
Best of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan
Itinerary
Spend two weeks discovering a part of the world well off the typical tourist track. Few Central Asia tours offer the cultural flavour this journey through Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan does. Trek through the gorgeous landscapes of Jeti-Oguz, wander through the amazing Skazka "Fairytale" Canyon, stay a night in a traditional yurt, and discover the unforgettable warmth of the people in these regions. Visit Central Asia and you'll wonder why you didn't get here sooner.
Tour program
Day 1
Bishkek
Welcome to Kyrgyzstan's artsy capital and cultural hub, situated at the base of the Tian Shan mountain range. There are no planned activities until the evening welcome meeting, so get out there and explore!
Included Activities:
- Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Day 2
Bishkek/Chon Kemin (1B, 1L, 1D)
Meals Included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Transport:
- Private Vehicle 01:30 Hr(s)
Included Activities:
- City Tour
- Burana Tower Visit
Day 3
Chong-Kemin/Song Kul (1B, 1D)
Meals Included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Transport:
- Private Vehicle 05:00 Hr(s)
Included Activities:
- Overnight in a Yurt
Additional Notes: Weather related conditions may limit access to the Song Kol mountain pass in May and June. If the pass is closed, the group will instead overnight at a yurt stay near Issyk Kol Lake.
Day 4
Song Kul/Tamga (1B, 1L, 1D)
Tamga village was once famous for its Soviet-era military sanatorium, where Soviet cosmonauts relaxed and recovered after space flights.
Meals Included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Transport:
- Private Vehicle 06:00 Hr(s)
Included Activities:
- Lunch with Local Family in Kochkor
- Skazka "Fairytale" Canyon
- Tamga Village Stay
Day 5
Tamga/Karakol (1B, 1L, 1D)
Meals Included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Transport:
- Private Vehicle 01:30 - 02:00 Hr(s)
Included Activities:
- Yurt Building Demonstration
- Jety Oguz & the Seven Bulls
- Karakol City Tour
Day 6
Karakol/Saty Village (1B, 1D)
Meals Included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Transport:
- Private Vehicle 04:30 Hr(s)
Included Activities:
- Border Crossing (Kyrgyzstan - Kazakhstan)
- Saty Village Stay
Day 7
Saty Village/Almaty (1B)
Meals Included:
- Breakfast
Transport:
- Private Vehicle 04:00 Hr(s)
Included Activities:
- Charyn Canyon Visit
Day 8
Almaty/Dushanbe (1B)
Meals Included:
- Breakfast
Transport:
- Plane 01:30 Hr(s)
Included Activities:
- Almaty City Tour
Day 9
Dushanbe (1B)
Meals Included:
- Breakfast
Included Activities:
- City Tour
Day 10
Dushanbe/Kuli Iskandarkul/ Ghazza Village (1B, 1D)
Meals Included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Transport:
- Private Vehicle 03:30 Hr(s)
Included Activities:
- Iskander Darya Waterfall
- Community Guesthouse
Day 11
Ghazza (1B, 1L, 1D)
Meals Included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Included Activities:
- Voru Village Hike and Blacksmith
Day 12
Ghazza/Khujand (1B)
Meals Included:
- Breakfast
Transport:
- Private Vehicle 03:30 Hr(s)
Included Activities:
- Lenin Monument
- City Tour
Day 13
Khujand/Tashkent (1B)
Some travellers will be joining the group here as they start their journey into Uzbekistan.
Meals Included:
- Breakfast
Transport:
- Private Vehicle 03:00 Hr(s)
Included Activities:
- Market Visit
- Border Crossing (Tajikistan - Uzbekistan)
- Orientation With CEO
Day 14
Tashkent (1B)
Meals Included:
- Breakfast
Included Activities:
- Departure Day
Tour Details
accommodation
Hotels/guesthouses (11 nts), community home-stay (1 nts), yurt (1 nt, multishare up to 4 people)
flights
International flights are not included
guide
CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout.
insurance
Insurance is not included. Travel insurance is required for this tour. Please make sure you are adequately covered.
