Details
- Duration: 12 days – 11 nights
- Destination: Almaty – Bishkek – Cholpon-Ata – Karakol – Bishkek – Taraz – Turkestan – Shimkent — Almaty
- Category: Silk Road
- Website: http://edelweisstravel.org/portfolio/project-example-1-magazine/
Traveling along Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
The world of amazing nature and ancient history… The world of mountain continental climate and friendly people will meet you here, and guide you into the small part of Central Asia history, exposing for you magnificence and richness of beautiful nature. During this program you will discover culture and traditions of two countries being so close and at the same time so different, and see their uniqueness and specificity. This tour provides all conveniences to know the enigmatic world and its surroundings, to enjoy your holidays and enrich the portfolio with unforgettable impressions…
Day 1
Flight FRA.ALA
Day 2
Almaty – Bishkek (285 km.)
Hotel: Otrar/Kazholl**** /Ak-Keme**** Almaty arr by fl LH
Night arrival in Almaty by flight LH. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation and rest. Late breakfast. After breakfast city tour around Almaty. Visiting the Park of 28 Panfilov’s guardsmen, the Cathedral, the National Musical Instruments Museum, the National museum, the Republic square.
After lunch transfer to Bishkek – the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Crossing the border through check point Ak-Jol (250km – 4.5h).Arrival and accommodation in Ak-Keme hotel. Dinner.
Day 3
Bishkek – Cholpon-Ata (250km.) Hotel: Raduga***
Breakfast. City Tour in Bishkek.
Start your way to the most famous place of Issyk-Kul valley – resort city Cholpon-Ata. On the way excursion to Burana tower — museum.
Burana tower is located in the center of ancient town of Balasagun. The tower is 24,6 meters high (original height was 45 meters). Territory of the museum covers 36 hectares including central ruins of the town. There are stone statues – gravestones of nomadic Turks dated of the 6th to 10th centuries, petroglyphs dated of the 2nd century B.C. to the 10th century A.D., stone agricultural implements, epigraphy monuments.
Lunch in the Kyrgyz family near the town of Tokmok.
Continue transfer to Issyk-Kul Lake. A bit of time and you will see Issyk-Kul Lake. It occupies the Central part of the valley formed by the circle of the Terskey and Kungey Ala-Too mountain ranges. Issyk-Kul Lake is the largest in the Tien-Shan mountains (6,236 sq. km.) and has a maximum depth of 703 m. The altitude of the lake is 1608 m. above the sea level. Issyk-Kul Lake is unique for dozens of rivers and streams flow into it, yet none flows out.
Dinner and accommodation in hotel resort.
Dinner and accommodation in hotel resort.
Day 4, 5
Cholpon-Ata 
Hotel: Raduga***
AM After breakfast cruise on Issyk-Kul Lake.
PM Lunch in local cafe.
Excursion to a museum in the open-air the Petrogliph Gallery of Cholpon-Ata, created by ancient artists in the 4th century B.C.
The images are engraved: the outlines were carved or made by dots using stone tools. The scenes vary. Images of animals, especially of mountain goats with curved spiraling horns are the most popular. All the figures were imprinted in profile. Some scientists believe that these images were some kind of an open cult temple, a place where ancient nomadic people worshipped their gods.
Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight
Cholpon-Ata-Karakol (120km.)
Hotel: Amir/GreenYard
AM After breakfast transfer to Grigorievsloe Gorge. Walking and watching the Horse riding games.
PM Lunch in Kyrgyz yurt with traditional Kyrgyz dishes.
Continuous transfer to Karakol city. City tour in Karakol.
Accommodation and dinner in comfortable Guest House.
Day 6, 7
Karakol (60km.) Hotel: Amir/GreenYard
AM After breakfast transfer to the beautifull canyon of Issyk-kul region.Many legends disclose its strange red rocks. Sculptures in the Burana tower area. The Alpine health resort „Jety-Oguz“ lies on the river with the same name at an altitude of 2200 m. in a picturesque gorge on the Northern slope of the Terskey Ala-Too range. A broad valley surrounded by snow-capped summits – this place is the most beautiful in the Northern Tien-Shan area. The origin of Jety-Oguz comes from whimsical red rocks that stand high at the very entrance to the gorge. At the Jety-Oguz health resort tourists can drink from local springs and take bath in the spa. Transfer along Issyk-Kul Lake to the Chon-Kyzyl-Suu village to see the Traditional Eagle Hunting Show.
PM. Lunch on the way. Back to Karakol to visit the wild animals protection centre, Project “NABU”. Dinner in the local dungan family with national menu.
