Arrivals to Manas International Airport - Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

NOTE we will collect you from the airport whatever time you arrive

We will start the day with a walk through the beautiful parks of the city centre and be introduced to the history of Kyrgyzstan.

Watching the changing of the guards under State Flag in the City Centre will amaze you, those guys can march!

Then we are visiting a fabulous NGO that has dedicated itself to the preservation of Kyrgyz Culture since 1995.

It will be a rich afternoon - history, costumes to see, a fabulous lunch and time to stitch.  

Kyrgyzstan is a land of many tribes - all part of an integrated whole, many have Nomadic roots but those over towards Osh tended to farm their lands and were stationary. 

They have a rich history of embroidery and we will be lead be a woman from that area to stitch what will become a purse, we might not finish it today but will have time to work on it along the way.

A quick visit this afternoon to an inspiring business. Felted dolls and Christmas ornaments - beautifully made high end products exported to the world.

Let's share a Welcome dinner together, tonight.

B,L,D

Nothing happens quickly when you are on Nomad Time, locals will tell you. It took quite a while for the State History Museum to be renovated but what a gem they now have!

We will spend our morning here, it is close to our hotel, you may want to pop back again to enjoy the collection- it is stunning.

Let's share lunch and then poke around town this afternoon.

The fabric market is huge and has some great cloth, then onto a design shop - Kyrgyz traditional techniques with a contemporary edge and a local craft market. 

Evening free. 

B,L

This morning we visit a stellar workshop that produces stunning silk + wool contemporary clothing and accessories. Get ready to rock and roll felt by the end of the session you will have created your own beautiful silk + wool scarf.

We'll share lunch together, 

if you feel up to it we will visit the Art Museum together, otherwise take it easy after our busy morning.

B,L

Today we becomes Nomads ourselves and hit the road.

We are visiting a woman this morning who makes patchwork. Patchwork has an important place in Kyrgyz culture, the gifting of cloth is significant at certain stages of life. Let's find out more as we travel. 

Much of our journey follows the banks of this beautiful lake Issey-Kul. Read up on it and it is the second-largest mountain lake in the world, one of the highest and etc. What’s most wonderful about it is its beautiful colour - it’s truly mesmerising. 

Lunch will be trout fresh from the lake.

Today we stay on the shore of the Lake, our resort has a heated pool if you feel like a dip, dinner is free to enjoy at your leisure.

B,L

We will start the day visiting the Petroglyph Museum near Issey-Kul Lake. It is dotted with stone circles, tombs, balbals, and a variety of petroglyphs. These petroglyphs date from the 2nd millennium BCE up to the 4th century AD.

Fascinating place to explore.

Snow-capped mountains, icy rushing rivers, and wide plains dotted with grazing horse herds — these will be our neighbours tonight.

Home will be in luxury yurts: cosy, warm, with private bathrooms and heated floors. You may never want to leave!

B,L,D

Heading to the 'big smoke'  today - Karakol is the major hub of eastern Kyrgyzstan.

Along the way we visit the Karasaev & Nikolai Przhevalsky Museum- A small museum dedicated to the travels of Russian geologist and explorer Nikolai Przhevalsky, a major player in "The Great Game" between Russia and Great Britain and Kusein Karasev, a well-known Kyrgyz philologist and lexicographer, who created many dictionaries, including Russian-Kyrgyz.

Lunch in the Central market and then a look around town.

A great shop that sells organic produce and fine crafts of the area, the Orthodox Cathedral, Dungan Mosque and local Museum are all interesting and help you appreciate the layers of ethnic roots, faith and cultures that blend to create Kyrgyzstan. 

The Museum has a collection of photographs by Ellie Malliart - from the 1930s onwards she spent years exploring Muslim republics of the USSR, as well as other parts of Asia, and published a rich series of books which, just as her photographs, are today considered valuable historical testimonies.  

Dinner tonight we are helping make laghman noodles and having dinner Dungan Style - a feast of flavours and fresh vegetables and meats.