meals
13 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 7 dinners
optional
Other activities and services are not included
others
Your G for Good Moment: Yurt Building Demonstration, Barskoon
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group, Bishkek
Your Local Living Moment: Overnight in a Yurt, Song Köl
Your Local Living Moment: Tamga Village Stay, Tamga
Your Local Living Moment: Community Guesthouse, Ghazza. Bishkek City Tour. Burana Tower. Home-cooked traditional dinner. Overnight in a Yurt. Free time in Chong-Kemin. Song Kul Lake. Lunch with Local Family in Kochkor. Skazka "Fairytale" Canyon. Tamga Village Stay. Yurt Building Demonstration. Jety Oguz & the Seven Bulls. Karakol City Tour. Russian Orthodox Cathedral. Dungan mosque. Saty Village Stay. 4x4 ride to Kaindy Lake. Charyn Canyon. Almaty City Tour. Independence Square, Zenkov Cathedral, Panfilov's Park. WWII memorial. Free time in Almaty. Dushanbe City tour. Alexander the Great's lake. Hike to Iskander Darya waterfall. Fann Mountains. Voru Village Hike and Blacksmith. Free time in Ghazza Village. Istaravshan Mosque and Lenin Bust visit. Khujand City Tour. Museum of Sughd. Mausoleum of Sheik Muslekheddin. Khujand market. ACCOMMODATION NOTE:
Please be aware that properties we stay in with only two stories may not have elevators installed and climbing the stairs with your luggage will be necessary.
CULTURE
Central Asia is a region which may be very different to anything you have experienced before. Mixture of Soviet heritage and Islam, summer heat and winter cold, religious conservatism, traffic and crowds can result in initial culture shock but should be seen as an exciting new challenge.
DRESS CODE
Though you can see lots of people in traditional clothes, Central Asia has adopted western style clothing as well. Don't hesitate to pack your usual travel clothes: in summer it can be shorts and t-shirts, sandals etc. We recommend not to bring tank tops/singlets and any types of clothes with bare shoulders and backs - it is unacceptable in most areas, even in bigger cities. Our tour takes us to many religious sights, where dress code is very strict. We recommend women to have a headscarf in their day bags to cover up when going inside mosques (it's also a great help in the heat in summer). Best things to pack for the hot Central Asian climate is loose, long clothing - long trousers and sarongs or long skirts for women. In colder months (from the end of October through the end of April) it can rain and snow - bring warm clothes, jackets and comfortable warm shoes for walking.
ALTITUDE CONSIDERATIONS
This trip operates at altitudes over 800m (max altitude 3016m at Song Kul ). Whilst we travel slowly allowing plenty of time to acclimatize you may experience headaches, nausea, lethargy, especially when visiting Song Kul & Iskanderkul. It is important to be aware of the affects of altitude on one's tolerance especially on long driving days.
MONEY
Due to the restrictions on changing money in Central Asia region, only notes/bills printed after 1996 and in good condition will be accepted for exchange. Usually 50 and 100 USD/EUR notes get better exchange rate. We recommend to bring smaller denominations as well - many vendors accept them if you don't have local currency.
RAMADAN
According to the lunar cycle, Ramadan will fall between Feb 28th - Mar 29th 2025, and Feb 17th - Mar 19th 2026. Please note that Ramadan is a month of fasting observed by Muslims throughout the world, during which time the followers of Islam should not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset. There may be some limitations to services and disruptions to schedules during Ramadan, but generally our tours still operate effectively during this period and food is available to non-Muslims throughout the day. It is very important to display increased cultural sensitivity during Ramadan. Please wear loose fitting clothes, that cover knees and shoulders, and try to avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public out of respect for those who can't at that time.
COMBO TRIP
Please note that this tour combines with other G Adventures tours. As such, the staff and some travel companions on your tour may have previously been traveling together with G Adventures, prior to Day 1 of your tour. Likewise, some staff and travel companions may be continuing together on another G Adventures tour, after your trip concludes.
