Spring and Autumn DE
10 days tour, in small groups, since 2003
Meet the nomads and their culture. Sleep in yurts, the nomadic tents made of felt.
Listen to children sing their folksongs and play the traditional instruments of the Kyrgyz.
Watch kymyz (fermented mare’s milk) being made
During your bike tour there will be plenty of time to enjoy the local nature
In the yurt camp on the shore of lake Issyk Kul you can go for a swim in the clear blue water.
In the mountains you can go for a hike, ride a horse or pay a visit to the nomadic families who live in the mountain pastures during the summer.
About tour
On this 10-day programme you will visit the most beautiful parts of the country and become acquainted with the history and culture of the semi- nomads. In springtime all the fruit trees are blossoming and the grass is fresh and green, and in the autumn the tree colours are bright orange, red and yellow, with berries ready to be picked. You will stay in yurts, with local people and in guesthouses or hotels.
Transportation is by Mercedes minibus and an English or German speaking guide/interpreter will be with you for the whole tour. To fully enjoy this tour you need an adventurous spirit and the ability to improvise when necessary.
The trip will take you around Lake Issyk-Kul where you will meet a man who hunts with birds of prey, see the famous red rocks of the south shore, and visit the Russian Orthodox Cathedral and the Dugan Mosque in Karakol. On the north side of the lake you will see the petroglyphs, rock drawings of the Scythians made between the 11th and 3rd centuries B.C., and visit the new Nomad Museum that has an extensive collection of artifacts giving a good impression of Kyrgyz nomadic life.
Day By Day Programme
Here you can find a detailed description of the tour with routes and locations
| Day 1 | Departure from your local airport. |
| Day 2 | Arrival at Manas Airport where you will be met and taken to your hotel in Bishkek. After lunch sightseeing in Bishkek. Stay in the Umai Hotel. |
| Day 3 | Visit the Alamedin Gorge, a popular place for the locals to get out from the city, located a short way outside the city. Stay in the Umai Hotel. |
| Day 4 | Today we leave Bishkek and go to Cholpon-Ata, a pleasant lake-side resort on the north side of Lake Issyk-Kul, the pearl of Central Asia and the most beautiful and popular lake in the country. Before reaching Cholpon-Ata we will visit the new Nomad Museum. Stay in hotel. |
| Day 5 | After a visit to the open-air museum of petroglyphs in Cholpon-Ata, we stop for a hike in the Kyrchyn Valley, home of the World Nomad Games and a meeting point for the Kyrgyz through the centuries. In the afternoon we reach Karakol. Stay in hotel. |
| Day 6 | If a Sunday, an early morning visit to the animal market will be included, and then morning sightseeing in Karakol. After lunch we go to Jeti Ogus one of the most beautiful gorges in Kyrgyzstan. Continuing along the south side of the lake we arrive at the village of Jenish. Stay in a guesthouse close to the edge of the lake. |
| Day 7 | We start with a tour to a beautiful, isolated valley, also with colored rock formations, where there is a traditional hot spa that we can bathe in. It is also possible to hike in the surrounding and enjoy the beauty of nature. Next stop at Fairy Tale Valley for a hike through the amazing rock formations. We will spend the night in a yurt camp located in a semi-dessert area close to the lake. |
| Day 8 | To Bokonbaevo where we will meet a man who hunts with golden eagles. Leaving the lake we head to Kochkor which is the centre of felt making. It is interesting to visit the shop named Altyn Kol (golden hands) and the bazaar. Stay in B&B. |
| Day 9 | If a Saturday,then it will be possible to visit the Kochkor animal market. After the market we return to Bishkek by minibus. Near Tokmok we stop to visit the Burana Tower. In the afternoon there will be time for shopping and/or visiting the Osh Bazaar. Stay in the Umai Hotel. |
| Day 10 | Transfer to Manas Airport and departure. |
Due to unforeseen circumstances, it might be necessary to make small changes in the program.
We ask for your understanding.
Tour specifics
Our tours can be organized for individual travelers or groups of up to 10 people (and sometimes more) and for families with (young) children. For the majority of our tours you can specify the start date and length of the tour.
| Date | |
| On request | On request |
| Group | |
| 4 and more persons | |
| For four and more persons | |
| Price | € 790 p.p. |
For bookings of 4, or more, persons we offer a 5% discount. In case there are less participants than required, if you pay an additional fee, the trip will go on as planned.
Terms of payment
• Transportation by own minibus
• All meals
• Stay in hotel, guesthouse, yurt, tent
• Programme as described
• English speaking guide/ interpreter
• Camping equipment except sleeping bag and Iso-mattress
• Porters to carry luggage (max 12 kg pp.)
• Cook
• Trekking guide
• Road taxes
• Flight
• Insurances
• Personal expenses
• Entrance fees
• Tips
• Alcoholic and other bottled beverages
• Activities not mentioned in the programme
If you have to cancel a tour you already booked, we have to charge you cancellation fee.
If Ecotour cancels the tour, of course you will get back the full amount you paid.
If you cancel your trip, depending on the time your message reaches us, you owe Ecotour the following amount:
| till 42 days before departure | one pays the deposit |
| day 42- till day 28 | 35 % |
| day 28- till day 21 | 40 % |
| day 21- till day 14 | 50 % |
| day 14- till day 5 | 75 % |
| day 5 – till day 2 | 90 % |
| on the last day before and the day of departure | 100% |
A trip with Ecotour means an unusual and unforgettable vacation.
Our trips are suitable for those who do not insist on luxury, love the mountains,
appreciate the silence and do not want to travel in large groups.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU
Kyrgyzstan is a land full of beautiful experiences and wonders unique…
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Mountain passes, bad tracks, off-road, and firm climbs over 3000 m characterize this route.
Not all slopes are steep, but some are very long and on dirt roads.
But it is worth the effort.