Kyrgyzstan in 9 Days: Issyk-Kul & Son-Kul Group Tour
Overview
Our most popular Kyrgyzstan trip and the one we recommend to anyone coming for the first time. The full loop of Issyk-Kul — petroglyphs, gorges, the Dungan mosque in Karakol, the red rocks of Jeti-Oguz, the Fairy Tale canyon — then inland for an eagle hunter in Bokonbaevo, felt-making in Kochkor and a night with a shepherd family in a yurt on Son-Kul at 3,000 m.
Up to 12 travellers, departures every few days from May to September, a Kyrgyz guide who has lived every one of these places, and the lake at both ends of the day.
Highlights
Is this trip for you?
- First-timers who want lakes, yurts and horses in one easy week
- Solo travellers — half our group is usually solo
- Families with children over eight
- You need a private bathroom every night (two nights are guesthouses, one a yurt)
- You want serious trekking (take the 14-day trekking tour)
Our honest opinion
- Every yurt camp is run by a local family, not a tour company
- Issyk-Kul never freezes — swimming in June, snow peaks behind you
- Roads to Son-Kul and the south shore are gravel; allow for a bumpy hour or two
- Showers at yurt camps are basic or absent
July is high season on the lake; June and September are our favourite weeks for light and space.
The trip in numbers
Your route
Line style shows how you travel each leg: solid = train, dotted = car, dashed = flight.
Day by day
Airport pickup, Osh bazaar, Ala-Too square and a welcome dinner with your guide.
Burana tower and its stone warriors, a Dungan family lunch, then the north shore of Issyk-Kul and the lakeside resort.
Bronze Age petroglyphs, a walk in two alpine gorges, then Karakol’s Dungan mosque built without a single nail.
The Seven Bulls and the Broken Heart rocks, the Barskoon waterfalls and a south-shore guesthouse.
Skazka canyon at its best in the morning light, an eagle hunter and his bird, then the felt workshops of Kochkor.
Up to the lake at 3,000 m; yurt camp, horses, milk tea, the evening herds coming home.
Down the passes to the green valley; evening walk and a guesthouse dinner.
Horse ride in the morning, back to the capital by afternoon; farewell dinner.
Airport transfer.
What’s included
What’s not included
Where you’ll stay
Or equivalent, depending on season. Hotels are inside or beside the historic centres wherever the town has one.
Traveller reviews
What guests wrote
“Loved it. Guide and driver were great, the itinerary is well thought out. Four stars because the minibus was cramped for eleven people plus luggage on the long days — a bigger vehicle would have made a real difference. Son-Kul alone is worth the trip.”
“Nine days of lakes, mountains and some of the kindest people I have met anywhere. The yurt night at Son-Kul was cold, dark and perfect — a shepherd family, horses in the morning mist, milk tea, a sky I have never seen the like of. Guide Aigerim was wonderful and our group of eleven got on brilliantly. Roads to the lake are rough, be ready for that. The swimming in Issyk-Kul in July is glorious.”
“As a Swiss I am picky about mountains. Kyrgyzstan passed. Jeti-Oguz, the Fairy Tale canyon, Son-Kul — each different, each superb. Guesthouses are simple but spotless and the food is better than its reputation. The eagle hunter demo felt a little staged; the felt workshop in Kochkor did not.”
Good to know
Most nationalities enter Uzbekistan visa-free for 30–90 days. If your passport needs an e-visa, it takes 2–3 working days online — we check your case and guide you at booking.
The local currency is the Uzbek som (UZS). Visa and Mastercard work in city hotels, restaurants and supermarkets; keep some cash for bazaars, taxis and tips. ATMs dispense som and sometimes USD.
April–June and September–November are warm and clear — ideal for walking the old cities. July–August afternoons exceed 35°C; winter departures run at reduced prices.
Uzbekistan uses European plug types C and F, 220V. Travellers from the UK, US and Asia need a standard Euro adapter — one per device is enough, hotels have plenty of sockets.
Everyday dress is relaxed across all four cities. Inside mosques and madrasas, shoulders and knees should be covered; headscarves for women are only needed in a few active mosques — your guide will tell you when.
Your included eSIM is activated on arrival, so you’re online from the airport. Hotel Wi-Fi is reliable in all four cities; your coordinator stays reachable on WhatsApp or Telegram throughout.
Free cancellation up to 30 days before departure. 50% refund up to 15 days before; after that the booking is non-refundable, but you can move to another date once for free.
Medical insurance for the tour days is included. We still recommend personal travel insurance covering cancellation and baggage — we can suggest trusted providers.
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