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MEET AN EXPERT
Victoria was struck by the stunning landscapes of Kyrgyzstan, as well as the fresh, clean air and the amazing hospitality of its people.
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Price is based on double or twin hotel room occupancy and includes accommodation, transfers, car/driver, English-speaking guide, activities and entrance fees, breakfasts and some casual lunches while touring. Flights and optional special activities will be quoted separately. Most personal expenses, including dinners, alcoholic beverages, spa treatments and gratuities can be paid on the spot while traveling. Prices may vary depending on season, choice of accommodation and other factors.
Spend your week exploring Kyrgyzstan, from traditional restaurants to mountains and gorges to the best cosmopolitan sites the country has to offer. Visit to the Philharmonic House in the capital city of Bishkek, take in a traditional game played on horseback and soak in Kyrgyz culture and exquisite scenery, all at a gentle and comfortable pace.
You will arrive in the large city of Bishkek to kick off your tour in style. After you are transferred to your hotel, spend the day exploring this cosmopolitan capital, from the Philharmonic House to the Museum of Fine Arts. Enjoy dinner at Supara or Arzu restaurant before you settle in for the night.
Enjoy your journey around Issyk-Kul lake (around 3.5 hours): as evidenced by its name, meaning “hot lake” in Kyrgyz, this large mountain lake never freezes – despite being surrounded by snowcapped peaks. On your way, you’ll make a stop at the 10th Century Burana Tower and then explore the local Women’s Handicraft Co-operative in Kochkor village. In the afternoon, take a stroll around the northern shore of the lake before enjoying dinner and the evening in a comfortable hotel.
Today, you’ll visit the Aytmatov "Ruh Ordo" Cultural Center, where you’ll encounter five chapels of world confessions: Catholicism, Islam, Orthodoxy, Buddhism, and Judaism. Spend time exploring the stone garden, which features rock engravings and petroglyphs dating back to 500 BC, and then head to Karakol (around 3 hours away), the fourth-largest town in Kyrgyzstan. Check out the city’s major sites, including the Przhevalsky Museum and the Dungan Mosque, before enjoying a traditional Kyrgyz folkloric dinner at the Green Yard hotel.
This morning, explore the Town History Museum before heading to the impressive Jety Oguz gorge, famous for its red sandstone rock formations, particularly in the shape of the “Seven Bulls.” From there, you’ll drive to Barskoon gorge, where you can enjoy a hike, picnic lunch and a stunning view of Issyk-Kul Lake before finishing your day in Bokonbaevo (around 2 hours' drive), where you’ll have dinner and stay overnight in a homestay.
Discover more of Kyrgyz culture with a local falconry and eagle show before driving to the spectacular Chon-Kemin Valley (around 2.5 hours away) to enjoy stunning sea views and fresh mountain air. You will stay overnight in the ranch-style Ashu Hotel, experience local living with added comfort.
Enjoy the great outdoors this morning, hiking or horseback riding the local mountain trails and watching the famous horseback game Ulak Tartish (buzkashi/kupkari), a traditional Kyrgyz sporting event. After lunch at the Ashu Hotel, you’ll head to the Chunkurchak Valley, just 28 miles from Bishkek, where you’ll have dinner and stay overnight.
Make the most of your morning in the Chunkurchak Valley by horseback riding, hiking, trying your hand at archery or simply taking in the natural serenity. You’ll then head back to Bishkek, where you’ll enjoy lunch in Supara restaurant and a chance to go shopping or check out some of the city sites you may have missed. If your flight is in the morning, you will enjoy a relaxing sleep tonight at the luxurious Hyatt Regency hotel.
by Conde Nast Traveler 
by AFAR 
