Kyrgyzstan 7-day tour Bishkek to Osh: Lakes visit

A week crossing Kyrgyzstan's high passes and nomad camps, from Issyk-Kul to the walnut forests of Arslanbob

A 7-day tour from Bishkek to Osh via Issyk-Kul and Song-Kol Lakes, traveling by private 4×4 with an English-speaking driver through mountain passes, yurt camps and village homestays. The route covers 1,320 km across five regions, with six nights of accommodation and meals included. Lunches en route and entrance fees are separate. Minimum age is 12. The itinerary involves daily driving and optional hikes up to four hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Bishkek to Issyk-Kul Lake

• Drive from Bishkek to Burana Tower
• Visit Burana Tower
• Drive to Fairy Tale Canyon
• Visit Fairy Tale Canyon
• Arrive at Bel Tam Yurt Camp
• Have traditional lunch in yurt
• Swim in Issyk-Kul Lake
• Dinner and overnight at yurt camp

Day 2: Jeti-Oguz Valley and Oguz Bashy Hike

• Drive to Barskon Waterfalls
• Visit Barskon Waterfalls
• Arrive at Kok Jaiyk Valley yurt camp
• Have lunch at yurt camp
• Hike to Oguz Bashy Peak viewpoint
• Return to yurt camp
• Dinner and overnight at yurt camp

Day 3: Journey to Kochkor Town

• Morning hike to mountain waterfall
• Drive to Kochkor Town
• Arrive at family-run homestay
• Explore village and optional felt workshop
• Dinner and overnight at guest house

Day 4: Kochkor to Song-Kol Lake

• Drive to Song-Kol Lake
• Lunch in cozy yurt
• Horse riding along lake shore
• Walk in scenic surroundings
• Stargazing and dinner at yurt camp

Day 5: Song-Kol Lake to Kazarman

• Drive through Moldo Ashuu Pass
• Arrive at Kazarman Village
• Relax at local homestay
• Home-cooked dinner

Day 6: Kazarman to Arslanbob

• Drive across Kaldama Pass
• Explore Arslanbob Village trails and waterfalls
• Hike to Panorama Hill
• Dinner and overnight at guesthouse

Day 7: Arslanbob to Osh City

• Hike to Arslanbob Waterfall
• Return to guesthouse for lunch
• Drive to Osh City
• Visit Uzgen Minaret and Mausoleum
• Arrive in Osh and check into hotel

The experience

You start in Bishkek and drive 180 km southeast to Issyk-Kul Lake, stopping at the 9th-century Burana Tower on the Silk Road before reaching the southern shore. The first night lands at Bel Tam Yurt Camp, where you swim in the lake and sleep under stars. The next day takes you to Jeti-Oguz Valley (famous for its red sandstone cliffs shaped like the "Broken Heart" and "Seven Bulls") with a four-hour hike to the Oguz Bashy Peak viewpoint and a night in another yurt camp. The route then turns inland through rolling hills toward Kochkor Town, where you stay in a family-run guesthouse and can join an optional felt-carpet workshop run by local artisans.

Day four is the push to Song-Kol Lake, a high alpine basin where Kyrgyz herders summer their flocks. You arrive by midday, settle into a yurt, and spend the afternoon on horseback along the shore or walking the pastures. The next morning you cross the Moldo Ashuu Pass (a dramatic series of switchbacks with views of scattered yurts across the hillsides), and descend to Kazarman Village for a night in a homestay. From there, the route climbs over the Kaldama Pass to Arslanbob, home to the world's largest walnut forest, where you hike to Panorama Hill for views across the landscape. The final day includes a hike to the 80-meter Arslanbob Waterfall, then a 200 km drive to Osh City, stopping at the Uzgen Minaret and Mausoleum, a Karakhanid-era structure from the 11th century.

Transport is a private 4×4 with an English or Russian-speaking driver for groups up to four. Larger groups travel by bus. Six nights of accommodation and all meals at camps and guesthouses are included. Lunches during driving days, bottled water, soft drinks and entrance fees to Burana Tower, Uzgen Minaret and the other monuments are not included in the base price. Accommodation and meals in Bishkek and Osh city are optional add-ons at checkout.

What’s included

• Six nights in yurt camps and family-run guesthouses.
• private 4×4 transport with an English or Russian-speaking driver (or bus for groups of five or more).
• all meals at the camps and guesthouses.
• access to horse riding at Song-Kol Lake and optional felt-carpet workshops in Kochkor.

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 15 Jun 2027

AgesAdult (12 to 65 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 9

Live guideEnglish and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Visit Alay - Travel Company

Is this one for you?Seven days is the full span needed to cross all five regions and reach Osh, so you commit to the entire route without shortcuts. If you have less time, a 5-day version covers only Issyk-Kul and Song-Kol. If you want to add the southern valleys and Arslanbob's walnut forest, this is the minimum length that fits them all.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Russian.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Burana Tower and why do we stop there on day one?

Burana Tower is a 9th-century monument built along the Silk Road, standing on the route between Bishkek and Issyk-Kul Lake. The stop gives you a chance to learn its history before continuing to the lake's southern shore.

How much hiking is involved in this tour?

The main hike is on day two to Oguz Bashy Peak, a four-hour walk through alpine meadows with wildflower fields and grazing livestock. Day one includes a morning hike to a hidden waterfall near Jeti-Oguz, and day seven has a hike to the 80-meter Arslanbob Waterfall. Other days involve walking around villages and the lake shore at your own pace.

Can I ride horses at Song-Kol Lake?

Yes, horseback riding along Song-Kol Lake's shores is available during the afternoon on day four. You can also take a peaceful walk if you prefer.

What is included in the price and what costs extra?

Included are six nights in yurt camps and guesthouses, all meals at those camps and guesthouses, and private transport with a driver. Not included are lunches eaten during driving days, bottled water and drinks, and entrance fees to Burana Tower, Uzgen Minaret and Mausoleum, and other monuments. Accommodation and meals in Bishkek and Osh city are optional at checkout.

Is the felt-carpet workshop in Kochkor included?

The workshop is optional. You have the afternoon free in Kochkor Town to participate in the shyrdak (felt carpet) workshop led by local artisans, or explore the village at your own pace.