KIRGHIZISTAN
Highlights
A night at high altitude on the shore of Ala-Kul
A day in the yurts with the nomads of Song-Kul
The majestic white wall of Lenin Peak
Canyons, meadows, and villages on the shores of Issyk-Kul
Where we stay
Guesthouses, yurts (private bathroom not guaranteed)
How we get around
4×4 jeeps with local drivers
TRIP TYPE
For further information about our trips, please see the FAQ section.
DAY 1 afternoon: departure from major Italian airports to Bishkek
DAY 2 morning: arrival, transfer to hotel and check-in
DAY 2 afternoon: meeting with the local guide, city center exploration, and visit to Osh Bazaar
Evening: traditional Kyrgyz dinner and night out in the city’s bars, overnight stay in hotel
Morning: early wake-up and departure with a driver towards Karakol, at the eastern end of the vast saline basin of Issyk-Kul, the second largest alpine lake in the world. Stop to visit the Burana Tower (9th century) and the remains of the ancient Sogdian city of Balasagun, 80 km east of Bishkek.
Afternoon: continue to Karakol, crossing a wide variety of landscapes and following the shores of Issyk-Kul, whose name means “warm lake,” which takes on different shades of blue depending on the light. Arrival in Karakol, the country’s fourth-largest city with a high ethnic diversity. City visit including its wooden Russian Orthodox church and the colorful Dungan Mosque, built of wood without nails by Muslims who fled China in 1877.
Evening: dinner and evening in a guesthouse or in local venues in Karakol.
DAY 4: early wake-up to reach Ala-Kul on foot, a surreal turquoise lake set among the mountains. A full-day trek ascending the beautiful Karakol Valley, through forests, meadows, and, in the higher sections, steep scree slopes. Arrival in the afternoon, dinner and overnight stay in a yurt on the shores of Lake Ala-Kul.
Ala-Kul trekking (outward): 18 km – 1100 m elevation gain
DAY 5: sunrise departure and continuation of the trek across the Ala-Kul Pass (3,800 m), offering a breathtaking view over the lake below, followed by a steep descent into a valley covered in dense forests leading to the small village of Altyn-Arashan, where a soak in natural hot springs awaits to recover energy. Dinner and overnight stay in a guesthouse in Altyn-Arashan.
Ala-Kul trekking (return): 20 km – 400 m elevation gain
Morning: departure for Karakol along the southern shore of Issyk-Kul, a desert-like and almost lunar landscape. Visit to the vast livestock market.
Afternoon: stop at the incredible Skazka Canyon, known as “Fairytale Canyon” for its vivid red and orange colours. Transfer to Kochkor, crossing grassy plains where livestock graze, the deep blue of the lake, and the snow-capped peaks of the Tien Shan all around. Arrival and check-in at the guesthouse.
Evening: dinner and evening in Kochkor, a village at the foot of Song-Kul Lake.
Morning: from Kochkor we continue at high altitude towards the legendary Song-Kul, a large silvery lake located at over 3,000 m above sea level and inhabited by nomadic populations during the summer. Arrival at Song-Kul.
Afternoon: amid dazzling light, free-roaming horses, and the enthusiasm of Kyrgyz children, we share with the herders the slow rhythm of mountain pastures, with walking and horse riding excursions.
Evening: dinner tasting typical nomadic dishes and drinks, and overnight stay in their yurts.
Morning and afternoon: breakfast and full-day transfer to Osh, crossing the beautiful and untouched landscapes of central Kyrgyzstan, including vast steppe scenery and high mountain passes. Arrival in the afternoon in Osh, the country’s second-largest city, a major multi-ethnic center in the Fergana Valley and a key stop along the Pamir Highway connecting Kyrgyzstan with Tajikistan. Check-in at the guesthouse.
Evening: traditional dinner, evening in the city, overnight stay in the guesthouse.
Morning: exploration of the city, the bazaar, and the famous Sulayman-Too, the steep sacred mountain rising right in the city center, home to museums, caves, mosques, and ancient stone inscriptions.
Afternoon: continuation along the Pamir Highway towards Sary Mogul, a small village 30 km west of Sary Tash, the last Kyrgyz stop before the Kyzyl-Art pass (4,280 m) into Tajikistan.
Evening: dinner and overnight stay in a guesthouse in Sary Mogul.
DAY 10: from the small village of Sary Mogul, a full day of trekking towards one of the most famous and fascinating 7,000-metre peaks in the world, known during the USSR era as Pik Lenin, on the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. After a long trekking day with the snow wall of the Pamirs in front of us, arrival at the beautiful Tulpar Lake, near the base camp (3,600 meters), from where the summit of Lenin Peak (7,134 m) is already visible. Alternatively, transfer from Sary Mogul to Tulpar by 4×4 and acclimatisation hike around the lake. Dinner and overnight stay in yurts on the lakeshore.
Tulpar trek: 24 km – 700 m elevation gain
DAY 11: free day: the most trained participants can reach Camp 1 for the ascent, located at 4,500 m, after crossing the magnificent Traveller’s Pass at 4,130 m. Alternatively, a relaxing day with short walks around Tulpar Lake.
Camp 1 trek: 28 km – 1300 m elevation gain
Morning: departure from Lake Tulpar and return to Osh. Free time in the city.
Afternoon: transfer to the airport for a short domestic flight to Bishkek (50’), returning to the capital and preparing for the journey home.
Evening: dinner and evening in Bishkek, overnight stay in a hotel.
Morning: free time in Bishkek before departure. Transfer to the airport and flight to Italy.
Evening: arrival in Italy.
