Oriented & Specialized FLOWER WATCHING PROGRAM Country: Kyrgyzstan Season: end of March-June Duration: 12 days Type of trip: Eco tour Altitude: 3964 m Flights: TK (suggested) Type of accommodation: hotel, guest house, yurts Visa: Kyrgyzstan - For more info go to mfa.kg Currency: Som (KGS) Time difference: GMT/URL+6 Spring and beginning of summer is the best time for flower fans as then you can watch different kinds of tulips, chamomiles, poppies, snowdrops, edelweisses. Then why not to have a break and go to Kyrgyzstan which is famous not only for its mountain scenery but also for mountain flowers of different size and colors. Kyrgyzstan is a huge godsend for any amateur botanic who will find out rare and endemic plants here. You will have amazing chance to see Aigul flower, a miracle of Batken region. It`s scientific name is ryabchik-eduardo. It is usually grows on the sun side of the mountains. It is the flower with a height 1 meter, long green leaves along all stalk.it`s red-yellow petals look like campanula. Aigul flower usually come out in April. The shoots appear only after 7 years and the first flower appears after next 7 years else in full moon! Then every year one vivid orange flower appears, that is why looking at Aigul flower, its easy to count its years. It is said that people met flowers 34 years old. It is also a big luck to watch how Aigul flower comes out. The specialist specify that Aigul flower is endemic, which means it grows only in certain Batken area and nowhere anymore. It is bulbaceous plant begins to blow and gives offsprings after 7 years. It is regarded very unique, rare and is under a status of the guard, decorative and beautiful. It is in the Red Book. Also it is used in a oriental medicine the unions are used for the treatment of stomach system and liver.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ITINERARY Day 1. BISHKEK-ALA ARCHA-CHON KEMIN (245KM, 4-5HRS) After breakfast drive to National Nature Park Ala-Archa. Have easy trekking in the park. Drive back to Bishkek for lunch at local restaurant. After lunch drive to Chon-Kemin valley (140km). En route have an excursion to Burana Tower and Ak-Beshim ruins. Hiking in Chon-Kemin. Dinner and overnight in guest house. Day 2. CHON-KEMIN ISSYK-KUL (115KM, 2-2,5HRS) AM hiking and horse riding around the guest house. Lunch at guest house. Then drive to Issyk-Kul lake by north coast of the lake. Upon arrival boat cruise on the Lake and have excursion to Cholpon-Ata petroglyphs an open air museum of field stones. Dinner and overnight in hotel. Day 3. ISSYK-KUL KARAKOL (160KM, 2,5-3HRS) After breakfast drive to Karakol. Lunch at local café. Once checkin hotel. PM drive to Karakol gorge for hiking and flower watching by NON A/C minibus. Drive back to the hotel for dinner and overnight. Day 4. KARAKOL-BARSKOON-SON KUL (410KM, 7-8HRS) After breakfast drive to Son-Kul lake via the south coast of Issyk- Kul lake. En route visit the Barskoon valley with amazing picturesque landscape and beautiful nature. Lunch en route. Continue drive to Son-Kul. Dinner and overnight in yurts. Day 8. BATKEN-OSH (260 KM) After breakfast visit Batken bazaar, tourists can see the best kind of apricots, nuts and Ak-Turpak sort of rise. Then drive to Osh. Overnight in guest house. Day 9. OSH After breakfast excursion in Osh. Visit Suleyman Mountain, Museum, Art gallery Saimaluu Tash. Walk excursion in the city. Visit monuments of Barsbek kagan, Manas, Alybek Datka. Overnight in guest house. Day 10. OSH-SAFED-BULAN After breakfast drive to Safet-Bulan for excursion to Shah- Fazil. Overnight in guest house. Day 11. SAFED-BULAN After breakfast drive to Osh. Visiting Osh Bazaar. Overnight in guest house. Day 12. OSH. DEPARTURE DAY After breakfast drive to the airport, have a flight to home by TK. Contact us by e-mail to get prices for this tour Day 5. SON KUL BISHKEK (400KM, 7-8HRS) After breakfast free time for morning walking. Then drive to Bishkek. Lunch en route. Dinner at local restaurant in Bishkek. Overnight in hotel. Day 6. BISHKEK-BATKEN (flight) After breakfast transfer to airport for flight to Batken. Upon arrival transfer to guest house. Batken CSS: visit Manas complex, Toktogul Oluya historical-archeological monument. Overnight in guest house. Day 7. BATKEN After breakfast drive to Aigul Tash for flower watching. Then visit Tort-Kolskoe reservoir. Picnic in gorge. Then flower watching walk in apricot orchards. Overnight in hotel.
