20 Amazing Things to Do in Kyrgyzstan

You’ll be surprised how many things there are to do in Kyrgyzstan. This mountainous country in Central Asia is a nature lovers paradise, with endless outdoor activities and spectacular scenery from one valley to the next.

If you’re ready for an adventure, Kyrgyzstan offers the perfect place. From hiking to Ala Kul lake and horse riding to Song Kul, to staying the night in a yurt and visiting an ancient caravanserai from the Silk Road, you might have a hard time fitting in everything you want to do.

After spending two months in Kyrgyzstan, I still feel like there’s so many incredible places I’m yet to see. This post I’m sure will grow once I return and add more activities and locations to it. For now, though, this blog post contains all the highlights and best attractions, to make sure you don’t miss any of the best things to do in Kyrgyzstan. 

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Why Visit Kyrgyzstan 

If you love mountains, then Kyrgyzstan may become your favourite place in the world. With about 95% of the country covered in mountains, expect some absolutely jaw-dropping scenery and plenty of amazing things to do. 

Rugged canyons, snow-capped peaks, alpine lakes, raging rivers, pine forests, and lush valleys are regular viewing on a daily basis. For adventure travellers, you’ll never be bored, with hiking, horseback riding, camping, skiing, and more on offer.

It’s a country that is just about to burst onto the tourism scene, with a rapidly growing tourism industry that could transform it into one of the best outdoor destinations in the world. If you’re looking to camp under the stars in a yurt, hike up to mountain passes, swim in alpine lakes, ride horses through remote valleys, and meet generational nomads herding their livestock in summer pastures, Kyrgyzstan is waiting for you.

It had been on my bucket list for many years, and it did not disappoint. After two months in the country, it amazes me that there’s still so many incredible places I’m yet to see. But here’s the absolute must do activities if you want to see the highlights.

Check Out My Map & Guide to Kyrgyzstan on Rexby

Amazing Things to Do in Kyrgyzstan

Here are the absolute must do activities if you want to see the highlights, along with some lesser known but equally beautiful places to visit.

Explore Bishkek

Bishkek is the capital of Kyrgyzstan and the main entry point when flying into the country. Most travellers complain about its lack of character, but I found that it was worth exploring for a day. 

If you have enough time in your itinerary, then I recommend allowing a day or two for Bishkek. It offers an introduction to the history and culture of the country, with Soviet style architecture in Ala Too Square and the bustling marketplace of Osh Bazaar. 

A full day would be enough to see the main attractions and try some traditional Kyrgyz cuisine before heading off into the mountains. Joining a day tour can be a good way to see the city’s highlights in a short time.

Where to stay? You’ll find all sorts of accommodation in Bishkek, from high end hotels to hostels. I stayed at Meeting Place Hostel for a week, which was comfortable. However, you can definitely find anything to suit your budget.

Where to eat? There are plenty of different restaurants and cafés in Bishkek. But if you want to try some traditional food in a nice setting, I recommend heading to NAVAT Restaurant where you can try Kyrgyz meals for the first time.

Read more: 10 Best Things to Do in Bishkek

Day Trip to Ala Archa National Park

Just outside of Bishkek city is a stunning alpine park filled with glaciers, peaks, forests and rivers. It’s just a taste of what you’ll find in the rest of the country, but it does make a popular day trip from Bishkek for those who’ve just arrived.

If you have an extra day in Bishkek, then I recommend taking the time to go to the national park. It’s set up well so you can visit independently using public transport or book an organised day tour to have everything taken care of for you.

The park has several great day hikes to choose from, with trails leading to waterfalls and glacial viewpoints. However, I recommend leaving early enough on the bus if you plan on doing a decent hike.

👉 I recommend AllTrails for navigation and finding new trails, with offline GPS maps and trail reviews from other hikers. Use code elisha30 for 30% off an AllTrails+ subscription by clicking here!

