Tian Shan Hikes

Day 01: Arrive Bishkek airport – TK
Meeting on arrival assistance and transfer to hotel
Later sightseeing tour of Bishkek
Meals and overnight

Day 02: Bishkek/Cholpan Ata – 311 kms
morning depart for Issikul enroute we shall visit Burana – the caravan town ruins dating 10^th to 12^th AD see the well preserved tower, the tone Balbals (funerary stones of heathen Turkic tribes) and the museum nearby
Lunch at a local house
Later continue to Cholpan Ata and on arrival transfer to Four Seasons Karven Resort
Later visit rock drawings bronze age down to 7^th AD.
Dinner and overnight

Day 03: Cholpan Ata/Altyn Arashan – 95 kms (3000m)
morning depart for Altyn Arashan set in the most beautiful and wooded part of Tian Shan ranges this is a beautiful valley with views of the peaks.
The road climbs steep on a 4x4 ride at the start of Altyn Arashan valley we shall take 4x4 Old Russian truck to enter the heart of the valley. On arrival we shall transfer to our campsite
Free hikes following the river gives you full chance to explore the virgin beauty leading the trek to Alakol lake
Meals and overnight at the camp

Day 04: Altyn Arashan
Full day hikes in the valley up to the peak views
Hot spring bath
Meals and overnight

Day 05: Altyn Arashan/Karakol – 85 kms
morning depart for Karakol on arrival at the road we shall mount our normal bus and drive to Tyup – see Preshevalsky Museum and monument
Later continue to Karakol and on arrival transfer to Green Yard Guest House
Lunch at guest house
Later visit the town of Karakol (Old Przhevalsky town) we shall visit the Russian Orthodox church, Dungan mosque and the local bazar
Dinner with a Dungan Family – enjoy the noodles
Overnight

Day 06: Karakol/Djeti Oghuz/Kochkorka – 299 kms
morning depart for Kochkorka enroute we shall visit Djeti Oghuz – see the beautiful nomad village with wonderful rock formations
After lunch proceed to Kochkhoka and on arrival transfer to Home Stays (comfortable and very homely!!!)
Dinner and overnight

Day 07: Kochkhorka/Songkol – 95 kms
Morning depart for Songkol – we shall take the rough road to the beautiful Songkol lake
On arrival transfer to Yurt camp
Later walk to the nomad camps nearby – see the horse keepers/herders
Meals and overnight

Day 08: Songkol/Tash Rabat – 379 kms
A long day of driving towards the border zones of Kyrgyzstan with China – often we bump into a nomadic camp – horses, sheep and cows are the dearest to a Kyrgyz herdsman
we shall drive some rough route over Dolon pass into the wider part of Tian Shan range.
After Naryn the road turns to be dusty with everyday heavy lorries passing by.
Later after Atbashy we drop out of the main road to a caravan path into Tash Rabat (stone resting station) as the name goes was a caravan sarai whose ruins are located next to your yurt camp – arrival and transfer to a yurt
time permitting take short breath to climb up the hills for a panoramic view of the valley
Meals and overnight

Day 09: Tash Rabat
A wonderful day of hikes up the valley continue the day walks and climb up a ridge for a view of Sino-Kyrgyz border line and grand view of snowy peaks of Tian Shan lunch pack
spend and explore the valley taking time to your heart – see the ancient caravan paths
return as the shadows lengthen
Dinner and overnight

Day 10: Tash Rabat/Naryn – kms
Morning short walks around the camp
We shall leave our camp dusting out of the valley onto the main road to Naryn
Lunch at the camp
On arrival transfer to Khan Tengri Guest House
Dinner and overnight

Day 11: Naryn/Bishkek – 349 kms
An easy drive passing the eastern edge of Issikul Lake with a lunch stop enroute and a visit
Lunch enroute at café
Arrive Bishkek in the late afternoon and transfer to Hotel Ambassador or similar
Dinner at a nice local restaurant
Overnight

Day 12: Bishkek/Depart - TK
Early morning transfer to airport for your departure flight
Assistance on departure