Rafting on the Chu River
A rafting stop on the Chu River on the way back from Issyk-Kul to Bishkek (day 11).
from $110.00 US dollars per person
Kyrgyzstan · Tian Shan
Kyrgyzstan
Nomads, Yurts, and Celestial Mountains
Duration
11 days / 10 nights
Region
Kyrgyzstan · Tian Shan
Trip investment
Paying in one instalment$4,720.00 US dollarsYou save $410.00 US dollars (8%).per person
Making deferred payments: total $5,130.00 US dollars · deposit $1,000.00 US dollars + up to 10 deferred payments of approximately $413.00 US dollars each
Book today and pay in up to 10 deferred payments. The sooner you book, the lighter your payments.
August 1–11, 2027 · 5 left
Plan with context
Trip essentials
- Start & finish
- Starts in Bishkek · exact end point pending confirmation
- Local currency
- Kyrgyzstani som (KGS)
- Cards & cash
- Cards in cities; cash is essential at yurts and in the mountains. Withdraw KGS 10,000–15,000 in Bishkek. You can bring US dollars in cash to exchange for local currency at banks or authorized exchange offices on arrival, before visiting remote areas. Bring notes in good condition and check exchange opening hours and requirements.
- Physical demand
- High — altitude, trekking, horseback riding and remote roads
- Coffee reference
- Bishkek: approx. KGS 212 · approx. $2.43 US dollars
Practical references checked on Sep 16, 2026. Prices and exchange rates may change.
Information verified in October 2026
Visas and entry requirements
For this trip, prior formalities are needed for: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay.
Reference information; requirements may change. Confirm on the official site before you travel.
01 — THE TRIP
A journey through the Tian Shan: high alpine lakes, yurt camps, horses, and Central Asia's most vibrant nomadic culture.
01Song-Kul Lake
02Nomadic Yurts
03Jyrgalan Valley
04Issyk-Kul Lake
02 — WHAT'S COVERED
Included
- 11 nights of accommodation with breakfast
- 4x4 transport with a driver-guide for the whole route
- Wandernow guide
- Horseback ride at Song-Kul Lake (Day 4)
- Hike to Kel-Suu Lake
- Hike to the Jeti-Ögüz Valley (Day 7)
- Full-day trek in Jyrgalan (Day 9)
Luggage: Due to vehicle capacity, each traveler may bring only one suitcase of up to 15 kg and one backpack. Any additional luggage is the traveler's responsibility and must be handled on their own, for example by leaving it at the base hotel, subject to the hotel's availability.
Not included
- International flights
- Meals not listed
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
Groups of maximum 16 travelers, ages 6 to 100. Every trip has different physical requirements, so if a minor joins, they should be an independent kid who enjoys being outdoors — not one glued to an iPad all day. Solo travelers are welcome: we pair men with men and women with women in double or triple occupancy.
International flights are not included unless expressly stated on the trip page.
International community
You travel with people from all over the world
On any given departure you may share the route with travelers from Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Spain and other countries. We don't sell tours: we offer guided adventure trips, run in Spanish, in small groups of maximum 16 people.
- International groups: depending on the date, travelers from different Spanish-speaking countries may join
- A Spanish-speaking Wandernow guide throughout, plus local guides (in English, sometimes Spanish) who add the local perspective
- We don't sell tours: we offer guided adventure trips, in Spanish, in small groups of maximum 16 people.
Available optional activities
Two ways to add river and horseback adventure to the trip.
Horseback ride to Kel-Suu Lake
A full day on horseback to Kel-Suu Lake, one of the most beautiful in Kyrgyzstan: 8 km each way (day 5).
from $100.00 US dollars per person
These activities can be added once your trip is booked. Reference prices, subject to confirmation before departure.
Why travel with us?
No more than 16 travelers—never a tour bus.
A Wandernow guide with you throughout the journey.
International groups—you meet people from other countries along the way.
We don't sell tours ruled by a fixed schedule: the best part of a journey is often what wasn't planned. If you know how to let go and flow, this trip is for you.
03 — ROUTE
Route
Itinerary day by day
- Day 1
Arrival in Bishkek · Welcome at 2:00 PM and room check-in at 3:00 PM
We arrive in Bishkek, settle in and take an orientation walk. We begin exploring the first stop on our journey together.
- Day 2
Bishkek · Konorchek Canyon · 4x4 transfer
We travel by 4x4 to Konorchek. We leave the vehicle to walk through the gorge's red-rock canyons.
