Central Asia

Itinerary

• Days 1-2: Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan)

  Start in Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek, where visits to the city’s museums, main bazaar, and central square serve as an introduction to Kyrgyz culture.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • Bishkek’s Osh Bazaar, with its fruits, nuts, prepared foods, and brilliant Kyrgyz textiles
  • The tools, clothing, and other artifacts showcasing Kyrgyz history and traditions at the Ethnographic Museum
  • The State Museum of Fine Arts, featuring Kyrgyz art and handicrafts
  • Ala-Too Square, the city’s central meeting place, surrounded by imposing Soviet-era architecture
• Days 3-5: Kochkor, Lake Issyk-Kul, Karakol

  Drive to the sprawling village of Kochkor and meet with a family of felt makers – an essential part of traditional Kyrgyz culture. Share meals with them and observe a demonstration of their craft. Touring around Lake Issyk-Kul includes a performance of trained golden eagles showing off their hunting skills; visits to evocatively named Fairytale Valley, Broken Heart Hill, and the Valley of Flowers; and lunch at a yurt camp, with an optional horseback ride. Spend the night in the city of Karakol and visit two of its landmarks: the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church and the Dungan Mosque.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • Getting to know traditional felt makers in Kochkor
  • A demonstration of hunting skills by trained golden eagles
  • Scenic Jety Oguz Canyon, where short walks lead to brilliant red Broken Heart Hill and the Valley of Flowers, carpeted in spring with a floral color
  • Karakol’s Holy Trinity Orthodox Church and Dungan Mosque, both reflecting the city’s multicultural heritage in their design
• Day 6-8: Chon-Kemin, Bishkek

  Head to a traditional village in the beautifully situated Chon-Kemin Valley, stopping along the way to admire thousands of ancient petroglyphs. In Chon-Kemin get a dose of local culture, dining with a resident family and watching a demonstration of traditional games played on horseback. The following day return to Bishkek with a stop at Burana Tower, one of the few remaining Silk Road watchtowers in Kyrgyzstan. On your final night, attend a performance of selections from the Epic of Manas, a poem passed down by word of mouth for centuries.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • Ibex, camels, and snow leopards portrayed in petroglyphs thought to have been created by tribes of the Neolithic period
  • Watching fiercely contested traditional sports played on horseback
  • Climbing to the top of Burana Tower
  • A performance of selections from the Epic of Manas, a traditional poem deeply rooted in Kyrgyz culture