Tour overview

This 9-day premium journey loops from Almaty through the mountains and steppe of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, combining comfortable hotels with a night in a traditional yurt camp and a series of hands-on cultural encounters. Groups have up to 12 travellers aged 15 and over, with a local leader throughout and local guides in the cities. You stay eight nights: seven in comfortable hotels in Almaty, Bishkek and Karakol, and one at the Barbulak yurt camp beside Lake Issyk-Kul. Eight breakfasts, four lunches and four dinners are included, together with an arrival transfer and private transport throughout.

Your journey begins in Almaty, a green city of tree-lined avenues and parks beneath snow-capped mountains, with a welcome dinner at a traditional Kazakh restaurant. A city tour takes in the colourful wooden Zenkov Cathedral in Panfilov Park and the Museum of Kazakh Musical Instruments, followed by lunch and a tasting at a family-run winery outside the city.

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Crossing into Kyrgyzstan, you stop at Tamgaly Tas, a UNESCO-listed site of Bronze Age petroglyphs, for a picnic lunch before reaching Bishkek. A local guide shows you Ala-Too Square, the statue of the hero Manas and Victory Square, and you meet a designer and historian to learn about Central Asian textiles. On the way to Lake Issyk-Kul, you visit the Burana Tower and share a home-cooked lunch with a farming family. In Kyzyl-Tuu village a craftsman demonstrates how yurts are made by hand, from the wooden frame to the felt covers, before you spend the night in a yurt camp, with dinner around a campfire under the stars.

Skazka, or Fairytale Canyon, with its strange red rock formations, and the seven red cliffs of the Jeti-Oguz valley lead to Karakol, a former Russian outpost of gingerbread-style cottages. A town tour includes the Przhevalsky Museum, the Dungan Mosque and Holy Trinity Cathedral, and in the evening a Dungan family welcomes you into their home for a cooking masterclass and dinner. Returning to Kazakhstan, you hike into Charyn Canyon, the little brother of the Grand Canyon, before a farewell dinner in Almaty.

The physical rating is low, with short walks and some long drives. This journey suits travellers who want to discover Central Asia in comfort, with authentic local encounters.

Trip highlights

  • A winery lunch near Almaty (Day 2)
  • The Tamgaly Tas petroglyphs (Day 3)
  • A yurt-making workshop (Day 5)
  • A night in a yurt camp by Issyk-Kul (Day 5)
  • A Dungan cooking masterclass in Karakol (Day 7)
  • A hike into Charyn Canyon (Day 8)

Your route

10 stops from Almaty to Almaty

9-day route: Almaty – Tamgaly Tas – Bishkek – Issyk-Kul – Karakol – Charyn Canyon – Almaty
  1. Almaty Days 1–2
  2. Tamgaly Tas Day 3
  3. Bishkek Days 3–4
  4. Burana Tower Day 5
  5. Kyzyl-Tuu Day 5
  6. Skazka Canyon Day 6
  7. Jety Oguz Valley Day 6
  8. Karakol Days 6–7
  9. Charyn Canyon Day 8
  10. Almaty Days 8–9

Why choose this tour

Two countries in comfort, with a night in a yurt camp. Hands-on encounters, from yurt-making to a Dungan family dinner.

Best suited to

  • Travellers who want comfort off the beaten track
  • Culture lovers
  • Couples and solo travellers
  • First-time visitors to Central Asia
A yurt camp in the high pastures of Naryn, Kyrgyzstan

Day-by-day itinerary

9 days from Almaty, Kazakhstan to Almaty, Kazakhstan

  1. Day 1 · Almaty Arrive in Almaty

    A welcome Kazakh dinner.

    Hotel
    Renion Park Hotel
    Meals
    Dinner
  2. Day 2 · Zenkov Cathedral, Panfilov Park Almaty

    A city tour and a winery lunch.

    Hotel
    Renion Park Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  3. Day 3 · Tamgaly Tas, Bishkek Bishkek

    Petroglyphs and the border.

    Hotel
    Park Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  4. Day 4 · Ala-Too Square Bishkek

    A city tour and textile design.

    Hotel
    Park Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  5. Day 5 · Burana Tower, Kyzyl-Tuu Issyk-Kul

    Yurt-making and a night in a yurt.

    Hotel
    Barbulak Yurt Camp
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Skazka Canyon, Jeti-Oguz Karakol

    Fairytale Canyon and red cliffs.

    Hotel
    Green Yard Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  7. Day 7 · Dungan Mosque, Przhevalsky Museum Karakol

    A town tour and a Dungan dinner.

    Hotel
    Green Yard Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  8. Day 8 · Charyn Canyon, Almaty Almaty

    A canyon hike and a farewell dinner.

    Hotel
    Renion Park Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  9. Day 9 · Almaty Trip ends

    The trip ends after breakfast.

    Meals
    Breakfast
The domes of Zenkov Cathedral in Almaty

Where you stay

  • Almaty (2 nights) Renion Park Hotel
  • Bishkek (2 nights) Park Hotel
  • Lake Issyk-Kul (1 night) Barbulak Yurt Camp
  • Karakol (2 nights) Green Yard Hotel
  • Almaty (1 night) Renion Park Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 7 nights in hotels and 1 in a yurt camp
  • Meals 8 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 4 dinners
  • Private transport throughout and an arrival transfer
  • City tours of Almaty, Bishkek and Karakol
  • Tamgaly Tas, Burana Tower, Fairytale Canyon and Charyn Canyon
  • Yurt-making workshop and textile visit
  • Winery tasting and Dungan cooking masterclass
  • Local leader throughout

Not included

  • International flights
  • Departure transfer
  • Meals not included 3 lunches and 4 dinners
  • Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
The Jeti-Oguz valley

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You dislike long drives
  • You want a strenuous trek
  • You want five-star hotels throughout
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–9 · Lunch: Days 2–3, 5 and 8 · Dinner: Days 1, 4–5 and 7
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Kazakhstan · UK FCDO travel advice for Kyrgyzstan
The red rocks of Jeti-Oguz

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £3,195 per person, twin share, tour only. 58 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

What is the yurt camp like?

Traditional yurts made by local craftsmen, beside Lake Issyk-Kul, with dinner around a campfire.

Is an airport transfer included?

An arrival transfer in Almaty is included. Send flight details at least 14 days before travel.

How active is the trip?

The physical rating is low, with short walks including a hike into Charyn Canyon.

Do I need a visa?

UK visitors can usually visit Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan visa-free for short stays. Check the latest advice before travel.

Are there border crossings?

Yes, two by road, between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and back.

How many people travel together?

Up to 12 travellers, with a local leader.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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