Twelve winter days between Bishkek, the shore of Issyk-Kul and the valleys above Karakol. A lake that never freezes, hot springs in the snow, an afternoon with an eagle hunter, two felt workshops and a New Year's table set the Kyrgyz way. This is not a ski trip: one optional day on the slopes, the rest moves slower than that.
Issyk-Kul is too deep and just salty enough never to freeze. In December the shore is quiet, the mountains across the water are white, and the hot springs are at their best when the air is well below zero.
Berkutchi hunt from late autumn to early spring, when the fox's coat is thick and the bird is in condition. In summer you see a photograph. In January you see a hunt.
New Year's Eve is the biggest family evening of the year here. A long table, beshbarmak, music, toasts that go on, and midnight on the lakeshore. We spend it with a local family, not in a hotel ballroom.
| Day | Date | Programme | Night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day1 | 27.12 | Arrival at Manas, usually at night via Istanbul. Transfer, rest. Welcome dinner in the evening. | NightBishkek, hotel |
| Day2 | 28.12 | Bishkek: Ala-Too Square, the History Museum, Osh Bazaar. Felt workshop: how a shyrdak is born. Dinner at Supara. | NightBishkek |
| Day3 | 29.12 | Ala-Archa gorge: a snowshoe walk, lunch in the mountains. Evening free. | NightBishkek |
| Day4 | 30.12 | Chunkurchak: snow, tubing, tea by the fire. The Boom gorge. Hot springs on the Issyk-Kul shore in the evening. | NightCholpon-Ata |
| Day5 | 31.12 | Petroglyphs, a walk along the winter shore. New Year's Eve: a Kyrgyz festive table, music, midnight by the lake. | NightCholpon-Ata |
| Day6 | 01.01 | A slow day: springs, sleep, a walk. Dinner with a local family in the evening. | NightCholpon-Ata |
| Day7 | 02.01 | Along the north shore to Karakol. The Dungan mosque, the Holy Trinity church, dinner with a Dungan family. | NightKarakol |
| Day8 | 03.01 | Jeti-Oguz and Altyn-Arashan: gorges, hot springs in the mountains. For those who wish, a day at the ski base (pass and rental paid separately). | NightKarakol |
| Day9 | 04.01 | The south shore: Skazka canyon, Bokonbaevo — an eagle hunter and a hunting demonstration, a felt workshop, lunch in a yurt. | NightBokonbaevo, guesthouse |
| Day10 | 05.01 | The road back to Bishkek along the north shore. On the way, the Burana tower and the Balasagun site near Tokmok. Bishkek in the evening. | NightBishkek |
| Day11 | 06.01 | Free day: shopping, banya, Chunkurchak or a spa if you like. Farewell dinner. | NightBishkek |
| Day12 | 07.01 | Transfer to Manas, departure. | Night— |
The same route with Karakol at its centre: two days in Bishkek and Ala-Archa, the springs at Cholpon-Ata, five days of skiing above Karakol with a five-day pass included, and the way back through Bokonbaevo. Same price, €2 500.
Full programme coming shortly
Single room: supplement of €350.
Flights, turnkey: we book in your name, +€700–900 at cost.
Citizens of EU countries enter Kyrgyzstan without a visa for up to 60 days. A passport valid for the duration of the trip is enough.
Via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines or Pegasus; the Istanbul–Bishkek leg takes about 6–7 hours. Flights usually land in Bishkek at night, which is why day one begins with rest. If you prefer, we book the whole itinerary in your name for +€700–900 at cost.
Between −5 and −15 °C during the day, colder at night in the mountains. Layers, a warm windproof jacket, insulated boots, a hat and gloves, sunglasses. A swimsuit for the hot springs. Skiwear only if you plan to take the optional ski day.
Kyrgyzstan is a calm country with a long tradition of hospitality. You travel with a guide and a driver for all twelve days, in a private minibus, staying in places we know personally. We stay in touch on WhatsApp throughout.
Meat, hand-pulled noodles, bread, dairy and a great deal of tea: beshbarmak, lagman, plov, manty. If you are vegetarian or have allergies, tell us when booking and we will agree the menu with each host in advance.
Yes. On arrival you receive a local SIM card with data. Coverage is good in towns and along the lake; in the gorges it may disappear for a few hours.
Eight to ten places per departure. Leave your details and we will reply personally within two days, with the contract and the next steps.