Kyrgyzstan 10-Day Private Tour: Song Kol & Issyk Kul Lake
Ten days across Kyrgyzstan's mountains, lakes and nomadic camps
You travel by private vehicle with a dedicated guide for ten days, sleeping in yurts and guest houses as you move from Bishkek's Ala-Archa Park to Song Kol Lake (horseback riding included), then south to Issyk Kul's quieter shore, where you watch eagle hunting, hike to waterfalls and glaciers, soak in hot springs at Altyn-Arashan, and finish at Chon-Kemin National Park. Entrance fees, meals and transport are included. You bring moderate fitness and a tolerance for simple accommodation.
Step-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Bishkek to Ala-Archa National Park
- Meet at airport in Bishkek
- Transfer to Ala-Archa National Park
- Easy hike around the park
- Visit Supara Ethno Complex
- Check in to hotel in Bishkek
Day 2: Bishkek to Song-Kul Lake
- Breakfast in Bishkek
- Drive to Burana Historical Complex
- Visit Burana Tower
- Continue drive to Song-Kul Lake
- Check in to yurt camp
Day 3: Song-Kul Lake to Issyk-Kul Lake
- Horse riding around Song-Kul Lake
- Drive to Kochkor
- Watch felt show and shop souvenirs
- Drive to Bokonbaeva village
- Check in to Bel-Tam yurt camp
Day 4: Bokonbaeva to Tamga Village
- Watch eagle hunting show in Bokonbaeva
- Drive to Skazka Canyon
- Easy hike around Skazka Canyon
- Drive to Tamga village
- Check in to guest house
Day 5: Tamga to Ara-Bel Glacier
- Breakfast at guest house
- Visit Barskoon Valley waterfalls
- Hike to Ara-Bel Glacier
- Return to Tamga village
- Overnight at guest house
Day 6: Tamga to Karakol via Gorges
- Visit Djeti-Oguz Gorge
- Visit Broken Heart Gorge
- Drive to Kok-Jaiyk Yurt Camp
- Check in to yurt camp
Day 7: Karakol to Altyn-Arashan Hot Springs
- Drive to Ak-Suu village
- Take 4x4 to Altyn-Arashan Valley
- Relax in hot springs
- Overnight in yurt or guest house
Day 8: Altyn-Arashan to Semenov Village
- 4x4 ride back to Ak-Suu village
- Drive to Karakol
- Lunch in Karakol
- Visit Dungan Mosque and Russian Orthodox Church
- Drive to Semenov village via Kyrchyn Gorge
- Check in to guest house
Day 9: Semenov to Chon-Kemin National Park
- Drive to Chon-Kemin National Park
- Arrive at Tar-Suu village
- Check in to Kok-Archa guest house
Day 10: Chon-Kemin to Bishkek
- Drive to Bishkek or Manas Airport
- End of trip
What’s included
- Your ten days include private vehicle transport, a dedicated guide, lunch each day, entrance fees to national parks and museums, yurt and guest house accommodation, camping equipment (tent, sleeping bag, mat), and meals at each overnight stop.
- Horseback riding around Song Kol Lake, the eagle hunting show in Bokonbaeva, access to hot springs at Altyn-Arashan, and hikes to waterfalls and glaciers are all part of the itinerary.
- Airport pickup on Day 1 and return to Bishkek or Manas Airport on Day 10 are arranged.
Times
- Every day No fixed time
Before you book
Operated by Kyrgyz Nature Travel Company
Prices and times updated 13 days ago
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The experience
"You will see how we live," our guide said at the airport, and he meant it, not the polished version, but the actual rhythm of the highlands. The 10-day private tour starts in Bishkek and moves south through Ala-Archa National Park (40 kilometers from the capital, with glaciers and summits that climb to 4,875 meters), then climbs to Song Kol Lake at 3,016 meters altitude, where shepherds bring their herds each summer. You sleep in yurts, ride horses across high pastures, and eat with families who have lived this way for generations. The itinerary is fixed but the pace is yours: no rushing between stops, no shared van with strangers, just a driver and a guide who know the roads and the people.