Take the VIP Train to Balykchy

A train journey worthy of viral Instagram posts, the VIP carriages on the Bishkek to Balykchy train offer an incredible 4-hour trip from the city to Issyk Kul lake. The summer-only service offers beautifully decorated carriages in the VIP class and huge panoramic windows from where you can admire the canyons, ridgelines, and farm fields passing by.

While you don’t have to take the VIP ticket, I highly recommend it. For just a few extra dollars you can get the benefit of the comfortable carriages that rival any of the best train journeys in the world. This has definitely become a bucket list worthy experience in Kyrgyzstan, but make sure you pre-book your tickets, because it’s often booked out a couple of weeks in advance.

Read more: How to Take the Train from Bishkek to Balykchy

See Issyk Kul Lake

Issyk Kul lake is the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan and one of the largest lakes in the world. Surrounded by the Tian Shan Mountains in the eastern part of the country, it’s one of the most incredible sights in Kyrgyzstan.

The lake is home to the closest thing you’ll find to a beach resort in Kyrgyzstan, particularly on the northern shore where there are several resorts and hotels along the water’s edge catering for both local and international tourists. 

However, for the more adventurous type of traveller, the southern shore holds the most intrigue, with several otherworldly canyons, waterfalls and rock formations. Whether you go swimming in the lake or hiking up to a viewpoint in the nearby canyons, Issyk Kul lake is one of the easiest regions of the country to visit.

How to get there? The best way to get there in the summer is by taking the train from Bishkek to Balykchy. This runs once per day in the morning and returns in the evening. Otherwise, there are frequent marshrutkas/minibuses running from Bishkek to Karakol around Issyk Kul lake, so you can get off at any town along the way. Read more about how to get to Issyk Kul.

Where to stay? Most people travel around the lake to Karakol, the adventure capital of Kyrgyzstan and a large town with plenty of accommodation. However, to explore some of the beach resorts on the north shore of the lake, you’ll want to stay in Cholpon Ata. For the canyons on the south shore, Ak-Sai Village is at the entrance to Ak-Sai Canyon and Tosor is closest to Skazka Canyon.

Explore Skazka Canyon or Fairytale Canyon

The dreamy landscape of Skazka or Fairytale Canyon is located just back from the southern shore of Issyk Kul. It’s emerged as one of the must visit places in Kyrgyzstan, due to its incredibly unique sandstone layers eroded over millions of years into gorges and spires. 

The rainbow of earthy colours appearing in the rock is an outstanding sight, especially at sunset or sunrise when the sunlight causes the reds and oranges to glow. There are numerous viewpoints and trails inside the canyon to admire the views and the geology.

You now have to pay a small entrance fee to get inside. However, once there, you’ll find very little direction or signage, so you can explore at your own pace along the trails darting everywhere (just don’t get lost following the endless gorges).

How to get there? You can take any marshrutka running along the southern shore of Issyk Kul between Bishkek and Karakol and asked to be dropped at the entrance to Skazka. Otherwise, you can also hitchhike from Karakol or a closer town to the canyon and back (which is what we did successfully). 

Where to stay? There’s a yurt camp at the canyon entrance, which is a bit pricey. The nearest town is Tosor, where you can find a few guesthouses and homestays.

Admire the View at Aksay Canyon

While Skazka Canyon gets all the Instagram attention (and rightfully so), I personally thought that Ak-Sai Canyon (sometimes written Aksay Canyon) was more visually impressive. It might not offer the rainbow of colours, but the deep ravines spreading like veins in the earth across the landscape on the southern shore of Issyk Kul is hard to comprehend, unless you see it for yourself.

It’s not the easiest place to reach, as the main panoramic viewpoint requires a drive off the main road on a dirt road towards Issyk Kul shoreline. However, the effort is worthwhile, as there’s far less people there than at Skazka and you’ll have a 360-degree panoramic view of the canyon and the lake. 

