Across the Heavenly Mountains -a small group tour of Kyrgyzstan

Day 1

Start Point: Home

Destination: Bishkek

Arrive in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Most flights arrive in the middle of the night, so your guides will meet you at the airport and take you to your stylish city centre hotel, the 5* Novotel. 

After some time to rest, you’ll spend today exploring Bishkek, the capital city of Kyrgyzstan, one of our favourite cities in Central Asia. You’ll take in a few of the main sites (Ala-Too Square, the Changing of the Guard, National Museum of Fine Arts) and visit the National History Museum, which is absolutely fantastic.

Supper will be at a good city centre restaurant, where you’ll be joined by a well-known Kyrgyz journalist. This will be a chance to gain a deeper insight into the cultural and political landscape of Kyrgyzstan.

Overnight at the Novotel.

Day 2

Start Point: Bishkek

Destination: Chon Kemin

This morning, after breakfast at the hotel, you’ll hit the road to Chon Kemin, a beautiful gorge 2.5 hours east of Bishkek. You’ll be travelling in very comfortable Toyota Sequoia 4WDs with a maximum of three guests per car.

On the way you'll stop at Burana Tower, all that remains of the ancient city of Balasagun, once thought to be the centre of the world, and a vital stop on the Silk Road. It was destroyed by the Mongols in the 13th century.

Lunch will be with a local family.

From here it’s just over an hour to Chon Kemin, where you’ll spend the night at a comfortable guesthouse. Supper will be at the guesthouse.

Day 3

Start Point: Chon Kemin

Destination: Kyzart

After breakfast at the guesthouse, those who want to can spend a few hours hiking in Chon Kemin gorge, which will be filled with wild flowers at this time of year. Chon Kemin has ibex, wolves, bears, wild boar and elk - as well as Snow leopards at higher altitudes - and a group of volunteer wildlife rangers work to stop illegal hunting and poaching in the area. Their diligence has resulted in impressive increases in key species here since the conservancy began (with German Aid) in 2015. You will be going out with one of these local rangers this morning.

If you’d rather not hike, you can relax at the guesthouse until we leave.

From Chon Kemin you’re heading south through the mountains to the village of Kyzart. On the way you’ll stop in the town of Kochkor to meet a well-known local artist and learn about shyrdak, traditional Kyrgyz felt work. Lunch will be in her garden, where you’ll have the chance to try some local specialities. 

Tonight you’ll be at a stylish guesthouse on the edge of the mountain village of Kyzart. The guesthouse is ecologically built from wood and straw bales and filled with Kyrgyz artwork and textiles. 

Before supper, you’ll have the chance to meet some local shepherds and experience a slice of Kyrgyz village life. Supper will be at the guesthouse.

Day 4

Start Point: Kyzart

Destination: Son Kul

After breakfast at your guesthouse it’s around a 2-hour drive into the mountains to the beautiful alpine lake of Son Kul, which is situated at just over 3000 metres above sea level. The road to the lake has stunning views of the Tien Shan Mountains, passing green pastures where you can see nomads herding their flocks of horses and sheep. 

You’ll arrive at your yurt camp, on the shores of the lake, by late morning, and then have the afternoon to either ride, hike or relax - the choice is yours.

Tonight you’re staying at the yurt camp, and supper will be here too.

Day 5

Start Point: Son Kul

Destination: Tash Rabat

After breakfast at the yurt camp, you’ve got a fantastic three to four hour drive up and over the 33 Parrots pass to the stunning 15th century Silk Road caravanserai of Tash Rabat (as featured in Joanna Lumley’s Silk Road Adventure), a mysterious hulk of a building folded into the mountains near the Chinese border. 

After exploring the caravanserai you’ll be spending the night in a wonderful, family-run yurt camp beside a gurgling river. There can’t be many more places on earth where the stars shine quite so brightly. There’s also the chance to either go walking or horse riding here this afternoon for those who wish. The yurt camp (which is 3200 metres above sea level) here does not have en-suite facilities, but it does have western loos.

Day 6

Start Point: Tash Rabat

Destination: Eki Naryn

After breakfast at the yurt camp, you’re heading a few hours north, again through majestic mountain scenery, to the remote village of Eki-Naryn. 

On the way you’ll visit a sanctuary dedicated to the conservation of Kyrgyzstan’s native red deer species. The centre plays a crucial role in preserving these majestic animals, which are deeply rooted in local traditions and folklore. You’ll learn about the breeding and rehabilitation efforts, the ecological significance of the maral population, and the sustainable practices used to maintain their habitat. 

Tonight in Eki-Naryn, you’ll be staying in a lovely guesthouse, with great views, run by a former politician and opposition leader. Supper will be at the guesthouse.

