Skip to main content
Tash Doeboe (Song Kul's lake)

Nomadic Secrets

Culture tour in the heart of Kyrgyzstan

8 days, from Bishkek to Osh.

Off beaten tracks

This tour present inner Kyrgyzstan with most beautiful places. It was developed for a short visit of Kyrgyzstan with an extension to Uzbekistan.

8 DaysDiscovery toursKyrgyzstan

  • 1 people: $2,257

  • 2 people: $1,332

  • 3 people: $1,039

  • 4 people: $892

  • 5 people: $804

  • 6 people: $745

  • 7 people: $703

  • 8 people: $672

  • 9 people: $647

  • 10 people: $628

  • Starting from

    $628
    USD

    Download the program PDF

    Program

    
            Manas International Airport - Bishkek
    Meeting at airport, visit of the capital and Ala Archa National park
    Manas International Airport - Bishkek

    Arrival in the morning at Bishkek international airport. After customs and immigration formalities, transfer (30 min) to the city center. Installation in a guest house for a few hours of rest. Drive to Ala Archa National Park. Colorful ride to the Aksai waterfall; picnic on the spot. Back to Bishkek for a first discovery of the city: the Red Square, the Flag, the Dubovy park and art gallery. Dinner in town and overnight in guest house.

    Breakfast Lunch Dinner
    164 km
    02:00
    04:00
    1570 m
    1470 m
    
            Bishkek - Tamchy
    Bishkek – Tamchy
    Bishkek - Tamchy

    In the morning transfer to Tamchy that is situated on the shore of the Issyk-Kul Lake (hot lake), a pearl of Central Asia, the second biggest mountain lake in the world after the Titicaca Lake. On the way visit of the Burana Museum, the ancient capital of Central Asia of the 11th century called Balasagun. Arrival in Tamchy. Overnight at guesthouse.

    Breakfast Lunch Dinner
    280 km
    03:30
    01:00
    800 m
    0 m
    
            Tamchy - Jeti Oguz valley
    Drive to Karakol and visit of the city, then drive to Jety-Oguz
    Tamchy - Jeti Oguz valley

    Transfer to Karakol. Visit of the Prjvalsky Memorial Complex. In order to understand the Kyrgyz people life of the 19th century visit of an orthodox church, a wooden mosque in Karakol. In the afternoon drive to Jety-Oguz Sanatorium, a very famous sanatorium of the Soviet time. Soviet president and famous astronauts visited it. There is an opportunity to take a radon shower and massage in the sanatorium. 

    Breakfast Lunch Dinner
    230 km
    05:00
    800 m
    0 m
    
            Jeti Oguz sanatorium - Tash Doeboe (Song Kul)
    Day driving to Song Kul's lake
    Jeti Oguz sanatorium - Tash Doeboe (Song Kul)

    In the morning departure from Jety-Oguz. Lunch  in Kochkor village where we can visit a handicraft center and see the process of making traditional Kyrgyz carpets. In the afternoon transfer to the Son-Kul Lake over Kalmak -Ashu Pass. Drive around the Son-Kul Lake to get to our yurt camp. Making the acquaintance with nomadic traditions. Overnight in yurts.  

    Breakfast Lunch Dinner
    369 km
    05:00
    
            Tash Doeboe (Song Kul) - Toktogul
    From Song Kul to Toktogul
    Tash Doeboe (Song Kul) - Toktogul

    Transfer to Chichkan gorge. Coming up to Kara-Keche canyon then to the colorful Kekemeren gorge via Chaek. Drive to the Susamyr Valley, a huge prairie where local nomads come in summer to herd their cattle (3440). Arrival at Toktogul village. Overnight in the homestay. 

    Breakfast Lunch Dinner
    352 km
    07:00
    
            Toktogul - Arslanbob village
    Day driving to Arslanbob village.
    Toktogul - Arslanbob village

    Transfer to Arslanbob. Driving up to the Toktogul Dam. Picnic on the shore of the reservoir. then getting to the canyon raising over the Naryn River. On the main highway Osh-Bishkek drive to the Fergana Valley. Dinner in Djalal - Abad. Setting off for great walnut forests. Visiting a small waterfall sacred for local people. Overnight in homestay.

