Aug 26- Sept 9
Bishkek-Almaty
Homestays & Hotels
14 Nights
13 Breakfasts
12-14
BRIEF ITINERARY :
Take a flight so as to arrive Bishkek by afternoon. Today we will be walking to the Osh Bazaar, see the Ala-Too square and I shall explain to you the various protests that took place at that point. Today is story day : about Kyrgyz people, about mongol domination, Russian empire and soviet era. We will also teach some basic Kyrgyz. For started: Hi is Salam.
Today we start our epic road journey through this Ex-Ussr country.The road has stunning natural scenery of mountains, valleys, and alpine lakes. Today is the day you will get to witness Issyk-Kul ( 2nd largest saline lake in the world ) . To give you a context of its size.
Our stay for tonight is in this cute and amazing hotel amidst the mountains .
DID YOU KNOW?
One of the best mixed martial arts fighters in the world is from Kyrgyzstan- Rafael Fiziev.
This will be our first and major hike in the country . The 15 kilometre hike is not too difficult and can be covered in 6-7 hours with enough breaks. The people who don’t want to hike can opt for an additional 4X4 vehicle that will take you there in 2-3 hours.
After a long day, Plunge into the hot springs of Altyn Arashan. The stay in the valley is straight out a fairy tale: You will be staying in Yurts , the facilities will be basic but you will not have anything to complain looking at the place we are at.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Epic of Manas is a longer poem than Homer’s Odyssey. Every city you visit you will see a Manas statue indicating their love for poetry.
Trace our way back to hotel and get ready to resume our road trip next day. This itinerary is such designed that you get to see the natural landscapes as well as most of the cultural aspect of the place
DID YOU KNOW?
If Scrabble allowed place names Kyrgyzstan would give 30 points second to only Mozambique at 34.
Pack your beachwear today, as we will getting into the famous Issy-kul. Today we complete a circle of the lake. We will also go see the Old petroglyphs (around 1500 BC ) , imagine looking at a drawing someone drew 3520 years before (that’s 58 lifetimes ).
Post that, you will see for yourself how felt carpets are made. This is a women-run organisation where, if you buy things from them. It goes into employment of more women in the region.
DID YOU KNOW?
The ancient trading route *The Silk Road* runs through Kyrgyzstan. The silk road sites comprise one of the country’s three UNESCO heritage sites.
Today you will witness one of the most beautiful lakes in the world : Song Kul. There will be very less hiking today , we will be using a vehicle to reach Song Kul. Song Kul is at a height of 3016 m above the sea level. We will staying in yurts here today. I recommend carrying only essentials and keep remaining in the hotel locker room. The road is going to be very bumpy so dress appropriately.
Kochkor used to be a stop for merchants going to and from Kashgar, on the other side of Torugart Pass in China.
Today is our second last day in the country so let’s hit some Russian club and trust me you will be impressed. Carry your clothes accordingly for a club.
DID YOU KNOW?
Horse Milk is Kyrgyzstan’s National drink. That rhymed, an ode to manas.
Today is the only free day kept just to relax in city of Bishkek. You are free to walk around, spent some time in the largest market in central Asia. We will take the evening flight to Almaty.
DID YOU KNOW?
Bread is considered holy in Kyrgyzstan and should not be wasted. Be conscious when you place your order!
Since our flight lands around 9 pm, We will drop the luggage at the hotel and step out to have a late dinner.
Let’s try some Uzbek food for Lunch . Manti, Plov, Samsa, Lagman , Shahlik are some of the dishes you should try in any UZBEK restaurant.
Today we will start our day with big Almaty lake. The lake is closed for tourists since 2020 , but since you are travelling with us. Let’s just say we know where to pull the strings. We will have the whole lake to ourselves and will have a private tour to the lake.
For dinner, Let’s head to a Georgian Restaurant. Kubdari, Kachapur, Shkmeruli , Pkhali, Ajika and Tkemali are some of the dishes you shouldn’t miss . Almaty has a lot of Georgian restaurants and i love that about this city.
First, we will head out to the infamous Ski resort just 30 mins away from the town . Its so cool to reach there as you listen to just 5 tracks via the Gandola.
we will be back in the city by evening to check out the Green bazaar. This takes about an hour or so only. Once done we will head to see Palfinov park and Republic square. Just like how we did in Bishkek, today we will take you through the history of Kazakhstan.