While planning our trip around the world, we came across a Lonely Planet guide listing countries from A to Z, and Kyrgyzstan immediately caught our eye.
Though it’s the smallest of the “stan” countries, its striking natural beauty and the warmth of its people intrigued us. After visiting, we can confidently say Kyrgyzstan is an adventurer’s dream - filled with dramatic landscapes and incredibly kind locals.
From hiking and horse trekking to alpine lakes to 4x4 adventures in the rugged mountains, outdoor lovers will be spoiled for choice.
Our 10 day Kyrgyzstan itinerary includes trekking to Song Kul Lake over 3,000 meters, an off-road excursion to Kel-Suu in the Tian Shan Mountains, a visit to a historic caravanserai on the Silk Road, and stays in authentic yurt camps along the way.
Your 10 days in Kyrgyzstan will be filled with once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
The local tour company we chose
The owner of the company, Aman, is very friendly and speaks good English. We were able to combine our horse trek to Song Kul Lake, a visit to Tash Rabat on the Silk Road, and a 4x4 adventure to Kel-Suu into one package. It included all meals and stays. Bring cash!
Read reviews of Kyrgyz Riders.10 Day Kyrgyzstan Itinerary
Day 1: Bishkek
Bishkek is the capital city of Kyrgyzstan and home to the Manas International Airport. We stayed here for our first night to organize all of our belongings before setting off into the wild.
Where to stay in Bishkek
We stayed in two different hotels in Bishkek and by far our favourite was Bugu Hotel Bishkek. It was exactly what we needed after our flight. The central hotel has a modern interior and excellent amenities, such as air conditioning, a rain shower, flat screen TV with an HDMI cord and free breakfast. It’s also great value for what you get. We paid $75 USD for a deluxe king room. 🛏️ Browse more stays in BishkekDay 2: Kochkor
Kochkor was the starting point of our 3-day horse trek to Song Kul Lake. You can arrange transport from Bishkek to Kochkor through your tour company or take a private or shared taxi from the bus station.
We opted for a private taxi from the bus station, which ended up being more affordable than booking through our tour group.
Our stay at Guesthouse Nur in Kochkor
In Kochkor, we spent the night at a cozy guesthouse before meeting our tour company the next morning. Staying in town gave us a chance to experience a slice of Kyrgyz culture and enjoy the warm hospitality the region is known for.
Where to stay in Kochkor
We stayed at Guesthouse Nur, a cozy stay inside a local family’s home, where we enjoyed a warm, authentic experience. We highly recommend it! Our visit included a home-cooked Kyrgyz meal and a restful night. The cost was $25 USD for a private double room for two.Days 3-4: Trek to Song Kul Lake
Song Kul Lake (or Song Kol Lake) is a stunning alpine lake surrounded by high mountain pastures, where shepherds graze their livestock and live in traditional yurts.
Sitting at 3,016 meters, the lake can be reached by hiking or horse trekking. We chose to ride horses, and it was so much fun!
The scenery as we rode through the mountains and valleys is something we’ll never forget. When we reached the mountain pass and caught our first glimpse of Song Kul’s shimmering waters, we were in awe of its beauty.
See what it was like in our vlog of Song Kul Lake!
If you’ve never ridden a horse before, don’t worry - the horses are friendly and well-trained. And for experienced riders, your guide will likely let you trot and gallop freely through the open meadows.
Along the way, we passed herds of horses, cows, and sheep grazing peacefully on the hillsides. Each yurt camp we stayed at had its own charm, complete with a friendly dog and kitten that made us feel right at home.
Since most of the trek is around 3,000m in altitude there are some comforts you’ll have to give up. For example, the yurts are shared rather than private accommodation.
Check out our guide with 11 Essential Tips for your Trek to Song Kul Lake.
Day 5: Visit Tash Rabat along the Silk Road
On the third day, we dropped off our horses at a yurt camp along the lake, where a 4x4 vehicle and driver were ready to take us to our next destination: Tash Rabat.
This 15th-century stone caravanserai was a key stop along the ancient Silk Road, the historic trade route connecting East and West.
After two nights in shared yurts, we were thrilled to have a private room at the nearby yurt camp - a little extra comfort we appreciated after a few days of adventure.
Days 6-7: 4x4 through the Tian Shan mountains to Kel-Suu Lake
The next morning, we had a long 7-hour drive ahead of us. To our surprise, it went by quickly as we were excited to discover the Tian Shan mountain range. This region turned out to be far more beautiful and remote than we ever expected.
Kel-Suu Lake is in the border zone between China and Krygyzstan, so a permit is required to access the area.