B,L,D

Today is an adventure - with a very experienced driver and an old Russian beast of a 4 wheel drive we are going up to Altyn Arashan Hot Springs.

Stunning scenery all the way to a peaceful valley and a hot springs - bring your swimmers we've booked the private pool for a warm soothing dip. Then a picnic lunch, wander around looking at the wild flowers and time to breath the freshest air imaginable.

We purposely chose the noodles again..... so you can experience just how different they can be when cooked by another Ethnic group.

If we are lucky and the daughters are home, there will be dancing and traditional music. Be ready for a fun night.

B,L,D

Fantastic Landscapes to explore today on the way to Bokonbayevo, the first is the Jeti-Ögüz Rocks or Seven Bulls - we'll enjoy the favorite Kyrgyz Legend told about the rocks and explore a little in the narrow gorges.

Then onto the Fairytale Canyon, known locally as Skazka Canyon, is named for its surreal and vibrant rock formations that seem straight out of a fantasy tale. 

Lunch will be a picnic along the way and we will reach Bokonbayevo in the afternoon.

Eagle Hunting is a tradition amongst the Nomadic People of this area. The love between the Golden Eagle and her handler is strong. They live together until the eagle is 15 years old and then she is released into the wild again to spend the next 45 years of her life free and able to breed.

B,L,D

Today we visit a family business that makes felts for yurts, carpets and other craft items. From the fleece to the finished product we will follow the life of the wool. Then we will have the chance to create a felted picture to take home.

How to raise a yurt? There are so many parts, each has a name and an exact way it all goes together. Generally it is the men who raise the yurts and the woman who collapse them, today we will get to help or keep out of the way and watch - as needed! 😊

The family we are visiting - produce the wooden elements of yurts and assemble complete yurts in collaboration with our local artisans to order. Business is good with the interest from Yurt Camps for tourists.

Lunch will be home cooked and if we are lucky a Ormok - Yurt Braid  weaver will visit to show us how it done. Don't worry if she is not around we have someone in the next village who can show us!

B,L,D

Ala Kiyiz Felt demonstration - get ready to dance as you work. Our tutors Nurliza and Jypara like help to do the rolling - it involves a rope and rocking the roll of felt to music and a few dance moves. Fun times.

Ala Kiyiz are felted mates made in one piece.

We will also look at Shyrdak assembling and stitching and the meaning of the symbols used in both.. 

Both Shyrdak - Stitched Felted Carpets and Ala Kiyiz full felted Carpets are recognized on the World Heritage Register.

Chiy are the beautiful wool wrapped screens that line a winter yurt. We will visit Fatima at a Women's Co-operative to see how they come together.

B,L,D

We are staying in a beautiful valley today, after travelling along through Chong-Kemin National Park and wild flower spotting - if we are lucky we will see wild tulips.

Visit a local chesse factory - and share a delicious lunch.

Local women will visit this afternoon and show us how to wear the national hats and scarves.

B,L,D

Off to Burana Tower -  The tower, along with grave markers, some earthworks and the remnants of a castle and three mausoleums, is all that remains of the ancient city of Balasagun, which was established by the Karahanids at the end of the 9th century on our way to Bishkek.

Let's celebrate our journey with a Farewell Dinner.

B,L,D

Departures from  Manas International Airport - Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

NOTE we will drop you to the airport whatever time you are departing.

Physical Fitness for Sightseeing.

This adventure is designed for enthusiastic, active travellers with a good general level of health and mobility.

To make the most of your experience, you’ll need to be comfortable walking for 3 to 4 hours a day - sometimes over uneven ground, up hills, and a few flights of stairs. 

Getting in and out of local transport and navigating occasional over-the-bath showers may also be part of the journey.

If you’re up for a bit of daily movement and love immersing yourself on foot, you’ll thrive on this tour. 

Just a heads-up - it is not be the best match for those who like to take things very slowly or need lots of rest stops along the way.