    Breakfast Lunch Dinner
    320 km
    06:00
    
            Arslanbob village - Osh
    Drive to Osh
    Arslanbob village - Osh

    To the West, cotton fields, the Fergana Valley welcomes us warm. Early departure of Arslanbob to Osh, Uzgen stop and visit of the minaret and mausoleums of the eleventh century. Then transfer to Osh. Visit of the city of Osh, the mausoleum of Babur and the throne of King Solomon. Overnight in guest house. 

    Breakfast Lunch Dinner
    190 km
    03:00
    0 m
    0 m
    
            Osh - Tashkent
    Osh - border Dostluk - Tashkent
    Osh - Tashkent

    After breakfast transfer to the border Dostlik. Meeting with Uzbek team. Transfer to Tashkent

    Breakfast Lunch Dinner
    420 km
    08:00

    The best tour agency I've ever had. Highly recomended. I am so glad and thankful for choosing Nomad's Land for my Kyrgyz travel experience. They were the only tour that listened to my wishes and tried to implement them all. They literally left not even one desire unfulfilled: The other tours I contacted were unable to provide me with a yurt accommodation in lake Song-Köl. Nomad's Land was on the contrary very ccoperative. Especially once I knew that the yurt camp owners in Song-Köl waited extra for me before leaving, I was very touched. It seemed to me that Nomad's Land has a wide network of contacts in Kyrgyzstan and they have long and solid experience in the country. The people, yurt camps and hotels Nomad's Land work with, are beyond what I call good. They are perfectly chosen. Thank you Bakyt for not leaving even one desire unfulfilled and cheers to the whole team, including the guide Timurlan and the managers Alex and Samuel.

    Vernon Nassar

    1 week of exploration around Kel-Suu at the top, despite the vagaries of the weather. We can only salute the seriousness and professionalism of the agency. Easy contact, team attentive. In addition to being able to discover a place that is difficult to access for independent hikers - and absolutely superb - we also took a real pleasure in getting into Kyrgyz culture more deeply. A big thank you to our great guide (Fabien) for having been able to motivate us whatever the circumstances, inventing new recipes based on kurut and allowing us to better understand the country. We hope to be able to leave with Nomad’s Land as soon as possible!

    Fanny

    On your way

    Toktogul KG

    The town of Toktogul is located in the district of Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyzstan, along the dam Toktogul. The Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, is 280 km north and Osh, the second largest city in Kyrgyzstan, 400km south. Located in west of the chain of the Tian Shan, the Toktogul valley has a long history. Its location along the river Naryn and surrounded by mountains allowed to easily defend against attacks and withstand natural disasters. With its abundant nature, the 7-4 centuries BC, the valley was home on his land Scythian warrior tribes. At that time, the Scythian believed in the existence of an underground world, and buried the kings and prominent warriors with their household utensils, their slaves, their horses, their arms so that they can use during their second life underground. Thus, the Toktogul Valley was one of the most populated areas of Central Asia. During the Soviet period, the archaeologist Alexendre Bernshtam began to seek and explore the tombs of Scythian. There was a lot of wealth and also, in a tomb, he found the whole body of a horse and hunting weapons of a leader. In the 1960s, the dam Toktogul forced to stop exploring all the graves remained in the artificial lake. In late 18th and early 19th century, the empire had Kokand invaded the Ferghana Valley and the territory of modern Uzbekistan. In order to expand its territory, they began to attack the people of the Celestial Mountains. The conquest began with the Toktogul valley because it was always one of the most populated valleys of Tien-Shan at that time. The invaders found themselves facing strong resistance from local people, although they had no army. Their situation in the middle of Tien-Shan allowed to defend themselves easily and without wasting much force. Because there was only one entrance into the valley where the amount of the warriors did not play a big role. But finally, because of a betrayal, Toktogul residents were defeated. The USSR had promised the people of Toktogul, 223.8 million som compensation for the dam construction. Unfortunately, people have never touched the money. From 1975, the new city was built on the north shore of the lake. Today, this city is fertile and shady. 
     

    Tash Doeboe (Song Kul) KG

    Every year at this place nomads spend the holidays. And in the south-east coast, between the hollows Kum-Bel (Sandy Pass) and Tepshi (Basin) are ancient stones.

    According to the Historical Museum of Ak-Talin region, there are 9 homes, each of which consists of eight stones, they extend from north to south. The diameter of each chamber is 335-366 cm, the length of the stone reaches 91,3-152,4 cm, the distance between the centers of 11-44 meters.

