|
Day 1. Arrive Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Today you begin your adventure in Bishkek, bustling capital of Kyrgyzstan, (optional Almaty (KZ), Tashkent (UZ)). Your afternoon is at leisure - an
opportunity to relax in Bishkek's tree-lined boulevards and pavement cafes. Overnight at the Hotel Issyk-Kul.
Day 2. Bishkek and about
Begin your day with a sightseeing tour, hosted by our guide. Highlights include the ORTHODOX CHURCH,
ORIENTAL BAZAAR, NATIONAL SQUARE and ARTS MUSEUM. Afternoon excursion by car to ALA-ARCHA valley (National Park).
Overnight at the Hotel Issyk-Kul.
Day 3.
Karakol - Yurt camp
Today you will be collected and
transferred to KARAKOL, 400 km from BISHKEK. The journey takes you via BOOM gorge with its spectacular red rock canyons, 11th century
BURANA TOWER, and the second largest alpine lake in the world, ISSYK-KUL. Overnight at the
Turkestan Yurt Camp in central
KARAKOL.
Day 4. Chong-Kyzyl-Suu
After breakfast in a cafe (or served in your yurt - optional extra) you will be driven to
CHONG-KYZYL-SUU valley (50km from
KARAKOL)
to begin your trekking adventure. After day of easy hiking we will strike camp in the forest under the main gorge of the
TERSKEY ALA-TOO. A stream of
crystal clear water running down from a nearby glacier refreshes and replenishes visitors to this remote spot.
Day 5. Asan-Tukum
This morning you will set off towards ASAN-TUKUM valley,
crossing ARCHA-TOR pass (3800m) en route. Overnight camp at an altitude of 2700m in forests beside the
DJETY-OGUZ and ASAN-TUKUM rivers.
Day 6. Djety-Oguz - Telety
A whole day to reach TELETY valley, hiking towards the pass of the same name. Tonight's campsite is surrounded
by enormous boulders, jagged peaks and dense fir-tree forests.
Day 7. Karakol gorge
After breakfast you will trek over TELETY pass at 3800m to
KARAKOL valley. The stiff hike to Telety's summit is rewarded by unrivalled views of the surrounding mountains, particularly
OGUZ-BASHI
peak, directly in front of you. This peak has three summits and makes a challenging climb even for professional mountaineers.
After descending to KARAKOL valley we will strike camp on the riverbanks for a well deserved rest.
Day 8. Karakol Glacier
Your travels this morning will take you within sight of the
TERSKEY ALA-TOO's highest peaks. By this afternoon you will have reached the foot of
KARAKOL and DJIGIT PEAKS and KARAKOL
GLACIER. Overnight camp on the glacier's left moraine, where nocturnal silence is broken only by avalanches in the peaks high above.
Day 9. Kul-Tor
Today you will cross mighty ON-TOR pass, majestic at 4,000m
above sea level (or 4,001 to be more exact). On-Tor forms the border between two tributaries of the Karakol river. Your route takes you under
neighbouring DJIGIT peak with its ice-falls and crashing pack ice. Overnight camp several km from Karakol glacier.
Day 10. Sirota place
After breakfast you will descend into
Karakol valley, along the fast raging Karakol river. The mountains begin as low hills but soon become soaring, jagged sky-scrapers as the day draws on. 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. Your campsite tonight will be on the banks of a little stream flowing down from
Lake ALA-KUL high above you. Surrounded by forest, this first
night of camping is a time for quiet enjoyment of the silence of the mountains and their crystal clear air and water.
Day 11. Lake Ala-Kul
After breakfast 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. Camp tonight is pitched on the lake shore.
Day 12. Altyn-Arashan resort
Today you will cross the 3860m ALA-KUL pass. The short, flat summit makes a good vantage point for picking out the
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 13. Altyn-Arashan
A day to relax and enjoy the spectacular natural environment
of Altyn-Arashan. This remote valley is truly unique, surrounded by high mountains and unspoilt nature. Optional excursions and time to bathe once again in the natural hot sulphur springs.
Day 14. Karakol
This morning is at leisure for your own exploration of
Altyn-Arashan and for a final visit to the baths. 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 resort is 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 at the
Turkestan Yurt Camp in central
Karakol.
Day 15. Bishkek
This morning you must bid farewell to
KARAKOL before continuing your tour to Bishkek through the rural towns and villages of southern
ISSYK-KUL. Overnight at the Hotel Issyk-Kul - a blissful treat after your mountain
adventure.
Day 16. Bishkek - Depart for home
After an airport transfer you will depart for home, taking with you many spectacular memories the Central Tien Shan.
|
