TRIP OVERVIEW
This adventure combines two of the most loved Kyrgyz experiences in a single journey: riding horses across the high pastures around Son-Kol Lake and trekking through the wild Karakol valley to the turquoise Ala-Kul Lake. You start in the green hills near Kyzart, spend two nights in yurt camps run by Kyrgyz herder families and ride your horse over open plateaus to the shore of Son-Kol at 3 000 m. From there you head south along Issyk-Kul, stopping at red canyons, eagle hunters and roaring waterfalls on the way to Karakol.
The second half of the tour is the classic Ala-Kul trek: three days on foot through pine forests, glacial moraines and over a 3 900 m pass, with a final reward of natural hot springs in Altyn-Arashan. The route ends with a slow drive back to Bishkek along Issyk-Kul, with stops at the Ruh-Ordo cultural centre and the ancient Burana Tower. The tour mixes real mountain challenge with culture, hospitality and the calm of the high pastures.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
TRIP ESSENTIALS
Tour Type: Adventure, Trekking & Horse Riding
Total Duration: 8 days
Best Season: mid-June – mid-September
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Maximum Altitude on the Trip: 3 900 m ASL (Ala-Kul Pass)
Start and End Point: Bishkek
Accommodation: yurt camps, guesthouses
Transport: Jeep, minivan or minibus, depending on group size
Best Group Size: 6–12 persons
| Number of People | Price per person, USD | Single supplement (except yurt camps and huts), USD |
| 1-5 people | 1275 USD with Eng-speaking driver | 50 USD |
| From 6 people | 1275 USD with Eng-Speaking guide | 50 USD |
| Days | Program | Services included | NOT included / Remarks |
| Day 1
|
Bishkek – Kyzart village – Kilemche jailoo Afternoon horse ride to the high pasture After breakfast in Bishkek you drive to Kyzart village, a quiet settlement at the foot of the hills. After a home-cooked lunch with the host family, you meet your horses and the local horse guide. The afternoon ride takes you up open hills to Kilemche jailoo, a remote summer pasture used by Kyrgyz herders for centuries. You arrive in time for tea, settle into your yurt and share dinner under a sky full of stars. |
• Transport Bishkek–Kyzart
• Horses and horse guide • Yurt camp with CBT host family • Lunch, Dinner |
• Warm layers — nights are cold
• Riding gloves (recommended)
|
| Day 2
|
Kilemche – Son-Kol Lake
Horse ride across the plateau to Son-Kol After breakfast in the yurt you set off on a last day in the saddle. The trail climbs slowly through wildflower meadows and crosses a high pass before opening out onto the vast Son-Kol plateau. You ride for 4-5 hours with a lunch break by a stream. In the late afternoon you reach Son-Kol, a high alpine lake at 3 000 m where dozens of herder families spend the summer in yurts on the shore. Dinner and night in your CBT yurt camp by the lake. |
• Horses and horse guide
• Yurt camp with CBT host family • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
• Sunscreen and lip balm — sun is strong at altitude
• Windproof jacket |
| Day 3
|
Son-Kol – Jaichy valley – Bokonbaevo – Ak-Say canyons
Eagle hunting show & canyons of Ak-Say After breakfast, you say goodbye to the herders and drive down from Son-Kol towards Issyk-Kul. A home-cooked lunch is served in the Jaichy valley with a local family. In the afternoon, you reach Bokonbaevo, the village known for traditional eagle hunting, and watch a hunter and his golden eagle demonstrate how the bird is trained and called. Later in the day, you visit the Ak-Say canyons, glowing in the late afternoon light, before settling into a yurt camp on the south shore of Issyk-Kul. |
• Transport
• Yurt camp on Issyk-Kul shore • Eagle hunter demonstration • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
• Camera tips for the eagle hunter (optional)
• Swimwear if you want to swim in Issyk-Kul |
| Day 4
|
