Spring tour: Culture and Crafts NL
11 day tour, in small groups, since ….
Discover the culture and sample the life of the Kyrgyz nomad
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
Discover the culture and sample the life of the Kyrgyz nomad. See how yurts, the traditional felt house of the shepherds, are built the same way today they have been for the last 8 centuries. In a village, you will visit the small workshops where felt is manufactured. You will be taught how to and will make felt yourself, and then craft a small shyrdak and an alakiis, the traditional Kyrgyz carpets.
Embroidery on felt will be taught in Bishkek and you will have the opportunity to visit museums and art galleries and, if there are enough participants, a short concert by a folklore-band will be arranged. If you have special wishes or requirements please contact us in advance and we will try to fit it into your programme.
There will be plenty of time to enjoy our magnificent nature and to go on some of the myriad of walks available.
In Bishkek you stay in a pleasant hotel, and when in the countryside you will stay in hotels, B&Bs and with a local family who takes care of you.
Throughout the whole programme you will be accompanied by and 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, after lunch sightseeing Bishkek, visit Museum. |
| Day 3 | Workshop in Bishkek, demonstration on elechek making, the traditional millinery of married women and consisting of many layers of fabric and fashion show of traditional women clothes . Workshops (embroidery, making corsage). Stay in hotel. |
| Day 4 | By minibus to Kara-Suu Village. Start the first workshop (making felt traditional way). Stay in the house of a shyrdak-making family. |
| Day 5 | Continue workshops (shyrdak), learning about the meaning of Kyrgyz patterns and making chi, the reed mat which is put between the frame and the felt of the yurt and which is used for moulding felt. In the afternoon visit Kochkor. Stay in the house. |
| Day 6 | In the morning finish workshops then along the south shore of Lake Issyk-Kul to Karakol. On the way stop in Kyzyl-Tuu to see how yurt frames and yurt decorations are made. In Bokonbaevo you will visit a man who hunts with eagles and other birds of prey. He will show his birds and tell about his profession. Stay in hotel in Karakol. |
| Day 7 | Day in Karakol, visit the town and museum. In the afternoon hike in Karakol National Park. Stay in hotel. |
| Day 8 | Drive along the north side of lake Issyk-Kul to Semyonovka. If wanted in Üruktur you can stop to take a bath in an open air hot spa.(bathing suit needed) Stay in B&B. |
| Day 9 | In Cholpon Ata visit of the small the museum and the archeological open-air museum with rock drawings from the Scythes. On the way back to Bishkek you will stop in Chon-Sary-Oy to visit the new Nomad Museum. Near Tokmok a visit of the Buran Tower, a remnant of a town on the Silk Road. |
| Day 10 | Day in Bishkek, visit Museums and Osh Bazaar and time for shopping (lunch not included). |
| Day 11 | 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 | |
| May 26 | June 5 |
| Group | |
| 4 and more persons | |
| For four and more persons | |
| Price | € 950 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…
click the link below
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.