Cholpon Ata petroglyphs
Trekking in the Tien Shan
Sharing life with the nomads
Building
a yurta on the jailoo
Included:
Accommodations on bed
& breakfast twin-sharing basis in Bishkek, accommodations
and three meals a day outside of Bishkek, airport transfer service,
all land transportation and scheduled sightseeing tours, trip
leader, English speaking local guide and support staff, fully
organized trekking/ camping services, first aid kit and museum
entry fee..
Not Included:
International flights, emergency evacuation (if needed; travel
and medical insurance are also not included, and are recommended),
personal medical kit, international airport taxes, excess baggage,
sleeping bag, alcoholic and bottled drinks, optional tips to
staff, and items of personal nature/misc costs.
For more information and a detailed itinerary... please contact
KarmaQuest Ecotourism
and Adventure Travel
Tel: (650) 560-0101/
Fax: 712-8164
699 Spindrift Way, Half Moon Bay,
California 94019 USA
Karma@KarmaQuest.com.
Website: www.KarmaQuests.com
|
|
Selected by Outside Magazine as "Trip of the Year"
The Central Asian Republic of Kyrgyzstan offers some of the finest
trekking in the world, combining spectacular mountain scenery
with the fascinating lifestyle of the nomad herders. Every summer
the Kyrgyz people drive their livestock to the high mountain pastures,
called “Jailoo,” where they live in traditional felt
yurtas, produce wool felt carpets, and make a fermented drink
from mare’s milk.
Your days in Kyrgyzstan will be spent hiking amidst the wildflowers
and alpine meadows of the Tien Shan range, camping near crystal-clear
lakes or beside nomad camps, observing first hand how these hardy
people live. This trip is specially planned to coincide with two
cultural festivals that show off the national cuisine, ancient
oral folklore traditions, and incredible horseracing skills of Kyrgyzstan.
You’ll also stay with families trained in homestay operations
as part of a community-based ecotourism program with which KarmaQuest
owner Wendy Lama is assisting. Kyrgyz culture is rich and vibrant:
you’ll see demonstrations of women making the colorful shyrdaks
(felt carpets), visit an amazing archaeological site with 8th century
petroglyphs (see photo left), and learn about the communities’
efforts to build the rural economies after the collapse of the Soviet
Union support system. A refreshing stop at natural mountain hot
springs, and an overnight on the shores of Issyk Kul Lake promise
true relaxation. The capital city Bishkek, framed in snow-capped mountains,
offers a wealth of shopping for colorful Kyrgyz handicrafts,
a fine international cuisine, and friendly Kyrgyz people amidst parks
and tree-lined streets.
Itinerary
Day 1-2-3 Travel to Bishkek. Arrive early morning. Rest at
hotel. City tour.
Day 4 Bishkek to Cholpon-Ata Visit Osh Market. Drive
(300 km/187.5 miles) east across Kyrgyzstan’s scenic high pasturelands
to Issyk Kul (Lake), at 1609 m/5300 ft elevation. Overnight in a guesthouse.
Day 5 A horse-racing festival and travel to Jety-Oguz
(80 km). Visit the Festival of Kyrgyz national horse games, for a
day of revelry and wild horse racing amidst colorful costumes and
fun. After lunch, transfer to Jety-Oguz by vehicle (80 km/128 mi),
crossing the pass Jety-Oguz (2800 m/9,184 ft). Overnight at a yurta
camp in "Flower Valley." (2250 m/ 7,380 ft)
Day 6 Cuisine Festival: After breakfast, visit the Festival of
National Cuisine and Kyrgyz Folklore in "Flower Valley." Overnight
at a yurta camp in "Flower Valley." (2250 m/ 7,380 ft)
Day 7 Trek a 16 km hike, with a local shepherd as
your guide. Camp near the base of Tilety Pass at 3000 m/9850
ft
Day 8 Trek Cross Tilety Pass (3800 m) – 3
hours -- on foot, bringing you to the Karakol Gorge. Continue another
10 kms/6 miles along an ancient nomads' path leading to a tented
camp near a traditional, nomads' rest spot.
Day 9 Trek Continue hiking amidst this spectacular mountain
scenery (8 km) from Karakol Gorge to the “Orphan” mountaineers'
shelter. Stop in the shelter for a rest and lunch. Camp in
tents.
Day 10 Trek to the Ala-Kul Mountain Lake (3600 m), more
than 70 meters deep and of incomparable beauty. From the lakeshore,
you can see a spectacular glacier -- the source of the milky blue
lake waters. Cross the pass Ala-Kul (3860 m / 12,660 ft) in the afternoon
(4 hrs), Camp in tents (3100m/10,168 ft).Camp near lakeside.
Day 11 Trek 4 hours to the Altyn-Arashan resort (2450
m), and relax in natural thermal baths. After lunch, transfer by vehicle
to Karakol. Overnight in a guesthouse.
Day 12 Karakol/Kochkora Enjoy a leisurely morning, and the sights
of a Karakol city tour. Drive 270 km to Kochkorka, where you’ll
overnight in a family run accommodation.
Day 13 Kochkor to Song Kul Visit a felt carpet workshop
and participate in making your own felt carpet, or shop for carpets
and souvenirs made by local women. Then drive from Kochkor to Song-Kul
Lake (150 km), one of Kyrgyzstan’s loveliest mountain lakes.
Stay on the shore of Song-Kul in a yurta, the traditional home
of the nomadic shepherds.
Day 14 Trek Drive (about 60 km) to the starting point
of your second trek and continue by foot, enjoying an impressive view
of Song-Kul and the surrounding hills. Camp in tents.
Days 15-17 Trek (3-days) through the Moldo Too mountain
range along a trail used by ancient nomads. The path goes through
valleys and passes from 3400 m to 3700 m above sea level, through
flower-covered meadows and mountains inhabited by Lammergeyer vultures,
where herds of horses, cows and sheep graze around the herders’
yurtas. Camp in tents on trek. After the trek transfer to Naryn
(200 km), and overnight in a guesthouse or family accommodation
in Naryn.
Day 18 Drive 400 km/250 mi back to Bishkek. Rest and
relax, overnight in a hotel.
Day 19 Sightseeing and shopping in Bishkek.
Day 20 Depart Bishkek early morning for home
Trip Cost: From US $3,650/person
Single supplement US $600/person
Top
|
