Festival tour in KYRGYZSTAN

Date: July 21. – August 9. 2010

Price 1390 euro p.p. (min. 4 persons)

In a tour of 20 days you will travel through this beautiful country and visit three festivals in different places. The festivals are organised by local people and you are very welcome to participate. The biggest festival takes place around Lake Son-Kol at an altitude of 3.100 m. First, the area around the lake is cleaned from garbage and junk left by tourists and locals. Afterwards there will be demonstrations horse riding and races, music performances, ancient games are played and traditional food is prepared. The second festival to be visited will be the Art and Craft festival, organised by Cacsa, an organisation which promotes traditional crafts and gives courses to local artists in Central Asia. The third festival will be on the south shore of Lake Issyk-Kol where a demonstration with birds of prey is held.

In this program there is enough time to get acquainted with daily life of the nomads of Kyrgyzstan, to hike in the mountains and ride on horseback or learn how to ride. You can swim in the clear blue water of Lake Issyk-Kol and enjoy beautiful nature and the hospitality of the people. You will stay in different yurt camps in the mountains, sleep in a yurt, the nomadic tent of felt, hear the music of children singing and playing on Kyrgyz musical instruments. You will see how kumus, fermented mare milk is made and on the north shore of Lake Issyk-Kol you will have a chance to see petroglyphes made by the Scythes in the 3th -1th century BC.

In Bishkek you will spent the night in a new small guesthouse in the centre of the city. While travelling through the country you will stay in B&B, yurt camps and with local families. An English-speaking interpreter will accompany you and explain to you the meaning of the activities and festivities which take place.

If you are interested in the tradition of nomadic people and enjoy seeing historic games, this will be a tour you will never forget. You should not expect luxury and have a reasonable physical condition. Do have an open mind for unexpected occurrings.

Everything is included in the tour price with the exception of the flight, visa and bottled beverages. A visa can be obtained easily upon arrival at the airport in Bishkek. The price of the flight depends on the company you are flying with and the date of booking. Until the end of 2009 it is possible to buy a two-way ticket for about 480 euro.

Program:

Please note that unforeseen changes in the program can occur. Festivals are organised by local people, so alterations in date or activity might take place. If necessary, Ecotour will adapt the program.

July 21	Departure
July 22	Arrival in Bishkek, sightseeing.
July 23	Slowly adapting to the change of climate and time, we’ll make a daytrip to Ala-Archa National Park, about 40 km. south of Bishkek.
July 24	To Song-Kol. Driving 7 -8 hours through a beautiful landscape. Afternoon the beginning of the festival.
July 25 - 26	Leisure days in Son-Kol, continuation of the festival in the Sunday morning.
July 27	From Song-Kol to the village of Kochkor, centre of felt production.
July 28	From Kochkor to Jeti-Ögus along the south shore of Lake Issyk-Kol, yurt camp in the Flower Valley.
July 29	Leisure day in the yurt camp, situated in a forest area. In the neighbourhood are famous red rocks with names like “seven oxen” and “broken heart”.
July 30	From Jeti-Ögus to Bosteri at the north side of the lake. From here you can visit the Art and Craft festival, home stay.
July 31	Visit Art and Craft festival and petroglyphs in Cholpon-Ata.
August 1	From Bosteri to the yurt camp Tuura-Suu, alt. 2250 m.
August 2	Leisure day in Tuura-Suu, hiking, horse riding.
August 3	From Tuura-Suu to yurt camp Temir-Kanat, alt. 2450 m.
August 4-5	Leisure days in Temir-Kanat. Hiking, horse riding, visit herdsmen.
Auhust 6	From Temir-Kanat to the yurt camp camp Ak-Say at lakeshore. Possibility to swim and hike.
August 7	From Ak-Say to Manjyly. Here a show with different birds of prey will take place. Overnight in yurts.
August 8	From Manjyly to Bishkek, overnight in guesthouse.
August 9	Departure.

The price includes everything from arrival at the airport till departure, except the flight, visa and alcoholic beverages. If you book for 4 persons or more, we offer you 5% discount.

Because of unforeseen circumstances, it might be necessary to make small changes in the program. We ask for your understanding.

In case there are less then 4 participants for this tour, you are requested to pay an additional 100 euro p.p. to make this tour individually or with a small group.