INTERNAL FLIGHT TIMES
Please be aware that flight delays between Bishkek and Dushanbe can occur. Your CEO may need to make adjustments to your itinerary in case of flight schedule changes.Song-Köl
- Hiking in Song Kül (Free)
Kolsay Lakes National Park
- Hiking in Kolsay Lakes National Park (Free)
Almaty
- Zelyony Bazaar (Free)
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group, Bishkek
Your Local Living Moment: Overnight in a Yurt, Song Köl
Your Local Living Moment: Tamga Village Stay, Tamga
Your Local Living Moment: Community Guesthouse, Ghazza. Bishkek City Tour. Burana Tower. Home-cooked traditional dinner. Overnight in a Yurt. Free time in Chong-Kemin. Song Kul Lake. Lunch with Local Family in Kochkor. Skazka "Fairytale" Canyon. Tamga Village Stay. Yurt Building Demonstration. Jety Oguz & the Seven Bulls. Karakol City Tour. Russian Orthodox Cathedral. Dungan mosque. Saty Village Stay. 4x4 ride to Kaindy Lake. Charyn Canyon. Almaty City Tour. Independence Square, Zenkov Cathedral, Panfilov's Park. WWII memorial. Free time in Almaty. Dushanbe City tour. Alexander the Great's lake. Hike to Iskander Darya waterfall. Fann Mountains. Voru Village Hike and Blacksmith. Free time in Ghazza Village. Istaravshan Mosque and Lenin Bust visit. Khujand City Tour. Museum of Sughd. Mausoleum of Sheik Muslekheddin. Khujand market. ACCOMMODATION NOTE:
Please be aware that properties we stay in with only two stories may not have elevators installed and climbing the stairs with your luggage will be necessary.
CULTURE
Central Asia is a region which may be very different to anything you have experienced before. Mixture of Soviet heritage and Islam, summer heat and winter cold, religious conservatism, traffic and crowds can result in initial culture shock but should be seen as an exciting new challenge.
DRESS CODE
Though you can see lots of people in traditional clothes, Central Asia has adopted western style clothing as well. Don't hesitate to pack your usual travel clothes: in summer it can be shorts and t-shirts, sandals etc. We recommend not to bring tank tops/singlets and any types of clothes with bare shoulders and backs - it is unacceptable in most areas, even in bigger cities. Our tour takes us to many religious sights, where dress code is very strict. We recommend women to have a headscarf in their day bags to cover up when going inside mosques (it's also a great help in the heat in summer). Best things to pack for the hot Central Asian climate is loose, long clothing - long trousers and sarongs or long skirts for women. In colder months (from the end of October through the end of April) it can rain and snow - bring warm clothes, jackets and comfortable warm shoes for walking.
ALTITUDE CONSIDERATIONS
This trip operates at altitudes over 800m (max altitude 3016m at Song Kul ). Whilst we travel slowly allowing plenty of time to acclimatize you may experience headaches, nausea, lethargy, especially when visiting Song Kul & Iskanderkul. It is important to be aware of the affects of altitude on one's tolerance especially on long driving days.
MONEY
Due to the restrictions on changing money in Central Asia region, only notes/bills printed after 1996 and in good condition will be accepted for exchange. Usually 50 and 100 USD/EUR notes get better exchange rate. We recommend to bring smaller denominations as well - many vendors accept them if you don't have local currency.
RAMADAN
According to the lunar cycle, Ramadan will fall between Feb 28th - Mar 29th 2025, and Feb 17th - Mar 19th 2026. Please note that Ramadan is a month of fasting observed by Muslims throughout the world, during which time the followers of Islam should not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset. There may be some limitations to services and disruptions to schedules during Ramadan, but generally our tours still operate effectively during this period and food is available to non-Muslims throughout the day. It is very important to display increased cultural sensitivity during Ramadan. Please wear loose fitting clothes, that cover knees and shoulders, and try to avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public out of respect for those who can't at that time.
COMBO TRIP
Please note that this tour combines with other G Adventures tours. As such, the staff and some travel companions on your tour may have previously been traveling together with G Adventures, prior to Day 1 of your tour. Likewise, some staff and travel companions may be continuing together on another G Adventures tour, after your trip concludes.
INTERNAL FLIGHT TIMES
Please be aware that flight delays between Bishkek and Dushanbe can occur. Your CEO may need to make adjustments to your itinerary in case of flight schedule changes.Song-Köl
- Hiking in Song Kül (Free)
Kolsay Lakes National Park
- Hiking in Kolsay Lakes National Park (Free)
Almaty
- Zelyony Bazaar (Free)
transport
Private vehicle, plane, walking.
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Faq Tour
How can I book a tour?
You can order a tour on our website by selecting the desired dates and clicking the “Confirm dates” button. You can also contact our sales department by phone or email.
Which payment options are available?
We accept credit cards, bank transfers and other popular payment methods.
Can I change or cancel my reservation?
Yes, changes or cancellations are possible, however penalties may apply depending on the time before the tour starts.
What documents are required to participate in the tour?
You will need a passport with a valid visa (if required) to visit countries along the tour route.