Yrdyk canyon and lakes (11 days)

Beautiful and wild places don't always have to be far from civilization. The Irdyk valley belongs to such a place. For several days we will admire a panoramic view of Lake Issyk-Kul on one side and mountains covered with flowers and alpine meadows on the other. A beautiful canyon and small mountain lakes, green gorges and breathtaking views await us! This route will definitely appeal to lovers of mountain hikes and nights in tents with a view of the stars!

Day 1: Transfer to Karakol

Meeting at the Manas airport/ Bishkek city airport with a driver. Transfer to the city of Karakol. On the way, stop at a road cafe (lunch is paid for by yourself). Accommodation in a guest house. Diner.

Meals: -/-/D

Detailed information:

Minimum altitude: 635 m.

Highest altitude: 1700 m.

Distance: 420 km.

Day 2: Yrdyk canyon

Meeting with the guide and team. The route starts from the beautiful Jeti-Oguz gorge, where the popular red rocks "Seven Bulls" are located. Smooth climb up wooded hills. Lunch on the road. Throughout the day, a panorama of the Issyk-Kul region and Lake Issyk-Kul will be open to us. On the way we will see from above a beautiful and large canyon “Yrdyk”. Diner. Overnight in tents in the West Yrdyk gorge.

Meals:  B/L/D

Detailed information:

Minimum altitude: 2410 meters  

Average altitude: 2772 meters  

Highest altitude: 3119 meters  

Walking distance: 10 kilometers  

Maximum gradient: 37 %  

Average gradient: 12 %  

Transfer by car: 40 kilometers  

Travel time: 6 hours

 Day 3: Mountain lakes

Breakfast. We continue hiking towards the Karakol gorge. The road is picturesque and great for spring or autumn tours. Lunch on the road. On this day we will visit 2 mountain lakes located not far from each other and set up a camp not on the shore of one of them. Dinner. Overnight in tents.

Meals:  B/L/D

Detailed information:

Minimum altitude: 2690 meters  

Average altitude: 3054 meters  

Highest altitude: 3341 meters  

Walking distance: 7 kilometers  

Maximum gradient: 28 %  

Average gradient: 12 %  

Travel time: 6 hours

Day 4: “Wet” gorge

Breakfast. Descent to the Karakol gorge through the “Wet” gorge. Lunch on the way. Dinner. Overnight at the tents.

Meals:  B/L/D

Detailed information:

Minimum altitude: 2020 meters  

Average altitude: 2716 meters  

Highest altitude: 3339 meters  

Walking distance: 12 kilometers  

Maximum gradient: 37 %  

Average gradient: 14 %  

Travel time: 7 hours

Day 5: Kurgaktor gorge

Breakfast. During the day, we will enjoy gorgeous landscape and climb from an altitude of 2500 up to 3100 meters. At an end point we will set up our camp and enjoy the dinner. Overnight in tents.

Meals:  B/L/D

Detailed information:

Minimum altitude: 1700 meters  

Average altitude: 2700 meters  

Highest altitude: 3100 meters  

Walking distance: 13 kilometers  

Maximum gradient: 38 %  

Average gradient: 16 %  

Travel time: 7 hours

Day 6: Alakol lake

Breakfast. Descent to the Alakol Lake(3500 m.). Lunch. Embark on a hike exploring Alakol Lake. Later, we will settle down in the vicinity of the Alakol-Kyra glacier and appreciate a magnificent view. Dinner. Overnight in tents.

Meals:  B/L/D

Detailed information:

Minimum altitude: 3100 meters  

Average altitude: 3500 meters  

Highest altitude: 3700 meters  

Walking distance: 7 kilometers  

Maximum gradient: 41 %  

Average gradient: 17 %  

Travel time: 6 hours

Day 7: Takyrtor Pass

Early breakfast. Say goodbye to the beautiful Lake and we will start our day with an ascent to Takyrtor Pass. But before we reach the snow-ice pass of (3,700 meters), we have to cross the entire Alakol-Kyry glacier. After the pass we will enjoy our lunch. Descend through Takyrtor gorge to hot wild springs. The water of a hot spring bursts forth out of the cliff. The water in this place is rich in minerals and reaches a temperature of 60 degrees. Dinner. Overnight in tents.

Meals:  B/L/D

Detailed information:

Minimum altitude: 3500 meters  

Average altitude: 3600 meters  

Highest altitude: 3700 meters  

Walking distance: 6 kilometers  

Maximum gradient: -26 %  

Average gradient: 16 %  

Travel time: 6 hours

Day 8: Altyn-Arashan gorge

Breakfast. A long descent along the Takyrtor gorge to the confluence with the Altyn-Arashan gorge. A view on the Ak-Suu mountain range will open up with eternal ice and snow peaks “ Aksu wall” . Lunch. Afterwards, we will continue our trek to Altyn-Arashan.  Altyn-Arashan, is a small town in the mountains,  which attracts and receives thousands of tourists from all over the world every year. Accommodation in yurts (Kyrgyz national dwelling). Dinner.  We will pay a visit to the hot wild springs “Arashan”. Overnight in a yurt.

Meals:  B/L/D

Detailed information:

Minimum altitude: 2500  meters  

Average altitude: 2700  meters  

Highest altitude: 3500  meters  

Walking distance: 13 kilometers  

Maximum gradient: – 29 %  

Average gradient: – 8 %  

Travel time: 7 hours

Day 9: Karakol city

Breakfast. For those who want to ride a horse, there will be an opportunity to rent it before the start of the descent (paid individually). If you rent a horse, you will be able to ride it all the way down. We will be descending along the Altyn-Arashan gorge and will pass Ak-Suu village. At the end of the trip the car will pick us up and take the group back to Karakol city.

Meals:  B/L/D

Detailed information:

Minimum altitude: 1600 meters  

Average altitude: 2000 meters  

Highest altitude: 2300 meters  

Walking distance: 15 kilometers  

Maximum gradient: – 12 %  

Average gradient: 2 %  

Travel time: 4 hours

Day 10: Bishkek city

Breakfast. Transfer to Bishkek. Visiting the local market to buy souvenirs and dried fruits (purchases are paid for independently), a short walk through the center of Bishkek. Accommodation and rest after busy days. Dinner. Overnight at the hotel.

Meals: B/-/D

Detailed information:

Minimum height: 700   m  

Average height: 1 6 00 m.  

Highest Height: 34 00   m  

Distance by car: 350   km  

Travel time: 7 h.  

Day 11: Airport

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport " Manas ". End of the program.

Meals: B/-/-

Please Note: It is necessary to have warm clothes, spare clothes, good boots and spare sport shoes, a rain jacket, sun glasses, sunblock (cream) and crampon (for shoes). If you have a specific disease, you should have your own first aid kit with the necessary medicines

What is included:

Transport for the entire program

Accommodation in a guest house Karakol

Hotel accommodation in Bishkek

Accommodation in yurts

Meals during the track and stay

Hot springs

Taxes and fees

Making permission

Transport to the beginning of the end of the route

Tents

Sleeping mats

Guide

Cook

Porter (for equipment and products) for the duration of the track

What is not included:

Porter (for personal luggage 20 kg.) 25 USD per day

Sleeping bag

Meals at the time of transfer

Backpack

Horse rental

Lunch at the ethno cafe

Lunch at the roadside cafe

Attention:

o   Tourists must have no medical contraindications for the trekking and hiking.

o   In case of bad weather, a tour guide has a right to change the route in a safety purpose.