5 days
Kalmak-Ashuu pass, 3,446 m
Song-Kol & Issyk-Kul Jeep Loop
- Season
- June – September
- Pace
- Moderate
- Group
- 1–6 travellers
See the route
- Duration
- 4 days
- Season
- May – October
- Start and finish
- Bishkek and back
- Pace
- Easy
- Group
- 2–6 travellers, children welcome
Overview
Short drives, comfortable nights and plenty of time by the water. Forest walks in Chong-Kemin, the petroglyphs of Cholpon-Ata, red rock at Jeti-Oguz and Fairy Tale Canyon, and a night in a yurt on the beach.
Why you'll love it
- No drive longer than five hours
- A night in a yurt right on the beach
- Swim in Issyk-Kul with snowy peaks behind
What you'll do
- Jeep expedition
- Alpine lakes
- Yurt stays
- Nomadic culture
- Canyons
Places you'll visit
Day by day
A short drive east to the green Chong-Kemin valley. Afternoon walk or ride in the forest and dinner at a family guesthouse.
- Drive
- 140 km, 2–3 h
- Road
- Asphalt
- Activity
- Forest walk or pony ride
- Meals included
- Lunch, dinner
- Overnight
- Guesthouse, Chong-Kemin1,800 m
Along the north shore of Issyk-Kul with a swim stop and a visit to the open-air petroglyph field above Cholpon-Ata, then on to Karakol.
- Drive
- 250 km, 4–5 h
- Road
- Asphalt
- Meals included
- Breakfast, lunch
- Overnight
- Hotel, Karakol1,770 m
The red cliffs of Jeti-Oguz in the morning, the easy paths of Fairy Tale Canyon after lunch, and a yurt camp right on the south shore for the night.
- Drive
- 170 km, 4 h
- Road
- Asphalt
- Meals included
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Overnight
- Yurt, South shore of Issyk-Kul1,610 m
A relaxed morning on the beach before the drive back to Bishkek.
- Drive
- 250 km, 4–5 h
- Road
- Asphalt
- Meals included
- Breakfast, lunch
- End of day
- Arrive in Bishkek
Included
- Private 4×4 vehicle with an experienced local driver
- English-speaking guide
- All accommodation listed in the itinerary
- Meals as listed for each day
- Drinking water in the vehicle
- Entrance fees for parks and sights on the route
- Airport pickup and drop-off in Bishkek
Not included
- International flights
- Visa fees, if your passport needs one
- Travel insurance
- Alcohol and personal expenses
- Tips for your driver and guide
Where you stay, how you travel
Accommodation
1 night in a yurt, 1 night in a guesthouse, 1 night in a hotel
Yurt, 1 night
Beach yurt camp with beds, shared toilets and showers.
Guesthouse, 1 night
Village guesthouses with private or shared bathrooms, hot showers and home-cooked meals.
Hotel, 1 night
Comfortable small hotels in towns, with private bathrooms and Wi-Fi.
Vehicle
Toyota Land Cruiser or similar 4×4
Up to 3 travellers per vehicle, plus luggage
High-clearance 4×4 with air conditioning, a roof rack for luggage and a first-aid kit. Larger groups travel in two vehicles in convoy.
Photos from the route
Good to know
Best season
High routes and yurt camps open from June to mid-September. Lower routes around Issyk-Kul work from May to October. Nights above 3,000 m can drop close to freezing even in July.
Altitude
Some passes reach 3,000–3,600 m and a few overnights are close to 3,000 m. We gain height gradually. Drink plenty of water, go easy on the first evening and tell your guide if you feel unwell.
What to pack
Warm layers and a down jacket, a waterproof shell, sturdy walking shoes, a sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, a headlamp, a reusable water bottle and any personal medication.
Money
Cards work in Bishkek and Karakol. Carry Kyrgyz som in cash for villages, yurt camps and small purchases. Exchange offices in Bishkek give better rates than the airport.
Phone and internet
A local SIM card works in towns and along main roads. Expect little or no signal at high lakes and passes, which most travellers end up enjoying.
Electricity
220 V with European two-pin sockets (types C and F). Yurt camps usually charge phones from solar panels or a generator in the evening.
Insurance
Travel insurance that covers medical emergencies and evacuation at altitude is strongly recommended.
Food and dietary needs
Meals are home-style Central Asian cooking: soups, noodles, plov, bread and fresh vegetables in summer. Vegetarian and other diets are possible if you tell us in advance.
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- Season
- July – mid-September
- Pace
- Active
- Group
- 2–6 travellers
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Too-Ashuu pass, 3,586 m
Grand Kyrgyzstan Overland
- Season
- June – September
- Pace
- Moderate
- Group
- 1–6 travellers
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