9 Days | Travel off the beaten path and onto the old Silk Route for the spectacular landscapes of Central Asia
Explore the old Silk Route in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan with this nine-day adventure full of stunning natural landscapes, chances to connect to local people and traditional cuisine. With a knowledgeable local leader by your side, you’ll visit Sharyn Canyon, Skazka Canyon and Jety Oguz Valley and go on hikes to soak up the scenery. Spend a night in a traditional yurt camp, after learning about how these are still manufactured without electric tools, alongside the massive alpine lake of Issky-Kul. See the monuments, learn the histories and dive into the local cultures of main cities like Bishkek and Almaty. Visit a family-owned winery for a tasting, head to a small local village for a traditional lunch and enjoy a masterclass of local cuisine from a Dungan family. With all this and more, what’s holding you back from your next adventure?
Trip overview
- Start
- Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Finish
- Almaty, Kazakhstan
- Theme
- Explorer
- Destinations
- Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan
- Physical rating
- Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
- Style
- Premium
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 12
- Trip code
- KFPK
- Head off the tourist track and see some incredible natural landscapes – on this trip, you’ll visit Sharyn Canyon (nicknamed the little brother of the Grand Canyon), Jety Oguz, Skazka Canyon and Lake Isky-Kul.
- Soak up some of the layered history and diverse architecture of two former Silk Route cities – Almaty in Kazakhstan and Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan.
- Spend a memorable night in a comfortable yurt camp for an authentic local experience. You’ll have dinner around the campfire with the locals and wake up in the morning beside Lake Issyk-Kul – the second largest alpine lake in the world!
- Meet local artisans keeping traditional craftsmanship alive – meet with a local yurt maker and learn how they make these tents without electric tools, see how felt rugs are made and visit a leather workshop.
- Feast on delicious local cuisine with visits to a family-owned winery in Almaty, a family home of local Dungan people for dinner and a traditional lunch in a remote Kyzyl Tuu Village.
- This trip involves some long journeys by road, but you will stop at many interesting places along the way to stretch your legs.
- Accommodation may not always live up to western expectations and may lack some amenities you would expect from other Premium accommodation. The accommodation chosen will be among the best available, it will be well-located and comfortable.
- Your yurt accommodation is comfortable, but relatively basic. We think this is an essential part of visiting the region, and worth sacrificing some amenities for a memorable night in a spectacular place. Because these are sacred dwellings, there are no bathrooms within the yurt. Shared facilities will be available.
- A single supplement is not available on Day 5 at the yurt camp.
Itinerary
Inclusions
8 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
Private vehicle
Hotel (7 nights), Yurt Feature Stay (1 night)
- Arrival airport transfer
- Tipping for accommodation, activities and transport
- Luggage transfer
- Daily breakfast and signature local meal experiences
- 24/7 on-ground support
- Almaty - Welcome Dinner
- Almaty - City tour with local guide
- Almaty - Winery Visit, Tasting and dinner
- Bishkek Orientation Walk
- Bishkek - Tamgaly Tas - petroglyphs
- Bishkek - City walking tour
- Bishkek - Central Asian Textile Visit
- Issky Kul - Kyzyl Tuu - Yurt Making Workshop
- Bishkek - Burana Tower
- Karakol - Skazka Canyon Visit
- Karakol - Jety Oguz Visit
- Karakol - City Tour
- Karakol - Dungan Family Visit and Cooking Masterclass
- Almaty - Charyn Canyon Hike
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
2. A single supplement is available if you'd prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
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