The Highest Peaks
The Highest Peaks!
This trek is one of the most fascinating tours in Kyrgyzstan! During this trip you will be surprised by amazing beauty of Tien Shan Mountains. The main highlights of this trek are 2 the highest peaks of Kyrgyzstan - Khan Tengri Peak 7010 m. and Victory Peak 7 439 m.! You will spend 2 nights at the foothills of these 2 peaks and you will have radial trekking nearby. On the way you will pass through thrilling glaciers and mysterious Merzbacher Lake that is situated at the South Inylchek glacier.
Our perfect organization, excellent staff work and possibility of enjoying the most beautiful and untouched parts of Kyrgyzstan will help you to enjoy your holidays as much as possible!
Why to choose this trek?
- You will have tent camps already set up all along the tour which makes the tour so much easier.
- This will allow you not to carry all the heavy tents, pots, plates and other kitchen equipment.
- It makes the vacations more comfortable - every night you have ready dinner and a tent.
- The tour becomes cheaper because you don't have to hire porters for tents, cooks, etc.
- Mountains, mountains, mountains! The highest peaks of Kyrgyzstan!
Brief itinerary of the tour
Day 01, Transfer: Bishkek - Karakol
Day 02, Transfer: Karakol - At Jailoo
Day 03, Trekking: At Jailoo - Iva Camp
Day 04, Trekking: Iva Camp - Glina Camp
Day 05, Trekking: Glina Camp - Merzbacher Glade
Day 06, Trekking: Merzbacher lake
Day 07, Trekking: Merzbacher glade - Komsomolskiy Glacier
Day 08, Trekking: Komsomolskiy Glacier - Dikiy glacier
Day 09, Trekking: Dikiy glacier - South Inylchek base camp
Day 10, Trekking: South Inylchek base camp
Day 11, Trekking: Around Khan Tenri Peak and Victory Peak
Day 12, Transfer: South Inylchek - Karkara helicopter flight - Issyk Kul Lake
Day 13, Transfer: Issyk Kul Lake - Bishkek
Day 14, Transfer: Bishkek city tour
Day 15, Flight
Day 1: Bishkek - Karakol (400 km, 6-7 hours, 1 700 m)
Your guide will pick you up at Manas International Airport and accompany to Karakol town. You will be transferred to celestial Issyk Kul Lake, the second largest alpine lake in the world (1 608 m. above sea level). The lake is called "the pearl of Central Asia". You can come up to the lake and to see mountains all around it. For many years this lake considered to be a sacred one. Today you will drive along the whole southern shore. At Bokonbaeva village we will visit a local eagle-hunter. He hunts hares and foxes with the help of eagles (a traditional form of nomadic hunting). Also you will see famous Jeti Oguz Mountains and Broken Heart Mountain. Your dinner will be in a local family house. Night is in a guesthouse.
Day 2: Karakol - At Jailoo Base Camp (200 km, 5-6 hours, 2 500 m)
In the morning we will visit the Dungan mosque. It was built in Chinese style without using a single metal nail. This will be followed by the visit of an old wooden Orthodox Church. After it we will transfer to At Jailoo Camp. The road goes through some villages and beautiful landscape of the canyons of Turguen Ak Suu. The highlight of the day is the Chon Ashu pass which is 3 800 m high and you will see a breathtaking panoramic view. On the way down we will drive along the beautiful fast flowing river named Sary Jaz, its water flows into famous Inilchek River. After it is arrival to the camp. Dinner and night is in tents.
Day 3: At Jailoo Base Camp - Iva Camp (18 km, 5-7 hours, 2 900 m)
Our target today is to get to Inylchek glacier. After a strengthening breakfast we will get ready for a trek, pack our backpacks for the road and get lunch boxes. Early in the morning we have to cross the freezing At Jailoo River while the level is low. In almost an hour we will reach the place which is called Prijim where we have to cross another stream if the level is low. But if it is too high to cross we have to make a tour through a steep ascent and descent path - it will take 1 more hour. The level of the river depends on the mysterious lake of Merzbacher which disappears and appears from time to time. If the lake is not open yet and the water doesn't rush down, we are lucky and can easily cross the stream. After it we will have trekking along the Inylchek river until we reach our destination. Dinner and night is in the camp.