Bokonbaevo – Skazka – Barskoon – Jeti-Oguz
Fairy-Tale Canyon, Barskoon waterfalls & Jeti-Oguz red rocks Today you follow the southern shore of Issyk-Kul east, with three of the most photographed stops in Kyrgyzstan along the way. First you walk through Skazka, the “Fairy-Tale Canyon” of red and orange sandstone formations. Then you turn into the Barskoon gorge for a short hike to the waterfalls, with views of the alpine valley. In the afternoon, you stop at Jeti-Oguz, the “Seven Bulls” red cliffs, before driving on to Jeti-Oguz village, where you check into a family yurt camp for the night. |
• Transport
• Yurt Camp/Guesthouse • Breakfast, Dinner |
• Lunch at the cafe |
| Day 5
|
Karakol – Karakol Valley (start Ala-Kul trek)
Walk into Karakol valley pine forest After breakfast a short transfer brings you to the entrance of Karakol National Park, where the trek begins. You walk up the Karakol valley through tall pine forest, following a fast mountain river. The path climbs most of the day gently, with one steeper section in the afternoon. After 5-6 hours of walking, you reach a yurt camp at around 2 800 m, where you settle in and share dinner with the host family. |
• Transport to trail head
• Guide • Yurt camp in Karakol valley • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
• Warm layers — nights are cold |
| Day 6
|
Karakol valley – Ala-Kul Lake
Turquoise Ala-Kul Lake (3 500 m) under sharp peaks You leave the yurt camp early and climb steadily through alpine meadows and glacial moraines. After 5–6 hours of walking you reach Ala-Kul Lake at 3 500 m, where the water turns deep turquoise in the morning light. You set up the tents on a flat shoulder near the lake with sharp peaks rising on all sides. The afternoon is free to rest, take photos and enjoy the silence. Dinner is cooked on the spot and you sleep in tents at the foot of the mountains. |
• Guide
• Tent accommodation • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
• Trekking poles recommended
• Cold at night |
| Day 7
|
Ala-Kul – Ala-Kul Pass – Altyn-Arashan – Karakol
Ala-Kul Pass (3 900 m) & hot springs at Altyn-Arashan The hardest and most rewarding day of the trek. You climb from the lake up to the Ala-Kul Pass at 3 900 m, the highest point of the tour, with views over the whole Tien Shan range. You then descend a steep scree slope into the Keldyke valley and follow the Arashan river down to Altyn-Arashan, where you can finally soak in the wild hot springs. In the late afternoon a 4WD vehicle brings you back to Karakol for a hot shower and a guesthouse bed. |
• Local Guide
• 4WD transfer from Arashan to Karakol • Guesthouse in Karakol • Hot spring access • Breakfast, Lunch |
• Bring swimwear and a small towel
• Trekking poles recommended |
| Day 8
|
Karakol – Cholpon-Ata – Burana Tower – Bishkek
Ruh-Ordo cultural centre & ancient Burana Tower After breakfast you start the long drive west along the northern shore of Issyk-Kul towards Bishkek. The first stop is in Cholpon-Ata at the Ruh-Ordo cultural centre, an open-air park dedicated to the world’s main religions and Kyrgyz spirituality. Further along the way you visit the 11th-century Burana Tower, all that remains of the ancient Silk Road city of Balasagun, and climb up for the view over the valley. You arrive in Bishkek in the late afternoon and transfer to your hotel. |
• Transport Karakol–Bishkek
• Entrance to Ruh-Ordo and Burana Tower • Breakfast |
• Lunch on the way
• Hotel in Bishkek or airport transfer on request |
This tour is available upon request in 2024
See the video from this tour at https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=113632520538480 Category: trekking (horse riding option is available) Duration: 6 days Level of Difficulty: moderate (2 passes above 3 600m) Best season: late July-early September Accommodation: overnights in tents Group size: best size from […]

Experience and enjoy Kyrgyzstan with us!
WhatsApp us