Meeting at ?Manas? airport. Transfer to Bishkek (30 km), check-in at hotel. Sightseeing tour around Bishkek: the central Ala-Too Square, Historical Museum, National hero Manas Monument, Kurmanzhan Datka Monument, Old Square with Parliament House, Victory Square. Overnight at the hotel.

Time required: Approximately 1 hour

Distance covered: 30km

Gradually gaining altitude, we drive along the fertile oasis of Chu River valley – once part of Great Silk Route travelled by merchants as well as hordes of Mongols of Genghis Khan (13th century AD) and armies of ruthless emperor Tamerlane (14th century AD). On our way we pass major towns Tokmok and ruins of Burana Tower (old minaret). Lunch en route. The road winds into the picturesque narrow Boom gorge (?shoelace? in Kyzgyz) and, halfway to Karakol, reaches Balykchi where Lake Issyk Kul (?warm lake? in Kyrgyz) starts from – a natural wonder of Central Asia.

The town of Karakol (population of 65,000) is set 8km away of the Lake Issyk Kul. Abundance of rains and deep mountain streams bring here a lot of water and make local climate extremely favourable for agriculture farming and cattle breeding. That is why the streets of the town are drawn in impressively thick and tall poplars as well as apricot, cherry, pear and apple trees. Local bazaars attract with its mix of Chinese, Dungan, Uighur and Russian faces and a diversity of local fruits and vegetables.

We get accommodation in shared rooms in a simple wooden chalet of the ?Ala-Too? mountaineering base where one can also get, as extra, hot shower and sauna. Do not forget to enjoy panoramic view that opens up next morning: just beyond the base is Terskey Alatoo Range, the peaks of which reach heights over 5.000 metres – the area of your trekking

Time required: Approximately 7 to 8 hours

Distance covered: 430 km

Altitude gain: +900m

Gradually gaining altitude, we drive along the fertile oasis of Chu River valley – once part of Great Silk Route travelled by merchants as well as hordes of Mongols of Genghis Khan (13th century AD) and armies of ruthless emperor Tamerlane (14th century AD). On our way we pass major towns Tokmok and ruins of Burana Tower (old minaret). Lunch en route. The road winds into the picturesque narrow Boom gorge (?shoelace? in Kyzgyz) and, halfway to Karakol, reaches Balykchi where Lake Issyk Kul (?warm lake? in Kyrgyz) starts from – a natural wonder of Central Asia.

The town of Karakol (population of 65,000) is set 8km away of the Lake Issyk Kul. Abundance of rains and deep mountain streams bring here a lot of water and make local climate extremely favourable for agriculture farming and cattle breeding. That is why the streets of the town are drawn in impressively thick and tall poplars as well as apricot, cherry, pear and apple trees. Local bazaars attract with its mix of Chinese, Dungan, Uighur and Russian faces and a diversity of local fruits and vegetables.
We get accommodation in shared rooms in a simple wooden chalet of the ?Ala-Too? mountaineering base where one can also get, as extra, hot shower and sauna. Do not forget to enjoy panoramic view that opens up next morning: just beyond the base is Terskey Alatoo Range, the peaks of which reach heights over 5.000 metres – the area of your trekking

Time required: Approximately 4 to 5 hours

Distance covered: 45 km

Altitude gain: +900m

We sort out our loads to be carried on horses and proceed with trekking. We trek a short way until turning left at the confluence of Djheti Oguz ?and Telety rivers to carry on by a good path on the orographically left hand side of a beautiful valley along? the Telety river through the fir forest. One hour past we reach the confluence of Ayutor River and Telety River. We can see Archaly Peak at our front. ?Two hours on we cross the Telety river over a log bridge and start ascending on rather steep trail winding up on the mountain spur through a thicket of juniper shrubs. After lunch we ascend rather steeply approximately 400 metres to our camp. On the way we enjoy views of the picturesque valley. Camp is situated near small waterfall on the nice grassy spot in the packet between the neighbouring mountain spurs protecting out tents against strong highland wind.
Dinner and overnight in ?Telety? tent camp at 3050m.

Time required: Approximately 6 to 8 hours?

Distance covered:? 16 km

Altitude gain: + 450m

We are awoken by whistles of eagles and marmots. It takes us 15 minutes to reach ancient moraine which we bypass on the right. Air is thickened with omnipresent sparrows and daws soaring around. Eagles and lammergeiers are patrolling the area hovering on the updrafts. We ascend on a good stony path – good for people and poor for horses. Two hours past the trail levels and we see the circ – cliffy and scree terrain – from where the pass becomes visible. These are rugged mountains and the views spectacular all around. To the other side of the pass is the Karakol valley, and our route now takes us down valley.

First the trail goes down on the stiff rocky terrain. Then it levels into green grassy spot, bypasses coarse-stone scree and runs down the mountain stream that is forded twice. Past first confluence (right hand side lateral) the trail reaches marshy glade covered in mountain garlic. We cross the stream here and follow the trail running on the left bank of the stream – a herder?s trail through juniper shrubs.
After lunch we carry on downhill on the alpine meadows till thick fir, spruce, larch and ash forest. There from we clearly hear rumbling of Karakol River flowing down at the bottom of the valley – we are close to our camp now. Camp (2600m) in the upper reaches of Karakol River valley is on the river bank near big bolder. Terrain around bears traces of human deforestation activity.
Dinner and overnight in ?Karakol? tent camp at 2500m.

