About this experience
This two-day immersion into the world of the fantastic nature of Issyk-Kul Lake! Magnificent canyons, carved by time and wind, mazes of river channels, healing salty lake, millennium-old glaciers, and a mountain waterfall... We will cover the most beautiful locations of Kyrgyzstan, witness the sunset on the edge of a cliff, taste traditional cuisine, and delve into the history of these places.
What to expect
Day 1: safari through canyons
📍 Start. We depart from Bishkek at 7 am. Along the way, we will talk about the peoples inhabiting the lands of Semirechye and the Silk Road, see petroglyphs, balbals, and artifacts. In the north of Kyrgyzstan, we will stop at the Burana Tower in the Chu Valley—a minaret built in the 5-6th century.
📍 In the juncture of three ridges at Boom Gorge, we will enjoy lepeshkas with kaymak, tea, and manty.
📍 Next, we head to Salty Lake, located on the southern shore of Issyk-Kul surrounded by mountains. Of course, we will take a swim: local mud and salty water are very beneficial for health.
📍 Continuing to Filatovsky Rocks, we will swim again and wash off all the salt in the bay with crystal-clear water.
📍 Fantastic canyons await us next:
- Aksai Canyons, composed of sandstone and pierced by numerous dry streams. We will have lunch in the village of Bokonbayevo.
- Mars—a deep bowl surrounded by red-brown rocks. The landscapes here will amaze you!
- Kadji-Say Canyon: we will see an abandoned city and continue along the labyrinth of the dried-up riverbed.
- Fairytale Canyon, famous for its 'Chinese Wall'. We will witness a golden sunset over Issyk-Kul Lake from the viewing platform with a cup of hot coffee!
We will spend the night in the delta of the Barskoon River at the Ak-Tulpar guesthouse.
Day 2: golden gorge, glaciers, and Orto-Tokoy
📍 Wake-up at 07:00, breakfast—and we continue our journey! We set course for Barskoon Gorge with its famous waterfalls, including the Tears of the Snow Leopard. Many small rivers flowing into the Barskoon River are gold-bearing: on sunny days, their banks glitter with golden grains.
📍 The gorge stretches among mountains and reaches the high-altitude Arabel Plateau: being here, at 4000 meters above sea level, you can touch the glaciers with your hand.
📍 Orto-Tokoy Reservoir amidst ochre-brown mountains will amaze you with its vastness and tranquility. You will notice how the water changes color in different places—from pale blue to emerald and even black.
In the evening, we return to Bishkek, full of new impressions!
Organizational details
- I will lead the tour for you or another guide from our team
- Total route length—650 km
- Comfortable clothing, mountain footwear, and a warm jacket are recommended
Additional expenses
- Accommodation at the Ak-Tulpar guesthouse—2000 rubles per person
- Entrance tickets—approximately 150 rubles per person
- Meals—500 rubles per person
