Kyrgyzstan: Tian Shan Gorge Trek

The tour starts in Bishkek. The group flights are scheduled to arrive into

Bishkek in the morning; those on the group flights will be met at the airport

and transferred to the hotel (approx. 40km/1hr drive). We have requested

early check-in for all clients so the rooms should be ready for when you

arrive. Land only clients who have booked their own flights should join at

the start hotel no later than midday as we have a city tour in the

afternoon. 



Bishkek is Kyrgyzstan’s modern capital city and industrial centre and this

afternoon we'll have a guided tour to explore its wide avenues and Soviet

heritage. We visit the Frunze Museum and Museum of Fine Arts (please note

that the National History Museum is closed for maintenance at the time of

writing) as well as the city's main sites (on foot and using transfers where

necessary), taking in Manas Monument, Lenin Statue, Ala-Too Square (where we

witness the ceremonial changing of the guard), Kurmanzhan Datka

Monument, and the Government buildings. We end the tour at Victory Square.

Today we take an excursion to Ala-Archa National Park, located about 40-60

minutes (40km) north of Bishkek and go for a gentle warm-up walk, usually to

a waterfall which takes approx. 4-5hrs for a round trip / 3.75km each way

We begin our journey towards the Tian Shan, or more specifically, the Terskey

Ala-Too Range. Our destination is Tosor on the southern shore of Lake

Issyk-Kul (the drive is approximately 310km/6-7 hours). We break up the

journey with a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site - Burana Tower, an

11th century minaret and the first of its kind in Central Asia and an

important point along the Great Silk Road. 



Issyk-Kul is the second largest salt lake in the world, after the Caspian Sea

(and fast becoming the largest as the Caspian Sea recedes), it measures 70km

by 180km and is almost 700m at its deepest point. Its name translates as 'Hot

Lake' and was given as, even in the depths of winter and despite being just

above 1,600m, it never freezes. The area around the lake is a mixture of

forest and meadow with a backdrop of towering mountains. 



Tonight, we usually sleep in a yurt camp but as space is limited,

occasionally we may have to stay in a guesthouse in Tamga village instead.

We have a free morning to take in the scenery, perhaps swim in the lake or

sunbathe on its shores. After lunch at the yurt camp, we drive for around

1.5hrs (70km) to Juuku Gorge and onwards into a smaller branch of the canyon

-  Juukuchak Gorge. Upon arrival, our tents will be ready and waiting for

us. We'll meet our trekking guides and camp staff, stretch our legs around

the camp, and this evening there will be a full trek briefing. 



*Full-service wild camping*

After breakfast we set off walking along a trail from the foot of the

mountains up and over Orto Bulak Pass (2,540m) in the Kichi-Kyzyl-Suu Gorge.

The scenery is pristine which adds to the beauty. 



*Full-service wild camping*

This morning we begin following the trail to Chon Kyzyl-Suu Gorge. Chon

Kyzyl-Suu Gorge is popular with Kyrgyz nomads, as there are many green

pastures and mountain rivers. We will usually see several nomadic families

along the way, together with their livestock and yurt settlements. We'll

reach our campsite at Djili-Suu in the early afternoon. After reaching our

camp there is an opportunity to take our jeep to the nearby hot springs.

There are several small pools with hot springs and the waters are believed to

have good health properties. 



*Full-service wild camping*

We continue our hike to the Jety-Oguz Gorge, one of the most beautiful and

famous canyons in Kyrgyzstan. To reach this gorge, we have to cross the river

and cross the Kok-Jaiyk Pass (2750m). It's quite a climb but the view from

the top of the pass will give us a new appreciation of these so called

'celestial mountains' as we're rewarded with an unforgettable mountain

panorama. During today's walk, we will also get magnificent views of Lake

Issyk-Kul. At the end of the day, we reach the yurt camp - a chance to grab a

shower. 

This morning we meet our team of porters who will carry our main luggage for

the remainder of the trek. We follow a path along the bank of the West

Telety River, through a very narrow wooded gorge (Bay Tor), and eventually

emerge in alpine meadows. We usually stop for a picnic lunch in the meadows,

which are awash with colour in spring as the wild flowers bloom. After a

rest, we continue the trek to our tented camp (approx. 3000m) at the foot of

Telety Pass. After settling into our tents there is the option to take a

short 1km walk to the nearby waterfall.



