Kyrgyzstan had been on my bucket list for years and I was beyond excited to finally visit this beautiful country in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan is a teasure of stunning landscape, a rich culture based on the Silk Road and is full of authentic experiences, as it is not explored by the larger crowds. In around two weeks, you can explore the country’s highlights including vibrant Bishkek, ancient caravanserais, rugged mountain passes and the most stunning alpine lakes. Here’s a detailed 2 week Kyrgyzstan itinerary, featuring yurt stays, hikes and cultures experiences.
Bear in mind, I traveled to Kyrgyzstan with the pre-arranged tour of Journal of Nomads. Therefore, my accommodation and transportation was taken care off. Nevertheless, with the right planning, it is possible to travel to Kyrgyzstan yourself, renting a 4×4 (you should be an experienced driver and can handle adventure), with public transportation or with a private guide.
For most travelers, 2 weeks in Kyrgyzstan offers the ideal travel route and time, where you can immerse yourself in the local culture and landscapes. It allows you to explore the key destinations like Bishkek, Ala Kul, Issyk-Kul and more remote areas such as Kel Suu. However, your travel time needs to be well-planned and there is limited time to relax longer in certain destinations. Therefore, if you want to have more flexibiity, extending your trip to 3 weeks allows more time for a leisurly pace, but also opens up the opportunity to use public transportation and local vans for traveling.
The best time to visit Kyrgyzstan is from June to September, when the weather is warmer and in most areas, including the high-altitude lakes and mountain passes such as around Ala Kul are accessible. This makes it the perfect time for hiking, although, make sure you still dress for all different circumstances as there can be crazy snowfall also in summer. Alternatively, you can visit Kyrgyzstan in winter if you are interester in wintersports, however, wintertime won’t allow you to follow the 2 week Kyrgyzstan itinerary as described in this travel guide as many roads and treks will be inaccessible due to winter and the extreme temperatures. Also, yurt camps won’t be available.
Getting around Kyrgyzstan can be an adventure, as the rugged terrain and remote locations (without proper access roads) require flexibility and planning. The most common mode of transport is to join a group trip or a private driver. Alternatively, you can rent your own car (but bear in mind this is quite dangerous due to driving off-road. Check out this article of another blogger with more experience on self-driving through Kyrgyzstan) or shared taxis (marshrutkas). Once at a destination, hiking, cycling and horseback riding are the best ways to explore a specific countryside area such as Song-Kul or Ala-Kul. Please be aware, that it is important to plan for longer travel times, due to the rough roades.
Alternatively, you can use a combination and focus on shared taxis for shorter and more common routes, combined with private drivers.
– Bishkek (1 night upon arrival)
– Son Kul (2 nights)
– Kok-Kiya Valley & Kel Suu (2 nights)
– Tash Rabat & Panda Pass (2 nights)
– Issy-Kul (1 nights)
– Karakol & Ala Kul Hike (5 nights)
– Bishkek (1 night)
After arriving in Kyrgyzstan and staying for 1 night in Bishkek to accommodate, it is time to start the trip to the first destination of this Kyrgyzstan travel route: Son-Kul / Song-Kul. Song-Kul is the perfect location to start your Kyrgyzstan adventure, as it is a serene alpine lake surrounded by yurt camps. Therefore, it’s the perfect place to experience nomadic life and get used to sleeping in yurts at a higher altitude. One of the key activities to do around Son-Kul is to go horseback riding and explore the beautiful scenary. Spend your evenings overlooking the lake engaging with the nomadic family.
Son Kul is a 7 to 8 hour drive from Bishkek and breaks up your journey towards the southern regions of the country to continue your trip.
Where to stay in Son Kul: Zalkar Yurt Camp or Yurt Camp Azamat
After Song-Kul, it is time to travel to one of the highlights of Kyrgyzstan, the remote Kok Kiya Valley. Staying in one of the few beautiful yurt camps in the valley will leave you with stunning mountain views. During your full day in the Kok Kiya Valley, you can hike to the beautiful Kel Suu lake. Kel Suu is a stunning glacial lake surrounded by cliffs and is one of Kyrgyzstan’s most remote and breathtaking landscapes. Driving from Song-Kul to Kok Kiya Valley takes around 6 hours. Bear in mind you need to apply for a specific license to enter the valley, as it is a border area with China.
Where to stay in the Kok Kiya Valley: Yurt Camp Kolsuu at Bashy (€80 for five persons), Yurt camp visit Kol-Suu (€30pp), Bars Yurt Camp (€40)
Read more about visiting Kel Suu Lake and the Kok Kiya Valley here
If you need to skip part of your itinerary, I have to admit I was least impressed by this stop of the travel route.
After a visit to Tash Rabat, it is time to travel to Issyk-Kul for a relaxing day. Next to that, accommodation in Issyk-Kul provides a shower and wifi, so this is also the perfect location to recharge for your hike around the Ala Kul lake. Stay on the southern shore of Issyk-Kul. Issyk-Kul is the second-largest saline lake in the world and offers beautiful views. Also, the temperatures are pretty pleasant around the lake in summer. When at Issyk-Kul, also don’t forget to stop at the Fairytale Canyon and/or experience an eagle demonstration.
The drive from Tash Rabat to Issyk-Kul is about 6 hours.
Where to stay at Issyk-Kul: Bel Tam Yurt Camp, Ak Tengir Yurt Resort, Agat Yurt Camp, Remote. Forgotten Rivers
Next up is Karakol, where you can prepare for one of the highlights of your trip to Kyrgyzstan: the 4-day Ala Kul hike! Karakol town is one of the larger towns in Kyrgyzstan, including supermarkets and some hiking shops in case you still need some gear. In Karakol, you can stay in lovely guest houses, including a hot shower and wifi. From Issyk-Kul, it is a 2-hour drive to Karakol.
After one night in Karakol, you will embark on the challenging 4-day trek to Ala-Kul, a stunning alpine lake in the Terskey Alatau mountains.
During the first day, you will walk towards Sirota Camp through valleys and forests. The second day will focus on ascending to Ala-Kul lake, where you will stay the night. During the third day, you will cross the Ala-Kul pass, with amazing views over the Ala-Kul lake and afterwards start the descent to Altyn Arashan. Finally, on day 4, you will complete the hike by returning to Karakol, which is a relaxed hike. During the hike, you can best stay in a tent. There are some alternative options available, which can all be found – including a full hiking report – in my four day Ala Kul guide.
Where to stay in Karakol: Duet Hostel or Riverside Guesthouse.
Read more about the 4 day Ala Kul hike.
Where to stay in Bishkek: Terrasse Hotel & Bar (€70), Golden Hotel (€45), Navat Hotel (€70)
