Private 2 day trip to Issyk-Kul (incl. Grigoryev and Semenov gorge)

Private 2 day trip to Issyk-Kul (incl. Grigoryev and Semenov gorge)

Have you heard about the pearl of Central Asia?

Issyk-Kul Lake, which is located in the mountains and amazes with its beauty and mystique legends!

Booking this tour you will get a combi tour of nature with history and discover such picturesque selfie spots as: Issyk-Kul Lake, Burana Tower, Grogiryev and Semenov gorge in only 2 days!

Itinerary

Day 1: Bishkek - Cholpon Ata (Issyk-Kul)

Stop At: Burana Tower, Don-Aryk, Tokmok 722201 Kyrgyzstan
Burana Tower, located 80 km (50 miles) from Bishkek, is one of Kyrgyzstan’s best known archaeological sites. Burana is also home to a museum of important archaeological pieces that tell the history of the Silk Road and Kyrgyzstan’s place on it.

Burana Tower is all that’s left of the city of Balasagun, which was the capital of the Karakhanid Empire in the 9th century. Around the base of the tower are several excavation sites that show brick foundations of buildings, though archaeologists have shown that the town actually extended for quite a bit further (shops, bazaars, baths, and houses have all been discovered).

There is also a small collection of balbals, or kurgan stelae, near the tower. These little stone figures were used to honor the dead, and sometimes marked the spot where a body was buried. These are excellent examples of stonework from the 6th century CE, and are accompanied by petroglyphs from the 2nd century BC that were brought here to be displayed.

The museum itself is small, but houses unique and interesting artifacts. Balasagyn’s location on the Silk Road made it a center for traders, with merchandise and people crisscrossing the continent from east to west. Coins, pottery, and other artifacts show the diversity of the region and its storied history.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Issyk Kul Province, Issyk Kul Province
Issyk-Kul is the world’s second largest alpine lake, lying at 1609 m (5,279 feet) above sea level. Even though it is surrounded by mountains, Issyk-Kul never freezes, thus its name means “hot lake” in Kyrgyz. The lake itself is surrounded by protected marshlands, two mountain ranges, and many popular resorts and destinations, including Karakol and Cholpon-Ata.
There are many archaeological remains around Issyk-Kul, from the petroglyphs in Cholpon-Ata to remains of buildings and cities that lie under the waters (the depth and shape of the lake has changed over history because of earthquakes). The shores of Issyk-Kul were well populated, and were famous among travelers and merchants. Though Issyk-Kul was not well known in the western world until the arrival of Russian explorers in the 1800s, several Chinese travelers had written accounts of visiting Issyk-Kul as far back as the 1st century BCE. Issyk-Kul was a popular stop on the Silk Road too, and Barskhan (near Barskoon, on the south shore), was famous because of its position near the Bedel Pass from China.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Museum of Petroglyphs, Cholpon Ata 720025 Kyrgyzstan
One of the main sights in Cholpon-Ata is the open-air museum of petroglyphs, located just outside the city center. The 42 hectares of the museum are 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.

It is thought that the site was once an open-air temple, where people worshipped the sun and other celestial bodies. Many of the stones feature animals, including snow leopards and deer. One of the stones near the entrance features hunters chasing deer with tame snow leopards, while another stone depicts snow leopards in motion, a rare image in Central Asian petroglyphs. There are also images of the sun, and chariots racing across rocks.
Duration: 45 minutes

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Akmaral 4* hotel, Cholpon Ata.

Day 2: Cholpon Ata (Issyk-Kul) - Grigoryev gorge - Semenov gorge - Bishkek

Stop At: Grigor'yevskoye Ushchel'ye, 42.842809,77.398916, Kyrgyzstan, Osh, Kyrgyzstan
Grigoriev Gorge (Chon Aksu) is one of the most famous and beautiful sights of Issyk-Kul Lake. This picturesque place is located 60 km from the town of Cholpon-Ata.

Enjoying the beauty of the mountain slopes, covered with red poppy and sound of mountain water, here you can also see beautiful Tien-Shan spruce. There are three beautiful lakes with crystal clear water in the valley. Lower Lake is located at the lower part of the gorge, Middle Lake is at pasture At-Djailoo, and the most beautiful of the three lakes – Upper Lake is located 6 km from the Middle Lake. After the walk you can taste the Kyrgyz national cuisine in one of the yurts, as well as t get acquainted with the culture and traditions of the nomadic Kyrgyz people. Horse lovers can ride on horseback, enjoying the beauty of the mountain landscape.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Semenovskoye Canyon, Kyrgyzstan
Semenovskoye Gorge is located in 4 kilometers to the north of the village of Semenovka. There is an asphalted road going to the abandoned Kyrchyn camp site, located 5 km from the beginning of the gorge. This part of the gorge is very beautiful, with the mixed forest of Tien Shan spruce trees.
Duration: 2 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.