Time required: Approximately 6 to 8 hours?

Distance covered:? 18 km

Altitude gain: + 750m, – 1300m

We trek up valley and in one hour past reach a large rock presenting memorial plates set to those mountaineers who perished on the most challenging sheer walls of Karakol Peak and Djigit Peak. We head than out of the tall fir forest and above the river to green meadows blanketed in flowers – poppies, daises, pansies, calendulas, jointweeds, mallows, motherworts – and clumps of juniper bushes. ?Just past the forest a view opens up to Karakol Peak – a white trapeze face adorned in hanging glaciers. The trail runs on a grassy slope to the top of the natural dam where small lake lies followed, further up, by the other bigger one. Here on alpine meadows Pink Roseola grows – an herb the roots of which possess curing properties similar to ginseng. The lure is not just to picnic beside the mountain stream, but to appreciate the grandeur of Djigit Peak (5170m) which commands a presence over the left hand side of the valley. We can also enjoy a view of the Hair Waterfall (on the right). After a picnic lunch we return back to our camp.
Dinner and overnight in ?Karakol? tent camp at 2600m.

Time required: Approximately 6 to 8 hours?

Distance covered:? 16 km

Altitude gain:+ 700m, – 700m

Moving on now, we trek first down valley along a good road for a short while and, past mountaineering camp site, cross over a foot bridge into the thick forest. We follow a narrow winding trail upwards and soon get into open slopes of grasses and shrubs. We enjoy picturesque views across to adjacent valleys. We reach a small blue lake where we may take a picnic lunch and then trek on through the forest to a place where a climbers hut is located (2600m). We may set camp here, or trek on up for another two or three hours beside alpine stream and scree and boulders to a higher camp on the shoulder of the expansive azure blue Alakul Lake at approx 3200m. This will depend on logistic and weather conditions, and decision will be made by your group leader. Camp at 2600m in the green zone provides more warmth and comfort compared to camping at 3200m on the small rocky spot in the windy narrow bottleneck where the stream overflows the lake.
Dinner and overnight in ?Ala Kol? tent camp at 3200m.

Time required: Approximately 6 to 8 hours?

Distance covered:? 9 km

Altitude gain: +1100m

We gain altitude moving along the trail running up and down the scree-rocky slope. We keep the lake on our right. The turquoise-blue lake stretches as far as the eye can see, and peaks and glaciers of the Terskey Alatau range (among which the 4900m-high Ekichat Peak is clearly distinguishing) provide the backdrop for the entire panorama. The climate is much cooler now and warm clothing, hat, gloves and waterproofs are essential items to have with you whilst in this locality through to the other side of Alakul pass. Nonetheless, it makes sense to top up your water bottles as there will be no sources of water till we cross over. It may take us up to 3-4 hours from the lake to top the pass.

The views across to the Terskey Alatau span kilometre after kilometre. ?Looking to the south from the top we can see Djigit Peak (5170m) on the left and Karakol Peak (5281m) in the middle. The view of Alakul Lake is unmatched. After photos we commence our descent to the Arashan Valley. The trail first follows on the scree into alpine meadow zone of Kurgantor River fed by glaciers and down to forest of the main valley of Arashan River. It may take us 2-3 hours to reach to the bottom of the valley. We camp at Altyn Arashan hot springs. This place is very popular with local Kyrgyz visitors looking for opportunity to heal their body/muscle/joint-related illnesses by dipping in hot springs.

Possibility to take thermal baths (up to +50C). Dinner and overnight in ?Altyn Arashan? tent camp at 2600m.

Time required: Approximately 6 to 8 hours?

Distance covered:? 18 km

Altitude gain: +200m, -1200m

Next morning once everyone is loaded on the truck we head downstream alongside of Altyn Arashan river through thicket of fir forest back to Karakol city. We change vehicle, explore local bazaar and lunch there in Karakol. Then we carry on to Cholpon-Ata driving alongside of the northern shore of Issyk Kul Lake enjoying the views of Terskey Alatoo Range (south) and Kungey Alatoo Range (north). We end up the day in Cholpon-Ata – a 40?000-population big town and unofficial centre of resort area of Issyk Kul Lake where all spectrum of sanatoriums and rest houses is available.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Time required: Approximately 4 to 5 hours?

Distance covered:? 155 km

Altitude gain: -1000m

Those champions of early morning swimming can have a bath in the lake. And after breakfast we set off to Bishkek. In one hour or so we are in Balykchi, past which we are back on the road we were arriving by here – two weeks ago! We lunch on the way in a sideroad caf?. We arrive in Bishkek in the afternoon having enough time to explore more of the town, or to do last minute purchase, or simply to take shower and relax before dinner.
Overnight at the hotel.

Time required: Approximately 3 to 4 hours?

Distance covered:? 250 km

Altitude gain: -800m

Transfer from hotel to Manas International Airport (Bishkek). Flight back home.