Day 7

Start Point: Eki Naryn

Destination: Bokonbaevo

Today, after breakfast at the guesthouse, you’ve got a stunning six hour, off-road drive over the mountains, up and over the Tosor Pass and down to Bokonbaevo, on the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. This is a fabulous drive, with epic views, and you’ll have a picnic in the mountains on the way.

Meaning ‘warm lake’ in the Kyrgyz language, Issyk Kul is the second largest saline lake in the world after the Caspian Sea and was a major artery of the Silk Road. Tonight you’ll be in a beautiful private yurt camp beside the lake, surrounded by the glistening peaks of the Tien Shan. The yurts here have en-suite facilities.

Day 8

Start Point: Bokonbaevo

Destination: Bokonbaevo

Today, after breakfast at the yurt camp, you’ll be venturing into the nearby mountains to meet a traditional eagle hunter and his eagle, and learn a little about this ancient Central Asian art. You’ll also be having a private demonstration of Kok Baru, or goat carcass polo. This incredible game is played all over Central Asia, and is the most extraordinary show of horsemanship. Please note, we won’t be using a real goat today…

This evening you will have a wonderful private music show by a breathtakingly talented local family of musicians. Tonight you’ll be in the same yurt camp.

Day 9

Start Point: Bokonbaevo

Destination: Bokonbaevo

After eight days on the road, and some distance covered, today is a rest day. Plus, this is such a special place we don’t want to rush off just yet. If you wish, you can simply lounge in a hammock and get lost in the view (or a good book). Or you can dip your toes in the gin-clear waters of the lake. Or, for those who prefer, you can go for a walk in the nearby mountains. The beauty of having several vehicles and guides is that we have the flexibility to do several different things.

Tonight you’ll be at the same yurt camp.

Day 10

Start Point: Bokonbaevo

Destination: Karakol

Today you’re heading a few hours east, along the wild southern shore of Issyk-Kul, to the town of Karakol. Sitting at the crossroads of China to the east and the rest of Central Asia to the west, Karakol is a living encyclopaedia of cultures and ethnicities: Kyrgyz, Tatar, Russian, Dungan, Uighur, Kalmyk, and Uzbek, among others.

Once a small 19th century Russian military outpost, then a busy 20th century Soviet state, and now a vibrant independent Kyrgyz city, present-day Karakol is a place to explore and treasure the region's unique history. Here you’ll  visit the Dungan Mosque and the Russian Orthodox church - the latter built without using a single nail. 

You’ll also be visiting a wildlife rehabilitation centre this afternoon.

One of the communities who live here are the Dungans, Chinese Muslims who have scattered communities throughout Central Asia. Supper tonight will be with a Dungan family in town, and you’ll be staying at a lovely little hotel run by a Japanese lady and her Kyrgyz husband.

Day 11

Start Point: Karakol

Destination: Altyn Arashan and Karakol

Today, after breakfast, you’ll drive around 40-minutes into the mountains to the Altyn Arashan gorge, for a day of hiking and hot springs.

The Altyn-Arashan Gorge, with peaks of up to 4000 metres, is part of the Terskey Ala-Too mountain range, which forms a natural border between Kyrgyzstan and China. The Gorge is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, from lush forests of spruce, fir, and juniper trees, to alpine meadows and rocky terrain. Ibex, lynx, snow leopards and Marco Polo sheep all live here.

Again, as we have several guides, we can split the group into those who want a longer hike, and those who’d rather relax at the hot springs.

Tonight you’ll be back in Karakol at the same hotel.

Day 12

Start Point: Karakol

Destination: Bishkek

Today it’s a seven-hour drive, on good roads, back to Bishkek, along the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. You’ll arrive back in Bishkek in the late afternoon, where you’ll check back into the Novotel. A final supper will be at an excellent Bishkek restaurant.

Day 13

Start Point: Bishkek

Destination: Home

This morning we’ll take you to the airport in time for your flight home.

This trip is now open for bookings - please contact us via our contact page to let us know how many places you would like to reserve.

The 2026 trip cost is £5,400 per person. There are no single supplements or hidden costs.

We do not book international flights, but on joining the tour we will provide you with a welcome pack in which contact details for our trusted flight agent will be provided.

INCLUDED

Accommodation in excellent hotels and very comfortable yurt camps and guesthouses.

NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT CHARGES

All breakfasts, lunches, suppers and some alcohol.

Unique experiences such as meeting journalists, politicians and artists, and a morning with an eagle hunter and his family.

Local airport transfers

All land travel costs

Professional, knowledgeable and courteous English speaking local guides, all of whom are hand-picked by us.

Travel in top of the range Toyota 4WD (3 guests per car).

Professional route planning and logistics, backed by risk assessments and emergency procedures. We don’t take risks lightly and we plan for all eventualities, believing it is better to have prepared and not require a procedure than not to plan at all.

