Route: Bishkek → Cholpon-Ata → Karakol → Altyn-Arashan → Bishkek.
Karakol's wooden places of worship, the Przhevalsky Museum, the Jeti-Oguz gorge and a night in a wooden cottage among 4,000 m peaks with a soak in open-air sulphur springs.
MorningDrive through the Boom Gorge to Cholpon-Ata, short stop at the petroglyphs.
AfternoonContinue to Karakol (400 km in total). Check in at the guesthouse.
EveningFree evening.
Guesthouse in Karakol
MorningKarakol city tour — the colourful wooden Dungan Mosque, built in 1910 by Chinese Muslims without a single nail; the wooden Holy Trinity Orthodox Church; the museum of the famous Russian explorer Przhevalsky, who died in Karakol.
AfternoonDrive to the Jeti-Oguz gorge — the Seven Bulls and the Broken Heart — and a 45-minute hike to the panorama.
EveningReturn to Karakol for the night.
Guesthouse in Karakol
MorningTransfer to Ak-Suu village and change to a Soviet military UAZ 4×4. A 15 km drive up a wild gorge accessible only by 4×4 — river crossings and fir forests.
AfternoonAltyn-Arashan, the "Golden Spa": natural hot springs up to 50 °C with sulphur pools under the open sky, surrounded by 4,000 m peaks. Hike towards the Palatka peak viewpoint or along the Ala-Kol trail, or relax in the hot pools.
EveningOvernight in a wooden cottage in Altyn-Arashan with a home-cooked dinner.
Wooden cottage, Altyn-Arashan
MorningA morning dip in the hot springs, then descent by UAZ to Ak-Suu.
AfternoonDrive back to Bishkek along the north shore.
EveningDrop-off.
30% deposit to book, the remaining 70% before the trip. Cancellation 14+ days before — 100% of the deposit refunded; 7–13 days — 50%; less than 7 days — non-refundable (except where required by law).
A manager will check availability and contact you. A request is not a confirmed booking.
Issyk-Kul
Chon-Kemin, the Cholpon-Ata petroglyphs, Karakol, the Jeti-Oguz and Barskoon gorges and sunrise in Skazka Canyon — a loop around Issyk-Kul in four days.
Dates on request
from · per person
$460
Issyk-Kul
All of Kyrgyzstan in one epic journey: Bishkek, Ala-Archa, Chon-Kemin, a loop around Issyk-Kul, Karakol, the canyons and a horseback crossing to Son-Kul. If you have the time, take this one.
Dates on request
from · per person
$898
Issyk-Kul
The wilder, less crowded south shore of Issyk-Kul — authentic villages, hidden canyons and nomadic traditions.
Dates on request
from · per person
$460
