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The turquoise water of Lake Issyk-Kul behind two poplars on the shore.

Kyrgyzstan

The High Pastures

Issyk-Kul, Song-Kul and the jailoo

Ninara from Helsinki, Finland · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The one trip in this collection where the accommodation is deliberately simple and the landscape does the work. Two nights in yurt camps, run by the families whose animals graze there.

Suits

  • Travellers who want the mountains, not the marble
  • Photographers
  • Anyone comfortable with a shared washhouse

Day by day

Day 01

Arrive Bishkek

Most flights are overnight. In, sleep, and start tomorrow.

Day 02

Bishkek to Issyk-Kul

East along the north shore, with the Burana tower on the way. Overnight on the lake.

Day 03

The south shore

Skazka Canyon, Barskoon, and an eagle hunting demonstration with a licensed berkutchi.

Day 04

Up to Song-Kul

Over the pass to 3,000 m and a jailoo yurt camp. Cold at night, worth every degree.

Day 05

Song-Kul

A day on the pasture with the herders. Ride if you want to, walk if you do not.

Day 06

Down to Bishkek

The long descent through Kochkor, with a felt-making stop. Last night in the city.

Day 07

Depart

Transfer to Manas.

What's included

  • All accommodation as listed, with daily breakfast
  • All internal transfers by private, air-conditioned car with a professional driver
  • Licensed English-speaking guide for every sightseeing day (Russian on request)
  • All entrance fees named in the day-by-day
  • A single named trip designer, reachable by WhatsApp for the whole journey
  • 24/7 on-trip support line covering your time zone

Not included

  • International flights, unless the journey says otherwise
  • Visas, visa fees and travel insurance (we prepare the paperwork; the fees are yours)
  • Lunches and dinners other than those named
  • Anything personal — minibar, laundry, spa, tips
  • Optional experiences marked as add-ons

Tell us where you want to wake up.