How to get there? The best way to reach the canyon is getting a marshrutka travelling from Karakol and Bishkek and getting off in Ak-Sai Village. From there, the canyon is an 11km walk or drive along a dirt road to the shore of Issyk Kul. You can find a taxi in Ak-Sai Village to take you or you can also walk, but be aware that it’s very exposed to the sun, so allow plenty of time and carry water.

Where to stay? You can stay in Feel Nomad Yurt Camp at the end of the Ak-Sai Canyon which offers direct access to the canyon viewpoint. Otherwise, you can also stay at Ak-Say Village where there are a few local homestays. We stayed at ABATAY Guesthouse in Ak-Sai Village and it was one of the best experiences, with a wonderful, hospitable family.

Watch an Eagle Hunters Demonstration

The eagle hunters of Kyrgyzstan are some of the most iconic figures amongst nomadic culture in human history. A practice and tradition that dates back to the 12^th century, it’s carried on today by hunters who pass it down to the next generation.

The tradition has generally concentrated in the Issyk Kul region of Kyrgyzstan and the town of Bokonbaevo is at the heart of the preservation of the eagle hunting culture. While they’re not typically used in everyday life for hunting anymore, the training is still conducted to keep the tradition intact.

You can meet an eagle hunter family and see a demonstration in Bokonbaevo. The best way to do this is either through a guesthouse in Bokonbaevo or by booking through the local CBT (community tourism) office. 

It’s purely set up for tourists, so don’t expect a completely authentic experience, but it’s the best way to learn about this ancient Kyrgyz tradition. There are also nomadic festivals held in Bokonbaevo every year where you can also see the eagle hunting demonstrations, but you have to time your visit right.

How to get there? Get off any marshrutka that travels between Bishkek and Karakol in the town of Bokonbaevo. These leave frequently throughout the day.

Where to stay? There are several guesthouses in Bokonbaevo. Try Guesthouse Akbermet or JAPAR Guesthouse.

Horse Trek to Song Kul Lake

Song Kul lake is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Kyrgyzstan. The stunning, remote lake in the Naryn region south of Bishkek lies at an elevation of 3,000m. It’s surrounded by mountain ranges and deep valleys where nomads have traditionally retreated in the summer with their livestock.

While it’s a relatively remote place on the map, you can actually reach the lake by road (4×4 only), on foot, or on horseback. It’s become the most popular place to go horse riding in the country, with horse treks leaving daily from nearby Kyzart village to Song Kul lake and back over three days.

Thanks to videos of horses galloping along the lake shores going viral on social media, horse treks to Song Kul have become the top activity in Kyrgyzstan. It’s definitely worth the hype though, spending the day on horseback and the night camping in a yurt under the stars. 

Read more: Complete Guide to Horse Trekking to Song Kul

Most horse treks last from 3-4 days with a guide accompanying every group. While you don’t need horse riding experience, it’s definitely advantageous as the trail is steep in places and there are opportunities to gallop across open fields.

Where to stay? Horse treks start in Kyzart village, not far from Kochkor. Most travellers spend a night in Kochkor before and after a horse trek, but you can also stay in Kyzart itself with several guesthouses available.

See the Seven Bulls Rock at Jeti Oguz

The Seven Bulls Rock and the Broken Heart Rock in Jeti Oguz are some of the most unique geological formations in Kyrgyzstan. Rising amongst pine forests in the green valley are these red rock mountains that seem like they belong in Utah or Arizona.

It’s a very accessible day trip from Karakol and makes for an interesting side trip if you’re exploring the Tian Shan Mountains around Issyk Kul. The main viewpoint in the middle of the village allows you to see the main sights in a close-up panorama. However, it’s also possible to do a couple of day hikes from here too, if you have a whole day to dedicate to it.

We hiked around on some trails we followed on Maps.me, but you can also do the 12km return walk to the Valley of Flowers. 

How to get there? You can reach Jeti Oguz with marshrutka #372 from Aktilek Station in Karakol. They leave every 30 minutes and cost 100 som per seat. Be sure to ask the driver to drop you in the furthest village, known as Jeti Oguz Resort or Kurort. Otherwise, taking a taxi for the round trip would be easier, but more expensive.

