Trip to Song-Kul and Issyk-Kul Lakes

Day 1 / August 20 

Morning departure to Kyzart. On the way, visit the Burana Tower architectural complex (10-11th century, an important point on the Great Silk Road), 15km from the main road. Continue your trip.
Upon arrival to guest house, lunch and free time. Dinner and accommodation will be at the guest house.

Day 2 / August 21 

After breakfast transfer to the starting point and meet your guide team with horses and start the tour. Within sight of the road, cross Kyzyl-Kiya jailoo, an enormous, relatively flat sea of grass. Continue over the Chaar-Archa Pass (3 061 m) into the Chaar-Archa Valley and eat a tasty lunch by the racing river, with views of holy 4400 m Baba-Ata Mountain. Sated, ford the river and follow the trail over verdant hills to Kilemche Jailoo. The name means “like a carpet,” and this swathe of grass covers whole mountain ranges, with shadings as subtle as any shyrdak (shyrdak is a Kyrgyz felt carpet). Dine and sleep in a yurt, naturally.

Day 3 / August 22

After breakfast at Kilemche, spend the morning climbing to Jalgyz Karagai pass (3400 m), over the Song-Kol Mountains and into the lake’s basin. The morning climb affords wonderful views of Kilemche jailoo, and the pass itself is rocky and exciting. From the pass, Song-Kol is still distant, but as you traipse down the slopes, it gets larger and larger; the mountains on the other side get higher and higher, until finally the lake fills most of your field of view and the southern mountains tower above it. After lunch at Jaman Echki, follow the lakeshore west to the yurt at Tuz-Ashuu. Upon arrival meet your host family of Kyrgyz shepherds. Meals and overnight are in a yurt of shepherds.

Day 4 / August 23

Last breakfast in Song-Kol Jailoo and leave to Kyzart village via Tuz-Ashuu Pass. The pass opens you spectacular panoramic view to Jumgal valley and behind the Song-Kol valley. Say “Goodbye Song-Kol” and ride down to the village where your lunch will be waiting for you in family home stay. After lunch transfer for Kochkor village. Accommodation at the guesthouse.

Day 5 / August 24

After breakfast departure to the southern Issyk-Kul Lake, 5 hours. Today lunch will be at Jaychi yurt camp, also there you will see eagle hunting show. Enjoy your time at the lake-shore. Dinner and overnight are in a Bel-Tam yurt camp near the lakeshore.

Day 6 / August 25

After breakfast transfer to Jyrgalan, on the way make a stop at Skazka (canyon (30 min), walk Jeti-Oguz to see Seven Bull, Admire Broken Heart hill. Continue your way, lunch en-rute. Dinner and B&B at the guesthouse.

Day 7 / August 26

Transfer from Karakol to Jyrgalan village (40 min – 1 hour) start walking towards Terim Tor Pass (3500 meters elevation) overnight at the bottom of the pass 3000 meters elevation. 10 km walking distance.

Day 8 /August 27

Today we will cross 2 passes to reach out Boz Uchuk Lakes.
Terim Tor Pass – 3500 meter elevation
Boz Uchuk Pass 3400 meters elevation
Overnight at Boz Lakes 3000 meters elevation

Day 9/August 28

After breakfast decent towards Enchilesh village – 13 km. 3-4 hours walking distance – transfer to Karakol.
Upon arrival, have a rest. Later have a lunch at café.
Dinner and accommodation at guest house.

Day 10/August 29

After early breakfast transfer to Karkara border crossing (near Kegen) from Karakol.
After the border crossing you should walk over to the other side to find a Kazakh taxi to take you onto Almaty.
End of the trip.