin accommodation in Bishkek hotel **** 3 nights, local guesthouses and yurts 5 nights
Meals during tour (9 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners), except meals at café and alcoholic drinks
Transport services by minibus, and by Soviet 4WD truck to Altyn-Arashan Valley
Visiting cultural/historical places and entrance fees
Cultural events and show according to the program
English speaking touring guide

NOT INCLUDED: personal expenses; meals at café; activities out of program (optional activities); single supplement; tips; air tickets; health insurance; boat trip;