Where to stay? There are some guesthouses in Jeti Oguz village or yurt camps set up in the Valley of Flowers if you decide to hike there. Otherwise, it’s an easy day trip to do from Karakol, where you’ll find plenty of accommodation options.

Stay in a Homestay in Jyrgalan

The little village of Jyrgalan sits two hours east of Karakol. The former mining town has reinvented itself as a mountain retreat where you can experience true Kyrgyz hospitality and explore the mountains on hiking trails.

There are several family-run guesthouses which offer rooms and meals, while you head off on day hikes to waterfalls and lakes or even for multi-day adventures on longer treks. I loved our stay at Salamat Guesthouse in Jyrgalan; it felt like a relaxing getaway from the bustle of Karakol.

Not too many people visit Jyrgalan, so you’ll be able to wander the dirt roads through the village and interact with some of the locals. We also hiked up to Turnaluu Kol lake via Chaar Jon Panorama, which is a nearly 15km loop hike starting from the village.

The village is also the starting point for the 110km, 9 day trek known as the Ak Suu Traverse from Jyrgalan to Jeti Oguz. Or shorter treks like the 3 day Boz Uchuk Lakes and the 53-km Keskenkija Loop are also underrated trails compared to the far more popular Ala Kul Trek from Karakol.

Read more: An Essential Guide to Visiting Jyrgalan Village

How to get there? It’s a nearly 2-hour journey from Karakol by road. You can take marshrutka #331 from Ak-Tilek bazaar bus station in Karakol. The current timetable is 8:30am, 1:30pm, and 5:30pm. However, I recommend being at the bus station more than 30 minutes before departure to ensure you get a seat, because they quickly fill up. You could also arrange a taxi or try hitchhiking.

Where to stay? There are several homestays and guesthouses set up in Jyrgalan. I highly recommend Salamat Guesthouse which can only be booked directly through Whatsapp with them (+996 777 085 296). It included a cute A-Frame cottage and breakfast and dinner served in the family home.

Soak in the Hot Springs of Altyn Arashan

Altyn Arashan is a green valley located between Karakol and Ala Kul Lake. Filled with a raging river, tall pine trees, lush grass, and herds of horses, the valley is a very picturesque place to visit in Kyrgyzstan.

It’s most famous however, for being home to natural hot springs, which have made it a destination for those wanting to experience beautiful scenery while soaking in the warm water. 

The main village of Altyn Arashan has transformed with several guesthouses, some offering access to indoor hot springs that are fed with natural sulphuric water. Many tourists visit on a day trip from Karakol, travelling in old 4×4 Russian vans on the bumpy road to the village.

However, it’s also an important overnight stop for those trekking through the valley on the Ala Kul Trek or longer Ak Suu Traverse. Most hikers either camp in the valley or stay at one of the guesthouses for a night of more luxury.

How to get there? The best way in my opinion is to reach the valley as part of the 4-day Ala Kul Trek, which passes through the valley with a night in Altyn Arashan village. However, for those short on time or not interested in trekking, a day tour from Karakol is the best option. Or, drive yourself with a hire car (4×4 essential).

Where to stay? There are several guesthouses in Altyn Arashan. Guesthouse Elza has their own hot spring and right in the middle of the village.

Tackle the Ala Kul Trek

If you’re keen to get deep in the mountains, then this is one of the best treks to do in Kyrgyzstan. The Ala Kul Trek is a 55-km one way trail from Karakol Valley to Altyn Arashan via Ala Kul lake.

The majestic high altitude lake is one of the most incredible sights you’ll ever see, with the bright turquoise lake sitting in a bowl of mountains in the Terskey Alatau Mountain Range. It’s not the easiest place to reach though; you’ll have to be fit enough to trek up steep, rocky trails for a couple of days to reach the lake and then make it back down to another valley.

