Tour to Sacred Places

Tour 3: Tour to Sacred Places
Duration: 3 days
In short: Bishkek – Kyzyl Oi – Son Kul – Tash Rabat – Kochkor – Issyk Kul – Karakol – Bishkek

Day 1: Bishkek – Kyzyl Oi
After your arrival you will have 30 minutes ride to Bishkek. In the city you will visit major attractions such as Pobeda Square (Victory Square), Duboviy Park (Oak Park), Сentral Ala-Too Square, Old Square, National Philharmonic and many other places. Then you will drive to Kyzyl Oi village through the southern part of Kyrgyzstan. You will be amazed by the breathtaking and picturesque views of impressive mountains and gorges. You will have a great opportunity to see the panoramic view of Tue Ashuu pass, which altitude is more than 3 000 meters. This road is the one of the most impressive in Kyrgyzstan. You will be able to make a lot of photos to remember these days. Night is in homestay.

Day 2: Kyzyl Oi – Son Kul
Today your destination is Son Kul Lake. This lake, encircled by mountains, is the highest alpine lake in Kyrgyzstan with a height of 3 013 meters above sea level. Kyrgyz people began to come here with their families and friends in search of rest and vacation. Herders of this region started to use it as pastureland.  You will have a lot of time to explore and enjoy nature of this wonderful and pristine lake and its surroundings. Night will be in yurts. They are made of a wooden skeleton, covered with felt coverings.

Day 3: Son Kul – Tash Rabat
After breakfast you will be transferred to the Tash Rabat Caravanserai on the Great Silk Road (Stone Castle from the 14th century). The building is unique. Tash Rabat is located at the very heart of Tian Shan Mountains. Tash Rabat was built of stone blocks inside a mountain at an elevation of 3200 m above sea level. In total there are 31 rooms in the mountain. The walls are 1 m thick. There is also underground prison cells formerly used to incarcerate thieves in ancient times. The night will be spent in yurts near Tash Rabat Caravanserai.

Day 4: Tash Rabat
You will have a full day in Kara Koiun gorge. You can explore it and communicate with locals to learn more about their lifestyle. Probably you will have a chance to see yaks.  These amazing animals do not always have to be monitored, but at the same time they provide the indispensable products of nomads - wool, meat and very strong milk. Kara-Koyun means "black valley" because there is little snow. Because of the rocks that are used as a barrier from heavy snowfall, which is typical for this area from October to mid-April. The temperature can drop to reach -50 C at this period of year. Overnight is in yurts.

Day 5: Tash Rabat – Kochkor
You will be transferred to Kochkor village. The road will go via wonderful gorge and breathtaking mountain pass that is 3 000 meters high. After your arrival to Kochkor village you will spend some time with a family. They will show you the way how to make national felt carpets. In addition you will have a chance to visit handicraft museum. There you can see many samples of silver decorations, coats made of wools, horse saddle decorations, carpets and many other things. Night is in a homestay. 

Day 6: Kochkor – Issyk Kul southern shore – Karakol
Toady your destination is celestial lake - Issyk Kul. It is the second largest mountainous lake in the world. This lake has another name "the pearl of Central Asia" and was considered to be holy place for more than 1 500 years.  This lake is surrounded by mountains. After enjoying the view you will drive to Bokonbaeva village where we visit local eagle-hunter. He use the traditional way of nomads hunting with the help of eagle. His preys are hares and foxes. After it you will be transferred to Jeti Oguz gorge or Red Rocks. In addition you will have opportunity to see the Broken Heart Mountain. Then we continue our way to Karakol town. Night is in a guesthouse.

Day 7: Karakol – Issyk Kul northern shore – Bishkek
Bishkek is your next destination. Your way will be on the northern shore of Issyk Kul Lake. You will be able to see the whole lake. On the way we will have a stop to see the ancient stone inscriptions of to 800 B.C. Shamans made them 2 00o years ago. While seeing the panoramic view of the Issyk Kul Lake from this place – people were thinking that it was the middle of the world. We will have a stop to visit the minaret of 11th century – Burana Tower and an open air museum of Balbals, stone warriors. Night is in a hotel.

Day 8: Bishkek – Airport
In the morning is transfer to airport.  

Transport:
02 pax – Mitsubishi Delica
04-10 pax – Mercedes Sprinter

Price per person:
02 pax – 850 $
04 pax – 520 $
06 pax – 400 $
08 pax – 340 $
10 pax – 305 $
Single – 85 $

Early check-in – 35 $
Single early check-in – 60 $  

All dinners – 105 $
All lunches and dinners – 200 $ 

English speaking guide – 540 $ per group 

To be 2 in one yurt (now 4 pax) – 45 $ per person

Service includes:
- Transport
- Accommodation:
      Kyzyl Oi – Homestay
      Son Kul – Yurts (4 pax in 1)
      Tash Rabat – Yurts (4 pax in 1)
      Kochkor – Homestay
      Karakol – “Karagat” Hotel 4* or “Green Yard” Guesthouse
      Bishkek – “Discovery” 3* or “Garden” 4* hotel
- Entrances to all museums
- Mineral water during the tour 

Service does not include:
- Meals
- Single rooms
- Early check-in
- Travel insurance
- Visa and visa support
- English speaking guide 
 

If you want to find out more about places included in this tour – please read below.
For more details – click on the NAME of the place. 

Bishkek is the capital city of Kyrgyzstan, located at the foothill of Kyrgyz Ala Too range.
Too Ashu pass is an extremely beautiful pass on Bishkek–Osh highway.
Suusamyr valley is famous valley at the altitude over 2,500 meters with stunning beauty.
Kara Keche pass leads to Son Kul through a kaleidoscope of colors of landscapes via coal mine.
Son Kul is a high mountainous lake where you can encounter nomads and live in yurts.
Moldo Ashu pass brings to Son Kul lake from the south-east showing unbelievable views.
Tash Rabat is a caravanserai in the mountains preserved from medieval ages.
Felt show in Kochkor is accompanied with the visit of museum of ancient handicrafts.
Eagle hunter in Bokonbaevo – you will meet a real eagle hunter and learn about his birds.
Jeti Oguz gorge is famous for sand formations of striking red color and unusual shapes. 
Broken Heart is a rock with a shape of broken heart right at the entrance to the Jeti Oguz gorge.
Karakol is a touristic town in south-eastern part of Issyk Kul, starting point of most treks. 
Museum of Przhewalsky is a big source of information about the life of great explorer.
Dungan mosque is the only mosque in Kyrgyzstan built like a Chinese pagoda.
Orthodox Church is the first church built in the area during the Russian Empire.
Issyk Kul lake is the most beautiful alpine lake reminding the sea due to its size.
Petroglyphs in Cholpon Ata is a huge collection of carved stones from the 2^nd millennium BC.
Burana is a tower from the 11^th century in ancient town of Balasagyn on the Great Silk Road.
Balbals are stone statues in honor of distinguished warriors in Turk culture in the 6-7^th centuries.