Trekking tour: Sary-Chelek lake Kyrgyzstan

Meeting at the airport. Moving to the Talas guest house "baibol". According to your wishes  we can go to the national complex Manas-Ordo complex. Here you will learn everything that is associated with the greatest epic in the world "Manas", which was also included in the list of masterpieces of the intangible cultural heritage of UNESCO.

The uniqueness of the epic includs orall transmission from generation to generation for several centuries. The complex has many historical monuments that will attract you: the mausoleum of Manas, a 14th-century stone sculptures of balbals, Saka-wusun burials (mounds), catacomb monuments Kokolikoko burial. After the excursion, you will have  dinner and stay overnight in the guest house "Baibol".

In order to acclimatize we will have a  horse riding to the mountain nearby Accrue-Too (2400 m.). The mountain is located near the guest house, so by lunchtime we will be in the guest house. In the afternoon, you will see a very entertaining cultural programme  foxes hunting with Golden eagles, falcons and the Kyrgyz greyhounds (taigans) in a mountain valley.

And after hunting, some of you will have a chance to watch the national games of nomads, where you can cheer for a well-aimed archers, wrestlers on belts (kuresh) and riding (er - enish), one of the teams in horse games ulak - tartysh (goat) and the horse racing kyz - kuumai (catch the girl). After a tiring but eventful day, you will have dinner and overnight in the guest house "Baibol".

After breakfast, we  will drive to the place where  we are going to start our trekking tour. Then travel to the Urmaral canyon along the river and go between the high green mountains to the confluence of the Shor – Alysh and Chiim–Tash (the Painted stone). The same name of the gorge, river and pass of this area came out of the petroglyphs on the rocks, which you can see further.

Next piont is the camp (2100 m) where we will have dinner and spend the night. This day you will not get tired, because almost all the way you are going to follow the well trodden path of the gorge Chiim –Tash along the same river.

The fourth day of our route starts with the ascent to the Chiim-Tash pass. Unlike the previous day which includes trail pass, this day will be more exciting, because we will have to pass the rocky bottom of the river because of the extremely dense prickly shrubs that are overgrown its banks. Further you will see a huge stones with petroglyphs.

We will have a picnic break near the pastures of the shepherds (chaban). There you can find the yurt – nomads dwelling, also you can try the national drinks and freshly baked bread. After lunch, we will keep moving, after a few miles we set a camp on the banks of two moraine lakes at an altitude of 3160 m.

Today we gonna pass Chiim-Tash (3600 m.). The lifting speed totally depends on the season, because it can be covered with snow. While the passing we can enjoy beautiful views of Western Tien-Shan ridges and the green valley of Kara - Kuldzha. After descending from the pass we stop for lunch, and then continue the path to a place of breakdown of camp (2850 m). Following the plan we should pass 11-12 km.

The passage through the Kara-Kuldzha pass (3150 m.) It will take little time and effort, but the descent on the contrary, its recommended not to rush and be careful as it is quite steep. The local landscape is very diverse. The Alpine meadows give way to fragrant pine forests, slim birch trees and thick bushes of wild, juicy raspberries. After the  encamp (2150 m.) near the confluence of the Kara-Kuldzha and Kashka-Suu, everyone will kave time for walking, relaxing and preparing for new achievements.

After Breakfast, we are  starting  the two-phase ascent to  Kashka-Suu (3400 m.) pass. Keep in mind that elevation above sea level on this day are very large. Lunch we will organize  under the pass, then to reach the ascent and continue the descent to the  Kashka-Suu gorge.

Colorful, flowering Alpine meadows of the Kashka-Suu valley comes to beekeeping, so here we'll meet local residents who live in mud houses and produce the delicious and healthful honey. In general we should pass 15-16 km, and at the end of the route will be accommodated in the camp on the green carpet of the valley, dinner and tea with a sweet honey.

This hiking day will be one of the easiest , because before the next overnight place we have to go only 5-6 km. From the valley Kashka-Suu mountain descend to the lake Kara-Kamish and set camp (1820 m). After lunch you can walk to a gorgeous mountain waterfall. In the end of the day we will make a fire and have a delicious dinner.

After Breakfast we gonna pass Kuturma (2437 m). The trail streches through the dense vegetation of spruce forests. The passsge opens a great view to the edge of the famous lake Sary-Chelek (Yellow bowl), which is part of the Sary - Chelek biosphere reserve. On the territory of the reserve the are located 6 lakes: Kyla-Kel, Aram-Kel, Chacok-Cal, Bakaly-Kel, Tuyuk-Kel, Iry – Cal. On the banks of the latter, surrounded by beautiful birch trees, we will set a camp (2030 m), where we will spend the night.

This is the last day of our amazing journey through the mountains of South-Eastern Tien Shan, to the end point of the route, one of the oldest and most beautiful freshwater lakes in Kyrgyzstan - Sary – Chelek (1878 m). The deepest point of the lake reaches to 246 meters. The water temperature in summer (August) is +19,8 S0, and in winter ranges from +4 to 0 S0. If you have a desire to go  by the boat, we are glad to fulfill it. After walk around the lake, back to Bishkek. To a nice and cozy hotel and delicious  warm dinner.

We will have a walk around the central square Ala-Too, will visit a monument dedicated to hero of national epic "Aikol Manas" Manas the Magnanimous, the exhibits of the State historical Museum, monument of the Soviet political leader Vladimir Lenin.

Also we will  have a chance to see the changing of the guard at the flagpole with a height of 45 m, and then go to see the government house and the monument to the leader of the Alai Kyrgyz Kurmanjan Datka are located. After walk we will go to Central Department store (TSUM), where you can buy Souvenirs. On return, you will have a farewell dinner with the "baybol travel" team.