Day 4: Iva Camp - Glina Camp (8 km, 5-6 hours, 3 100 m)
After breakfast we start continue our tour. Trekking for today will be very challenging as there will be exhausting descents and ascents. We will try to go through the right slope of the terrace where the trail goes through small rivers and streams coming down from the mountain slopes. As soon as we arrive in the Putevodnyi glacier, we will make a picnic break. After it we have to ascent another terrace on a small narrow trail which is going to be adding some more excitement and adrenaline to your blood. The views on the way are sure to be outstanding. At the end we arrive to the camp of Glina where you will have a rest and dinner. The word "glina" means "clay" in Russian due to the location with a lot of clay. Night is in tents.
Day 5: Glina Camp - Merzbacher Glade (9 km, 5-6 hours, 3 400 m)
In the morning you will have trekking up and down various terraces. Also about 10 km of route will be a straight path. On the way we will have a trek across a small glacier, passing a river. We will have a lunch break on the shore of a small lake, you can swim and have some rest there. After it we will trek another hour to get to our camp from which you will get amazing views to Merzbacher lake. The lake is located at the confluence of the Inylchek Glacier in one of the most inaccessible regions of the Tian Shan Mountains of Kyrgyzstan. The lake constitutes a phenomenon known as a proglacial lake, a lake dammed by a glacier. Merzbacher Lake is highly exceptional since is repeatedly gets emptied, just to get refilled soon after. The lake filled with drifting icebergs is a spectacular sight. Night is in tents.
Day 6: Merzbacher lake (10 km, 4-5 hours, 3 400 m)
Today we will have a radial trek in order to get a better view of the legendary lake. We will pack our lunch boxes with us. You will cross the South Inylchek glacier and trek on the terrain which is ice covered with rocks and stones, sand and mud. The trekking two ways will take 4-5 hours. The mysterious Merzbacher lake was discovered in 1903 by the German geographer and mountaineer, Gottfried Merzbacher. It is sandwiched between the Northern and Southern branches of the glacier. Every year the lake bursts its icy bottom and explodes into Inylchek River below the glacier for 7-10 days. Then starts a new cycle of refilling. Dinner and night is in tents.
Day 7: Merzbacher glade - Komsomolskiy Glacier (12 km, 4-6 hours, 3 800 m)
After breakfast you will get your lunch boxes and start trekking. It is going to be a long challenging day but the scenery will be fascinating. The landscapes will be snow, rocks, black and white ice and sometimes even striped. The first part of our trek goes along the right side over terraces and right before we reach Shokalskyi glacier it smoothly goes down. The trail reaches the glacier and the black moraine which flows out of Komsomolez glacier. We follow it up to the glacier itself. The terrain is very diverse: rivers, crevices, ascents and descents, the hikes around those take much time and energy. It will be our first night at the glacier. Strong wind usually starts here after 4 pm. It might be much colder than before. Overnight is in tents.
Day 8: Komsomolskiy Glacier - Dikiy glacier (7 km, 3-5 hours, 3 900 m)
Trekking in this part of Tien Shan Mountains is absolutely fabulous. The distinctive characteristic of the region is a great number of nameless peaks, unclimbed yet, about 5000 m above sea level. Straight from the camp we cross Proletarsky glacier moraine, get to the middle of Dikyi glacier moraine and walk along it up to the Dykyi glacier. The first part of the way is uneven, we walk up and down. Closer to the glacier the moraine becomes more even, without so many crevices, creeks and, no needs of working around to escape crossing small streams. Lunch break. In front of Proletarsky glacier we go up straight. Dikyi camp is located behind Pesnya Abaya peak. From Dikyi camp you have a beautiful view of Khan Tengri, Pobeda, Gorky, Chapaev, Trehglavaya peaks. Overnight is in tents.
