Kyrgyzstan 7 Day Tour: Issyk-Kul, Sary-Jaz & Song-Kol
About this tour
This Kyrgyzstan 7 day tour is the best of the country in one week: the full ring of Issyk-Kul, one of the largest mountain lakes in the world, a night in tents high in the Tien Shan above the Sary-Jaz valley, and a night in a yurt on the summer pastures of Song-Kol at 3,016 m.
You start with the Burana Tower and the Chon-Kemin valley (with optional rafting), follow the north shore past the Cholpon-Ata petroglyphs to Karakol, and cross the 3,822 m Chon-Ashuu pass by 4×4 through the Turgen-Aksuu valley to camp at a viewpoint over the Sary-Jaz valley. Back by the lake you see the red rocks of Jeti-Oguz, walk in the Juuku valley and the Skazka canyon, watch a golden eagle hunter at work, make felt with a family in Kochkor and ride up to Song-Kol.
Travel is by private car or minibus with an English-speaking guide, nights are in family guesthouses, a tent camp and a yurt camp, and all meals are included. The tour runs from June to September, when the high passes are open.
Highlights
- Burana Tower and the green Chon-Kemin valley
- Cholpon-Ata petroglyphs on the north shore of Issyk-Kul
- Over the 3,822 m Chon-Ashuu pass to a night in tents above the Sary-Jaz valley
- Karakol's wooden Dungan mosque and Holy Trinity cathedral
- Jeti-Oguz red rocks, the Juuku valley and the Skazka canyon
- Eagle hunting show, felt-making in Kochkor and a yurt night at Song-Kol
Group departures
Join a group on one of these dates, or propose your own. A departure is guaranteed once 2 travellers have joined, and the price per person drops as the group grows.
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6 – 12 Jun 2027Guaranteed 2 of 12 travellers Ricardo +1$1,553 per person $1,150 with one more
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20 – 26 Jul 2027Open 0 of 12 travellers · 2 more to guarantee$1,553 per person
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Publish your dates and other travellers can join you. They go live as soon as you confirm your email.
- Guaranteed from 2 travellers
- Price drops as people join
- Set your own group limit
Itinerary & route map
- Route
- 1,595 km
- Highest point
- 3,798 m
- Days
- 7
Elevation
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Day 1 Bishkek – Burana Tower – Chon-Kemin valley
- 171 km
- Up to 1,533 m
- Night in Chong-Kemin
We pick you up at Manas airport or your hotel in Bishkek in the morning and drive east to the Burana Tower, an 11th-century minaret on the Great Silk Road. Through the Boom gorge we reach the green Chon-Kemin valley, for a walk by the river. If you like, you can raft down the Chon-Kemin river (optional, class 2–3, with an instructor and all equipment, paid on the spot).
Overnight: guesthouse in Chon-Kemin.
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Day 2 Chon-Kemin – Cholpon-Ata – Chon Ak-Suu gorge – Karakol
- 328 km
- Up to 2,277 m
- Night in Karakol
Along the north shore of Issyk-Kul to Cholpon-Ata and its open-air gallery of petroglyphs, carved on boulders between the lake and the mountains. After lunch, a short walk in the Chon Ak-Suu gorge near Grigorievka, then on to Karakol at the east end of the lake.
Overnight: guesthouse in Karakol.
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Day 3 Karakol – Turgen-Aksuu valley – Sary-Jaz valley viewpoint
- 158 km
- Up to 3,798 m
- Night in Sary-Jaz viewpoint
By 4x4 into the heart of the Tien Shan. We drive up the Turgen-Aksuu valley and over the Chon-Ashuu pass (3,822 m) to a viewpoint above the wide Sary-Jaz valley, with the high peaks of the central Tien Shan on the horizon. We set up camp right at the viewpoint: dinner by the fire, sunset over the valley and a sky full of stars. The Sary-Jaz valley is in the border zone with China: we arrange the permit for you.
Overnight: tent camp at the Sary-Jaz viewpoint.
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Day 4 Sary-Jaz – Karakol – Jeti-Oguz – Kok-Jaiyk valley
- 220 km
- Up to 3,771 m
- Night in Karakol
Sunrise over the Sary-Jaz valley, breakfast at camp and back over the pass to Karakol. We visit the wooden Dungan mosque, built without nails, and the Holy Trinity cathedral, then drive to the Jeti-Oguz gorge to see the red rocks of the Seven Bulls and the Broken Heart, with an easy walk in the Kok-Jaiyk valley of flowers.
