Walking in Kyrgyzstan: Ala Archa, Issyk Kul & Karakol – 9 Days
Gorges, hot springs and a lakeside yurt in the Tian Shan mountains.
Tour overview
This 9-day trip walks in the Tian Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan, with a tour leader and a group of up to sixteen. You stay in hotels, a family homestay and one night in a lakeside yurt camp with hot showers, with breakfast daily and three dinners.
After exploring Bishkek and its Osh Bazaar you hike to a waterfall in the Ala Archa Gorge, then visit the Burana Tower on the way to a homestay in the Chon Kemin Valley.
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Following the shores of Issyk Kul to Karakol, you ride a 4WD truck up to the Altyn-Arashan valley to hike and bathe in thermal springs, then walk in the Djety-Oguz Gorge and watch a golden eagle hunter.
After a night in a yurt by the lake, you visit a shirdak felt-rug workshop in Kochkor on the way back to Bishkek. The physical rating is medium.
Trip highlights
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Osh Bazaar, Bishkek (Day 2)
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Ala Archa waterfall hike (Day 3)
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A Chon Kemin homestay (Day 4)
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Altyn-Arashan hot springs (Day 6)
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Golden eagle hunters (Day 7)
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A yurt by Issyk Kul (Day 7)
Your route
8 stops from Bishkek to Kochkor
- Bishkek Days 1–3 & 8–9
- Ala Archa National Park Day 3
- Burana Tower Day 4
- Chon Kemin Valley Day 4
- Cholpon-Ata Day 5
- Karakol Days 5–6
- Tosor Day 7
- Kochkor Day 8
Why choose this tour
Great walking at a good price. Homestay and yurt nights included.
Best suited to
- Walkers
- Adventurous travellers
- Solo travellers
- Mountain lovers
Day-by-day itinerary
9 days from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
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Day 1 · Bishkek Bishkek
Welcome to Kyrgyzstan.
- Hotel
- Asia Hotel or similar
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Day 2 · Bishkek, Osh Bazaar Bishkek
Bishkek.
- Hotel
- Asia Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 3 · Ala Archa Gorge Bishkek
Ala Archa waterfall.
- Hotel
- Asia Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 4 · Burana Tower, Chon Kemin Valley Chon Kemin
To Chon Kemin.
- Hotel
- Homestay
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 5 · Issyk Kul, Karakol Karakol
Around Issyk Kul.
- Hotel
- Altamira Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 6 · Altyn-Arashan Karakol
Hot springs hike.
- Hotel
- Altamira Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 7 · Djety-Oguz Gorge, Issyk Kul Issyk Kul
Eagle hunters and a yurt.
- Hotel
- Tosor Yurt Camp or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 8 · Kochkor, Bishkek Bishkek
Back to Bishkek.
- Hotel
- Asia Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 9 · Bishkek Bishkek
The trip ends.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Bishkek (3 nights) Asia Hotel or similar
- Chon Kemin (1 night) Homestay
- Karakol (2 nights) Altamira Hotel or similar
- Issyk Kul (1 night) Tosor Yurt Camp or similar
- Bishkek (1 night) Asia Hotel or similar
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 8 nights in hotels, a homestay and a yurt
- Meals 8 breakfasts and 3 dinners
- Private bus, a 4WD day and airport transfers
- Guided hikes in Ala Archa, Chon Kemin, Altyn-Arashan and Djety-Oguz
- Eagle hunter demonstration and shirdak workshop
- Tour leader throughout
Not included
- Flights
- Meals not included 7 lunches and 5 dinners
- Travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want luxury hotels
- You dislike bumpy 4WD rides
- You want most meals included
- You want flights included — they are not
Good to know
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £1,225 per person, twin share, tour only. 9 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.
Do I need a visa for Kyrgyzstan?
No, UK citizens can visit Kyrgyzstan visa-free for up to 60 days.
What is the yurt camp like?
Yurts with proper beds sleeping up to four, and a separate block with flush toilets and hot showers.
How hard are the walks?
Medium: three to six hours on mountain paths, some steep.
Which meals are included?
8 breakfasts and 3 dinners.
How many people travel together?
No more than sixteen travellers, with a 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.
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