Private Tour
Kyrgyzstan Experiencing Nomadic Culture: 4 Days Issyk-Kul Lake Round Tour
Overview
Available languages
4 days
Mobile ticket
This tour covers all those important sites and famous cities around Issyk-Kul lake, and tourists will experience the traditional nomadic culture.
We will first visit the Burana Tower, which is located along the important branch of the Silk Road. It is now UNESCO World heritage.
In Cholpon-Ata, we will visit the World Nomad Games, the open-air museum of petroglyphs, Issyk-Kul State Historical and Cultural Museum.
In Karakol, you will find The Russian Orthodox Cathedral and Dungan Mosque; it is also a famous hiking and skiing base. Also we will visit Jety Oguz gorge, Barskoon gorge and Fairy Tale Canyon.
You will also experience the traditional nomadic culture in eagle hunting observation, visit to horse breeding farm. Upon request, tourist group can also stay in Yurt.
Each group can specify its requirement. There are many other local attractions around Issyk-Kul Lake (for example, hotsprings, traditional handcrafted workshop, visiting traditional Dungan village, etc.)
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Bishkek - Cholpon-Ata
Accommodations
Stay at a 3-star hotel at Cholpon-Ata for the first night
Food and Drinks
LUNCH
Lunch
DINNER
Dinner
Burana Tower
Pick up at hotel at 8am in Bishkek You will first visit Burana Tower and ruins of Balasagun in the morning (about 1.5-hour drive from Bishkek)
Hippodrome Cholpon-Ata
We will arrive Cholpon-Ata (North shore city of Issyk-Kul Lake) in the afternoon. There you will visit Nomad Game Stadium, open-air museum of petroglyphs and/or Cultural Museum in Cholpon-Ata (depending on how long we will stay in every site)
Cholpon-Ata - Karakol
Accommodations
Stay at a 3-star hotel at Karakol for the second night (upon request, we can arrange the tourist group to live in Yurt)
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
LUNCH
Lunch
DINNER
Dinner
Karakol Gorge
We will mainly spend our second day at Karakol (about 2-hour drive from Cholpon-Ata) In the morning, we will visit The Russian Orthodox Cathedral and Dungan Mosque at Karakol After lunch, we will go to the beautiful mountain site at Karakol. We can arrange trekking with various levels (from 2 hours to half day), depending on the physical condition of tourist group.
Karakol - Jety Oguz gorge - Barskoon - Bokonbaevo
Accommodations
Stay at 3-star hotel at Bokonbaevo (upon request, we can arrange the tourist group to live in Yurt)
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
LUNCH
Lunch
DINNER
Dinner
Jeti-Oguz Canyon (Seven Bulls Rocks)
Continue driving to the south shore of Issyk-Kul Lake, you will first see the marvelous Jety Oguz gorge During summer, we will also visit the Bee farm nearby
Barskoon Waterfall
You will then have adventure at Barskoon gorge (with a beautiful waterfall)
Canyon Fairy Tale
In the fairy tale canyon, you can see the red sandstones have been eroded and shaped into different forms. While you are walking in the canyon, you can find a dragon, the Great Wall of China, Castle... Just like walking in a fairy land.
