9 Day itinerary in Kyrgyzstan, Asia
This journey into the heart of nomadic culture invites you to explore the stunning landscapes of the majestic Pamir Mountains while gaining insight into the traditions of local indigenous people who have preserved their nomadic lifestyle that harmonizes with nature. As you trek through the Pamirs a... Read More
By Olga
Physical Difficulty
Recommended Age
Operated in
GUIDANCE
starting point
trip type
trip attributes
Meet local people
Adventure
Walking tour
Culture & History
Start
Night
End
Transfer to the Pamirs, “Edelweiss Meadow” yurt camp
Hiking to the lakes of the Achik-Tash River valley and the sacred Tulpar-Kol Lake.
Trekking to Puteshestvennikov (Traveller’s) Pass (4150 m).
Hiking along the other side of Achik-Tash canyon.
Transfer to the Pamirs, “Edelweiss Meadow” yurt camp
Hiking to the lakes of the Achik-Tash River valley and the sacred Tulpar-Kol Lake.
Trekking to Puteshestvennikov (Traveller’s) Pass (4150 m).
Hiking along the other side of Achik-Tash canyon.
Accommodation Categories
Arrival in Bishkek. Domestic flight Bishkek – Osh.
Arrival in the international airport “Manas” (Bishkek). Domestic flight to Osh. Meeting at the airport of Osh. Transfer and check in at the hotel after 14:00. Leisure time.
Osh, known as the "southern capital", is the second-largest city in Kyrgyzstan, located at an altitude of 963 meters above sea level, on the southeastern edge of the fertile Ferghana Valley, right at the foot of the Pamir-Alay mountains.
Depending on your arrival time, we recommend taking a self-guided walk through the city center. You can visit the local bazaar or the shopping street filled with dozens of shops and street food options. If you’d like, you can also pick up a tourist SIM card with an Internet package (it works perfectly in the Pamir Mountains) or take the stairway trail up to the sacred Suleiman-Too Mountain, which takes about half an hour to reach the viewpoint at 1092 meters. From there, you'll enjoy stunning panoramic views of the entire city of Osh. At this viewpoint, you'll find a massive flag of Kyrgyzstan waving and a small mosque called Babur's house (15th-16th centuries), who was the grandson of Tamerlane. The setting of this mountain right in the city center adds to its appeal, and if you go closer to sunset, you'll catch the most breathtaking views.
Overnight at the hotel.
Guide: Included for the day
Osh – Kyrgyz-Ata National Park – Osh.
Transfer to Kyrgyz-Ata National Park, located in the foothills of the Alay Mountains. We’ll take a scenic walk up the picturesque gorge to an altitude of about 1600 meters, reaching a viewpoint with stunning views of the surrounding peaks. Along the way, we’ll see juniper forests, thickets of barberry and wild rose, a rushing river with crystal-clear water, yaks grazing, horses, and the endlessly beautiful vertical perspective in the distant haze. There, the fresh mountain breeze already whispers hints of tomorrow's ascent into the high mountains.
Lunch in a yurt will feature a tasting of national dishes and kumis, along with an acquaintance with daily life and traditions of nomads. Optional horse riding (extra charge).
Return to Osh. The slight gain and drop in altitude today is a part of acclimatization before the high mountains.
Travel time: 4 hrs; altitude difference: +640 m, -640 m.
Meals: breakfast, lunch.
Overnight at the hotel.
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Transfer to the Pamir mountains, “Edelweiss Meadow” yurt camp.
Transfer along the Pamir Highway, which is ranked among the top 10 most beautiful roads in the world by National Geographic. The drive promises to be incredibly scenic, so grab a window seat: we’ll see red mountains and rivers, the vastness of the Alay Valley, and the dizzying serpentine road of the Taldyk Pass (3600 m), and finally, the snowy northern face of the seven-thousander, Lenin Peak (7134 m).
Upon arrival at the yurt camp, situated in the Edelweiss Meadow (3600 m) with the best views of Lenin Peak, we’ll check-in and enjoy lunch.
Afterward, we’ll take a walk to the Lukovaya (Leek) Meadow (3800 m) – a protected meadow that was once place for climbing camps but is now inhabited only by marmots and wild green onions. During the height of the swift Pamir summer, the meadow turns into a vibrant green carpet with a riot of colors, and by the end of August, it becomes a silent realm painted in ochre hues.
We'll follow a beautiful route along the edge of the Achik-Tash Canyon, where we’ll see whimsical pillar-like rocks, a conical pyramid, the confluence of two rivers, and colorful mountains. We’ll hear the rush of water and the resonant silence of the stones.
Walking time: 2 hrs; altitude difference: +250 m, -250 m.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Overnight at “Edelweiss Meadow” camp (3600 m).
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking to the lakes of the Achik-Tash River valley and the sacred Tulpar-Kol Lake.
Travel time: 5–6 hrs; altitude difference: -260 m, +260 m.
We’ll start this morning with an easy hiking along the picturesque "fjords" of the Achik-Tash Valley, dotted with a variety of beautiful, colorful lakes. Some of them even join together, changing shapes every year. Their sparkling turquoise surface reflects the impressive peaks of the Pamirs, and herds of yaks often graze along the shores.