The trail is challenging and the mountain weather can be unpredictable, but this is an adventure that is worth every second. It typically takes 3-4 days to complete, although I recommend taking 4 days to really give yourself time to enjoy it.

Read more: Complete Guide to the Ala Kul Trek

How to get there? It’s easy to take public transport (marshrutkas) from Karakol to the start of the trek (get on as it passes Duet Hostel) and then from the end of the trail back to Karakol (there’s a bus stop at the end of the trek in Ak Suu village).

Where to stay? Hikers can stay overnight in yurt camps along the way or take your own gear and wild camp. We wild camped along the way with hired camping gear we got in Karakol and it was easily one of the highlights of my time in Central Asia.

Stay in a Yurt

Long having been the traditional accommodation for shepherds and nomads moving into the mountains for the summer, yurts have become the ubiquitous symbol of Kyrgyzstan. Even the national flag itself has a representation of the opening in the middle of the yurt’s roof right in the centre of the flag.

Yurts are still utilised by families establishing a jailoo or summer pasture for livestock in the warmer months. And now with the rise of tourism, some have opened their doors to travellers and visitors.

Staying in a yurt is definitely a unique experience and a must do while in Kyrgyzstan. There’s plenty of opportunities to do so, with yurt camps for tourists usually found around the many lakes in the country, especially Issyk Kul, Song Kul, Tulpar Kol, and Kol Ukok. You can also find them on the popular trekking routes like the Ak Suu Traverse, so you can avoid carrying your own tent.

You can book these either on Booking.com, through the local CBT offices (community tourism), or directly with the yurt camp owners. 

Explore the Bazaars and Marketplaces

Kyrgyzstan is home to some of the most intriguing markets and bazaars in the world. They provide a unique insight into daily life and local culture, that is difficult to grasp any other way. Stall holders are usually pretty friendly and happy to show you their products, although it’s worth comparing prices for things like dried fruit and nuts, as quality and prices can differ.

Some of the best bazaars and markets to add to your itinerary include:

• Osh Bazaar in Bishkek: This is the central market in the city and is open every day. It’s such an atmospheric place to explore and you will likely get a little lost amongst the lanes.
• Dordoi Bazaar: One of the largest markets in Central Asia, you can get absolutely everything you can think of here. However, it’s quite far from Bishkek centre so you’ll have to grab a Yandex to reach it.
• Karakol Animal Market: Every Sunday morning you’ll find one of the largest animal markets in Central Asia, with locals coming from near and far to bargain over cows, horses, pigs, and any other livestock.

Taste Traditional Kyrgyz Food

Kyrgyzstan cuisine is very meat and carb heavy. You’ll find plenty of hearty, rich meals, including things like noodles, dumplings, soup, and bread. Meat is easily the centre of any Kyrgyz meal, and it’s quite difficult for local to understand the concept of vegetarianism. 

Meat is usually beef or lamb, but they also eat horse, so be prepared to occasionally wonder what meat you’re actually consuming. Surprisingly, fruit, vegetables and nuts are still quite easy to find in the supermarket and are all typically locally grown, especially in summer.

Some of the most common Kyrgyz meals are:

• Laghman: meat and vegetable stir fry with noodles
• Manti: steamed dumplings
• Samsa: baked savoury pastry snacks like samosas
• Kuurdak: meat and potatoes
• Beshbarmak: the national dish, consisting of meat and flat noodles
• Shorpo: clear broth soup, with vegetables and meat
• Plov: slow cooked rice and meat dish (more common in Uzbekistan)

If you have dietary requirements or restrictions, Kyrgyzstan can be a difficult country to navigate. It will take a lot of explaining and translating to get your point across.

Read more: Complete Gluten Free Travel Guide to Kyrgyzstan

Visit the Tash Rabat Caravanserai 

Caravanserais, resting places for travellers, were located all along the Silk Road to provide shelter in isolated regions. While Kyrgyzstan doesn’t have as many preserved historical sites like neighbouring Uzbekistan, Tash Rabat remains one of the most important.

