Explore Central Asia: Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan

This unique 13-day 4x4 tour takes you to the most fascinating places of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. It is not a secret that the Kirghiz and Kazakh people are related, with similar customs, languages and traditional clothes. Even the preparation of dishes of national cuisine and wedding ceremonies coincide in many respects. In spite of this, these are two different nations. Regardless, together, they cover the vast steppes of Central Asia, the mountains of the Tien Shan, the Northern Pamirs, and the shores of the legendary Lake Issyk-Kul. On this trip you will have a chance to enjoy these landscapes and see for yourself the similarities and differences between our two neighboring countries.  

We begin in Almaty city, the biggest city and former capital of Kazakhstan. From here, we drive to the younger brother of the Grand Canyon, Charyn Canyon. After sleeping in traditional yurts and getting to know the welcoming families of the nomadic Kazakh culture on the Karkyra plateau, our adventure brings us across the mountain border to stunning Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan. We will spend the next day in Karakol, with its unusually rich history, where we will visit Prjevalsk museum and the Dungan mosque. On the way to Kochkor, we will visit more places of interest in the Issyk Kul region such as the Djeti Oguz (seven bulls) Mountain and Skazka (Fairytale) Canyons. At the mountain lake Son Kol, we will experience the Kyrgyz nomadic lifestyle, sleeping in the Kyrgyz yurts and riding the horses. The final features of this tour is the under-explored National Park, Besh Tash, in the Talas region where few people travel, and Manas-Ordo, spiritual heart of Kyrgyzstan. In each stopping place, we will stay in local homes and eat homemade meals, given you the best opportunity to truly get to know local life.

Explore the Central Asian countries with Baibol Travel!

Book now from $ 900

Tour characteristics

May - February
13 days
2165 km
Complexity: 

You are going to love it

  • A unique journey between two countries
  • Varied landscapes, from sand deserts to snow-capped peaks
  • Quality guiding and immersion in the local culture
  • Program
  • Sights
  • Conditions and Recommendations
  • Track map
  • Book now

1 Day. Alma-Ata (Almaty)

After meeting at the airport and transfer to the hotel, we will take a few hours of rest before using out first day to visit this lively city of southern Kazakhstan. You will feel its unique and vibrant. With 1.8 million inhabitants, Almaty is the biggest city the economic capital of Kazakhstan. With our local city guide we will visit of Almaty Museum of Art, ascend the Kok Tobe hills and have a stunning view of the city. Night at the Hotel and welcome dinner in a traditional restaurant.

Accommodation

Economy: Hotel
Standard: Hotel
VIP: Hotel

Locations

65 km
B L D

2 Day. Charyn Canyon – Kyrgyzstan

After breakfast at 9am. We will transfer to Charyn Canyon (4 hours), a stunning rock formation in the southeast of the country. Here we will go on a hike, take beautiful pictures of the red rock formations and have lunch at a guest house.  In the afternoon, we will move to the small mountain border crossing with Kyrgyzstan. Not far from the border, in a beautiful natural valley, we will enjoy a night in a yurt camp.

Accommodation

Economy: Yurt camping
Standard: Yurt camping
VIP: Yurt camping

Locations

290 km
B L D

3 Day. Santash Stones and Karakol City Tour

We depart our camp and stop to visit the San-Tash stones on our way to Karakol city on the southeast shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. After lunch, we take a walk and visit the local cultural sights of Karakol city. We will visit the Orthodox Church and the majestic work of the Chinese craftsman Zhou-Si, a wooden mosque, built without a single nail for the Dungans (Chinese converts to Islam). The architectural construction of the mosque represents a Buddhist pagoda and is made in the traditional colors of the region (green, yellow and red). We will then you visit the museum of N. Przewalski, a Russian traveler known for his stories about Central Asia. Overnight in guest house

Accommodation

Sights

Prjevalski N. Memorial Museum

Locations

Karakol
70 km
B L D

4 Day. Karakol – Kochkor Village via Djeti-Oguz and Skazka Canyons

After breakfast n Karakol city, we will drive to the amazing Djeti Oguz (Seven Bulls) rock formations. we continue along the shores of Issyk-Kul Lake, stopping at the Fairytale Skazka Canyons to enjoy the eroded land-forms there. From here, we continue to Kochkor, arriving in the middle of the afternoon at the guest house. For those who wish, we can organize a very interesting yurt construction masterclass. Dinner and overnight at the guesthouse.