- Day 3
Konorchek · Song-Kul Lake · 4x4 transfer to the alpine lake
We continue by 4x4 to Song-Kul Lake. We spend the afternoon with nomadic families and settle into the yurt camp.
- Day 4
Song-Kul Lake · Horseback ride across the meadows around the lake
We ride horses across the meadows around Song-Kul. We have a free afternoon to end the day beside the lake.
- Day 5
Song-Kul Lake · Naryn · 4x4 transfer
We travel by 4x4 to Naryn. We explore the town before settling in to rest after the day's journey. Those who want can add an optional hike to Kel-Suu Lake (8 km one way), accompanied by one of our English-speaking drivers.
- Day 6
Naryn · Karakol · 4x4 transfer
We travel by 4x4 from Naryn to Karakol. We visit the livestock market and explore the town centre.
- Day 7
Karakol · Hike to the Jeti-Ögüz Valley ("Seven Bulls")
We walk towards the Jeti-Ögüz Valley, or Seven Bulls. Afterwards we have a free afternoon before another night in Karakol.
- Day 8
Karakol · Jyrgalan Valley · 4x4 transfer
We travel by 4x4 to Jyrgalan. An orientation walk brings us together in the valley before the trekking day.
- Day 9
Jyrgalan Valley · Trek · Full-day trek in the valley mountains
We devote the full day to hiking through the mountains of Jyrgalan Valley. We share this stage on foot before resting there again.
- Day 10
Jyrgalan · Issyk-Kul Lake · 4x4 transfer
We travel by 4x4 to Issyk-Kul Lake. The afternoon is free beside the lake before our final day.
- Day 11
Issyk-Kul Lake · Bishkek · Return transfer to Bishkek with stops at the Chu River (optional…
We return from Issyk-Kul to Bishkek with stops at the Chu River, where rafting is optional, and Burana Tower. We spend the night at a hotel in Bishkek.
- Day 12
Bishkek · End of the adventure · Breakfast, hotel check-out and the end of the adventure
We have breakfast and check out of the hotel. We say goodbye and end our adventure, with no activities today.
The itinerary describes the route and the places you will visit. A place, museum, or activity being mentioned here does not mean its admission or cost is included — only what appears under ‘Included’ is covered. Review that section to see exactly what your trip includes.
*Wandernow reserves the right to modify the itinerary without prior notice to ensure the safety of the group and the smooth operation of the trip.
GUSTO
Flavours of Kyrgyzstan
Beshbarmak
Meat and flat noodles served together; “five fingers” because it is traditionally eaten by hand.
Kumis
Fermented mare’s milk, the ritual drink of the nomadic steppe.
Manty
Steamed dumplings filled with lamb and onion, Silk Road cooking.
Kyrgyzstan still spends part of the year in yurts on high pastures, and its food belongs to a nomadic people: what is given by the animals moving beside you. Sharing kumis in a yurt by Song-Köl is not tourist folklore but the hospitality herders have offered travellers for centuries.
Territory
Map of the route
Meeting point: Biskek · Kirguistán · Tian Shan
Wandernow Studio
Day 1 · 1 Aug · Biskek
Arrival in Bishkek
Welcome at 2:00 PM and room check-in at 3:00 PM. Orientation walk. Stay: lodge in Bishkek.
Lodge · Biskek
Tap a pin to see the day
04 — BOOKING
Transparent pricing
One payment
$4,720.00 US dollars
You save $410.00 US dollars (8%).
per person
Pay in full and your place is released immediately, with access to the app.wandernow.com QR code.
Instalments
$5,130.00 US dollarstotal
deposit $1,000.00 US dollars + up to 10 deferred payments
Hold your place with a deposit and pay from your portal. When the last instalment clears, your app QR code appears automatically.
We accept credit or debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), Apple Pay and Google Pay, all through WeTravel.
Prices are per person in double occupancy. Both plans are processed securely through WeTravel and remain visible in your account statement.
Solo travelers share a room with someone of the same sex: men with men and women with women. Couples stay together.
SOCIAL PROOF
5.0 across verified reviews
Travelers who already went
“Every day something surprised me more than the day before. From the care of the sherpas, the warmth of our guide, how fun the group was, the breathtaking landscapes or simply the grandeur of the place. What they pro…”
“Everything was fun and beautiful, well organised and well chosen. There was not always room for everyone, but it always worked out and in good conditions.”
