Discovery of Kyrgyzstan
17-day signature tour combining Issyk-Kul Lake, the Naryn highlands and a horseback expedition to Lake Song-Kol.
Who it's for
Active travelers comfortable in the saddle for half-day rides; no prior mountaineering experience required.
Guides
French-speaking Kyrgyz tour leader plus local horse guides on the high-pasture days.
Accommodation
Mix of city hotels, lakeside guesthouses, family homestays and traditional yurts at Song-Kol.
Luggage
Soft duffel + daypack. Main luggage stays in vehicles; only essentials needed for yurt nights.
Discovery of Kyrgyzstan
17-day signature tour combining Issyk-Kul Lake, the Naryn highlands and a horseback expedition to Lake Song-Kol.
Discover the very heart of Kyrgyzstan
17 days at the rhythm of the Kyrgyz herders — Lake Issyk-Kul, the high pastures of the Naryn region, the medieval Tash Rabat caravanserai, a horseback expedition to Lake Song-Kol, and finally Bishkek and Ala-Archa National Park. Stays in hotels, guesthouses and yurts, with active days of light hiking and horseback riding alongside cultural visits. A complete first encounter with the land of the nomads.
19 days, 19 camps
International flight to Bishkek
Overnight international flight to Manas Airport, Bishkek.
Bishkek arrival
Welcome by Nuraly at Manas Airport. Transfer to your hotel in central Bishkek. Brief orientation walk on Ala-Too Square, dinner in a Kyrgyz restaurant.
Bishkek to Cholpon-Ata
Drive east along the Boom Gorge into the Issyk-Kul depression — first views of the lake. Visit to the open-air petroglyph museum at Cholpon-Ata (over 2,000 Bronze Age and Saka rock carvings).
Cholpon-Ata to Karakol
Drive along the southern lake shore. Stop at Skazka (Fairy-Tale) Canyon — wind-sculpted red sandstone formations. Optional swim at Tamga beach. Late afternoon arrival in Karakol.
Karakol — city day
Morning visit to the wooden Holy Trinity Cathedral (built 1895 without nails) and the Dungan Mosque resembling a Chinese pagoda. If Sunday, the famous animal market. Afternoon at the Przhevalsky museum overlooking the lake.
Karakol to Jeti-Oguz to Altyn-Arashan trailhead
Visit to the Jeti-Oguz Red Rocks (‘Seven Bulls’) and the Broken Heart formation. Transfer to the Altyn-Arashan trailhead village.
Hike to Altyn-Arashan
Full-day hike up the Arashan valley to the natural hot springs at 2,600 m. Wild flowers, glacial views.
Altyn-Arashan rest day
Soak in the hot springs, short side walks, herder camp visit. Slow day in the valley.
Descent to Karakol, transfer to Tosor
Morning descent back to the trailhead. Drive along the southern Issyk-Kul shore to the village of Tosor.
Tosor to Kochkor
Cross the Tosor Pass (3,893 m) by 4×4 toward Kochkor. Visit to the women’s felt-making cooperative in Kochkor — short master class.
Kochkor to Lake Song-Kol on horseback
Transfer to Kashka-Suu trailhead. Saddle up for a 4–5 hour horseback ride climbing over the Kalmak-Ashuu Pass (3,446 m) into the Song-Kol basin. Arrival at our partner herder family’s yurt camp.
Lake Song-Kol — full day
Walk or ride along the lake shore. Optional eagle-hunting demonstration. Sunset over the water — one of the most striking skies in Central Asia.
Song-Kol to Naryn
Descend on horseback then transfer by road to Naryn city, regional capital strung along the Naryn River.
Naryn to Tash Rabat
Drive south through the wide pasture of At-Bashy to the medieval Tash Rabat caravanserai (15th c.) at 3,200 m altitude. Walk in the surrounding red-rock valley.
Tash Rabat to Bishkek (long drive
Long return drive across the Naryn highlands and over Dolon Pass back to Bishkek (≈9h with stops). Picnic lunch en route.
Bishkek to Ala-Archa National Park
Half-day excursion to Ala-Archa National Park (45 km from Bishkek). Walk in the alpine valley up to about 2,200 m. Afternoon city tour: Osh Bazaar, State Historical Museum, Ala-Too Square.