Overnight: guesthouse in Karakol.
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Day 5 Karakol – Juuku valley – Skazka canyon – Bokonbaevo
- 188 km
- Up to 2,453 m
- Night in Bokonbaevo
Along the south shore of Issyk-Kul. We turn into the Juuku valley for a walk and a picnic lunch by the river, then continue to the Skazka (Fairy Tale) canyon and its red and orange clay towers, before the village of Bokonbaevo.
Overnight: village guesthouse in Bokonbaevo.
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Day 6 Bokonbaevo – Kochkor – Song-Kol lake
- 227 km
- Up to 3,410 m
- Night in Song-Kol
In the morning a local hunter shows us how golden eagles are trained and fly. Through Kochkor, where we meet a family for lunch and a felt-making workshop, and over the Kalmak-Ashuu pass (3,400 m) to the north shore of Song-Kol.
Overnight: yurt camp, Song-Kol.
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Day 7 Song-Kol – Tuz-Ashuu pass – Bishkek
- 303 km · with a hike
- Up to 3,217 m
- Ends in Bishkek
A short morning hike: we walk from the slopes above Song-Kol over the Tuz-Ashuu pass (3,300 m) towards the Jumgal region, with local guides and pack horses carrying the luggage. Mostly downhill, about 4 hours, to the Bazar-Turuk river, where the cars pick us up for the drive to Bishkek. Drop-off at your hotel or the airport in the evening.
What's included
Included
Transport by car or minibus suited to the group size, and a 4x4 over the Chon-Ashuu pass
Full board
Accommodation in guesthouses, a tent camp and a yurt camp
Tents, sleeping mats and camping equipment for the Sary-Jaz night
English-speaking guide
Border-zone permit for the Sary-Jaz valley
Eagle hunting show and felt-making workshop
Pack horses and a local horseman on the Tuz-Ashuu walk
Entrance fees
Drinking water (5 L per person)
Not included
Flights
Travel insurance
Single room supplement: $180 (6 nights × $30), if you prefer a room of your own
Optional rafting on the Chon-Kemin river
Who is this tour for?
- First-time visitors who want the best of Kyrgyzstan in one week
- Travellers who like easy walks and a little adventure
- Groups of friends and families
Difficulty & safety
Level: easy. The Chon-Ashuu pass (3,822 m), the Kalmak-Ashuu pass, the Sary-Jaz camp (about 3,100 m) and Song-Kol (3,016 m) are high — take it slowly. The tent night can be cold, even in summer. The optional rafting is on class 2–3 water with life jackets and an instructor. The road over the Chon-Ashuu pass is a mountain track, driven in a 4x4 by an experienced driver.
What to bring
Passport (you need it for the border-zone permit)
Warm layers and a warm hat — the tent night and Song-Kol are cold even in summer
Rain jacket
Comfortable hiking shoes
Head torch
Sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
Personal medicine
Pricing by group size
FAQ
What does this 7 day Kyrgyzstan tour cost?
The price is per person and drops as the group grows: $1,553 for 2 people, $1,150 for 3, $1,093 for 4 or 5, and $1,035 for 6 to 12. Accommodation, all meals, transport, the guide, the border-zone permit and the activities in the programme are included.
When is the best time for this tour?
June to September. The Chon-Ashuu pass and the road to Song-Kol are at 3,400–3,800 m and are only reliably open in summer. July and August are the warmest months; June has the most flowers.
Do I need a permit for the Sary-Jaz valley?
Yes. The Sary-Jaz valley is in the border zone with China, so every traveller needs a border-zone permit. We arrange it for you; you send us a copy of your passport when you book, and we tell you the deadline.
How hard is the tour?
Easy. Most days are by car with short walks. The walk over the Tuz-Ashuu pass on day 7 is about 4 hours, mostly downhill, with horses carrying the luggage. Song-Kol and the passes are above 3,000 m, so take it slowly and drink plenty of water. The night at the Sary-Jaz viewpoint is in tents at about 3,100 m and can be cold, even in summer.
Can this be a private tour or start on my dates?
Yes. Every departure can run as a private trip on the dates you choose, and the route can be adjusted. Send us a request with your dates and group size.