    "These archaeological sites called 'Hearth of Manas', are built of stones and post for tying his horse Akkulov. These monuments are found in the Altai and Tenir Too. Tradition says that the Manas, going to war for a just cause, and trained to speak in this valley with its 40 soldiers " 

    M. Apilov

    Osh KG

    Osh, the second largest city of the Kyrgyz republic, is one of the oldest settlements of Central Asia. It is located in southwestern Kyrgyzstan near the Uzbekistan border in the eastern section of the Fergana Valley. This one of the Central Asia's most interesting cities because of its long history, dating back as least to the 5th century BC - its position as an important crossroads for Silk Road trade and its huge market. For centuries it was a major silk-production center, strategically situated on a trade route to India.

    Sights are: the huge bazaar, Sulaimans Throne (a 200 m hill called Takht-i-Suleyman (Solomon's Throne), where the Prophet Muhammad is thought to have prayed and where Muslim pilgrims began visiting in the tenth century), Baburs House (at the top of Sulaimans Throne), several monuments (especially the one of Kurmanjan Datka –  Kyrgyz feminine ruler and engaged warrior against the Russian invasion), the Russian-orthodox church, the biggest mosque of the country (situated right beside the bazaar) and the Rabat Abdul Khan Mosque (16 th century).

    The population of Osh is mostly Uzbek. Osh has two universities, a sanatorium, and an airport. Economic activity has been aided by beneficial reforms and consists of the Jayma bazaar; silk trade; mining of zinc, lead, and coal; food processing; and the production of silk, cotton, and wool.

    Karakol KG

    At the eastern tip of Lake Issyk-Kul, Karakol is a fertile garden town of wooden chocolate-box cottages and shady, poplar-lined avenues. Fringed to the east by the Terskey Ala-Too Mountains, which tower dramatically over its low-rise skyline, Issyk-Kul ripples 10 km to the west.

    Karakol is the best base from which to explore the lakeshore and Central Asia's prime trekking and mountaineering routes. With the most spectacular parts of the Central Tien-Shan right on its doorstep and newly open to foreign visitors, the town attracts trekkers, hikers and climbers from all over the world.

    Karakol and its surroundings have just as much to offer their less energetic visitors. Besides one of Kyrgyzstan's largest and most colorful bazaars, a nomadic livestock market and several good museums, its spectacular environs boast an endless array of truly unique day trips. Blood-red cliffs, hot springs, Scythian burial mounds, nomad camps and sandy beaches thousands of miles from the sea are all within easy reach.

    The town was build since 1869, one year after Teplokluchenka (actually name Ak-Suu). There is a unique building in the center of Karakol - ancient wooden orthodox church. But you may visit also the zoo, the regional museum, the wooden mosque, the Panfilov park, the Park Victory, the museum and memorial Prejwalski.

    Despite Karakol's status as the administrative center of the Issyk-Kul region, it has only 75,000 residents and a gentle, small-town atmosphere.

    Bishkek KG

    Bishkek is one of the greenest cities in Central Asia. About 150 different kinds of trees and bushes are planted in the streets of the city. There are many cinemas, Opera House, Kyrgyz and Russian Drama Theater, Mosques and Orthodox churches, historical complex of the national hero - Manas- “The Manas Ailly”, zoological, geological art and other museums, exhibitions of decorative and applied art, colorful oriental bazaars are others interesting places you are invited to visit.

    On bazaar one can see really traditional handiwork of Kyrgyz land and goods from all around the world at reasonable prices. There are remarkable parks and shadowy boulevards Erkindik and Molodaya Gvardia, pensioners like to walk there, sportsmen run along its alleys, kids play and young people date here.

    Bishkek - capital, heart of the Kyrgyz Republic, its political, economic, scientific and cultural center, the main transport unit. Bishkek - the location of the supreme bodies of the government of republic, embassies and representations of the foreign states. Bishkek is located in the center of the Chuy valley, at bottom of snow-white mountains of Kyrgyz Ala-Too, at height of 750 m. above sea level.

    The area of territory - 160 sq. km, the population - about 1 million person. The city residential areas which have arisen at various times, differ on the planning structure and a degree of an accomplishment. Last years are characterized by occurrence on adjoining to city of territory of some new buildings with the microstructure. The city on administrative-territorial division is broken into 4 areas: Leninsky, Pervomajsky, Sverdlovsky, Oktjabrsky.

