Nomads lifestyle at Great Silk Road (6 days trekking tour)

Day 1.

Transfer from Bishkek to Arkyt village, which is located in the eastern part of the southern slope of the largest range in the Western Tien Shan – Chatkal Range. We set up a tent camp in a picturesque place, right at the confluence of the Aflatun and Utur rivers, in the shade of walnut trees.
Travel time: 10 hrs; altitude difference: +340 m. Welcome to your guesthouse in Kara-Suu. Dinner.

Day 2. 

South Aflatun – Uyalma (18 km) – trek day 1 
Start of the trekking route. Trekking up along the South Aflatun river valley to its confluence with the Uyalma tract. A rather good dirt road runs along the canyon of the river among the picturesque spruce forests, it perfect fits for the first day of the route.
Lunch in the birch forest by the river. Then we continue the trekking up along the gorge to the confluence of the rivers, which forms a wide valley covered with green lawns and spruce forest.

Day 3.

Uyalma River – Kuldambes Pass (2750 m) – Northern part of Lake Sary-Chelek – trek day 2
Trekking over Kuldambes Pass (2750 m) and then descent to Lake Sary-Chelek via Ashuu Pass (2551 m).
Easy trekking over Kuldambes pass is done in the background of picturesque landscapes of Uyalma Valley and the Chatkal Ridge. After crossing Kuldambes Pass we continue the way to Ashuu Pass – the viewpoint with stunning views of Lake Sary-Chelek and the valley.
Descent from Ashuu passes to the Lake Sary-Chelek valley. Lake Sary-Chelek is one of the most beautiful alpine lakes and the third deepest lake in Central Asia. Sary-Chelek resulted from an enormous landslide blocking the eponymous river, which happened about 10000 years ago.

Day 4. 

Northern part ofLake Sary-Chelek – Makmal Pass (2654 m) – Kara-Suu River Valley – trek day 3
We leave Lake Sary-Chelek shores and trek upstream the Sary-Chelek river to its confluence with the Makmal river. A path along the river will lead us first to alpine meadows, and then to the wide saddle point of Makmal pass (2654 m). From the saddle of the pass, it is possible to make a simple ascent to the nearby summit. Lunch at the pass.
Descent along the Kurumdu River to the Kara-Suu river valley.

Day 5. 

Kara-Suu River Valley – Lake Kara-Kamysh – trek day 4
After two intense previous days, the descent along the river valley to the lake Kara-Suu (Karakamysh) is very light and slow. The lake is incredibly beautiful and is located in a very picturesque gorge. The main highlight is the stunning view from the shores of the lake to the Min-Teke mountain range.
After lunch trek acquaintance with the life of nomads.

Day 6. 

Kara-Suu River Valley – Kuturma pass (2446 m) – Lake Iri-Kol – trek day 5
After trekking along Lake Kara-Suu we start an easy ascent to Kuturma Pass (2446 m). A picturesque path runs between juniper trees and rocks. From the pass, there opens a stunning panorama of the southern part of Lake Sary-Chelek. Descent from the pass is quite steep, but not too long, and soon we pass through the flowering fields and reach the banks of the lake Iri-Kol.

Day 7. 

Lake Iri-Kol – South part of Lake Sary-Chelek – trek day 6
Trekking from the lake Iri-Kol to the southern part of the lake Sary-Chelek. The route runs through apple orchards along numerous turquoise lakes. Along the way, magical landscapes of the most beautiful mountains of Kyrgyzstan continue to open at each new turn. Have at lake shore of Sary-Chelek lake. then trek down to the Arkyt village, for overnight and dinner.

Day 8.

After breakfast transfer to Bishkek/Osh.