This tour is designed for people who has a little time but wanted to see many places and do possible activities. Itinerary included sightseeing around Issyk-Kul lake, canyon hiking, eagle hunting show, mountain 4×4 off-road adventure, and relaxing in natural hot springs.
Salam! Your 4-day road trip starts early this morning. We leave the green city of Bishkek and drive to the ancient Burana Tower. This is an 11th-century minaret and an important historical site on the old Silk Road. You can climb to the top and see old stone statues called balbals. Next, we drive toward the lake and stop at Kok Moynok Canyon. This canyon is a hidden gem with narrow sandy paths and tall, smooth rock walls that were shaped by water a long time ago. We will take a short walk here because it feels like walking through a natural maze.
After the hike, we drive to the village of Bokonbaevo on the south shore of Issyk-Kul Lake. This area is famous for keeping old traditions alive. We will meet a local berkutchi (eagle hunter). He will show you his golden eagle, explain how hunters train these massive birds, and show you a real eagle demonstration. Tonight, you will enjoy a home-cooked dinner and stay in a cozy local guesthouse or a yurt camp near the lake.
Today is packed with beautiful nature. After breakfast, our first stop is Skazka (Fairytale) Canyon. This place is famous for its bright red, orange, and yellow clay rocks that look like castles and dragons. We will take a 1-hour walk to take pictures and enjoy the views.
Next, we drive into the mountains to see the beautiful Barskoon Waterfall, surrounded by
tall pine trees.
In the afternoon, we visit the famous Jeti-Oguz Gorge. Here you will see the famous «Broken Heart» rock and the «Seven Bulls»— a long row of massive red cliffs. Finally, we drive to Karakol, a charming multicultural town near the mountains. Tonight, we will visit the famous Dastorkon restaurant, where you can try delicious traditional national dishes.
Accommodation: Hotel or guesthouse (1 night)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Driving time: 3 hours (150 km)
A dedicated mountain adventure day takes you up to Altyn-Arashan («Golden Spa»), a breathtaking valley hidden at an altitude of 2,600 meters. The road up the gorge is notoriously rough, so you will experience a thrilling, bumpy ride in a heavy-duty Soviet 4×4 truck to reach the top. Alternatively, if you love hiking, you can choose a scenic 4-hour uphill trek along the rushing Arashan River.
Upon arrival, the valley opens up into a stunning alpine paradise framed by towering pine trees and the snow-capped Peak Palatka. You can spend the afternoon hiking, exploring the forests, or renting horses from local herders. The absolute highlight of the valley is its natural, sulfur-rich thermal hot springs. You will spend the late afternoon soaking in the hot baths to soothe your muscles before we drive back down to stay the night in Karakol.
Accommodation: Hotel or guesthouse (1 night)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Driving time: 1.5 to 2 hours each way by 4×4 truck through the rough gorge.
After breakfast, we take a short tour of Karakol. We will visit two very unique places: the Dungan Mosque, which looks like a Chinese temple but was built without any nails by Chinese Muslims, and the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church, a beautiful wooden church built in 1895.
After the city tour, we start our long drive back to Bishkek. This time, we will drive along the scenic North Shore of Issyk-Kul Lake, giving you completely different views of the water. We will stop at the open-air petroglyph site in Cholpon-Ata to see ancient rock carvings. Finally, we will drive through the Boom Gorge and arrive back in Bishkek in the late afternoon (around 6 pm or 7 pm).
Accommodation: Not included
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Driving time: 6-7 hours (400 km)