    In Bishkek the most part of all industry of Kyrghyzstan is located. Feature of planning structure of the city of Bishkek is development of industrial zones along the railway. In city two industrial zones are allocated: east and western. The system of transport and foot ways connects industrial and administrative areas among themselves. Gardening is submitted by squares, parkways, parks, adjoining to city the territory is planted by forest plantations, there are lakes and water pools.

    The science and education are submitted by the National academy of sciences and a plenty of average special and higher educational institutions. Bishkek - the center of national culture of Kyrghyzstan. Here there are theatres, a philharmonic society, libraries, museums.

    Intensively the information infrastructure of city develops: some Internet providers already work, a plenty of local, global, corporate computer networks is created. Two operators of cellular communication, some operators of a paging and trunk radio communication work.
     

    Arslanbob village KG

    Arslanbob (written also Arstanpap or Arslanbap) is a wide village in the mountain, north of the city of Jalal Abad. Mainly populated by people of Uzbek ethnicity, the village count about 15'000 inhabitants. Most of the population are Uzbek, and less than 5% is Kyrgyz, Russian, Tatar, Tajik, Chechen etc… The village is situated at an altitude of 1350 metres up to 1800 metres.

    Kyrgyzstan's first known export to Europe was the Arslanbob walnut. Nuts forest are legendary because there are certainly originel forest of nuts, and maybe Alexander the Great bring back these nuts to Greece. Two waterfalls are located in the area which attract tourists, expats and pilgrims, skiers and other whole year round.

    Arslanbob is named after an 11th-century figure, Arslanbob-Ata (alternate: Arstanbap-Ata). He may have been of Arab descent as in that language, Arslan translates to "lion" and bab to "gate", while in Turkic languages, ata means "father of". ergo "father of the lion gate". 'Bob', used as a suffix, is a traditional practice used in the Arslanbob which denotes "a traveler and explorer.

    Muslims consider picturesque forest gardens sacred. According to legend, in ancient times there was an extremely hardworking man called Arstanbap who served the prophet Muhammad. Pilgrims come from far away to see the mausoleum of Arsantbap. And those who visit the forest bring with them a bit of paradise. 

    The walnut forest is within the 60,000 hectares (150,000 acres) forest situated between the Fergana and Chatkal Mountains. The walnut forest is located at altitudes varying between 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) and 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) above sea level on the Fergana range's south-facing slopes. At 11,000 hectares (27,000 acres), the Arslanbob woodland is the largest walnut grove on Earth.

    Behind the village of Arslanbob are the Babash-Ata Mountains. There are two waterfalls nearby. One measures 80 metres (260 ft) high and has a slippery scree slope; it is situated in a cliff face north of the village. Another, to the east, is 23 metres (75 ft) in height and has two prayer caves, one of which is known as the Cave of the 40 Angels.

    NGO "Forest relics" is our lodging provider. In Summer or in Winter, they organise sports and cultural events :

    In May : Bike Challenge of Arslanbob

    Info

    What is included

    • All transportation in a private vehicle

    • All airport transfers

    • Accommodation as described in the program

    • Meals (3 per day)

    • Bottled water (when possible) & tea

    • English-speaking trekking guide

    • Pack horses with saddle bags & horsemen

    • Camping & cooking equipment (tents, mats, gas, stove, etc)

    • All the activities listed in the program

    • Entry fees at national parks and/or border zones listed in the program

    • Entry fees at museums and historical sites listed in the program

    • Domestic flights mentioned in the program

    • A contribution to our sustainable development projects

    • Organisation of the trip & local taxes

    What is not included

    • International flights

    • International banking fees (PayPal, ...)

    • Travel & repatriation insurance

    • Visas / LOI (if applicable)

    • Alcoholic and soft drinks

    • Personal expenses

    • Personal equipment (sleeping bag, headlight, personal medication, etc)

    • Additional costs due to unexpected personal events (health, loss of luggage, ...)

    • Tips for guide & driver (always optional, always appreciated)

    Ready to go?
    Book your tour today.

    May we help you?

    Our trip designers are at your disposal for building your dream! Feel free to contact us.

    Postal address

    Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

    Phone number
    Email

    Looking for a taylor-made experience? Check our trip planner.

    Join us on Facebook!

    And keep updated with our tour promotions, or follow us on