Kyrgyzstan is one of the most rewarding destinations in Central Asia for active travellers. Roads are few in the high mountains, so many of the finest places are reached on foot or on horseback – and that is exactly what makes the journey memorable.
In this collection you will find tours with a real physical component: treks over high passes to turquoise lakes, several days in the saddle to Son-Kul, hikes through red-rock canyons and winter days on the slopes above Karakol. Each tour lists its difficulty level honestly; for the more demanding ones you should be in good health and used to walking several hours a day.
Safety comes first: routes are led by experienced local guides who know the terrain and the weather, and they may change the plan if conditions require it. If you are unsure which tour suits you, send us a request and we will advise you.
Ala-Archa National Park and the Karakol valleys (Ala-Kul, Altyn-Arashan)
A compact but demanding mountain trip: acclimatisation in Ala-Archa, then the classic trek over the Ala-Kul pass to the Altyn-Arashan hot springs.
Ala-Archa National Park, Chuy region (about 40 km from Bishkek)
A guided day in the mountains just an hour from Bishkek: spruce forests, a glacier river and the Ak-Sai waterfall trail, with lunch in the park.
Chuy valley: Burana Tower near Tokmok and the Konorchek canyons near the Boom Gorge
Silk Road history and red-rock scenery in one day: the 11th-century Burana Tower with its balbal stones, then a hike through the Konorchek canyons.
Kochkor district and Son-Kul lake, Naryn region
Ride from the village of Kyzart over a high pass to Son-Kul lake, sleep in yurts with herding families and return to Bishkek on day three.
Karakol and the Karakol ski resort, eastern Issyk-Kul
Two days on the slopes of the Karakol ski resort, a soak in hot springs and the winter shores of Issyk-Kul – transport, guide and guesthouse included.
Almaty region, south-east Kazakhstan
Six days of the best nature in south-east Kazakhstan: Big Almaty Lake, Charyn Canyon, the sunken forest of Kaindy and the Kolsai lakes.
Japanese Alps: Matsumoto, Kamikochi, Takayama, Shirakawa-go and Kanazawa
Seven days through the mountainous heart of Japan: a samurai castle, alpine valleys, old merchant towns, a night in a thatched farmhouse and the gardens of Kanazawa.
Gobi Desert, southern Mongolia
Eight days by 4x4 through the South Gobi: the White Stupa cliffs, the ice gorge of Yolyn Am, the singing dunes of Khongoryn Els and the Flaming Cliffs of Bayanzag.
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Kyrgyzstan
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