Cultural autumn NL
14 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
In spring and in the autumn, we organize cultural tours of 10 days or 14 days. In spring you can enjoy the flowering trees around lake Issyk-Kul and the alpine meadows are covered with wild flowers. In fall the colour of trees and bushes change to bright red and golden yellow.
Enjoy a two-week trip around Lake Issyk-Kol, the large mountain lake at the east of Kyrgyzstan. Your tour around the lake is by minibus. Lake Issyk-Kol and its impressive scenery will give you the opportunity to hike and swim. Spend a night in a yurt, visit Kochkor and Bokonbaevo. Both small villages are well known for their handicrafts and felt making, in Karakol you can admire the Russian-Orthodox wooden church as well as the Dungan mosque originally built as a Lama Temple.
You will visit the Burana Tower, a remnant of a city on the old Silk Road. On the north shore of the lake you will find the archaeological open-air museum with the petroglyphs, stone carvings of the Scythes, who lived in the region between the 10th and 1st century BC.
You will visit the Burana Tower, a remnant of a city on the old Silk Road. On the north shore of the lake you will find the archaeological open-air museum with the petroglyphs, stone carvings of the Scythes, who lived in the region between the 10th and 1st century BC.
During entire tour you will be accompanied by an English-speaking interpreter.
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 in Bishkek. After lunch sightseeing in Bishkek Stay in the hotel Umai. |
| Day 3 | Visit Alamedin Gorge, one of the favorite places of citizens of Bishkek located outside the city. It is situated at the distance of 30 km from Bishkek. Another name of the gorge is “Warm Springs”, as it has hot springs of mineral water so beneficial for health. Stay in hotel Umai. |
| Day 4 | To Cholpon Ata, a nice 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 you can visit the new Nomad Museum. Stay in hotel. |
| Day 5 | After a visit of the open-air museum of petroglyphes in Cholpon-Ata you stop at a small village where you can take a bath in an open-air spa with mineral warm water. In the afternoon you reach Karakol. Stay in hotel. |
| Day 6 | In the morning sightseeing in. In the afternoon to Jeti Ogus one of the most beautiful gorges in Kyrgyzstan. Along the south side of the lake to the village Jenish. Stay in a guesthouse close to the edge of the lake. |
| Day 7 | Tour to beautiful, isolated valley, also with coloured rock formations and a traditional hot spa where you can take bath, hike in the surrounding and enjoy the beauty of nature. Next stop at Skaska (Russian for fairy tale). You will spend the night in the yurt camp located in a semi-dessert area close to the border of the lake. |
| Day 8 | To Bokonbaevo, where you will meet a man who hunts with golden eagles. Next along the lake to Kochkor. Kochkor is the centre of felt making. It is interesting to visit the s shop, named Altyn Kol (means golden hands) and bazaar. Stay in B&B. |
| Day 9 | If a Saturday, visit the Kochkor animal Market. It is not as well-known as the animal market in Karakol but more authentic and less touristic. To the Boom valley where you will stop for a hike in the Konorchok Canyon,s and continue to Chon Kemin Valley. Stay in nice guesthouse. |
| Day 10 | Day in Kemin Valley: hike in the mountains or rent horses to ride (not included) Stay in guesthouse. |
| Day 11 | Return to Bishkek by car. Near Tokmok stop to visit the Burana Tower. In the afternoon some time for shopping and/or visit the Osh Bazaar. Stay in hotel Umai. |
| Day 12 | Day trip to Ala Archa National Park. Hiking along the trail to Ala-Archa River This National Park is an alpine park in the Tian Shan Mountains of Kyrgyzstan. Picnic lunch, stay in Hotel Umai. |
| Day 13 | Day without programme, time to visit museum and town. If possible, go to a concert of ballet in one of the theaters (lunch not included) Stay in hotel Umai. |
| Day 14 | 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 | |
| September 15 | September 29 |
| Group | |
| 4 and more persons | |
| For four and more persons | |
| Price | € 1.170 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.