Lupine Trailbound

Itinerary

Day One, Aug 7 2027
Arrival in Bishkek

• Arrive in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

• After being transferred to the hotel, check in and spend the rest of the day at leisure. In the evening, there will be a welcome meeting with your tour leader.

• Overnight in Bishkek.
Day Two, Aug 8 2027
Bokonbayevo Eagle Hunting

• Make our way to the southern shore of Issyk Kul Lake. On the way, we will enjoy beautiful views of the Kyrgyz mountains and have photo opportunities.

• Upon arrival in Bokonbayevo, we will visit the local eagle hunter (berkutchi) and attend a traditional eagle hunting demonstration.

• After learning about the ancient nomadic tradition with golden eagles and seeing the birds in action, we will continue to our yurt stay for the night and watch the sunset at the picturesque shore of the lake.

• Overnight in a yurt.
Day Three, Aug 9 2027
Skazka Canyon & Issyk Kul

• Today we will continue to explore the southern shore of Issyk Kul Lake. We will have a short hike in the otherworldly Skazka (Fairytale) Canyon, where we will walk among red rock formations shaped by wind and erosion.

• After a traditional lunch (not included), we will return to the yurt camp to have some time at leisure to swim in the lake or simply enjoy the views and continue to acclimatise to the altitude.

• Overnight in a yurt.
Day Four, Aug 10 2027
Karakol

• Head east until we arrive in Karakol, the gateway to the Terskey Ala-Too mountains and the starting point of the Ala Kul Trek.

• Upon arrival, we will take a short city tour, visiting the main sites and then check into our hotel.

• The afternoon will be spent at leisure with enough time to prepare all necessary personal supplies and equipment for the Ala Kul Trek. In the evening, there will be a last equipment check to ensure everyone has the right gear.

• Overnight in Karakol.
Day Five, Aug 11 2027
Ala Kul Trek

• After an early breakfast, we will be transferred to the entrance of the Karakol National Park. Here we will find the trailhead and start our hike through Karakol Valley among beautiful spruce forests and along the meandering river.

• Along the way, we will be able to see semi-wild horses grazing and enjoying the crisp river water. As we continue our climb deeper into the gorge, the landscape becomes more alpine.

• Finally, after crossing an essential bridge, we approach the final ascent to Sirota camp, where we will relax for the rest of the evening among towering peaks and a crystal-clear meltwater lake at 2,900 metres above sea level.

Distance: ca. 15kms
Elevation Gain: ca. 900m
Day Six, Aug 12 2027
Sirota Camp to Altyn Arashan

• Today is the most challenging and spectacular day of the trek. From Sirota Camp, we will slowly and steadily ascend towards Ala Kul Lake, an awe-inspiring turquoise alpine lake surrounded by 4,000+ metre peaks.

• After a rest stop, we will continue to Ala Kul Pass, which summits at 3,900 metres above sea level. From there, we will be able to have panoramic views across the Terskey Ala Too mountains with their white-capped peaks and massive glaciers.

• We will then start our long descent towards Altyn Arashan Valley, where we will be able to relax our muscles in its famous hot springs.

Distance: ca. 18kms
Elevation Gain: ca. 1,200m
Day Seven, Aug 13 2027
Altyn Arashan to Ak Suu

• After a good night’s sleep, we will finish our hike by descending along the Arashan Valley. The path becomes much easier on the gentle downward gradient, and we will be able to enjoy the last views of Kyrgyzstan’s pristine wilderness.

• Upon arrival in Ak Suu, we will be picked up and transferred back to Karakol, where we will celebrate with an evening at leisure and the comforts of the city.

Distance: ca. 15kms
Elevation Gain: ca. 100m
Day Eight, Aug 14 2027
Ala Kul North Shore

• Return to Bishkek along the northern shore of Issyk Kul Lake, completing our circumnavigation of it.

• Upon arrival in Bishkek, we will take a tour taking in sites such as Ala-Too Square, OakPark, Erkindik Boulevard and the White House area.

• In the evening, there will be a farewell dinner to reminisce about the last 8 days.

• Overnight in Bishkek.
Day Nine, Aug 15 2027
Tour Ends

• Today the tour ends; transfer to the airport for international departure.

Kyrgyzstan: Eagles & Nomad Trails
Tour Price: £1745
Deposit: £350
Single room supplement: £180

Tour Price: £1745
Talk to a travel rep
info@lupinetravel.co.uk

Tour price
Room supplement
Deposit
Balance remaining