Journey to Issyk Kul Lake

Name of tour: Journey to Issyk Kul Lake

Duration: 5 days & 4 nights

Day 1: Bishkek – Chunkurchak – Bishkek
As you land at Manas International airport your guide will take you to the capital city of Bishkek which is in 30-minutes from the airport to begin your travel. Guided tour through Bishkek will take up the first half of the day. You will get to visit Duboviy Park (Oak Park), Pobeda Square (Victory Square), Central Ala-Too Square, Old Square, National Philharmonic, and many other places in the city. In the afternoon you will go to Chunkurchak gorge which is a beautiful gorge located 45 km to the south of the city. The name of the gorge in Kyrgyz language has a meaning of a hollow (“chunkurchak” - hollow). Gorge is claimed to be a National Biological Reserve, which was set up to preserve rare tulip species. In spring in Kyrgyzstan the gorge blooms revealing its bright-scarlet glades. During wintertime, a ski resort operates in the gorge and offers individual and family amusement. Chunkurchak gorge is followed by a larger gorge of Takhr, in which a 200 m (656 f) rock can be found overlooking the river of Alamedin. Finally, after visiting the gorge we go back to Bishkek for an overnight in a hotel.
 
Day 2: Bishkek – Burana – Chon Kemin
This day you will travel to the gorge of Chon Kemin, one of the famous in Kyrgyzstan. On the way to Chon Kemin, you will get to see Burana Tower, a minaret which dates back to the 11th century. At the same place, there is an open-air museum that features Balbals (stone warriors). An interesting excursion with hands-on experience of climbing to the top of the tower is followed by transfer to Chon Kemin. 3-hour horse riding takes place in the afternoon. You will ride the horses in the mountains of the gorge crossing its beautiful mountain forests. On the top, the fascinating panorama view will be revealed to you. The overnight will be carried out in a homestay.
 
Day 3: Chon Kemin – Issyk Kul lake northern shore
On the third day of your tour, we will be heading to the second largest mountainous lake in the world, the lake of Issyk Kul. It is situated at the elevation of 1608 m above the sea level. It is 180 km long and 60 km wide. The lake has been referred to as “the pearl of Central Asia” for centuries. The name of the lake can be translated as “warm” or “hot” lake. The reason for that is that the lake does not freeze even in coldest winters. The salinity of the lake allows for that. The lake is surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges of Ala-Too. Today as well as in the Soviet era, the lake is a favorite place for many people to come to and have a rest. The hotel is your stay for overnight.
 
Day 4: Issyk Kul lake – Bishkek – Ala Archa – Bishkek
Early in the morning, you will get to visit the open-air museum near the town of Cholpon-Ata for a tour. This museum is full of petroglyphs famous in Kyrgyzstan, ancient carvings, and drawings on stones. Shamans that lived more than 2000 years ago were the artist that created those drawings. The location of the stones has not been changed over the course of the existence of the stone carvings. On the same spot as the open-air museum, you can get a beautiful panorama view over the magnificent lake of Issyk- Kul. After the museum, you will start driving back to the capital city. Then you will drive the natural reserve of Ala-Archa which is 45 km from the city. During the Soviet era, only VIPs were allowed to enter the reserve. The gorge of Ala-Archa has beautiful mountain ranges that are a part of the Tien Shan mountain system. The gorge allows for a short hiking to the place that opens a panoramic view. Leaving the gorge, then we go back to the city where you will have an overnight in a hotel.
 
Day 5: Bishkek – Airport
Transfer to the airport is in the morning.