Bokonbaevo - Bishkek
Food and Drinks
BREAKFAST
Breakfast
LUNCH
Lunch
Barskoon Gorge
You will see "Salbuurun" in the morning. “Salbuurun” is the traditional hunting activities for nomad, which includes golden eagle, taigan dog and traditional archery on horseback, and it can only be found in Kyrgyzstan In the afternoon, you will visit local horse breeding farm, in which you will learn about horse farming in Kyrgyzstan, and you will also see a mock training race Finally, it is expected that we will return to Bishkek by 8pm
What‘s Included
English, Chinese or Russian speaking guide; Transportation throughout the journey; Entrance fee
Personal insurance; Any other activity charges not mentioned in the program
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
Kyrgyzstan Experiencing Nomadic Culture: 4 Days Issyk-Kul Lake Round Tour
Pickup included
Reviews
3 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A Truly Unforgettable Adventure
Z7549XEpeterw,May 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00New Way Service's PIC by the name of Keith was super helpful. Besides visiting Kyrgyzstan, we wanted to travel to Uzbekistan as well. Keith went out of the way and took the initiative to contact his friends in Tashkent who then arranged everything for us and at a very affordable price too. Our young Uzbek tour guide by the name of Almaz could speak Uzbek, Russian, English, Mandarin and even Japanese. Very helpful guy as well. He even ran all the way back to look for a phone someone from the group dropped and managed to find it. We had a lot of fun in Samarkhand and Bukara as well as Tashkent. The restaurants he brought us were clean, pleasant and the food was great. They even have live bands. I had some indigestion because of over eating. Other than that everything was great. Travelled everywhere by e-hailing taxis. Almaz said this is cheaper. The e-hailing taxis were very efficient and responded very quickly after the booking. Our group of 6 spent an unforgettable 7 days in Uzbekistan. If you're going there, you can shorten it by two days because we also met up with friends while we were there. Upon arriving in Bishkek from Tashkent, Keith arranged for us to be picked up. the next day we began our tour with guide named Daniyar who is a very experienced tour guide and hiking guide. Speaks good English, Kyrgzys and Russian. We took his Toyota 4-Wheel drive cruiser for our trip. He's also a very experienced and careful driver. Thanks for recommending him Keith. Basically our trip was moving from Bishkek up and around the right of Lake Izzy-kul. Then we came back down the other side of the lake to Bishkek. Everywhere we went the snow-peaked Tian Shan mountain range greeted us. It was indeed a sight to behold. We stayed in the hills, in the farms, in the cities, in Yurts etc. Every turn is a new sxperience and the scenery captivating. We didn't plan for any hiking and Daniyar told us that the sceneries deep in the mountain range along the hike will blow us away. Horses are plentiful and they drink horse milk. The people were very friendly and we managed to communicate even with the villagers using Google translate. Knowing Russian will be a bonus. Lake Izzy-kul (Hot Lake - cos it never freezes) is a saline lake offering swims (like the Dead Sea in certain areas as it is saline), fishing, boating, water activities and beautiful coastal hotels. All this of course depends on the season. It was too cold for us to do anythig. Haha. We went just before the peak season and it was nice with all the mountains to ourselves...haha. Almost all. Again views of the Tian Shan mountain range lined the horizon as we travelled roud the lake. The sceneries on the trip were simply breath-taking. Daniyar told us that Krygyzstan is also know as the Switzerland of Asia. There is too much to write. Go and find out for yourself. Back in Bishkek, Keith arranged another tour to Ala Archa National Park. The landscape was slightly different but fascinating as well. Had lunch in a Yurt style restaurant up at the top and the food was great. Spent about 6 days in Kyrgyzstan. Prices of food in both Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are very reasonable, almost similar to those back in Kuala Lumpur where I am from. A great place to go for a rest and to unwind. Thank you New Way Service.
Amazing landscapes and enjoyable activities
Travellerwong624,Aug 14, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We enjoyed our two-week trip in Krygzstan and Kakastan. Here are some highlights of the amazing tourist spots we have visited. The Burnara Tower gave us a great experience of a panoramic view from the top. The Issykul lake can see no ends and it looks like the sea more than a lake. It is enjoyable to swim in the lake. Even if you do not know how to swim, it is fun to walk through the shallow water. There are also some historical spots like the Victory Square,with the statue of the Krygzs' hero and the fire that never extinguishes, the Nomad stadium and the museum which help tourists understand more about Krygzs' history, costumes, famous writers and local culture. It is great to stay in a yurt, giving us a taste of how the locals live in the past Talking about food, apricots, water melons, fruit tea (compo) are highly recommended. Horse meat is also worth trying. Other activities like horse riding, taking cable cars to the Peak,etc are also enjoyable.
An unforgettable journey in Kyrgyzstan, a mysterious and beautiful country
wanpaklam,Jun 12, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It can be hard to get to the attractions of Kyrgyzstan If you are not familiar. However, the professional and attentive guides arranged a very rich trip for us within seven days. The Fairy Tale Canyon - amazing sculptures and formations you can see. Issyk-Kul, Lake - Breathtaking scenery you can experience. Wonderful blue sky, vast vision. The scenery here is the best in the world. In addition, the price here is not high, and the travelling cost is reasonable. Where can you find a first-rate service at a favorable price? Under the well travelling plan, you can experience different Kyrgyzstan.
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