MOUNTAIN BIKE TOUR IN KYRGYZSTAN Country: Kyrgyzstan Best season: July-August Duration: 15 days Type of trip: Bicycle Tour Maximum altitude: 3893m (Tosor pass) Total distance: 1260 km; biking (665 km)+ driving (595 km) Type of accommodation: hotel/guest house, yurts, tents Kyrgyzstan is a cyclist s paradise: roads that take you from high mountains to lakeside beaches, nomads who will welcome you into their yurt for a taste of the local cuisine. Kyrgyz Republic is famous for mountain biking tours and now you can also have an opportunity to travel there! We would like to offer bike tour that you will like without doubt. It includes the most famous mountain roads of the republic. In order to see pristine nature and unforgettable views you will cycle along the gorges and Mountain Rivers. The cycling includes some challenging climbs over high mountain passes. The tour includes one of the best places for biking - Son-Kul lake. Kyrgyzstan is waiting for you if you like bike tours! Visa: For more info go to mfa.kg Currency: Som (KGS) Time difference: GMT/URL+6
DESCRIPTION OF THE ITINERARY Day 1. BISHKEK (627M )-CHON-KEMIN GORGE (1600M ) (150 KM ) Upon arrival in the international airport Manas (AM flight) drive by transport to Chon-Kemin gorge. The gorge bottom is occupied by the Chon-Kemin valley. Its width is 6 km and length is 12km. The valley lies at the height from 1400 to 2800 m above sea level and is covered with green meadows and the gorge slopes are overgrown with fir woods. In combination with the glaciers covering the mountain ridges it is the best place for acclimatization. Prepare for tomorrow biking: unpack and reassemble bikes. Lunch, dinner and overnight in guest house. Day 2. CHON-KEMIN GORGE (1600M )- VIA KALMAK-ASHU PASS (3200M ) KOCHKOR (1767M ) (50 KM biking + 60 KM by transport) After breakfast start biking (20 km ) by gravel track to Kalmak Ashuu pass. Continue biking (30 km ) by gravel track. After passing Orto Tokoi Reservoir at 1700m altitude stop for lunch. Then take driving by transport (60 km ) to Kochkor. Kochkor is famous of traditional Kyrgyz crafts, upon arrival to Kochkor visit local house where *making felt carpets. Dinner and overnight in local house with Kyrgyz family. Day 3. KOCHKOR (1767M ) VIA CHAAR-ARCHA PASS (3061M )- TENT CAMP 1 (2700M ) After breakfast start biking from Kochkor (40 km ) by gravel track Stop for lunch. After lunch continue biking (25 km ) by half stony half gravel track to Chaar Archa pass. Dinner and overnight in tents. Day 4. TENT CAMP 1 (2700M )- VIA KARA-KECHE GORGE (2847M ) -TENT CAMP 2 (2648 M ) After breakfast start biking (40 km )by half gravel half stony road. At the beginning of the gorge stop for rest and lunch. After lunch continue biking (40 km ). Dinner and overnight in tents. Day 5. TENT CAMP 2 (2648 M ) VIA KARA-KECHE PASS (3384M )-SOUTH COAST OF SON-KUL LAKE (3016M ) After breakfast start biking (20 km ) to Kara-Keche pass. This pass is full of a kaleidoscope of colors that make it a sought-out area for its spectacular and varied mountain scenery. After passing Kara-Keche pass stop for rest and lunch. After lunch continue biking (30 km ) to south coast of Son-Kul lake. Dinner and overnight in traditional dwelling ofnomads - yurts. Day 6. SOUTH COAST OF SON-KUL LAKE (3016M ) NORTH COAST OF SON-KUL LAKE (3034 M ) After breakfast start biking (30 km ) to the north coast of Son- Kul lake There are 18 small rivers which flow into the lake, but only one, the Son Kul river, flows out. Stop for lunch at river Son- Kul, after lunch continue biking (30 km ). Son Kul lake is a haven for nomads and grazing herds although the winter climate is very harsh in summer time. Besides sheep, goats, cows and horses you may see yaks and even camels. Sunsets at Son Kul are absolutely stunning. Once seen never forgotten. Dinner and overnight in yurts. Day 7. NORTH COAST OF SON-KUL (3034M ) VIA KALMAK ASHUU PASS (3447M )- TENT CAMP 3 (2700M ) After breakfast start biking (20 km ) to Kalmak Ashuu pass by half gravel half dirty road. On the way to the pass you can admire surprising nature: stone deserts are replaced by endless alpine meadows full of beautiful flowers edelweiss. After passing Kalmak Ashuu pass descent (50 km ) to Sary-Bulak village by mountain spiral road. Bike more 2-3 km from the village to tent camp close to Kara-Kudjur river. Dinner and overnight in tents. Day 8. TENT CAMP 3 (2700M )- VIA JER KOCHKU VILLAGE(2845M )- TENT CAMP 4 (2985M ) After breakfast start biking (35 km ) by half gravel half dirty road. Stop for lunch. After lunch continue biking (35 km). Dinner and overnight in tents. Day 9. TENT CAMP 4(2985M )-VIA JALPAK-BEL PASS (3300 M )- TENT CAMP 5 (3200M ) After breakfast start biking (45 km ) till Jalpak Bel pass. Lunch en route. Descent from Jalpak-Bel pass. Dinner and overnight in tents. Day 10. TENT CAMP 5 (3200M ) VIA BALGART RIVER (2700M )- JILUU SUU HOT SPRINGS (3000M ) After breakfast start biking to the hot spring Jiluu-Suu (70 km ) by half gravel half dirty road. Up-stream of Balgart river and it right confluent Jiluu-Suu river. Stop at the mineral hot springs. Dinner and overnight in tents. Day 11. JILUU SUU HOT SPRINGS (3000M )-VIA TOSOR PASS (3893M ) KAJI-SAI (1750 M ) After breakfast start biking (35 km ) to Tosor pass. Standing high on the pass you can feel the sense of serenity, and it seems as if mountains are breathing nearby. The pass is quite difficult for passage. It has rather steep and rocky snow-covered trails. After passing Tosor pass stop for rest and lunch. After lunch continue biking (45 km ) to south coast of Issyk-Kul lake. Take driving to Kaji-Sai (25 km ). Dinner and overnight in hotel/guest house. Day 12. KAJI-SAI (1750 M ) SKAZKA CANYON (1827M )- KAJI-SAI (1750 M ) After breakfast drive (25 km ) to Skazka (Fairy Tale) canyon. The canyon was named due to its bizarre rocky landscape, which for many years has been transformed by wind into fabulous sculptures and formations. Some formations in "Skazka" have been named for their similarity to well-known objects. For example, one set of ridges in the canyon is named "The Chinese Wall" due to its similarity to the Great Wall of China. You can also find what appear to be statues of a hippopotamus, snake, dragon, sleeping giant and even whole castles. Because the different rocks have amazing colors, the rocky statues not only have unusual shapes, but also magical colors. Remain part of the day you can enjoy with swimming in the southern shore of Issyk-Kul lake. Dinner and overnight in hotel/guest house. Day 13. VILLAGE TOSOR (1620 M ) - BISHKEK (360 KM by transport) After breakfast drive (360 km ) by south side of Issyk-Kul lake via Boom gorge. En route stop on 120 km of the road at Chon-Kemin river to have rafting**. Lunch en route. Dinner at local restaurant in Bishkek. Overnight in hotel / guest house. Day 14. CITY TOUR IN BISHKEK(750-900M )-ALA-ARCHA (1500-2500M ) After breakfast city tour in Bishkek. Lunch at local restaurant. After lunch drive to Ala-Archa National Park (52 km) which is situated away south of the capital city of Bishkek. The total area of the Park is 19, 5 thousand sq. km., and its altitude ranges from about 1.500 meters at the entrance to a high of 4.895 meters. Farewell dinner at local restaurant in Bishkek. Overnight in hotel / guest house. Day 15. DEPARTURE DAY After breakfast transfer to the airport, see the group off. Contact us by e-mail to get prices for this tour
Sport & Adventure SELF-DRIVING JEEP TOURS IN KYRGYZSTAN Contact us by e-mail: catour@elcat.kg