Kyrgyz traditional handicraft is a part of universal cultural heritage. Traditional arts and crafts influenced mostly by the nomadic way of life. These are the main varieties of the arts. Felt arts, patterned weaving, embroidery, leather, wood, and metalworking. Preserving and passing it to future generations is very important.
During our tour to artisans, you would have a chance to open up the hidden world of centuries-old heritage and properly understand it.
Arrival in Bishkek. Meet at the airports “Manas” and transfer to your hotel in Bishkek. Hotel check-in. Free time. Visit a local handicraft workshop and center for preserving traditional handicrafts and arts Kiyiz Duino – Felt World. Dinner. Accommodation at the hotel.
Morning has breakfast. Short city tour in Bishkek. Visit Osh Bazar, Museum of Fine Arts, Ala-Too Square and Oak Park. Lunch at the cafe. Transfer to Chong Kemin National Park. On the way visit the Burana Tower (9-10 century). Afternoon check- into local guesthouse Kok-Archa. Dinner and B&B stay with a local family of Uzur.
Breakfast. Free time. Transfer to Tamchy village, on the north shore of Issyk-Kul Lake. Meet with local artisan Baktygul Asanalieva. She is an artisan and making her crafts from felt. Felt is made of pressed sheep goad or camel wool. Today she will make a master-class “Silk and Wool”. Make your own piece of art. Lunch. Afternoon walks till the shores of the Issyk-Kul Lake. Free time. Dinner and B&B stay at the guesthouse.
To reach Karakol will take 3 hours with the stop in Cholpon-Ata town. The famous resort area for the CIS countries is overcrowded in the summer season for beach and lazy tourists. But on the outskirts of the town, there is an open-air site of stone inscriptions – petroglyphs. Visit them and see the art of the Stone Age (800 BC to 1200 AD). Lunch at the local cafe. Further, drive to Karakol. Arrival and check in to the guesthouse. If you have more time possible to have a walk-in Karakol visiting Muslim mosque and Holy-Trinity Church dates from the 19th century. Dinner and accommodation.
Day trek to the alpine meadows and hot springs site Altyn-Arashan. The level of the valley is 2500 meters above sea level. There is the source of three types of nitric springs. Accent trekking up and down with soviet jeep UAZ support car. Lunch. Free time. Possible to have a bath at local springs. Late afternoon return to Karakol. The evening has a Dungan dinner. Dungans are the local minority of Muslim people of Hui origin.
Karakol-Bokonbaevo route takes 200 km and about 3 hours driving. On the way visit Jety-Oguz gorge (Seven Bulls). Barskoon village we will meet with representatives of the Ak-Orgo handicrafters community. Visit their workshop. Help them with their current making arts. Lunch. Evening arrival to Bokonbaevo village to the area of Tong, Sonun yurt camp on the lakeshore. Dinner and overnight in a yurt.
Morning visit of Kyzyl-Tuu yurt makers village. Have a display of building a yurt. The whole village making yurt’s wooden carcass felt layers and decoration. Build up together yurt and have lunch together with masters inside it. Afternoon transfer to Kara-Suu village. Meet with felt master Guljan Eje. She is keeping old handicraft traditions and pass it to a new generation, for daughters-in-law. Master class of traditional handicraft and making Ala-Kiyiz – pressed felt rug together. Dinner with family and overnight stay at the home-stay of Guljan Eje.
The most favorite highlight, the must-see destination is Son-Kol Lake. Transfer there by the Kalmak-Ashuu Pass. Arrival to the yurt camp on the shore of the lake. See everyday life of family passing summer the summer pasture of 3000 m asl. Lunch, Dinner, and B&B stay in a yurt.
Free morning in Son-Kol. Walk at the lakeshore, count the pebbles, enjoy the reflections of snow-capped mountains and feel the serenity. Lunch at the yurt. Afternoon transfer to Bishkek. The route takes 300 km, about 4-5 hours of driving. Arrival in Bishkek. Have a farewell dinner. Check-in to the hotel.
The tours start upon request, please contact us. The itineraries can be adjusted individually to fit into your schedule and provide you with the best experience. Furthermore, we are happy to create tailor-made tours according to your wishes.
After having solved all the questions and programs confirming we issue an invoice for payment. You can make a bank transfer or pay upon your arrival time in Bishkek before the trip starts.
The price of the tour depends on the number of people and the season. According to the request and interest, we can negotiate the optimal price for your budget.
Weatherproof warm clothes, trekking boots, hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen
Kyrgyz Republic. Bishkek city
Mon – Sat 9.00 – 18.00 Sunday CLOSED
© Kyrgyzstan tourism
