Skip to main content

KIRGHIZISTAN

In Kyrgyzstan, human beings are only fragile guests among immense green mountains, sunburnt plains, fiery canyons, and silver lakes. From the capital Bishkek to the northern valleys, all the way to the foothills of the Pamirs and the majestic Lenin Peak, we will experience a legendary 4×4 adventure through remote and untouched landscapes, far from mass tourism. Have you ever stood in such vast spaces that they seemed unreal? Have you ever climbed so high that you could watch eagles soaring at eye level? Have you ever searched for the traces of the snow leopard? Climb aboard with us: we are heading very, very far away.

The BHS touch

Small on the outside yet incredibly spacious within, colourful, warm, and welcoming: the yurt remains one of the strongest symbols of Kyrgyz nomadic tradition and is still deeply woven into everyday culture, even appearing on the national flag. We will sleep in yurts, ride horses along immense lakeshores, and discover the authentic flavours of traditional cuisine, surrounded by the stories and hospitality of those born in these extraordinary valleys.

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 will stay

Guesthouses, yurts (private bathroom not guaranteed)

How we move around

4×4 jeeps with local drivers

Trans Alps Adventure

KIRGHIZISTAN

TRIP TYPE

Journey by minibus and 4×4 with local drivers, along rough roads and long travel days through remote mountain regions. The two-day trek to Ala-Kul Lake is physically demanding and requires good endurance. Overnight stays include tents, traditional yurts, and simple guesthouses with shared bathrooms.

For further information about our trips, please see the FAQ section.

Itinerary

Day 1–2: Arrival in Bishkek

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

Day 3: Issyk-Kul and road to Karakol

Morning: Early departure towards Karakol, located at the eastern edge of Issyk-Kul, the second-largest alpine lake in the world. Stop at the ancient Burana Tower and the archaeological remains of the old Sogdian city of Balasagun, about 80 km from Bishkek.

Afternoon: Continuation along the shores of Issyk-Kul, famous for its changing shades of blue and vast mountain scenery. Arrival in Karakol, a multicultural city known for its Russian Orthodox wooden church and the colorful Dungan Mosque, entirely built in wood without nails.

Evening: Dinner and overnight stay in a guesthouse or in local venues in Karakol.

Day 4–5: Trek to Ala-Kul

DAY 4: Early departure for the trek to Ala-Kul Lake, a striking turquoise alpine lake surrounded by high mountains. Full-day hike through the Karakol Valley, crossing forests, meadows, and rocky slopes at higher altitude. Arrival in the afternoon, dinner and overnight stay in a yurt near the lake.

Ala-Kul trekking (outward): 18 km – 1100 m elevation gain

DAY 5: Sunrise departure and continuation across the Ala-Kul Pass (3,800 m), with panoramic views over the lake and surrounding peaks. Descent through forested valleys towards the village of Altyn-Arashan, famous for its natural hot springs. Dinner and overnight stay in a guesthouse in Altyn-Arashan.

Ala-Kul trekking (return): 20 km – 400 m elevation gain

Day 6: Karakol – Skazka Canyon

Morning: Departure along the southern shore of Issyk-Kul, a landscape of semi-desert plains and open valleys. Visit to the large local livestock market.

Afternoon: Stop at Skazka Canyon, also known as “Fairytale Canyon” for its red and orange rock formations. Continuation towards Kochkor, crossing wide grasslands framed by the peaks of the Tian Shan mountains. Arrival and accommodation in a guesthouse.

Evening: Dinner and evening in Kochkor, a village at the foot of Song-Kul Lake.

Day 7: Song-Kul Lake

Morning: Departure from Kochkor towards Song-Kul Lake, a vast alpine lake located above 3,000 meters and inhabited by nomadic families during the summer months. Arrival at Song-Kul.

Afternoon: Among open pastures, free-roaming horses, and traditional yurts, experience the slow rhythm of nomadic life with walks and optional horseback excursions across the high-altitude plains.

Evening: Dinner tasting typical nomadic dishes and drinks, and overnight stay in their yurts.

Day 8: Road to Osh

Morning/Afternoon: Full-day transfer to Osh, crossing the remote landscapes of central Kyrgyzstan, with endless steppes and high mountain passes. Arrival in Osh, the country’s second-largest city and an important multicultural hub in the Fergana Valley, located along the historic Pamir Highway. Check-in at the guesthouse.

Evening: Traditional dinner, evening in the city, overnight stay in the guesthouse.

Day 9: Osh and Sary Mogul

Morning: Exploration of Osh, including the lively bazaar and Sulayman-Too, the sacred mountain rising in the center of the city, home to caves, mosques, museums, and ancient rock inscriptions.

Afternoon: Continuation along the Pamir Highway towards Sary Mogul, a remote village near the Tajik border and one of the last Kyrgyz settlements before the Kyzyl-Art Pass at 4,280 meters.

Evening: Dinner and overnight stay in a guesthouse in Sary Mogul.

Day 10–11: Lenin Peak Base Camp

DAY 10: Departure from Sary Mogul for a full-day trek towards Lenin Peak, one of the world’s most famous 7,000-meter peaks, located on the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Trek through the Pamir landscapes towards Tulpar Lake near the base camp at 3,600 meters, with panoramic views of Lenin Peak (7,134 m). Alternative transfer by 4×4 from Sary Mogul to Tulpar and acclimatization walk around the lake. Dinner and overnight stay in yurts near the lakeshore.

Tulpar trek: 24 km – 700 m elevation gain

DAY 11: Free day dedicated to acclimatization and mountain exploration. The most experienced participants can continue towards Camp 1 at 4,500 meters, crossing Traveller’s Pass at 4,130 meters. Alternative relaxing walks around Tulpar Lake and the surrounding alpine valleys.

Camp 1 trek: 28 km – 1300 m elevation gain

Day 12: Return to Bishkek

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.

Day 13: Return to Italy

Morning: Free time in Bishkek before departure. Transfer to the airport and flight to Italy.

Evening: Arrival in Italy.

Choose when to depart

Secure your place online with a €100 deposit

No posts found.

Previsto un viaggio evento in occasione del World Nomad Games

Discover the itinerary

Price

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.

DOUBLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: €200

Guarantees accommodation in a double room with your chosen partner. For participants who do not purchase this supplement, BHS will manage accommodations in double, triple, or quadruple rooms with people of the same sex, based on booking requirements.

SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: €400

Guarantees accommodation in a single room

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

VISAS

Not required

VACCINATIONS

Check on http://www.viaggiaresicuri.it/country/KGZ

DOCUMENTS

Passport required with at least 6 months validity from the date of return