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| Tour
code A16 | 11
Days/10 Nights
30 Meals:
10 Breakfasts,
10 Lunches,
10 Dinners
Month:
April-November
Route:
Bishkek - Issyk-Kul Lake - Karakol -
Terskey Ala-Too - Bishkek
Distance:
1142km | | | |
ITINERARY
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Day 1. Bishkek - Karakol
7
hours/430km
On arrival in Bishkek, the bustling capital of Kyrgyzstan, you will be met and transferred to a cafe for lunch. This afternoon
your adventure takes you along the North shore of LAKE ISSYK-KUL to KARAKOL, via 11th-century BURANA TOWER and the prehistoric PETROGLYPHS at Cholpon-Ata.
Upon arrival you have a dinner and overnight in Turkestan Yurt camp in central KARAKOL.
Day 2. Karakol.
4
hours/50km
After breakfast you will have a city-tour. Highlights include the
ORTHODOX HOLY TRINITY CHURCH,
CHINESE MOSQUE and PRZHEVALSKY MEMORIAL (erected in honour of one of the Tien-Shan's greatest explorers). Then, after lunch, your time is at leisure.
Overnight in Yurt Camp.
Day 3. Karakol -
Djety-Oguz
7 hours/55km
Today your adventure brings you to spectacular
DJETY-OGUZ, the famous 'Valley of Seven Bulls'. There you have a short hiking towards Kashka-Suu valley meadows in the forest of fir-trees and juniper
old trees. Set your tent under the biggest tree and make warm campfire before overnight.
Day 4. Yrdyk
4 hours/8km
Morning hiking over the low pass will bring you to
YRDYK valley. There are three glacier lakes on the moraine. Your next
campsite is in the central canyon near the highest trees and bush.
Day 5. Mokroye
4 hours/9km
After Yrdyk you hike to MOKROYE USCHELYE (valley). This name means "wet" valley. Birdwatching here is more successful
because of remote area. Night in the tents.
Day 6. Karakol valley
4 hours/6km
Over the low pass you have a descend to KARAKOL VALLEY famous with "Kulichinye bolota" ("Sandpiper Bogs"). Here
is area where you can watch Sandpiper-sicklebeak. There is a nesting-place there. You set your tents nearby and spend this overnight.
Day 7. Ala-Kul Lake - Altyn-Arashan
8 hours/20km
This day is hard. This morning you will climb up to an
altitude of 2900m to the forest oasis of SIROTA (meaning "orphan" thanks to it's location in the middle of a barren, rocky valley). Here you
will find a little alpine log hut built by group of mountaineering enthusiasts several years ago. Sirota is one of the region's most
arrestingly beautiful areas with its unique landscape and spectacular views. From here you will be able to see some of the neighbouring valleys with
their corner peaks and high ridges. Then you will continue your climb to the pearl of
Karakol canyon - LAKE ALA-KUL. This lake is famous for its eerie,
ever-changing colour and for being situated at an altitude of 3500m above sea level. Such a high altitude means that
Ala-Kul is relatively barren and
unable to support many species of wildlife. Everybody finds the spectacle of this miracle of nature absolutely unforgettable. If you just here for the
first time, we guarantee that you will fall in love with Ala-Kul and its surroundings. The color of the lake surface changes from greeny-blue to
violet every hour depending on weather conditions. Lucky visitors have good weather and see the sun set over the lake -a truly wonderful experience, but
you go further crossing the 3860m ALA-KUL pass, having allowed plenty of time for acclimatization. The short, flat summit makes a good vantage point
for picking out Terskey Ala-Too's highest peaks: KARAKOL (5273m), DJIGIT and OGUZ-BASHI PEAKS. The ridge that these peaks creates runs across the horizon
from west to east. After this, you will descend to the valley of ALTYN-ARASHAN. The resort at
Altyn-Arashan is famous for its HOT SULPHUR SPRINGS. Your evening is at leisure for taking bath in this lovely spot.
Overnight camping or optional guesthouse stay.
Day 8. Altyn-Arashan - Anyr-Tor
4 hours/4km
Today you may have well-earned leisure. Full day of bathing and relaxation. Optional you can go to the neighbour valley ANYR-TOR
for watching a wild red-coloured ducks called ATAYKA (rus.) or ANYR (kyrg.). Overnight tent camping or optional guesthouse stay.
Day 9. Altyn-Arashan - Karakol
4 hours/30km
Today the morning will be at leisure for your own exploration of
Altyn-Arashan. This
afternoon you will descend along the river ARASHAN to the village of AK-SUU. On the way you will cross one more pass of less than
2500m but by this time the altitude is almost unnoticeable. This pass forms the border between two valleys - ARASHAN and AK-SUU. Another, less remote and more
commercial resorts located in AK-SUU valley. The Ak-Suu hot baths may be similar to those at
Altyn-Arashan but you will find yourself
competing for a soak with tens of day-trippers! A final descent brings you back to Karakol. Overnight in Turkestan Yurt camp.
Day 10. Karakol -
Lake Issyk-Kul (South) - Bishkek
7 hours/400km
This morning you must bid farewell to this isolated nook of Eastern
Kyrgyzstan. The car or private bus (depending on group size) will be waiting to transfer you back to BISHKEK. This time you will be driven along the
beautiful Southern shores of Lake ISSYK-KUL. The road hugs the water's edge and winds through remote Kyrgyz villages of wooden chocolate-box cottages,
against the backdrop of the captivating Central Tien Shan mountains. After a short stop in Balykchi for lunch your trip will continue via
BOOM gorge. On
arrival in Bishkek you will be taken to the Hotel Dostuk for your last overnight and a much-appreciated warm shower.
Day 11. Bishkek - depart for home
1 hour/30km
Today you will be transferred to Bishkek MANAS airport (or to the train or bus station if you plan to travel onwards), taking with
you many unforgettable, spectacular memories of your adventures in Kyrgyzstan.
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