We would like to present you self-drive routes in Kyrgyzstan.
Our company has been providing travel services for more than 10 years, so we know the most popular self-drive routes in Kyrgyzstan.
Kyrgyzstan offers its travelers some of the most stunning nature of all the Central Asian countries, from endless mountain ranges to remote villages and pristine mountain lakes, from rugged passes to vast sweeping steppes, from wandering nomads to herds of roaming horses.
The road network inside the country is poor, with 70 % of them just dirt and gravel. 4WD off-road tours is the best way to reach its many remote destinations. To help you to explore Kyrgyzstan's wonders we recommend you our self-drive adventure tours.
Travelers who want to see as much of the country as possible can take a long 4WD tours driving through the whole country from the north to south.
Start in Bishkek with visiting Ala Archa National Park. The Ala Archa gorge is on a spur of the Tien Shan mountain range. It is just 45 km from Bishkek. You can have a short hiking tour to see a panoramic view of the gorge. If you do not want to hike, you can walk along the paved road and enjoy the beauty of the inside of park.
The next destination is Chon Kemin gorge, where you can have a wonderful horse riding trip as real nomads did. Your route will go high in the mountains and through a mountain forest. From that top point you will have an excellent chance to see the panorama view of the gorge!
The trip will continue by driving along the northern and southern shores of famous Issyk Kul Lake. It is the world's second largest alpine lake after Titicaca in South America. Surrounded by mountains, Issyk Kul never freezes, so its name translated as "Hot lake". The region is famous for its treks, hikes, beaches, and spa. Our recommendation is not to miss the Issyk Kul region during your travels to Kyrgyzstan; thereby you will see such visiting sites as connected between each other Grigoryevskoe and Semenovskoe gorges, Jeti Oguz gorge, Barskoon waterfalls and Fairy Tale (Skazka) Canyon!
At the far eastern edge of Issyk Kul Lake you will found Karakol town. It is a small town of green avenues and wooden cottages, where it is worth to visit the Russian Orthodox Church, Dungan Mosque and Memorial Museum of N. M. Przhevalsky. If you visit Karakol on Sunday it is possible to immerse in the culture and the livelihood of the Kyrgyz people on the Sunday animal market.
The best place to taste the nomadic lifestyle so important to Kyrgyzstan's history and culture are small villages like Kochkor where you will live in homestay, taste traditional cuisines, learn how make Kyrgyz national carpets with demonstrations from the masters and accompanying by traditional Kyrgyz music.
The most famous and well visited site near Kochkor is Tash Rabat and Son Kul Lake. Enthusiasts of history will like an ancient caravanserai Tash Rabat that used to be a shelter for merchants crossing the Great Silk Road. Son Kul is an alpine lake located in northern Naryn Province at the altitude of 3016 m (9895 feet) above see level surrounded by wide pastures and plains. It is only accessible in the summer (from June to early September) as during other period of the year the roads are blocked with snow and ice. In the summer travellers may stay in nomadic dwellings - yurts. Despite summer season, it's still relatively chilly because of the high altitude with temperatures averaging 11 ˚ C (52˚ F) and below at night.
The tourist route continues through a remote Kazarman village to one of the most ancient cities of Central Asia, Osh city, which lies close to the border with Uzbekistan at the head of the Fergana valley. Usually many travelers along the Silk Road use the nearby Dostuk border crossing.
Travelling without a driver through the city of Jalal-Abad visiting mausoleums and Uzgen minaret, you find yourself in the lush green location of the world's largest walnut forest with waterfalls and lakes. The name of this forest is Arslanbob. Except walnut here grown such fruit trees as apple, pear, cherry plum, cherry and others, the fruits of which are very tasty and are widely used by the population.
Another water pearl that tourists visit during their jeep tour is Toktogul water reservoir located on the Naryn River. It is the largest reservoir in Central Asia occupying 284 square kilometers. Finally, your round trip ends with one of the most beautiful valleys of the northern Tien Shan - Suusamyr valley - located between the Talas Alatau and the Kyrgyz Range. The entire surface of the valley is covered with thick, juicy-green grasses of mountain meadows, which will not leave anyone indifferent.
Contact our managers and we will prepare a good travel itinerary with the best self-drive routes in Kyrgyzstan!
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Kyrgyz Restaurants and cafes