Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan

Day 1

Welcome to Almaty, Kazakhstan! Proceed to hotel to check-in. Rest and easy.

Day 2

City tour as we visit the Ascension Cathedral (Second highest wooden building in the world), Square of 28 Panfilov Heroes, Museum of Musical Instruments, and the Hawk's nursery to learn about hunting with the birds of prey.

Day 3

Kazakhstan Outdoor: Charyn Canyon and Moon Valley This is one of the most popular places in Kazakhstan. Witness an amazing creation of nature that has existed for millions of years. Picturesque and diverse.

Day 4

Singing Sand Dune & Zharkent Mosque. Altyn Emel National Park is where the famous Singing Sand Dune is located stretching 3kms. wide. Listen to the wind as it creates sound like vibration of singing and the beating of drums. We also visit Zharkent Mosque (a Unique wooden mosque resembling a Chinese pagoda) afterwards.

Day 5

Aktau & Katutau Mountains Explore the Colorful and wonderful Aktau chalk hills and the Katutau volcanic formation!

Day 6

Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan Cross the land border into Kyrgyzstan, arriving in Bishkek the capital. In the afternoon we do a City Tour where we visit the Pobeda Square, Duboviy Park, Central Ala-Too Square, the Fine Art Museum, National Philharmonic and other places of interest.

Day 7

Bishkek to Karakol We travel to the Ysyk-Kul region where Karakol city is located. Ysyk-Kul lake is the second largest alpine lake in the world. Along the way we will also visit Burana Tower, an 11th century minaret and and open air museum of Balbans known as the stone warriors.

Day 8

Krygysztan Outdoor: Karakol gorge to Karakol peak view Hike Starts! Enjoy the marvelous view of the Kurgak Tor and Auy Tor gorges before finally arriving Ala Kul lake.

Day 9

Ala Kul lake to Altyn Arashan (hot springs) We hike up to the panoramic view of the awesome mountains with the turquoise lake behind us. A Hot spring bath in Altyn Arashan awaits us after the trek!

Day 10

Altyn Arashan to Ak-Suu village to Karakol City This is the last day of out trek as we enjoy Altyn Arashan gorge. We hike all the way down to Ak Suu village before heading back to Karakol City. We have dinner with a Kyrgyz family. Visit Dungan Mosque afterwards.

Day 11

Karakol city to Son-Kul lake Today we drive to Son-Kul lake where we witness thousands of yurts and cattles with their shepherds. There’s also an opportunity for us to stop on one of the shepherd’s yurt to learn and connect with them. We then visit Jeti-Oguz Valley and Fairy Tale Canyon. Overnight and Dinner in the yurt.

Day 12

Son-Kul lake to Bishkek We drive back to civilization via 32 Parrots pass. In Bishnek, we then visit the Asian Bazaar to get immersed in the sights and sounds of the local life and commerce

Day 13

Contingency day.

Day 14

Enjoy your last day in Kyrgyzstan before flying back to your next destination, or to Manila... or to join us on the next leg to maximize your Central Asia Experience. Uzbekistan here we come!