NOT INCLUDED

International Flights to and from Bishkek.

Guide and driver gratuities

Personal spending money for alcohol or souvenirs

Your personal travel insurance

Where will we be staying?

We’ll be staying in a mix of places – from a 5* hotel in Bishkek, to stylish, guesthouses and wonderful, family-run yurt camps in the wilds of Kyrgyzstan. In the yurt camps, you won’t always have access to hot showers or western loos, but the wilderness and views will more than make up for it. In the detailed Traveller Briefing Pack you receive before you travel, we will be very clear about the facilities in each place you stay. However, if you are someone who can’t deal with a lack of en-suite for a night, or faints at the thought of a squat loo, then this probably isn’t the trip for you.

What size of group will it be?

Our group sizes are always small, allowing for an intimate experience of the cultures we meet along our path. On this trip we won’t have more than 12 guests, plus the local guides and drivers. We usually find groups are made of like-minded people, both male and female, from a wide age range. Many of our guests become firm friends with us and each other, and travel together with us again, and again…

What will the weather be like?

Lovely! Expect up to 30 degrees in Bishkek, but down to as low as five degrees at night in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan. But have no fear, we will supply you with a detailed packing list after you’ve signed up.

I’m a solo traveller – is this for me?

Yes. Around 50% per cent of our guests travel alone as part of our group. We don’t charge single supplements to solo travellers – see below.

Do you charge single supplements – I can’t see them in your information?

No. We don’t believe that solo travellers should be penalised with extra charges. It goes against our ethos, so unless totally unavoidable or astronomically expensive, all costs are included in the expedition price. Please note that in some of the yurt camps we are staying in, single rooms are simply not available, and if you are travelling solo you may have to share a yurt with one other person for one or two nights.

What kit do I need to bring?

We will provide you with an information pack after signing up to this trip, and this will detail any particular equipment we think either necessary or useful.

How much are flights?

This is a moving feast! It depends on where you are travelling from and how you want to get there. From London, it’s between £400 and £800 return to Bishkek.

What will the food be like?

Food in Kyrgyzstan is very good – a hearty, healthy, tasty mix of fresh fruit and salads, meat, plov (the classic Central Asian rice and meat dish) and wonderful bread. If you’re a vegetarian (or even a vegan) you’ll find plenty to eat, we can assure you.

Will I have to share a room?

The only time you may have to share a room is in one of the yurt camps we stay in, where – if we have a lot of single travellers – two single travellers may have to share one yurt. This rarely happens though and on all other occasions you will have your own room.

How fit do I need to be?

You need to have a good level of mobility, and be able to walk in cities and on rough ground at a reasonable pace. Because we have three or four vehicles and guides, there are options to split the group, so some folks can do half day hikes and others can relax at the yurt camp or guesthouse.

Will I be affected by altitude?

Altitude can affect different people in different ways. It can also affect the same person in different ways from trip to trip. We will be spending a handful of days above 3000 metres. If you feel that you might suffer from altitude sickness, or have history of it, you should consider discussing this with your doctor prior to booking and travel. Diamox and other similar prescription drugs are available to ease symptoms, but the key way to address any onset of altitude sickness is to descend. Luckily, from anywhere particularly high, descent is possible rapidly thanks to our vehicles. Simple precautions and awareness go a long way.

I can’t do your dates but love the sound of this trip – can you be flexible?

Yes - we can organise and deliver bespoke expeditions to groups and individuals to suit your itinerary and budget. More information is available on our Tailor-Made tours page.

Is it a guaranteed departure?

Yes, for 2026, this is a Guaranteed Departure.

Why should I book with Silk Road Adventures?

We are a small company who pride ourselves on going a great deal of extra miles in order to put together creative, immersive itineraries which truly get under the skin of these wonderful countries. We don’t follow the crowds and we always strive to do things differently. We’re also a company that’s founded and run by people who have spent years living and working in this region, and who are passionate about sniffing out the best guides, hotels, restaurants and hidden valleys for you to experience.

We never want to be the biggest travel company, but we do want to be the best. We treat every guest as a friend and strive to give them the very best experience possible. As a result, a high percentage of our customers have booked to travel with us again, with some of them coming on a trip every year.

Your safety is vital: we also do annual expedition and remote medicine training and pay for 24/7 remote medical assistance cover. We employ professional military-grade risk assessments and plan for every possible negative scenario whilst hoping that none ever come to pass.

Is this really for me?

If you love adventure, new places, friendly people, wild landscapes, history and culture then yes, this is for you. However, if you’re the sort of person who is going to be worried about the lack of flush loos in a mountain yurt camp, might complain that the road to Tash Rabat is too bumpy (it isn’t!), then this probably isn’t your bag.