This old caravanserai is nestled in a remote valley south of Naryn. Surrounded by mountains and a few yurt camps, it seems like a random place in the vast landscapes of Kyrgyzstan.

However, it’s one of the last remaining connections to the trade routes of the Silk Road in the country. It has a unique design which is still not completely understood by historians, so it makes for an interesting visit for those who have time.

How to get there? You can visit on a day trip from Naryn (it’s about a 2-hour drive), or you can also stay overnight in one of the yurt camps just opposite the caravanserai. The best way is to arrange a driver in Naryn through the CBT (community based tourism). You can also combine a visit to Tash Rabat with a visit further south to Kel Suu lake.

Where to stay? You can stay in the town of Naryn at any of the accommodation there, a major town servicing the remote central region of the country. Otherwise, the yurt camps just across from the caravanserai offer a unique place to spend the night under the stars.

Wander Through the Walnut Forest in Arslanbob

The famous walnut forest of Arslanbob is one of the most unique places to visit in Kyrgyzstan. Lying in a lush valley in the Jalal-Abad region of southern Kyrgyzstan is the village of Arslanbob, which is surrounded by the largest walnut forest in the world.

The mostly Uzbek people who inhabit the area are incredibly warm and welcoming, and have transformed the village into the perfect nature retreat for travellers. From the village, you can easily wander through the walnut trees, hike up to waterfalls, admire the mountain views from lookouts, and even venture further afield on horse treks.

One of my favourite parts about visiting Arslanbob is the beautiful homestay experience, with many local families opening their homes to travellers to spend the night. Serving delicious local food, and offering an insight into life in the valley, I highly recommend spending a couple of nights in a guesthouse amongst the walnut forest.

Read more: Essential Guide for Exploring Arslanbob and the Walnut Forest

How to get there? Arslanbob is about a 4-hour drive north of Osh in the south of the country. There is a daily direct marshrutka from Osh to Arslanbob, otherwise you’ll have to change buses several times. 

Where to stay? The village is filled with homestays and guesthouses, showcasing the incredible Uzbek hospitality. You can find some of them on Booking.com, or contact them directly to book. I can recommend Ibrahim Guesthouse (+996 777 733 056), one of the longest running places. He is a wealth of information and speaks great English, with clean rooms overlooking the mountains.

Take a Trip to the Remote Kel Suu Lake

Although the lake wedged amongst a rocky canyon is difficult to reach, it’s arguably one of the most beautiful places in Kyrgyzstan. Sitting at 3,500m, it was naturally formed by an earthquake which shattered parts of the mountain ranges around it.

It has not long been on the tourist radar, but is now becoming one of the must visit sights, so you definitely won’t be the only person there despite how remote it is. The only road to get there is very rough, and you’ll need a 4×4. Plus, you’ll also need to obtain a border permit from the CBT Office in Naryn because it’s in a sensitive location near the Chinese border.

You’ll pass through the incredible Kok Kiya Valley before reaching the lake. This valley is where you can stay the night in a yurt camp or pitch your tent. From there, it’s still a 9km hike to reach Kel Suu, which you can do on foot or horseback. Otherwise, vehicles can reach further, almost to the lake’s shore.

How to get there? The only way to reach Kel Suu is by hiring a driver or joining a tour. It takes around 5 hours one way to reach the lake from Naryn on a very rough and remote road. The starting cost is usually around 16,000 som per vehicle, which can be split between travellers.

Where to stay? You’ll most likely want to stay somewhere near Kel Suu, because it’s a long drive to get there and back in a day from Naryn. There are several yurt camps set up now close to the lake in Kok Kiya Valley (still a decent walk away) where you can stay and get hot meals.

Camp at Tulpar Kol Lake

Tulpar Kol is one of the most incredible landscapes in the remote but spectacular Alay Mountains in southern Kyrgyzstan. Across the fields below the staggering peaks is a string of alpine lakes puncturing the ground, of which Tulpar Kol is the largest.