Next, we’ll head to the large, pristine Tulpar-Kol Lake. We’ll descend to the river and cross a bridge to the other side, where the sacred lake lies. The locals believe one shouldn't take water, bathe, and feed cattle or fish. According to shepherds, it's best to come to the lake with a clear mind. You can pray on the shore, dip sick parts of your body or sprinkle them with water, and you'll definitely receive healing. We’ll walk around the lake, taking in its winding shapes from different view points, and learn about the daily life and traditions of the nomadic Kyrgyz whose yurts are nearby. Along the way, we may encounter donkeys, horses, and untouched meadows filled with delicate blooming edelweiss, vibrant buttercups, and alpine forget-me-nots.
Return to the yurt camp. Culinary master class on cooking Uzgen plov.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Overnight at “Edelweiss Meadow” camp (3600 m).
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking along the other side of Achik-Tash canyon.
Travel time: 6 hrs; altitude difference: +500 m, -500 m.
Today, we'll experience unique panoramas that almost no one visiting Lenin Peak gets to see, as the main routes follow the Base Camps' side, and very few travelers cross to the other side of the river.
We’ll cross the familiar bridge over the Achik-Tash River and head upward, parallel to the steep canyon toward the massive glacier of Lenin Peak. Upon reaching the confluence of the rivers, we’ll find ourselves at a stunning panoramic view point offering vistas of ancient ice, snow and moraines, rainbow-colored mountains, the green plateau of Lukovaya (Leek) Meadow, the rugged ridge of Petrovsky Peak (4700 m), the entire picturesque Achik-Tash Canyon, and our yurt camp from an unusual point, along with alpine meadows and herds of yaks.
In the distance, we’ll spot the climbing route and the summit of Lenin Peak, the famous snow-ice plateau "Skovoroda," Peak of the 19th Party Congress (5920 m), Spartak Peak (6183 m), Krylenko Pass (5820 m), and Puteshestvennikov (Traveller’s) Pass (4150 m).
Return to the yurt camp.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Overnight at “Edelweiss Meadow” camp (3600 m).
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Trekking to Traveller’s Pass (4150 m).
Travel time: 6–7 hrs; altitude difference: +550 m, - 550 m.
The route of ascent to the Puteshestvennikov (Traveller’s) Pass (4150 m) runs through the Lukovaya (Leek) Meadow, a beautiful canyon of the left tributary of the Achik-Tash River, and further goes through a small picturesque waterfall. On this trail, you might meet groups of climbers either ascending or descending from the upper camps or the summit of Lenin Peak. As you ascend the pass, remember to look back occasionally to admire the green valley unfolding below, akin to a helicopter view.
At the pass, we’ll enjoy a break and one of the best views of the magnificent Lenin Peak (7134 m) and its glacier, as well as the nearby six-thousanders and five-thousanders. This is the highest point of our route and the emotional culmination of the entire tour. Those who wish can ascend a bit higher along the ridge to 4200 m for an even better panoramic view of the valley.
Descent from the pass and return to the camp.
Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Overnight at “Edelweiss Meadow” camp (3600 m).
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Transfer Edelweiss meadow – Daroot-Korgon village – Sary-Mogol village – Osh.
Travel time: 8-9 hrs.
Early breakfast. Transfer to the famous Alay Valley. We’ll visit villages and houses of locals, immersing ourselves in the atmosphere of real Asia.
Our first stop is the small town of Daroot-Korgon, the regional center of Chon-Alay and the southernmost settlement in Kyrgyzstan, once crossed by the Great Silk Road. Excursion program with a visit the ruins of an ancient fortress (19th century) known as ‘Kuldatka Wall’, named after one of the military leaders. In the times of the Kokand Khanate, the fortress served as the residence for the Kokand governors, as well as for traders travelling along the caravan route.
The locals have carefully preserved not only their lifestyle and national cuisine, but also their handicrafts. We will visit a traditional local family, experience their way of life and watch the traditional process of hand-making felt carpets. In Kyrgyz culture, carpets are used not only to decorate the home, but also to reflect folk traditions and customs. For example, the ornamentation is the language through which folk legends are passed down from generation to generation.
Next, we will visit the village of Sary-Mogol to see a traditional Kyrgyz dress demonstration. Spend time with a local family, enjoy lunch in the village. Excursion to the Ethnographic Museum, founded in 1962. The museum features over 100 unique exhibits, each telling its own story about the life and traditions of the people.
After the tour, we will transfer to Osh through the high-altitude Taldyk Pass (3615 m) and Chiirchik Pass (2408 m). Arrival in Osh. Check-in at the hotel and rest.
Meals: breakfast, lunch.
Overnight at the hotel.
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Domestic flight Osh – Bishkek.
Transfer to the airport. Domestic flight to Bishkek. Meeting at the airport of Bishkek. Transfer and check-in at the hotel after 14:00. Leisure time.
Meals: breakfast.
Overnight at the hotel.
Guide: Included for the day
Meals: Breakfast
Departure from Bishkek.
Transfer to the airport. The end of the program.
Meals: breakfast.
Meals: Breakfast
Meals
Transport
Activities
Not Included
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