Accommodation

Economy: Guest house
Standard: Guest house
VIP: Guest house

Locations

Karakol
Kochkor District
314 km
B L D

5 Day. On the road to Son-Kol village. After lunch, enjoy horseback riding.

The final destination this day will be one of the most beautiful lakes in Central Asia, the legendary Son-Kol ("latest lake" in Kyrgyz), Here, far from civilization, in a timeless setting, you will find the real specificity of our country: wilderness, silence and calm. Upon arrival, we will settle in a new yurt camp on the shore of the lake.In this season you will find, grazing quietly in the surrounding meadows, large herds of wild animals. On site, once again we will offer you to discover the pleasures of nomadic life through different activities: horseback riding, sheep shearing, milking cows and preparation of cream or traditional national drink, kumys, a milk mare, poured into the leather bag "saba" with leaven and mixed according to the wanderings of the rider.

Accommodation

Economy: Hotel
Standard: Hotel
VIP: Hotel

Locations

Kochkor District
126 km
B L D

6 Day. Son Kul Lake Horseriding

Today we have the chance to explore the lake on horseback. On the way, we can discover the petroglyphs of Saymaly Tash, spectacular engraved stones recalling the not-so-distant presence of the Silk Road. Picnic lunch. At the end of the day, we return to camp to gather around the fire and listen to national songs and Kyrgyz tales. We go to bed in the yurts under the boundless sky of the great steppes.

Accommodation

Economy: Yurt camping
Standard: Yurt camping
VIP: Yurt camping

Locations

Naryn District
B L D

7 Day. Son-Kol Lake – Suusamyr Valley

From Son-Kol we have a 4 hour transfer over some of the most beautiful landscapes of the region. On the way, we visit Kojomkul village and museum. The village takes its name of a famous man born with fabulous strength. In the museum, you will learn about his life and discover how people lived during the time of the USSR. We will then arrive in the beautiful high-altitude valley of Suusamyr. Dinner with shepherds and overnight in a private yurt.

Accommodation

Economy: Yurt camping
Standard: Yurt camping
VIP: Yurt camping

Locations

178 km
B L D

8 Day. Suusamyr – Talas

Today we drive from Suusamyr to Talas over high mountain passes. The afternoon will be devoted discovering the history of Kyrgyzstan. First stop is the museum of complex "Manas-Ordo", considered by the Kyrgyz people as the spiritual center of the country. Here you will discover the legendary collection of the greatest oral epic in the world, listed in the list of UNESCO intangible cultural heritage since 2013. The permanent exhibition of this complex is an illustration of the whole life and achievements of the epic hero Manas, who unified the Kyrgyz tribes to make them one people. After lunch at Baibol restaurant, we continue our cultural discovery of the region with the visit ruins of the historical sites of Ak-Dobo and Koulan-Korouk, situated in the heart of beautiful nature. In the evening, we will enjoy folk concert accompanying our delicious traditional meal of Tash-kordo. We spend the night at the Baibol guesthouse in Ozgorush village.

Accommodation

Locations

Talas
Talas District
189 km
B L D

9 Day. Experience Kyrgyz Culture in Talas

After breakfast, we pass the river Talas and cross the forest to go to the foot of Echkili mountain. The morning will be dedicated to the discovery of the nomadic life, with demonstrations of eagle hunting, greyhound racing, archery and various national equestrian games. After lunch at Baibol restaurant, you can stroll in the central market of Talas and discover the beating heart of the cities of Central Asia. A little later, we enjoy a short guided tour around the Talas city, before a unique evening in the public bath. You can also follow a master class of woodcarving at the guest house.

