Nomads, Eagle Hunters, and a Silk Road Heritage
Kyrgyzstan: Hiking in the Celestial Mountains
Overview
The snow-capped Celestial Mountains of Central Asia dominate the spectacular landscape of Kyrgyzstan, and the alpine scenery is truly breathtaking, but it's the cultural encounters with the Kyrgyz that make this trip unforgettable. We'll hike to high lakes, meet a hunter with his trained golden eagles, mingle with shepherds, and witness one of the country's wild horseback games—it's a spectacle to behold. Overnights are in lodges as well as tent and yurt camps that give us access to remote regions. We also celebrate Kyrgyz culture through its cuisine, savoring wonderfully fresh, authentic meals, and enjoying warm welcomes in family homes.
Arrive: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Depart: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Highlights
- Hike trails below the towering peaks of the Tien Shan—the Celestial Mountains
- Watch the wild Kyrgyz horseback game of ulak-tartysh, a precursor to polo
- Meet a traditional eagle hunter, hike among shepherds and nomad families
- Visit family homes, watch felt-making, learn about the Kyrgyz art of yurt building
- Explore the Osh Bazaar, Bishkek's huge open-air market
- Experience the rich cultural heritage of Kyrgyzstan
Itinerary
In Bishkek, the capital, we roam the open-air Osh Bazaar, with its wealth of colors and scents, and head out for a hike in Ala-Archa Canyon.
Driving along azure Lake Issyk-Kul, we visit the petroglyph site at Cholpon-Ata on our way to Karakol, an ancient Silk Road crossroads. One evening, we dine with a Chinese-Dungan family—and join them to make delicious hand-pulled noodles.
In Kyrgyzstan’s Tien Shan (“Celestial Mountains”), one of our hikes brings us to red-rock towers where we can watch Kyrgyz horsemen compete in a game of ulak-tartysh—a thrilling sight! Our tent camping is comfortable, with walk-in tents with cots, a fully staffed kitchen, a dining tent, and even a delightful mobile sauna. Our camp will move between two beautifully remote mountain valleys, giving us access to truly stunning trails below dramatic peaks ringed with lush forests, alpine lakes, and herds of grazing horses.
At our special yurt camp above the wild southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, we’ll savor a lunch of Kyrgyz dishes and meet an eagle hunter to learn about the fascinating tradition of training eagles—these enormous birds are magnificent! From our next yurt camp at remote Lake Song Kol, at nearly 10,000 feet, one of our hikes brings us up to airy Jalgyz-Karagay Pass (11,276') for panoramic views of the highest peaks in the Celestial Mountains. Depart on Day 14 via Bishkek.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
The trip is rated Level 3, Moderate. Day hikes and cultural exploration are our focus; many days we are hiking from 2-5 hours. We have four days with hikes of 2-4 miles, and two days with hikes from 7-9 miles. Much of the trip takes place at higher altitudes; the maximum for this trip is approximately 11,300 feet. Trails can be quite rough; be prepared for uneven ground.
Review Trip Level Details
Because of its many mountain ranges, Kyrgyzstan's temperatures vary depending on location. In Bishkek in the summer and early fall, we can generally expect daytime temperatures to be in the high 60s°F to low 80s°F (and sometimes hotter during the summer). In Cholpon Ata, temperature ranges will be fairly similar, with cooler evenings. Karakol and the Southeast shores of Lake Issyk-Kul both tend to be cooler with daytime temperatures in the 60s°F and 70s°F, and evening temperatures sometimes dropping to the low 40s°F. Along the southern shores, we'll experience lower temperatures and cooler breezes. In Song Kol, where the elevation is higher, temperatures will be colder, especially at night. No matter the time of year, snow is a possibility at the higher elevations, especially at our tented and yurt camps (in Kyzyl Suu and Song Kol). When it does snow, it is typically at night, and then melts by late morning. As always with hiking trips in mountainous regions, warm layers are your best friend, and good rain gear, especially a Gore-Tex jacket, should always be in your day pack.
We stay in comfortable hotels in Bishkek and Karakol. Other days we're in more basic guesthouses, tent camps, or yurt camps. Tents and yurts are private, but there is a communal eating area and a communal toilet area (for 8 nights). Single rooms can be requested, but are not guaranteed. Wilderness Travel will do its best to secure single rooms for those who pay the single supplement, but even if this is confirmed in advance, arrangements may change during the trip.
All breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are included, except breakfast on Day 1. Full breakfasts are included at hotels. When possible, we have arranged meals at local restaurants and in family homes. Village food tends to simpler than city food, but sampling it is an excellent opportunity to experience rural life. Please note that special diets may be difficult to accommodate on this trip. Bottled water is provided throughout the trip.
Road conditions can be very basic, and trip members should be prepared for drives of 3-6 hours on some days. Our expedition travels to areas that have experienced very little tourism. While traveling in rural areas, we may have stretches without public bathroom facilities, and you may need to do what the locals do and opt for a "nature break." The most important requirements for this trip are a spirit of adventure and the understanding that you are visiting a remote and fascinating region.
Client Testimonials
"Our trip with Wilderness Travel to Kyrgyzstan was a fabulous success. The country was magnificently beautiful, the people we met were warm and friendly. Trekking among the snow-capped mountains and high valleys among roaming horses, cattle, and sheep was picturesque beyond the photographs. I so enjoyed the trip's cultural aspects of visits with the local Kyrgyz people: experiencing yurt building, felt making, the livestock market, eagle hunters, and interacting with the nomadic shepherds and their family up close."
Arthur F.
Brooklyn, NY
"It was a great adventure and one that we thoroughly enjoyed!"
Diana M.
London, England
"The country was amazing. The scenery was breathtaking and the history and culture are fascinating. I would highly recommend people visit this hidden gem of a country!"
Hazel S.
Greenwich, CT
"Kyrgyzstan is a beautiful country and each area we visited was a unique experience. I enjoyed the added cultural and historical additions to our hiking days. The felt demonstration, yurt building, home visit, eagle hunters, and boat ride added much to our adventure."
Lynn T.
Portland, OR
"A great trip in a terrific new destination."
Paul S.
Epping, Australia
"One of the most pleasurable and interesting trips I have been on. It is a part of the world that I have been interested in for a long time. The various opportunities to explore local culture through the food, felt making, yurt construction, and eagle hunting were exceptionally good. The walking allowed us all to enjoy the spectacular landscape at our own pace."
Philip M.
Cumbria, England
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.