We have prepared a route to the main attractions for those who are not familiar with Kyrgyzstan – a growing tourist destination. There are enough interesting places to travel around the vibrant representative of Central Asia for two weeks. We have chosen points for quick acquaintance that best reflect the flavor of the country. Visit them and you will definitely want to come back.
What you need to know before your trip:
- The state language is Kyrgyz. Russian has official status, almost all residents speak it.
- Religion. The majority of the population is Sunni Muslims. At the same time, Kyrgyzstan is a secular state.
- The national currency of Kyrgyzstan is the som. 100 soms are equal to 87 rubles*, but it’s better to check the exchange rate right before the trip.
The best time to travel in the warm season is August and September. July is considered the hottest month. In summer, the air often warms up to +40℃. By August, the water in the lakes becomes comfortable for swimming, so we definitely recommend swimming. In September the heat subsides, and the markets are bursting with fruit harvests.
Day one. Bishkek
How to get to Bishkek
Tickets from Moscow to Bishkek and back during the season cost about 20,000 rubles*. Travel time is four hours. To travel around the country, it is best to rent a car. Renting a car on OneTwoTrip will cost 8,000 rubles* per day.
Where to live in Bishkek
In the center of Bishkek there are hotels Orion, Ramada, Ambassador. The cost of a night starts from 6,000 rubles* for two. There are many offers of apartments and apartments for daily rent. There are also simpler options in the center – from 2500 rubles*.
What to see in Bishkek
Let’s begin our acquaintance with the capital of Kyrgyzstan in its very heart – on Ala-Too Square. Here is the State Historical Museum with one of the largest exhibitions in Central Asia. It is also worth visiting the National Museum of Fine Arts named after Gapar Aitiev, which displays works by Kyrgyz artists. The ticket costs 100 som*. With an excursion you will be able to learn more about the traditions of the country.
After the cultural program, take a walk through the main park of Bishkek, Dubovoy. On its open-air territory there is a Sculpture Museum. The oldest building in the city is St. Nicholas Church. Also be sure to stop by the Borborduk Mosque. Next, go for a walk along Chui Avenue – this is one of the central streets of the capital of Kyrgyzstan. On the way, pay attention to monumental architectural monuments: the Kozhomkul Sports Palace, the Rossiya cinema, the Frunze Museum. Check out Victory Park. Along the avenue you will come to the famous Osh Bazaar – perhaps the most colorful place in the city. Spices, dried fruits, tea, dishes, bright fabrics and carpets are sold here.
For a complete immersion in history, head to the Ata-Beyit memorial complex, 30 km from the city. More than 137 Kyrgyzstanis were shot in this place during Stalin’s repressions. The writer Chingiz Aitmatov is also buried here. Thematic excursions are held on site and there is a museum.
Where available in Bishkek
Traditional food is served in the Navat, Yr Kese restaurants and the Charpaya teahouse. Order pilaf, lagman, manti, all kinds of flatbreads, the national drink maksym, Karakol ashlyam-fu and pies.
Day two. Burana Tower and Konorchek Canyon
How to get to Burana Tower and Konorchek Canyon
First stop – Burana Tower in the Chui Valley, located 80 km from Bishkek.
What to watch
Burana Tower is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the country. The minaret was built in the 10th-11th centuries. The complex is an open-air museum with petroglyphs and stone sculptures. The tower itself, which offers a view of the entire settlement, is allowed for a nominal fee. Nearby there is also a rock garden with balbals – ancient tombstones.
After exploring the archaeological site, go see the local version of the Grand Canyon, located 80 km from Burana Tower. Get ready for trekking – you can only get to the Konorchek canyon through labyrinths of rocks along the bed of a dry river. Here you will see the remains of the ancient volcano Segizkhan-Shokny, and once upon a time Issyk-Kul reached these places.
Where to stay
From the canyon to Issyk-Kul, where our next stop will be, is 40 km. One of the most famous cities on the lake is Cholpon-Ata. You can stay in a guest house, of which there are many. Prices start from 1000 rubles* per night for two.
Days three and four. Lake Issyk-Kul
What to see on Lake Issyk-Kul
Issyk-Kul is the main natural attraction and generally recognized highlight of Kyrgyzstan. The name translates as “hot lake”: in winter the reservoir does not freeze. In summer, local residents come here as if they were at sea: the water warms up to an average of +20 ℃. We recommend devoting at least two days to this place to feel like you’re at a resort and have a great rest.
Issyk-Kul consists of two banks. The northern one is more suitable for tourists; many boarding houses and sanatoriums have been built there for any budget. The southern coast is not yet so developed. There you will find yurt camps, wild beaches, canyons and waterfalls.
Dedicate the first day to exploring the northern coast: the coast of Cholpon-Ata is famous for its white sand and clear water. To explore the lake, we recommend renting a boat or kayak. Excursions to the Grigorievskoye and Semenovskoye gorges are carried out from Cholpon-Ata; the trip will take about four hours. Grigorievskoye is narrower and rockier, while Semenovskoye is flat and covered with forbs. Another way to spend time on the north shore is to swim in the hot springs. The most common fish in the lake is the Issyk-Kul chebak, be sure to try it with beer. In the late afternoon, drive to Karakol, where the southern coast begins.
Where to stay on Lake Issyk-Kul
In Karakol there are comfortable accommodation options like the Hillside Hotel for 3,600 rubles per night for two. There are also plenty of budget guest houses; you can spend the night in a traditional yurt for 1000 rubles.
For those who are not interested in a beach holiday, we suggest trekking on the fourth day. In the Karakol gorge there is a ski resort of the same name. The lift will take you to the very peak overlooking the lake. 30 km from Karakol there is a picturesque resort – Jety-Oguz gorge. It consists of red rocks covered with dense forests. One of the tourist attraction points is the Broken Heart Rock. If the temperature of Issyk-Kul is low for you, go to the village of Jyrgalan, where there is a resort with thermal springs. Another hot springs – Altyn-Arashan – are located in the gorge of the same name, 10 km from Karakol.
The night can again be spent in Karakol or in another settlement on the southern coast. And early in the morning, go back to Bishkek. The capital from this point is 400 km, which is 5-6 hours on the road.
Day five. Ala-Archa National Park
How to get to Ala-Archa National Park
It is located 40 km from Bishkek. There is a famous gorge on the territory, after which the park is named. On the last day, we suggest avoiding long journeys and taking a break from the road in nature.
Minibus No. 265 runs from the Osh market in Bishkek to the entrance to the gorge. The fare costs 50 som*. A taxi ride will cost 500-600 soms. Entrance to the park is paid – 500 som* per car.
Ala-Archa is a mecca for climbers. Professionals regularly climb here, but there are also regular walking routes. Tourists come to breathe fresh mountain air and walk to the Ak-Sai waterfall. In such an area it is great to take a horseback ride: an hour costs 400 soms*. You can relax in a gazebo, yurt, rent a tapchan or cauldron.
*Prices valid at time of publication
