The wealth of Kyrgyzstan lies in its luxurious landscapes, nearly untouched nature, and nomadic traditions. Framed by the great mountain ranges of the Tian Shan and Pamir-Alai, this country boasts breathtaking peaks, deep valleys, and high-altitude pastures where Kyrgyz nomads still raise horses in yurts, preserving the traditions of their ancestors. This beautiful trek through the heart of the Tian Shan will bring you closer to the nomadic way of life, with numerous encounters, and offer a chance to discover the remnants of ancient caravanserais and the heart of the Silk Road.

Day 1: EUROPE – BISHKEK – CHON-KYZYL-SUU (420 km, 7 hours)
Your guide will meet you at Bishkek Airport early in the morning. Transfer to a guesthouse for rest before heading back to Issyk-Kul Lake, the “very hot lake,” the second-largest mountain lake after Titicaca, located at 1600m altitude. Arrival in the village of Chon-Kyzyl-Suu. Accommodation in a private home. Explore the area near a Russian bathhouse. Overnight with a local family (1700m).

Day 2: CHON-KYZYL-SUU VILLAGE – AK-SAI PASS (2805m) – JETY-OGUZ GORGE (5-6 hours)
After breakfast, prepare your backpack for the hike (waterproof bag, clothing protection). Drive to Chon-Kyzyl-Suu Gorge. At the start of our hike, we stop in a mountain village. Luggage transfer to a horse caravan. Head towards the Altyn Arashan Gorge. Cross the Chon-Kyzyl-Suu River and move towards the mountains. After about 1.5 hours of walking through red slopes and green hills covered in vibrant flowers, we will reach the village of Suttuu Bulak in a beautiful valley. The path leads us to a hill with a view of the village, where we will stop for a picnic. Continue through a pine forest, which we cross, surrounded by the mysteries of another world. At the exit from this lost world, we reach meadows that lead directly to the Ak-Sai Pass (2805m). At the top, enjoy a magical panorama of the Jety-Oguz Gorge and the Ogyz-Bachu Peak (5168m). In the distance, we see yurts along the river, where we will stop for a well-deserved break. Settle into yurts. Traditional dinner. Overnight under the yurt (2260m).

Day 3: JETY-OGUZ GORGE – KASHKA-SUU GORGE (6-hour hike)
Breakfast at 8 AM. Then, prepare your backpack for the long day ahead. Cross the Jety-Oguz River and head towards Kashka-Suu Gorge. We walk along a trail crossing meadows and small thickets on the mountainside. In the afternoon, we reach a small pass where we will set up camp. Dinner and overnight stay at 2780m.

Day 4: KASHKA-SUU GORGE – IRDIK GORGE – EASTERN IRDIK LAKE (6 hours hiking)
Breakfast in this peaceful mountain world. Our adventure continues with a climb to a small pass leading us to the eastern Irdik Gorges. We move along the Irdik River. Set up a picnic and continue along our bucolic route to reach our camp near the river at the forest’s edge. Dinner and overnight stay in a tent at 2780m.

Day 5: WESTERN IRDIK LAKE – “WET FIELD” GORGE (5 hours)
Breakfast at 8 AM. Then prepare your pack. We set off again along winding trails, sometimes steep, crossing large green areas with typical vegetation. After 4-5 hours, we reach the foot of the ridge separating us from the Wet Field Valley. Set up camp. Dinner and overnight stay in tents at 2460m.

Day 6: “WET FIELD” GORGE – KARAKOL GORGE (6 hours hike)
Breakfast at 8 AM. Prepare your backpack and begin the descent towards the stunning Karakol Gorges. Karakol Gorge is well known to locals and visitors alike for its ski resort and the Sirota climbing camp, which serves as the starting point for ascents to Karakol Peak (5216m, with a minimum difficulty of 4b). We pass by the base located inside the forest. Set up camp near the ski resort. Dinner and overnight stay in tents at 2700m.

Day 7: KASHKA-SUU GORGE – MORAINES (6-hour hike)
Breakfast at 8 AM. Prepare your backpack, especially not forgetting warm waterproof clothing for this day, and mountain boots. Next, head towards the Kyzul-Suu Gorge to the left of the Karakol ski resort. A strenuous day awaits, as we must pass the Djaman-Tor Pass, where we may encounter snowy and icy sections and cooler air. The “alpine” hike ends at the foot of the pass (2900m), where we set up camp. Dinner and overnight stay in tents.

Day 8: MORAINES – DJAMAN-TOR PASS (3400m) – BOKOVOY PASS (3570m) – KIZIL-JAR GORGE
Breakfast at 8 AM. Another day with some difficulty. We start with a climb to the Djaman-Tor Pass (3400m), where we stop for lunch. Then, head towards the Bokovoy Pass (3570m), separating us from the Kok-Jar Valley, a pass of harsh and cold beauty even in summer. Two passes in one day, and a well-deserved rest by the river, where we set up camp. Dinner and overnight stay in tents at 3100m.

Day 9: KIZIL-JAR GORGE – LE KOL – KOK-JAR (3590m) – KELDAYK GORGE (6 hours hiking)
Breakfast at 8 AM. With each passing day, we approach our main goal—the Altyn Arashan Gorge, the jewel of this valley, and the Ala-Kul Lake (the colorful lake). We will approach the Kok-Jar Pass (3590m) from the top, offering views of Kok-Jar and the Keldike Valley. We will reach the impressive Keldike Gorge. In the distance, we will see the majestic tree separating the Ala-Kul Lake from the Keldike Gorge and Altyn Arashan, with mountain ranges before us. Along the way, we may encounter Kyrgyz nomads who will share their traditional lifestyle with us. We will set up camp near the forest, preparing for the ascent the next day, which will take us to the lake. Overnight and dinner in tents at 2700m.

Day 10: ALA-KUL LAKE – ALTYN-ARASHAN MINERAL SPRINGS (5 hours hiking)
Unfortunately, this is the last day of our trek. As usual, after breakfast, we begin the descent to the Altyn-Arashan mineral springs. A friendly place where climbers, after long climbs, used to come to relax in the hot baths. We follow the trail leading us to the Arashan River Gorge. This short path passes through the forest, and we will see the roofs of houses scattered near the springs. Finally, you can rest after a long journey through the “Heavenly Mountains.” Swimming (don’t forget your swimsuit). Rest. Dinner and overnight in tents at 2650m.

Day 11: ALTYN-ARASHAN MINERAL SPRINGS – KARAKOL TOWN – BISHKEK (1.5 hours by car, 420 km, 7 hours)
The end of our trek. Breakfast at 8 AM. We say goodbye to our companions and the horse caravan. We change vehicles and head down in off-road vehicles to cover the kilometers that will take us to the village of Teploklyuchenka, where our car will be waiting to take us to Karakol. Explore the town. Then transfer to Bishkek. Arrival in Bishkek. Overnight at the hotel with meals.

Day 12: BISHKEK – EUROPE

Breakfast and transfer to the airport. End of our services.