Program of JS Turkestan. A9

Day 1. Arrive Almaty, Kazakhstan - Kuturgu
You begin your tour in ALMATY, the capital of Kazakhstan. Today you arrive in this huge city and just upon arrival and after sightseeing tour, hosted by our guide (Highlights include the ORTHODOX CHURCH, ORIENTAL BAZAAR, NATIONAL SQUARE, MUSEUM OF ARTS etc.), you have a transfer to KUTURGU village via CHARYN CANYON (the small copy of American's Bryce or Grand or Zion Canyons). In Kuturgu you have a camping for your first night in the tents near the mountains.

Day 2. Kuturgu
After breakfast you have a day for your last arrangements and horse preparing for your riding. Upon readiness you start towards the pass KUTURGU 3500m. Depending on your moving you have a camp before or behind the pass.

Day 3. Chilik valley
Upon reaching the summit of pass KUTURGU you ride down to valley. This valley is called CHILIK with the river of the same name. Here, on the bank of river, you can pitch your tents in the bush-forestry place. Many dry wood give you possibility for a camp-fire and make your evening warmer.

Day 4. Kurmenty
Today you will reach KURMENTY village (on the side of Kazakhstan) going on horseback over the CHILIK valley. Many possibilities today for quiet riding or gallop. The camp is on the meadow near the rivers Chilik and village. The altitude for overnight is 2500m.

Day 5. 1^st Kul-Say Lake
Today your riding tour bring you up to the first KUL-SAY LAKE (Lower). Your route is along the river flowing down to the confluence with CHILIK river. upon arrival the north side of lake you have a lunch and go on your riding to the other side of the lake. The overnight will be on the beautiful shore in the tents. Fishing is accessible everywhere.

Day 6. 2^nd Kul-Say Lake
This morning you have fish on the breakfast (if your team was successful with fishing before) and pack your rucksack for continiue of your tour. Climbing to the second (middle) lake is through the forest and hiding river. If you like mushrooms you find them here in great number in the summer. The nature of this region sometimes is similar with downhills of European mountains. Upon arrival the lake you should go around left side to reach the best place for your next camp-site. This lovely spot is near the emptying the river from the upper lake to this one. There is a quiet fireplace for evening's stories.

Day 7. 3^rd Kul-Say Lake
Your day for reaching your third lake - upper one. Unfortunately there is no fishing because the altitude here is about 3000m and no good conditions (too cold for fish) in a winter. Your tents are under the fir-tree's branches like under the natural roof. Hot meal is just in the nick of time.

Day 8. Saty valley
This morning you continiue your ride towards the pass SARY-BULAK (3274m). On the summit you will see the wonderful view of eastern part of ISSYK-KUL from the summit of that pass. A few gulfs of the Lake are just under you and on the other side of the large ISSYK-KUL valley a TERSKEY ALA-TOO is visible through clouds. Upon descending to SATY valley you set your camping on the green meadow. View of surounded KUNGEY ALA-TOO gorge and ISSYK-KUL valley is amazing. Hot meal is just in the nick of time.

Day 9. Shet-Merke valley
Today you ride to one of neighbour lovely valleys, SHET-MERKE. Enjoy a tour riding along the river Shet-Merke watching around on the wild and wasted dales. Upon reaching the third right stream you turn up and find the good site for your camp. Overnight is in the tents on the fresh air.

Day 10. Kensu valley
You depart for a beautiful KENSU valley. Enroute there you will stop for a lunch in the valley ORTA-MERKE. Having found a good place for camping, you set your tents and unharness your horses for overnight.

Day 11. Ulken-Taldybulak valley
After a welcome briefing during breakfast, depart to a scenic tour to valley ULKEN-TALDYBULAK. Your next camp is under (before) the pass SAPTAS. Tha surrounded mountains declining lower and lower to the east. Camp on the wide meadow.

Day 12. Saptas pass
Today your riding is over the SAPTAS pass (2500m). This pass is on the border between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Upon descending to valley you set your camp.

Day 13. San-Tash lake - Karakol
Begin your day with a usual tasteful breakfast on the nature. Then you ride from your last pass towards Lake SAN-TASH. If you like to swim in the cold water you are welcome. This lake is small but very picturesque. Then you ride to TEMIRLAN STONES, place where is legendary burial ground of ancient Kyrgyz-Kazakh host. Upon reaching this place you are picked up to transfer to KARAKOL town, the capital of ISSYK-KUL region. Overnight in Yurts Camp in the center of this pleasant town or opional in a hotel.

Day 14. Karakol - Horse-Eagle-Folklore show
After tasteful breakfast in cafe you drive to DJETY-OGUZ valley. Horse-eagle-folklore show program takes place in famous DJETY-OGUZ valley in the place which
is called Dragon valley near red rocks. Included: Eagle show (golden eagle), national Kyrgyz games on horseback, folclore concert and picnic with national dishes. Duration of program is about 4 hours. Then you go back to Karakol. Your evening is at leisure.

Day 15. Bishkek
Today you drive to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, through the towns and villages of North shore of ISSYK-KUL Lake via BOOM gorge with intricate rock canyons and visiting BURANA TOWER (11th c) en-route. Upon arrival in Bishkek you have a hotel accomodation for your last overnight in Kyrgyzstan after trip in the mountains.

Day 16. Bishkek - Depart for home
Today you travel home from airport with many funny memories of your riding along the Kungey Ala-Too range and visiting to the region of three mountains' pearls.

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