Day 9: Dikiy glacier - South Inylchek base camp (8 km, 4-6 hours, 4 100 m)
Today we can start a little later than usual because we have a shorter trek. Packing our lunch boxes we start our way to the glacier and we have to cross it. We cross the whole glacier till the central moraine where the base camp is situated. The path is covered with rocks, ice, creeks, lakes and cracks. We can have trekking along without using ropes and crampons. Our camp will be at the altitude of about 4 000 meters and we come there in the afternoon. This camp has the most striking views to the most highest peaks of Kyrgyzstan such as Khan-Tengri (7 010 m) and Pobeda (7 439 m) peaks. Night is in tents.
Day 10: South Inylchek base camp
You will have a relaxing day in this camp. You can enjoy the fascinating views of beautiful mountains. 93 % of the territory of Kyrgyzstan is mountains. You will be lucky to see the highest peaks of Kyrgyzstan from this place. You will be amazed by the stunning views of eternal snow- topped peaks, their majesty and breathtaking beauty. You will spend the rest of the day on South Enylchek base camp. It is interesting not only for the alpinist but for usual travelers who like enjoying the outstanding scenery. Overnight is in tents.
Day 11: Around Khan Tenri Peak
Today you will have a radial trekking to the foothill of Khan Tenri Peak (7 010 m). The beautiful pyramid of Khan Tengri is without doubt the Jewel of the Tien Shan Mountains. It is a beautiful mountain with a beautiful name, going back to ancient times, from the writing of Chinese monks in the 7th century. It means "Prince of the Spirits". It is the second highest peak in this most northerly and remote of the great Asian mountain ranges. Among the local people, the white peaks are known as "The Mountains of Heaven". Khan Tengri peak was first climbed by a Soviet expedition in 1931, via the West Col and West Ridge. Since then, most of its ridges and faces have been climbed. Overnight is in tents.
Day 12: Helicopter flight to Karkara - Issyk Kul Lake (200 km, 4 hours, 1 608 m)
Morning is free to walk around. From the base camp there is a nice view on Khan Tengri peak and on Victory peak. After lunch you will have a helicopter flight from the base camp to Karkara. After it you will be transferred to the celestial Issyk Kul Lake. Its length is 180 km and it is 60 km wide. Thanks to the salty water, Lake Issyk Kul possesses curative qualities. At Soviet period the heads of governments had their houses near the lake to have a rest. Nowadays it is the most favorite place for people from Central Asia to come in summer time for swimming. Dinner is in a local restaurant. Night is in a hotel.
Day 13: Issyk Kul Lake - Bishkek (280 km, time: 4 hours, 700 m)
In the morning you will be transferred to Bishkek city. On the way, we will make a short break to give you the opportunity to visit ancient stone inscriptions (dating back to 800 B.C.). Today we will visit Burana Tower. It is a minaret from the 11th century. Burana Tower was used during the Great Silk Road as a sign for travelers that there was a city to have a rest. Nearby you will see an open air museum of Balbans (stone warriors). After an interesting excursion and climbing to the top of the tower you will transfer to the Kyrgyz capital. Traditional dinner will be at 7 p.m. Night is in a hotel.
Day 14: Bishkek city tour
This entire day is dedicated to a guided tour of Bishkek. It includes visiting Pobeda Square (Victory Square), Duboviy Park (Oak Park), Central Ala-Too Square, the History Museum, National Philharmonic, and many others places of interest. But no tour of Bishkek is complete without visiting our Asian Bazaar! We will show it to you today and you will be able to take a lot of dynamic photos of bustling local life. This bazaar is a noisy and colorful tapestry of fabrics, produce, and people selling and buying goods. Traditional dinner will be served at 7 p.m. You will spend the night in a hotel.
Day 15: Bishkek - Airport
In the morning is transfer to airport.
