Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan SUV Adventure 8-Day Private Tour

Eight days means you cross two countries by SUV instead of hitting highlights in a rush.

An 8-day private tour from Almaty through Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in a dedicated SUV with an English-speaking guide, visiting national parks, mountain lakes, canyons and the capital Bishkek. You travel off-road through Altyn Emel and Charyn Canyon, hike to Kolsai and Kaindy Lakes, kayak on Issyk-Kul, ride horses in the mountains, and join a nomad eagle hunt before returning to Almaty. Accommodation in guest houses and hotels is included, as are most meals.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Kapchagai Reservoir and Altyn Emel Park

• Stop at Kapchagay Reservoir dam
• Coffee break at Sary Ozek railway station
• Photo stop at Katutau Mountains
• Hike and photograph Chalk Mountains of Aktau
• Arrive and stay at guest house

Day 2: Singing Dune and Charyn Canyon

• Hike to top of Singing Dune
• Coffee break with dune view
• Lunch in Zharkent Town
• Visit Chinese mosque in Zharkent
• Photograph Charyn Canyon at sunset
• Arrive and stay in Saty village guest house

Day 3: Kolsay and Kaindy Lakes

• Breakfast at guest house
• Visit and photograph Kolsay Lake
• Lunch at guest house
• Off-road drive to Kaindy Lake
• Horseback ride at Kaindy Lake
• Walk around Kaindy Lake
• Dinner and overnight at guest house

Day 4: Kegen Border and Karakol

• Breakfast at guest house
• Drive to Kegen border town
• Lunch in Kegen
• Cross Kyrgyzstan border
• Arrive in Karakol town
• Kayaking on Lake Issyk-Kul
• Stay overnight in mini-hotel

Day 5: Jeti-Ögüz and Barskoon Valley

• Breakfast in Karakol
• Karakol city tour
• Visit Jeti-Ögüz mountain gorge
• Lunch included
• Explore Barskoon valley and waterfalls
• Visit Arebel plateau
• Dinner and overnight at ART hotel

Day 6: Aksai and Konorcheg Canyons

• Breakfast at hotel
• Trek Aksai Canyon panorama
• Experience eagle hunting tradition
• Lunch included
• Transfer to Konorcheg Canyon
• Trek 2-3 km in Konorcheg Canyon
• Excursion to Burana Tower ruins
• Arrive in Bishkek city

Day 7: Bishkek City Tour

• Guided tour of Bishkek city
• Visit Osh Bazaar market
• Explore Ala-Too Square
• Visit National History Museum
• Overnight in 3-star hotel

Day 8: Ancient Petroglyphs and Almaty

• Breakfast included
• Visit Kazakhstan border
• Explore ancient petroglyphs
• Picnic in nature
• Return to Almaty

The experience

Eight days lets you move slowly enough to feel the landscape instead of collecting photos at each stop. The route runs through two countries in a single arc: you start at Ala-Too Square in Almaty, drive south into Altyn Emel National Park to hike the Chalk Mountains of Aktau, then swing east through the Singing Dune and Charyn Canyon. The guide handles the border crossing into Kyrgyzstan at Kegen, and from there the itinerary opens into higher terrain: Kolsai Lakes in the Tien Shan, Kaindy Lake with its submerged forest, and the long southern shore of Issyk-Kul, where you kayak and ride horses through Jeti-Ögüz gorge and Barskoon valley.

The SUV is built for the roads you'll take: off-road tracks to Kaindy Lake, mountain passes climbing toward the Kyrgyz border, and the kind of terrain where a standard car stops. Your guide speaks English and knows the history: the Soviet-era railway station at Sary-Ozek, the 1911 earthquake that flooded the spruce forest at Kaindy, the Burana Tower's thousand-year lineage. Meals are included at guest houses and hotels. Only two dinners in towns fall outside the package. Children from age 3 travel with you, and the guide can arrange a booster seat if needed.

The final stretch turns west again: Aksai Canyon and Konorchek Canyon on the southern edge, then Bishkek for a city tour of Osh Bazaar, the National History Museum, and Ala-Too Square. You return to Almaty on day eight, arriving in the morning. Pickup from your Almaty hotel is included, and the guide arranges all border paperwork for Kyrgyzstan.

What’s included

• Private SUV transport throughout both countries.
• live English-speaking guide.
• horseback riding for 30 minutes.
• one hour of kayaking on Issyk-Kul.
• a nomad eagle hunt experience.
• booster seat for children.
• guest house and hotel accommodation with private rooms and bathrooms.
• breakfast and lunch daily.
• most dinners.
• pickup from your Almaty hotel.
• all border crossings and customs arrangements.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 09:00

AgesAdult (18 to 70 years) · Senior (71 to 74 years) · Youth (8 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 7 years) · Infant (3 to 5 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Kolsai Tour

Is this one for you?Book this if you're arriving in Almaty without a rental car: the private SUV and bilingual guide handle both countries as one continuous journey, not separate logistics.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (8 to 17 years); Child (6 to 7 years); Infant (3 to 5 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What is the Singing Dune and why does it make a sound?

The Singing Dune, also called Ayak-Kum, is a 150-meter-high sand dune in Altyn Emel National Park that produces a humming sound when sand shifts due to wind or movement, similar to an organ's low frequency. You hike to the top on day two and photograph it at close range.

Can I kayak on Issyk-Kul, and what is the lake like?

Yes, you kayak for one hour on Issyk-Kul on day four, weather permitting. The lake is the second-largest saltwater lake in the world after the Dead Sea, surrounded by the Tian Shan Mountains, with warm water in summer and over 1,600 kilometers of beaches around its shore.

What happens during the nomad eagle hunting experience?

On day six, you join a nomad hunter with a trained eagle in Aksai Canyon, watching traditional hunting methods that have been part of Kyrgyz culture for centuries. This is included in the tour price.

Do I need a visa for Kyrgyzstan, and how is the border crossing handled?

Visa requirements depend on your nationality. The operator notes that some countries require visas for Kyrgyzstan. Your guide handles all border formalities at the Kegen crossing on day four and manages the customs process so you can focus on the journey.

What kind of accommodation will I have, and are meals included?

You stay in guest houses with private rooms and bathrooms in the mountains, and 3-star hotels in Bishkek and Almaty. Breakfast and lunch are included throughout. Dinner is included at guest houses but not in Karakol or Bishkek town restaurants. The final night hotel in Almaty is not included.

Is this tour suitable if I have never ridden a horse or done off-road travel before?

Yes, the tour is suitable for all fitness levels. The horseback ride lasts 30 minutes on day three, and the SUV does the off-road driving. You are a passenger. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy.