Kyrgyz Horizons with Emma & Charlotte - confirmed departure from July 26 to August 10, 2026

Welcome upon your arrival at Manas airport by your driver. Transfer to your hotel.

We meet at 11:30 am with our guide in the hotel lobby, and depart for Ala Archa natural park, where we take advantage of the place for a short hike.

Return to the capital at the end of the day.

The English-speaking guide team picks us up at 09am, and together we depart for Chon Kemin national park. We stop to visit the ruins of the Burana Minaret, the Jami mosque destroyed in the 13th century during the Mongol invasions. We climb onto the roof of the minaret where we can enjoy the splendid view over the surrounding countryside. Visit of the associated museum.

We arrive in the lush valley of Chon Kemin, a nature reserve offering a diversity of landscapes combining semi-desert, glaciers and gorge. For those who wish, we can discover the beauty of these places on horseback from our host's house, where we will spend the night.

Arrival on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul (1609 meters altitude), the second largest alpine lake in the world. This lake, a true inland sea, is the jewel of Kyrgyzstan. Surrounded by the Tian Shan mountain range, snow-capped peaks culminating at over 5000 meters are reflected in the crystal-clear waters of the lake. From the surrounding mountains, dozens of rivers flow towards the lake via numerous valleys rivaling each other in beauty.

Visit to the Ruh-Ordo cultural center in Cholpon-Ata, where culture and serenity blend together. In a peaceful environment, this complex is dedicated mainly to the 4 major religions: Islam, Catholicism, Judaism and Buddhism. There are also spaces presenting Greek philosophers and famous figures from Kyrgyzstan.

We then head to the country's most beautiful petroglyphic site, located a few kilometers from Cholpon Ata. This open-air museum, also called the Stone Garden, reveals petroglyphs as far as the eye can see, dating back from the Bronze Age to the 4th century AD. From the site, we enjoy an unobstructed view of the lake and its mountains.

North of Grigorievka, we take a small mountain track that goes up the Chong Ak-Suu valley for 40 minutes. Stay with a local family and departure on a hike in the wooded valley. We follow the "great white river", a powerful mountain torrent. We also visit a small mountain lake in the region. In the evening, we return to our hosts for the day.

In the morning, a walk in the surroundings where we discover another small wonder of Kyrgyzstan, the Sut Bulak lake. We descend back into the Semenovka valley, and follow the stream, before reaching the main road.

New destination, the hot springs of Orto-Oruktu known for their healing properties, rich in minerals. Arrival in Karakol, a peaceful small town on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul.

We take time to visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral, an Orthodox church from the 19th century; the Chinese mosque with the appearance of a Mongolian Buddhist temple, built by Dungan Chinese artisans. On the road we visit the Przewalsky museum, which displays local history.

For dinner, we are welcomed by our Dungan family, who will offer us a traditional meal, and will introduce us to the history of this Muslim people originally from Western China, who came to settle in the region more than 140 years ago.

Hiking to the Golden Spas of Altyn Arachan located at 3000 meters altitude. To get there we take the trail along the Arashan river and gradually begin our ascent. At the summit awaits a magnificent view of the snow-capped peaks of Mount Palatka. Vehicle support.

After this ascent, we relax in the hot springs of Altyn-Arachan, renowned for their healing properties.

We continue our tour of the lake, taking the circular road that will lead us to the south shore of the lake. A wilder region than the north coast, we will discover new amazing natural sites. Arrival in the Jety-Oguz valley. Covered with lush vegetation, this superb gorge, one of the most beautiful in the country, extends for 37 km between Lake Issyk-Kul and the celestial mountains. Monumental crests of red rock, nicknamed "the 7 bulls" complete this postcard landscape immortalized on Soviet stamps in 1968.

A few hours of hiking in the valley. Visit of the superb Skaska canyon, meaning "fairy tale" in Kyrgyz. These multicolored rock formations overlook Lake Issyk-Kul. Resulting from ancient volcanic eruptions, these rocks with multiple shapes will certainly evoke fairy tale landscapes for you.

We witness the traditional equestrian game: kok boru, when riders will compete for the carcass of the beheaded goat.

In the late afternoon, we settle in with our hosts for the day in Bokonbayevo.

This morning we attend a falconry demonstration. The Kyrgyz eagle hunter on horseback, proudly holding his eagle, will show off his skill on small prey such as rabbits.

Arrival at the village of Kyzyl-Tuu renowned for the traditional manufacture of Kyrgyz yurts. A family from the village will have the honor of showing us how a yurt is built, and if you wish you can help them in this activity.

In the middle of the afternoon, we will go to the salt lake, a small lake with high salinity neighboring its big brother Issyk-Kul where we can swim before immersing ourselves in the fresh and warm waters of Issyk-Kul.

In the evening in Kochkor we attend a traditional Kyrgyz folk show. On the program, a Manas storyteller (the legendary Kyrgyz heroes), music and traditional songs.

Early in the morning, we are transferred to the small village of Isakaev where our horseback riding trek will begin. We are welcomed by our local guide, who will assist us on our trek. After loading the logistics onto our pack horses, we start the horseback riding trek on a trail. We cut across fields, and cross a few streams before finally gaining altitude. As we progress, new landscapes begin to emerge, giving way to less dense vegetation. Along our route, we can observe herds grazing in these jailoos. The last hour is somewhat more challenging, with the ascent of the pass (3000m) that will lead us to our destination. Finally, the waters of Kol Ukok reveal themselves to us. Its turquoise blue contrasts beautifully with the green colors of the valley.

Stay with our host, under the yurt. 2-day independent horseback ride. Logistics and personal belongings are carried on pack horses.

We will visit Lake Kol Tor located at 3500m altitude. We follow the river until we reach a scree slope. We continue on this terrain which becomes increasingly steep, and the grass taller. Be careful in rainy weather, the terrain can be slippery.

We set off towards Kochkor. The descent is easier and faster.

Arrival in the city of Naryn, a charming small town nestled in the middle of mountains and crossed by the Naryn river.

A journey through time with a visit to the ancient Caravanserai of Tach Rabat. Located on the road to Kashgar, the Tach Rabat caravanserai, the Stone Hotel, is probably the best-preserved site of the Silk Road, and you will be able to experience its original atmosphere here. Dating from the 15th century, it contained many rooms used to shelter merchants.

Today, we will hike to the pass at 3950 m, from where we will have a view of Lake Chatyr-Kul, or "heavenly lake" in Kyrgyz. The latter is located between the ridges of At-Bashy and Torugart-Too, at an altitude of 3530 m, hence its name. As the country's third largest lake, Chatyr-Kul impresses with its grandeur and the clarity of its waters.

Arrival on the shores of Son-Koul Lake, the second wonder of Kyrgyzstan. This immense Alpine lake is the country's primary freshwater reserve. Located in the middle of the Tian Shan mountains, it reaches an altitude of 3,016 meters and has long stimulated the imagination of foreign travelers. Its crystalline water is of unparalleled purity and changes color with the passage of time, shifting from blue to green, sometimes turning orange.

You can take advantage of this day to relax and discover the lifestyle of the family you're staying with. Attend the creation of dairy products, herd gathering or cow milking.

We set off after lunch for a short horseback riding excursion.

After relaxing by the lake and enjoying the magnificence of the landscape, head to the small village of Kyzyl-Oi. This small village, located at 1800m altitude, takes its name from its surrounding mountains, with red hues. The road leading there is a bit bumpy, but gradually we enter a completely different scenery.

Afternoon walk in the surrounding area.

Last day of travel before reaching the Kyrgyz capital. We leave the green mountains of Kyrgyzstan where we discovered a warm-hearted people with traditions still so persistent and arrive in Bishkek. Check-in at your hotel where you can rest for a few moments.

We head to Osh Bazaar, the liveliest market in Kyrgyzstan. Dried fruit and spice stalls multiply according to your visit through the colors of Central Asia. You will also find many traditional souvenirs from the country.

Let's dive into the heart of Kyrgyzstan's history at the National History Museum. You will discover a past rich in tradition, with the first floor focusing on secular Kyrgyz culture while the second floor traces the main events of the Soviet period.

Stroll around Ala-Too Square in the center of Bishkek. A meeting place for Kyrgyz youth, it comes alive every evening with crowds of passersby who come here to walk around. This square has also been the scene of many revolutions throughout the country's history.