Kyrgyz Riders organized the permits for us - all we had to do was have our passports ready at the two border checkpoints.
Kel-Suu is a striking bright blue glacial lake nestled inside a canyon, but we hit a rare dry spell during our August visit, and the lake was almost completely dried up!
Our tour agency had warned us beforehand but we decided to go anyway - and we’re so glad we did. The surrounding region was absolutely stunning and became one of the highlights of our trip to Kyrgyzstan.
Once we arrived at our yurt camp, we rented horses for the trek up to the lake. We recommend going to the lake in the morning to have the best light.
Our yurt in Kel-Suu
Our yurt camp experience at Kel-Suu was our favourite, thanks to having a private yurt. The remote location and rugged surroundings made it feel like a true wilderness escape.
At night, when the temperatures dropped, the camp owners lit the stove inside our yurt, keeping it warm and cozy.
The arid conditions, high altitude and complete remoteness made for some of the best stargazing of our lives. Once the sky darkened, we stepped outside and were amazed by the brightness of the stars.
We only stayed one night in Kel-Suu, but wished we stayed an additional night.
See what it was like in our vlog of Kel-Suu.
Days 8-9: Relax at Issyk-Kul Lake
Day 10: Bishkek
On your last day, it’s about a 3.75-hour drive from Issyk Kul to Bishkek. We arranged a private driver through our tour company. In Bishkek, stay the night or catch an evening flight home.
After 8 days of Kyrgyz cuisine, we couldn’t stop daydreaming about North American fast food. We were ecstatic when we found out Bishkek had a KFC. Once we arrived at our hotel we ran out the door as fast as we could. We stuffed our faces with tons of fried chicken and it felt as satisfying as dining at a Michelin-Starred restaurant.
After all the adventure, I decided to treat myself to a spa package at Mystic Spa. I booked a massage, facial, and shellac manicure and pedicure. It was excellent value and a great close to an eventful trip. Read the reviews.Enjoy your 10 days in Kyrgyzstan!
Best time to visit Kyrgyzstan
The best time to visit Kyrgyzstan is during summer between June - September. These are the warmest months of the year.
Visiting during summertime makes hiking and staying in yurt camps more comfortable since 70% of Kyrgyzstan is above 3000m elevation. It can get chilly at night!
Do you need a visa to travel to Kyrgyzstan?
Kyrgyzstan is visa-free for many countries such as Canada, USA, UK, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and most countries in the EU. This was a bonus since it was hassle free when arriving at the airport.
See the visa requirements for your country.
Getting around Kyrgyzstan
Short distance travel
For short distance travel, ask your hotel to call you a metered taxi. Ensure you ask the price upfront once your driver arrives since they usually don't use their meter.
Long distance travel
There are different ways to organize long-distance transportation around Kyrgyzstan:
Through your tour company
If you book a tour, this is the easiest option. We organized a private driver for part of our trip even after our tour ended.
Booking a private driver through your hotel
If you're not booking a tour, this is the most convenient but expensive option. We found that rates were about 30% more expensive than bartering for a private taxi at the bus station in Bishkek.
Shared taxi or private taxi from the bus station
At the bus station in Bishkek, you’ll find shared taxis where you can either buy a single seat and wait for other passengers to fill the car or pay to buy out the entire taxi for a private ride.
Taking a Marshrutka (shared minivan)
The cheapest way to travel around Kyrgyzstan is by grabbing a Marshrutka. However, this is the least convenient option since you have to wait for the van to fill up with people and it makes many stops along the way dropping and picking people up.
The van also felt very cramped and hot since there was no air conditioning. It's significantly cheaper than the other options however, costing us around 200 SOM ($2.25 USD) for a 2-hour ride.
Get started on booking your trip to Kyrgyzstan
- 🛖🐴 Book your tour: we booked ours with Kyrgyz Riders and highly recommend.
- 🛏️ Book your accommodation: in Bishkek, Kochkor, and Issyk-Kul.
- ✈️ Compare flights: with Skyscanner.
Don't forget about travel insurance
👩⚕️ For affordable travel insurance: go with SafetyWing - it's budget-friendly and you can even buy it while abroad, but note the max medical coverage is $250,000 USD. 🏥 For comprehensive travel insurance: go with World Nomads - it's more expensive, but the max emergency medical coverage is $5-10 million, depending on the plan.Save and pin this Kyrgyzstan itinerary for later:
Looking for more travel inspiration? Check out our list of Unique Adventure Ideas and Unique Cultural Experiences to inspire your next trip.