Accommodation

Locations

Talas
Talas District
80 km
B L D

10 Day. Talas – Besh-Tash

Wake up at 8am and departure for the national reserve "Besh-Tash". On the way, we will have lunch in the country house of the first president of the country. In the afternoon, we will have a nice walk through the pastures to a waterfall. At the end of the day, we settle in the yurt camp and meet the families of the shepherds who welcome us. Dinner and overnight under the yurt.

Accommodation

Economy: Yurt camping
Standard: Yurt camping
VIP: Yurt camping

Locations

Talas
Talas District
70 km
B L D

11 Day. Besh-Tash lake & Eagle Hunting

Hike to Besh-Tash Lake at the end of the valley. The road stops there, cut in two by the water. We will visit the glacial lakes at the top of the ridges. We have lunch on the way, and then return to the yurt camp to spend the night. These evenings at the camp are particularly interesting because it gives us the opportunity to understand and participate in the daily life of the shepherds, listening to their stories and helping them bring the livestock back to their pens in the evening.

Accommodation

Economy: Yurt camping
Standard: Yurt camping
VIP: Yurt camping

Locations

Talas
Talas District
0 km
B L D

12 Day. Besh Tash – Taraz

We leave around 9:00 am for the Kirovka Dam, a great testimony of the gigantism of the Soviet Union. On the road we visit the museum of Gertsen, a painter of German origin who settled in Kyrgyzstan and made the illustrations for the Manas epic. We have lunch near the dam and enjoy a beautiful view of the valley leading to neighboring Kazakhstan. Overnight in Taraz

Accommodation

Economy: Guest house
Standard: Guest house
VIP: Hotel

Locations

Talas
120 km
B L D

13 Day. Taraz – Bishkek

In the morning, we leave for Bishkek. Once arrived in the capital and after lunch in our restaurant "Baibol", we offer a short tour of Bishkek. We take a walk to Ala-Too square and observe the traditional changing of the guard. We can also visit the historical museum, the old place and the house of the government according to your desires. We finish at the TSUM shopping center and where it is possible to buy souvenirs. At 8pm, the entire Baibol team welcomes you for a farewell dinner in our restaurant with a traditional folk concert. Transfer to the airport and departure home the following morning.

Locations

Bishkek
312 km
B L D

Create your own group and travel profitably!

If you have been waiting for the right time to go on a journey in the footsteps of the ancient nomads of Central Asia, it has come! For the first time in Kyrgyzstan, "Baibol Travel" gives you a unique opportunity to travel at affordable prices, collecting a group of travelers from your relatives, friends, colleagues, as you are hungry for new experiences and incredible discoveries! We are happy to adapt our services to your requests and requirements, so we suggest you choose the conditions of travel with the comfort and conditions that suit you. The more people in your group, the greater the benefits will be received by all its participants!

Tour cost

The prices are indicated according to the classification of the tour and the number of people.

Number of persons / Class Economy Standard VIP
1-2 $ 2170 $ 2170 $ 2458
3-4 $ 1500 $ 1500 $ 1650
5-6 $ 1300 $ 1300 $ 1645
7-8 $ 1160 $ 1160 $ 1780
9-10 $ 900 $ 900 $ 1580

Auto-tours recommendations

Our universal list for auto-tours is designed to take into account the weather, terrain and altitude where we travel. It includes both the most necessary items and additional things (the list can changes only in the case of a complex tour).

Please the following as a guide:

  • small rucksack and expeditionary bag;
  • riding shoes (without heels or a platform, secure and closed), sneakers are preferred;
  • spare pair of shoes (if first is wet or damaged);
  • tight pants for riding in the saddle;
  • windproof and waterproof jacket (windbreaker);
  • long- sleeved shirt;
  • a set of warm clothes in case of cool weather;
  • a pair of T-shirts
  • a head covering (for sun protection);
  • no less than 2 pairs of woolen and 2 pairs of normal socks;
  • gloves;
  • sunscreen;
  • personal hygiene items and personal first-aid kit;
  • sunglasses;
  • camera and batteries;
  • handbag for documents (if any).