Discovery of Issyk-Kul Lake
10-day cultural & light-adventure loop around Issyk-Kul Lake.
Tian Shan panorama
Cross the Boom Gorge into the high Tian Shan, then drive Issyk-Kul's southern shore.
Nomadic homestay night
One night with a herder family at a jailoo summer pasture.
Half-day horse trek
Optional ride to the Jeti-Oguz red rocks.
Karakol bazaar visit
Sunday animal market — one of Central Asia's largest.
Discovery of Issyk-Kul Lake
10-day cultural & light-adventure loop around Issyk-Kul Lake.
Ten days around Central Asia’s largest alpine lake — from Bishkek through the Boom Gorge to Cholpon-Ata’s petroglyphs, then on to Karakol’s frontier-town heritage and the wild Altyn-Arashan hot springs. A balanced introduction to Kyrgyzstan combining culture, nature, and one night with a herder family in a yurt camp.
10 days, 10 camps
Bishkek arrival
Arrival at Manas International Airport. Hotel transfer and check-in. Evening orientation walk on Ala-Too Square; dinner at a local Kyrgyz restaurant.
Cholpon-Ata to Karakol via south shore
Half-day along the southern lake shore. Walk in Skazka (Fairy-Tale) Canyon among red sandstone formations. Optional swim at Tamga beach. Evening arrival in Karakol.
Karakol — city day
Morning visit of the Holy Trinity Cathedral and the wooden Dungan mosque. If Sunday, the famous animal market. Afternoon Przhevalsky museum overlooking the lake.
Altyn-Arashan to Cholpon-Ata
Descent back to the trailhead in the morning. Transfer along the lake to Cholpon-Ata. Lake-shore guesthouse, dinner with lake-fish specialities.
Cholpon-Ata to Bishkek
Lunch stop at Burana Tower (11th-century minaret) on the way back to Bishkek. Late-afternoon arrival.
Departure
Free morning. Hotel checkout, transfer to Manas Airport.
1 stops · 1112 km
Included
- Accommodation throughout the trip
- All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- All ground transport during the trip
- Airport transfers (arrival & departure)
- English-speaking lead guide
- National-park permits and entry fees
- First-aid kit and emergency equipment
- Visits to museums and cultural sites
- Park entrance fees in Ala-Archa
- Issyk-Kul border zone permit
- WiFi at all city accommodations
Not included
- Visa fees (where applicable)
- Travel and medical insurance
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Personal hiking/skiing gear
- Optional helicopter excursion to Inylchek Glacier (~$400 pp)
- Spa & massage at Karven resort
Where you sleep
3-star hotels in cities; family guesthouses in villages; one yurt-camp night at Altyn-Arashan. All accommodation has hot showers; remote yurt camp uses solar panels and outdoor compost toilet.
Nuraly Turganbaev
Nuraly is a French language professor at the National University and also the director of our tourism company. His love for nature and the environment has inspired him since 1996 to travel across Kyrgyzstan with foreign travelers as a guide and interpreter (Kyrgyz – Russian – French). Over the years, he has worked with several tourism agencies and gained extensive experience in tourism, guiding, and interpretation. Thanks to his deep knowledge of the country, nomadic culture, and local traditions, Nuraly is today the main tour leader and one of the key figures of our company.
See all tours led by this guide →Things people ask
To book an EcoNomad tour, fill out the contact form with your dates, group size and the tour you have in mind. We send a tailored quote within 48 hours. Your booking is confirmed once a 30% deposit is paid; the balance is due 30 days before departure.
A passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your entry date is required. Citizens of the European Union, Switzerland, Canada and Australia travel visa-free for stays of up to 60 days. Some border zones (China, Tajikistan) require a special permit — EcoNomad helps you arrange these.
The main season runs from May to October. June–August is ideal for nomadic tours and high-altitude jailoos (summer pastures). July–August suits the high passes (above 3,500 m). March and April offer quieter spring landscapes. EcoNomad also runs ski-touring trips from December to March.
Our tours come in three grades: Easy (2–4h of walking a day, little elevation gain, family-friendly), Moderate (4–6h of walking or riding a day, passes above 3,000 m) and Demanding (technical hikes of 6–8h a day, passes above 3,500 m). Each tour page states the level required.
Accommodation varies by tour and stage: traditional yurts in the high mountains (summer), guesthouses or homestays in the villages, and 3-star hotels in the cities. This mix is intentional — it brings you closer to local people and the nomadic way of life.
All our tours include full board. Kyrgyz cuisine is generous: soups, grilled meats, fermented dairy and home-baked bread. Vegetarian diets are catered for on request at the time of booking. In the mountains, meals are prepared at camp by our team.
Travel insurance covering medical costs, repatriation and outdoor activities is mandatory. We recommend providers such as World Nomads, Allianz Travel or an equivalent. Make sure your policy covers horse riding and high-altitude trekking.
Several of our tours reach passes or camps above 3,500 m. Altitude sickness (AMS) is rare when acclimatisation is gradual — our itineraries build in gentle ascent days. Your guide explains the symptoms from day one and carries a first-aid kit and a pulse oximeter.
The local currency is the Kyrgyz som (KGS). Bishkek, Karakol and Osh have ATMs accepting Visa and Mastercard. In the mountains and remote villages, only cash is accepted. Bring the equivalent of €200–300 in soms for personal expenses.
4G covers Bishkek and most towns. Remote valleys and yurt camps have little or no signal. Your guide carries a satellite phone for emergencies in areas without coverage. Take the chance to truly disconnect.
Bring a day pack (20–25 L) and a soft duffel or travel bag for baggage transfers. A detailed packing list tailored to your tour is sent once your booking is confirmed. Golden rule: walk in already broken-in boots, not new ones.
Standard cancellation terms: 30% non-refundable (deposit), 50% of the total between 60 and 30 days before departure, 100% under 30 days. Free changes before the deposit is paid. In case of force majeure (extreme weather), we offer a postponement or a credit note.