*Full-service camping (fixed tented camp)*

Today is a challenging day with a reasonable amount of ascent and descent and

some tricky terrain. The route over Telety Pass follows a narrow path which

ascends gradually for the most part. There are however, two steep slopes,

which require considerable effort. From the top of the pass (3,800m) the

views are spectacular. The descent is along a wide slope covered with talus,

which gives way to alpine meadows and then follows the East Telety River. One

of the latter sections of the trail passes through woodland, where you will

need to concentrate on your footing to avoid the overgrown tree roots.

Tonight's camp is situated at about 2,500m elevation.



*Full-service camping (fixed tented camp)*

Today we go on a return daywalk up and along Uyun Tor River to the foot of

Karakol Peak. We have a chance to see Tien Shan blue spruce forest, underwood

(dog rose, honeysuckle, black barberries, mountain ash, black currents, etc.)

and wild mushrooms. In the summer flowers are in bloom in the meadows, such

as snowdrops, tulips, primroses, and edelweiss. We trek to a point from where

we can see Karakol Peak, the highest of the Terskey Ala-Too Range.



*Full-service camping (fixed tented camp)*

Although the distance today is not great, this is a tough walk due to the

amount of ascent, especially if it is hot. We firstly descend along the gorge

for about a kilometre, and then cross the river by bridge to follow the trail

into a forest. A long ascent brings us to a grassy slope, from where the path

snakes its way onwards, passing by a river overflow, to finally arrive at a

log hut, known locally as Sirota mountain hut. There's a table, benches and

a fireplace inside - the perfect spot for a rest and a snack. There are some

sculptures of animals and idols carved in wood in the area surrounding the

hut, like something out of a fairy-tale. From here, the trail climbs up

higher, and leaving the forest behind, we hike along the river and reach a

beautiful waterfall, flowing down from Ala-Kul Lake. Tonight's camp is

situated at approx. 3,600m elevation.



*Full-service camping (fixed tented camp)*

As we ascend we enjoy wonderful views of the lake - in the Kyrgyz language

Ala-Kul means "colourful Lake", and its water can appear in different colours

depending on the light. As we get closer to its shores, we see the main

Terskey Ala-Too Range, including Aksu, Djigit, Karakol and Oguz Bashi Peaks.

From the lake edge, it will take us another hour and a half to the pass. The

initial descent from the pass is on a steep scree slope, and then through

the picturesque Keldike Valley, where we'll encounter herds of cattle and

flocks of sheep grazing. Later the trail brings us into a forest again and

descends into Arashan Valley. 



At the tent camp in Altyn Arashan, there's the option to relax in the hot

springs (there are thermal baths of up to +50degC).



*Full-service camping (fixed tented camp)*

This morning we spend some time admiring Altyn Arashan and the surrounding

area, especially the fir forest in contrast with the snowy mountain backdrop.

We then descend to Karakol town by military truck (approx. 1 hour). 

Depending on the 'road' conditions we may walk along the river as far as the

national park gates before continuing by truck. 



We'll have a short sightseeing tour of the town, visiting Dungan Mosque, the

Russian Orthodox Cathedral and Prjevalskii Memorial Complex.



Tonight's dinner will be taken in a Dungan family home in Karakol town, where

we can see traditional cooking methods and learn how to make lagman noodles,

before sitting down to eat together.

We drive back to Bishkek, stopping to visit the Cholpon Ata Petroglyphs along

the north shore of Lake Issyk-Kul en route. The drive is approximately 250km

and takes 5-6 hours - we'll stop for lunch at a road cafe on the way. 



Close to Cholpon Ata are Scythian burial mounds, as well as the 'stone

forest' or petroglyphs which are between 4,000 and 1,400 years old. They are

located at the foot of Kungei Alatau Ridge at a scenic spot overlooking the

lake.



A farewell dinner is included in Bishkek and if you wish, there is the option

to arrange a Kyrgyz folklore show. The talented musicians and singers wear

traditional Kyrgyz costumes and play a wide range of national musical

instruments – including a Komuz (a three-stringed wooden musical

instrument) to Chopo Choi (wind instrument made of mountain reed).

The tour ends in Bishkek after breakfast. Those who are travelling on the

group flights will be transferred to the airport in time for the flight back

to London. The group flights are scheduled to depart early in the morning and

arrive into London the same day.