AM After breakfast transfer to the beautifull canyon of Issyk-kul region.Many legends disclose its strange red rocks. Sculptures in the Burana tower area. The Alpine health resort „Jety-Oguz“ lies on the river with the same name at an altitude of 2200 m. in a picturesque gorge on the Northern slope of the Terskey Ala-Too range. A broad valley surrounded by snow-capped summits – this place is the most beautiful in the Northern Tien-Shan area. The origin of Jety-Oguz comes from whimsical red rocks that stand high at the very entrance to the gorge. At the Jety-Oguz health resort tourists can drink from local springs and take bath in the spa. Transfer along Issyk-Kul Lake to the Chon-Kyzyl-Suu village to see the Traditional Eagle Hunting Show.
PM. Lunch on the way. Back to Karakol to visit the wild animals protection centre, Project “NABU”. Dinner in the local dungan family with national menu.
Overnight in the same Guest House.
Karakol — Bishkek (400km.) Hotel: Ak-Keme****
AM Transfer from Karakol to Bishkek (400km-8h).
On the way excursion to the real museum of local craftswomen in Kochkorka.
Kochkor village is a hub for the surrounding Kochkor valley. Here live hospitable and affable people involved in agriculture and traditional Kyrgyz crafts. Felt carpet making lesson and handicrafts shop.
AM Transfer from Karakol to Bishkek (400km-8h).
On the way excursion to the real museum of local craftswomen in Kochkorka.Kochkor village is a hub for the surrounding Kochkor valley. Here live hospitable and affable people involved in agriculture and traditional Kyrgyz crafts. Felt carpet making lesson and handicrafts shop.
PM Lunch in local kyrgyz family.
Transfer to Bishkek.
Dinner in local cafe. Overnight in Ak-Keme hotel.
Day 8, 9
Bishkek-Taraz (300km.) Hotel: Hotel Gazovik Hotel: Gazovik****
AM. After breakfast: transfer to the town of Taraz city. Crossing Kyrgyz-Kazakh border through check point Chaldavar.
P.M. Lunch on the way.
City tour in Taraz. You will visit unique architecture monuments of ancient time:
Turkestan tam je- Karakhan’s mausoleum – magnificent architectural monument, genius creation of ancient Taraz. 30 types of bricks were used for its construction. Next to this construction you will see Dautbek’s mausoleum and a restored mosque (VIII-IX centuries) on the opposite to excavations. During the excursion you can visit Kali-Yunus bath which impresses tourists with a great design of the 11-12th centuries. Also, you will see the museum artefacts of the Great Silk Road cities. -The unique “Tekturmas” construction which is located on the top of the hill near Talas river. Dinner and overnight in Hotel Gazovik.
AM. After breakfast: transfer to the town of Taraz city. Crossing Kyrgyz-Kazakh border through check point Chaldavar.
P.M. Lunch on the way.
City tour in Taraz. You will visit unique architecture monuments of ancient time:
Turkestan tam je- Karakhan’s mausoleum – magnificent architectural monument, genius creation of ancient Taraz. 30 types of bricks were used for its construction. Next to this construction you will see Dautbek’s mausoleum and a restored mosque (VIII-IX centuries) on the opposite to excavations. During the excursion you can visit Kali-Yunus bath which impresses tourists with a great design of the 11-12th centuries. Also, you will see the museum artefacts of the Great Silk Road cities. -The unique “Tekturmas” construction which is located on the top of the hill near Talas river. Dinner and overnight in Hotel Gazovik.Taraz-Turkestan (340km.) Hotel: Yassy***
AM After breakfast: transfer to Turkestan city. On the way: visiting of Aishabibi mausoleum Babashi-Khatum mausoleum.
PM Lunch on the way. Arrival and accommodation in hotel. Excursion to Akhmed Yassawi mausoleum.
Dinner and overnight in hotel.
Day 10, 11
Hotel: Shimkent **** Turkestan – Shimkent
AM After breakfast: transfer to Shimkent city. On the way: excursion to Otrar ruins.
Visiting Sairam village (Sairam (the ancient city of Isfidzhab) is Mohammed Yassavi’s native land, its parents Ibragim-Ata and Karashash-Ata were buried there, in the city there are a lot of mausoleums, mazars, ancient and modern), museum “Otrar” in Shaulder village, excursion to Arstan-Baba Mausoleum (XIX c), Otrar ruins (XI-XII c).
PM Lunch in a local cafe.
After lunch: city tour in Shimkent. Dinner and overnight in Shimkent hotel.
Shimkent-Almaty Hotel: Otrar****
AM After breakfast transfer to Shimkent city. Morning flight to Almaty city KC972-10:05-11:30.
AM After breakfast transfer to Shimkent city. Morning flight to Almaty city KC972-10:05-11:30.
PM Lunch in local cafe in Almaty. Excursion to Medeo skating rink and Shimbulak ski base.
Dinner and accommodation in hotel.
Day 12
Almaty Night transfer to airport to flight home by LH.