Upcoming departures
August 1 – August 11, 2027
First seat releaseSeats available3/8 booked(8 seats released of 16)
Registration openRegistration closes: 215 days until closing
We release the group in waves: once this one fills, we open the next if the local team allows it.
from$4,720.00 US dollars
Verified live availability · No fine print
Fact sheet
- Destination
- Kyrgyzstan · Kyrgyzstan · Tian Shan
- Trip type
- Treks in a small group
- Duration
- 11 days / 10 nights
- Group size
- Maximum 16 travelers (ages 6 to 100)
- Single-payment price
- $4,720.00 US dollars per person
- Deferred-plan price
- $5,130.00 US dollars per person · deposit $1,000.00 US dollars + 10 max
- Published currency
- Dollars
- Payment methods
- Credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), Apple Pay and Google Pay, via WeTravel
- International flights
- Not included in the price
- Guide
- Spanish-speaking Wandernow guide throughout the trip
- Solo travelers
- Welcome; shared accommodation by gender (man with man, woman with woman) at no extra cost
- Occupancy
- Couples in double occupancy; solo travelers share a room with someone of the same gender
- Departure dates
- August 1–11, 2027
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Kyrgyzstan trip with Wandernow cost?
$4,720.00 US dollars per person paying in a single payment. On the deferred plan the total is $5,130.00 US dollars per person: a $1,000.00 US dollars deposit to hold your spot and up to 10 deferred payments (the last one 60 days before departure). Prices are per person in double occupancy. Solo travelers share a room with someone of the same sex; couples stay together.
How many days is the Kyrgyzstan trip?
11 days / 10 nights. A journey through the Tian Shan: high alpine lakes, yurt camps, horses, and Central Asia's most vibrant nomadic culture.
What departure dates are there for Kyrgyzstan?
Confirmed departures: August 1–11, 2027. Each departure runs with a maximum of 16 travelers.
What is and isn't included in the Kyrgyzstan trip?
Includes: 11 nights of accommodation with breakfast; 4x4 transport with a driver-guide for the whole route; Wandernow guide; Horseback ride at Song-Kul Lake (Day 4); Hike to Kel-Suu Lake; Hike to the Jeti-Ögüz Valley (Day 7); Full-day trek in Jyrgalan (Day 9). Not included: International flights; Meals not listed; Travel insurance; Personal expenses. International flights are not included unless the trip page expressly says otherwise.
Can I travel solo to Kyrgyzstan?
Yes. Solo travelers are welcome and are given shared accommodation by gender (man with man, woman with woman) at no extra single-room cost. Couples stay together in double occupancy. Groups have a maximum of 16 people (ages 6 to 100), and travelers from different Spanish-speaking countries may join the same departure.
How can I pay for my Kyrgyzstan trip?
Credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), Apple Pay and Google Pay, via WeTravel. You can pay in full or reserve with a $1,000.00 US dollars deposit and settle the rest in up to 10 deferred payments (the last one 60 days before departure).
What fitness level is needed for Kyrgyzstan?
It is an active adventure trip: some days involve several hours of walking and there are long transfers. No technical experience is required, but you need basic fitness and the health to walk on uneven ground. Each trip page states the required level so you can judge whether the trip is for you.
How far in advance should I book Kyrgyzstan?
The next departure starts on August 1, 2027 and has 13 spots available at the time this page was published. Departures fill up in order of deposit.
Take the trip with you
Save or share a sales sheet with the itinerary, transparent prices, departures, and real-time availability. The booking and WhatsApp buttons remain active in the document.
Itinerary, prices and live availability. Perfect to share with your travel partner.
Travel insurance
Travel covered
Travel insurance is not included and is mandatory for several of our destinations. If you don't have one yet, our recommendation is IATI Mochilero: the best value for adventure travel, covering medical assistance, rescue and outdoor activities.
IATI Mochilero
Get IATI MochileroYou purchase it directly with IATI Seguros. Wandernow is not the insurer and charges travelers no commission.
Voices of the trip
Testimonials from Kyrgyzstan
Stories filmed by Wandernow travelers during the trip.
Video coming soon
Video coming soon
05 — KEEP EXPLORING
Paying in one instalment$4,720.00 US dollars
$5,130.00 US dollarsMaking deferred payments
deposit$1,000.00 US dollars+ up to 10 deferred payments of$413.00 US dollars