Departure
Transfer to Manas Airport, international return flight.
International return flight
Arrival at home airport.
Notes
- The itinerary may be modified due to weather or unforeseen events.
- Altitudes given are approximate.
8 stops · 150 km
Included
- National-park permits and entry fees
- Accommodation throughout the trip
- All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Local guide on each day
- All ground transport during the trip
Not included
- Travel and medical insurance
- Tips for guides and drivers
- La location de horses pour les journées de balade on horseback (à titre indicatif prévoir un coût de 25 euros pour 2 hours de balade, payable sur place en euros)
Where you sleep
City hotels (3*) in Bishkek and Naryn; family-run guesthouses on Issyk-Kul; yurt camps at Altyn-Arashan, Song-Kol and Tash Rabat. All accommodation has hot showers (yurts use shared open-air solar showers); city stays have Wi-Fi.
Nuraly Turganbaev
Nuraly is a French language professor at the National University and also the director of our tourism company. His love for nature and the environment has inspired him since 1996 to travel across Kyrgyzstan with foreign travelers as a guide and interpreter (Kyrgyz – Russian – French). Over the years, he has worked with several tourism agencies and gained extensive experience in tourism, guiding, and interpretation. Thanks to his deep knowledge of the country, nomadic culture, and local traditions, Nuraly is today the main tour leader and one of the key figures of our company.
See all tours led by this guide →Things people ask
To book an EcoNomad tour, fill out the contact form with your dates, group size and the tour you have in mind. We send a tailored quote within 48 hours. Your booking is confirmed once a 30% deposit is paid; the balance is due 30 days before departure.
A passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your entry date is required. Citizens of the European Union, Switzerland, Canada and Australia travel visa-free for stays of up to 60 days. Some border zones (China, Tajikistan) require a special permit — EcoNomad helps you arrange these.
The main season runs from May to October. June–August is ideal for nomadic tours and high-altitude jailoos (summer pastures). July–August suits the high passes (above 3,500 m). March and April offer quieter spring landscapes. EcoNomad also runs ski-touring trips from December to March.
Our tours come in three grades: Easy (2–4h of walking a day, little elevation gain, family-friendly), Moderate (4–6h of walking or riding a day, passes above 3,000 m) and Demanding (technical hikes of 6–8h a day, passes above 3,500 m). Each tour page states the level required.
Accommodation varies by tour and stage: traditional yurts in the high mountains (summer), guesthouses or homestays in the villages, and 3-star hotels in the cities. This mix is intentional — it brings you closer to local people and the nomadic way of life.
All our tours include full board. Kyrgyz cuisine is generous: soups, grilled meats, fermented dairy and home-baked bread. Vegetarian diets are catered for on request at the time of booking. In the mountains, meals are prepared at camp by our team.
Travel insurance covering medical costs, repatriation and outdoor activities is mandatory. We recommend providers such as World Nomads, Allianz Travel or an equivalent. Make sure your policy covers horse riding and high-altitude trekking.
Several of our tours reach passes or camps above 3,500 m. Altitude sickness (AMS) is rare when acclimatisation is gradual — our itineraries build in gentle ascent days. Your guide explains the symptoms from day one and carries a first-aid kit and a pulse oximeter.
The local currency is the Kyrgyz som (KGS). Bishkek, Karakol and Osh have ATMs accepting Visa and Mastercard. In the mountains and remote villages, only cash is accepted. Bring the equivalent of €200–300 in soms for personal expenses.
4G covers Bishkek and most towns. Remote valleys and yurt camps have little or no signal. Your guide carries a satellite phone for emergencies in areas without coverage. Take the chance to truly disconnect.
Bring a day pack (20–25 L) and a soft duffel or travel bag for baggage transfers. A detailed packing list tailored to your tour is sent once your booking is confirmed. Golden rule: walk in already broken-in boots, not new ones.
Standard cancellation terms: 30% non-refundable (deposit), 50% of the total between 60 and 30 days before departure, 100% under 30 days. Free changes before the deposit is paid. In case of force majeure (extreme weather), we offer a postponement or a credit note.