The middle days center on Issyk Kul, the world's largest alpine salt lake, 182 kilometers long and 668 meters deep. You'll see it from the south side, where the landscape is wilder than the northern beaches: gorges, canyons, valleys that open onto views most tourists miss. One morning you watch an eagle hunting show in Bokonbaeva, a small village famous for this tradition passed down through generations. Another day takes you to Skazka Canyon for an easy hike, then to Tamga village where you can visit Tamga Stones from the Silk Road era. The guest houses here are simple, not luxurious, but the location (close to the water, surrounded by mountains) makes up for it. You also visit Barskoon Valley for waterfalls and hike to Ara-Bell Glacier at 3,900 meters.
The eastern leg moves toward Karakol and Jeti-Oguz Gorge, with its red rock formations and the Broken Heart Canyon. Then comes Altyn-Arashan, a valley 17 kilometers from Ak-Suu village, where you soak in natural hot springs after a 4x4 drive through forest and mountain roads. The journey loops back north across Issyk Kul's northern shore, passing Kyrchyn Gorge, and ends at Chon-Kemin National Park: the second-largest protected area in Kyrgyzstan, with forests, rivers, lakes and glaciers spread across 500 hectares. The final drive returns you to Bishkek or Manas Airport.
What makes this different from a standard group tour is the private vehicle, the same guide for all ten days, and the fact that meals and entrance fees are included. You don't negotiate prices at each stop or wait for a group to finish lunch. The yurt camps sleep 4-5 people per tent, and you'll share them with other travelers on the tour, but the logistics are handled. Bring moderate fitness. The riding and hiking are not extreme, but they are real, and the altitude (Song Kol and Ara-Bell both top 3,000 meters) takes adjustment. If you land in Bishkek and want to see the mountains, the lakes, the nomadic culture and the hot springs without arranging transport, guides and timing yourself, this tour absorbs all of that.
Is this one for you?This tour suits travelers who want to see Kyrgyzstan's mountains, lakes and nomadic culture without arranging their own transport, guides or timing: the private vehicle and fixed itinerary handle all of that, leaving you free to focus on the landscape and the people you meet along the way.
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Top questions
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.
How many people travel together on this tour?
It's a private tour, meaning your group travels alone with one guide and driver. Yurt camps accommodate 4–5 people per tent, so you may share sleeping space with other travelers booked on the same departure, but the vehicle and guide are yours.
What's the altitude like, and is it safe?
Song Kol Lake sits at 3,016 meters and Ara-Bell Glacier at 3,900 meters. The tour is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health or spinal injuries. Moderate fitness is required. Most people acclimatize within a day or two.
Do I need riding experience for the horseback sections?
No. The riding around Song Kol Lake is described as a couple of hours for visitors, not a technical skill. The guide will match you to a suitable horse and pace.
What's included in the price?
Lunch, air-conditioned vehicle, entrance fees for museums and national parks, and camping equipment (tents, sleeping bags, mats). Breakfast and dinner are provided at yurt camps and guest houses.
How long is the drive from Bishkek to Ala-Archa on Day 1?
About 4 hours. Ala-Archa is 40 kilometers south of the capital.
Can I do this tour if I'm pregnant?
The tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers due to the altitude, terrain and physical demands.
What's the best time to visit?
Summer (June to September) is peak season. Song Kol and the high pastures are accessible and nomads are present. Issyk Kul's beaches are warm. Winter closes many mountain roads.
Do I need a visa for Kyrgyzstan?
That depends on your nationality. Check your country's embassy website for current requirements. The tour operator can advise on logistics once you book.
Kyrgyzstan 10-Day Private Tour: Song Kol & Issyk Kul Lake
10d · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 2,300 per person
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