5-day tour from Bishkek: Son-Kul, Issyk-Kul, Altyn Arashan

Five days across high-altitude lakes and nomadic camps

A 5-day tour from Bishkek through Son-Kul Lake, Issyk-Kul Lake, and Altyn Arashan combines remote alpine scenery with stays in traditional yurts and encounters with local shepherd families. The itinerary includes Kalmak Ashu Pass at 3,450 meters, eagle hunting shows in Bokonbaevo, Skazka Canyon's red-rock formations, Barskoon Waterfalls, and a full-day off-road excursion into Altyn Arashan's hot springs and snow-capped peaks. An English-speaking guide leads the group, with hotel pickup from Bishkek and all park entrance fees included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Bishkek to Son Kol

• Stop at Orto Tokyo lake viewpoint
• Visit Kalmak Ashu Pass
• Explore Son Kol Lake area
• Overnight at Nomadic Yurt Camp

Day 2: Son Kol to Issyk Kul South Shore

• Pass south side of Orto-Tokoy Lake
• Watch eagle hunting show in Bokonbaevo
• See Taigan hunting dog show
• Attend archery demonstration
• Hike in Skazka (Fairy Tale) Canyon
• Overnight at Yurt Camp or guest house

Day 3: Issyk Kul South Shore to Karakol

• Visit Barskoon Gorge
• Hike to Barskoon Waterfalls
• Explore Jeti-Oguz Rocks
• Visit Holy Trinity Orthodox Church
• Overnight in hotel in Karakol

Day 4: Off-Road to Altyn Arashan and Karakol

• 4x4 ride or hike to Altyn Arashan valley
• Enjoy hot springs and mountain scenery
• Return to Karakol city
• Overnight in Karakol hotel

Day 5: Karakol to Bishkek via Cholpon Ata

• Visit Kyrchyn Valley near Cholpon-Ata
• Stop in Balykchy city
• Pass through Boom Gorge
• Return to Bishkek

The experience

The tour leaves Bishkek heading east toward Son-Kul Lake, climbing through Kalmak Ashu Pass at 3,450 meters above sea level. This high-altitude crossing opens onto rolling green meadows and the lake itself, which sits at 3,000 meters and is ringed by dramatic mountains. You stay overnight in a nomadic yurt camp by the water, where local shepherd families prepare homemade Kyrgyz meals and offer a direct look at how herders live seasonally on these pastures. The lake's vast, quiet landscape and the yurt camp's mountain views form the core of the first two days.

From Son-Kul, the route descends toward the south shore of Issyk-Kul Lake, the world's second-largest alpine lake. On the way, you stop in Bokonbaevo to watch traditional eagle hunters demonstrate how they train eagles to work with Taigan hunting dogs, followed by an archery show where you can shoot yourself. Skazka Canyon, also called Fairy Tale Canyon, comes next: red-rock formations carved by wind and water over centuries create shapes that resemble castles and animals. A hike through the colorful sandstone reveals the surreal landscape that gives the canyon its name. You sleep either in a yurt camp or a guest house with wooden cottages on the lakeshore.

Day three takes you along the southern shore toward Karakol, stopping at Barskoon Gorge to see waterfalls named "Tears of a Leopard" and "Beard of a Wise Man" cascading through pine forests and rocky cliffs. Jeti-Oguz Rocks, seven massive red sandstone formations that resemble resting bulls, sit near Karakol. One split formation called "The Broken Heart" carries a local legend. The Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Karakol's main square, a 19th-century wooden structure with onion domes and intricate carvings, stands as an active place of worship. You stay in a hotel by the square.

Day four is a full-day off-road expedition into Altyn Arashan, a high-altitude alpine valley 30 kilometers from Karakol. The rough 4x4 road climbs to around 2,500 meters through lush meadows surrounded by snow-capped peaks. Natural hot springs in the valley are believed to have therapeutic properties, and trails lead to Ala-Kul Lake and other scenic spots. The return to Karakol covers the same rugged terrain. On the final day, you drive west through Kyrchyn Valley, a traditional gathering place for Kyrgyz nomads that has hosted the World Nomad Games, then pass through Balykchy on the western shore of Issyk-Kul before entering Boom Gorge (a dramatic canyon carved between the Chu Valley and the lake) on the last stretch back to Bishkek.

What’s included

• All accommodation for four nights (yurt camps by Son-Kul and Issyk-Kul, plus a hotel in Karakol).
• entrance fees to parks, canyons and museums.
• an air-conditioned vehicle for the entire route.
• bottled water.
• an English-speaking guide throughout.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (13 to 80 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 5

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 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomeNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Atlas.kg

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup from Bishkek means you don't need a car or arrange your own transport to the starting point. The tour handles all the driving across high passes and rough mountain roads, leaving you free to focus on the landscape and the stops along the way.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4).

What is Son-Kul Lake like, and where do you sleep there?

Son-Kul Lake sits at 3,000 meters above sea level, surrounded by rolling green meadows and dramatic mountains in a remote, untouched landscape. You stay overnight in a nomadic yurt camp by the water, where local shepherd families prepare homemade Kyrgyz meals and offer a direct look at seasonal herding life.

Can I shoot a bow and arrow during the tour?

Yes. In Bokonbaevo on day two, after watching eagle hunters and Taigan hunting dogs demonstrate their skills, an archery show includes a chance for you to shoot yourself with a traditional bow.

What is Altyn Arashan, and how do you get there?

Altyn Arashan is a high-altitude alpine valley about 30 kilometers from Karakol, sitting at around 2,500 meters and surrounded by snow-capped peaks. You reach it by a rough 4x4 road on day four, a full-day off-road excursion that also includes access to natural hot springs and hiking trails to Ala-Kul Lake.

What waterfalls do you see on the tour?

Barskoon Waterfalls on the southern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake are the main waterfall stop, featuring two famous cascades named "Tears of a Leopard" and "Beard of a Wise Man" that drop through pine forests and rocky cliffs.

Does the tour include hotel pickup from Bishkek?

Yes, pickup from your hotel in Bishkek is included, and the tour returns you to the city on day five after passing through Boom Gorge.