The landscape here is worth the long trip south of Osh, just to see the lakes scattered below the snow-capped peaks, with Lenin Peak standing high in the background. There are now several yurt camps around the lakes, which make for one of the best places to stay and soak in the scenery.

You can also do some good day hikes from here to get closer to the mountains and explore Lenin Peak Base Camp. Either way, it’s worth the trip whether you want to hike or not.

How to get there? The nearest town is Sary Mogul, which is a small town with a handful of guesthouses. Sary Mogul is a 4-hour drive south of Osh. You can find a daily marshrutka heading to Daroot-Korgon (close to the Tajikistan border) that passes Sary Tash and Sary Mogul from Osh. But if you miss this, I’d say try hitchhiking as we easily got trucks to pick us up along this route. From Sary Mogul, you can take a taxi or walk the 23 km to Tulpar Lake along a dirt road.

Where to stay? Sary Mogul has a few guesthouses where you can spend the night. We stayed at CBT1 Guesthouse. From here, you can head to Tulpar Lake just for a day trip, but I recommend staying at least a night in a yurt camp near the lake. We stayed at Buaisha Yurt Camp, which is the furthest one, but the CBT Yurt Camp is the more popular one.

Hike to Travellers Pass

This is one of the best hikes to do in Kyrgyzstan. Travellers Pass is a high altitude pass on the climbing route to Lenin Peak in the Alay Mountains. The pass is accessible on foot, with no mountaineering experience required, making it the best way to get a close-up view of Peak Lenin, a mammoth mountain standing at 7,134m.

The hike begins from the yurt camps at Tulpar Lake and crosses the river before heading to Lenin Peak Base Camp. From here, it’s a slog up to the pass, with the trail getting steeper and more ruthless the higher you get.

Once you make it though, the panoramic view stretches in all directions. The layers of rock along the ranges are coloured with natural minerals, plus long glaciers stream down from the peaks, making it one of the most spectacular sights in Kyrgyzstan.

Read more: Guide to Hiking to Travellers Pass From Tulpar Lake

How to get there? The day hike begins and ends from Tulpar Lake. You can technically come from Sary Mogul and complete the hike in a day and return to town. However, if you stay at a yurt camp at the lake, it’ll give you more time to enjoy the hike and views.

Where to stay? As above, stay at any of the yurt camps around Tulpar Lake or the guesthouses in Sary Mogul.

How Long to Spend in Kyrgyzstan

If you want to tick off all of these places in this blog post, then I’d say you’ll have to allow about a month. However, it all depends on what you want to do and see, as some people spend just a couple of weeks covering one region if they’re short on time.

With two weeks, you can certainly start in Bishkek and complete a loop which takes you along Issyk Kul to Karakol for a few days, before heading to Song Kul for a horse trek and then back to Bishkek.

With an extra week or two, you could head south to Osh, exploring Arslanbob and the Alay Mountains.

Read All My Kyrgyzstan Guides:

• Travel Tips: Everything You Need to Know Before Travelling Kyrgyzstan
• Sary Mogul: Guide to Hiking Travellers Pass and Tulpar Lakes
• Bishkek: 10 Best Things to Do in Bishkek
• Issyk Kul: How to Get From Bishkek to Karakol and Exploring Issyk Kul
• Karakol: 15 Best Things to Do in Karakol
• Train Travel: How to Take the Train From Bishkek to Issyk Kul
• Ala Kul Trek: Complete Guide to the Ala Kul Trek
• Jyrgalan: Essential Guide to Visiting Jyrgalan Valley
• Horse Trekking: Guide to Horse Trekking to Song Kul Lake
• Kol Ukok: An Essential Guide to Kol Ukok Lake Near Kochkor
• Arslanbob: Essential Guide for Visiting Arslanbob and the Walnut Forest
• SIM Cards: Which SIM Card Should You Buy for Kyrgyzstan?

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