8 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 5 dinners

We believe single travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and single travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.

You must be 18 to travel unaccompanied on a G Adventures tour. For minors travelling with a guardian over 21 years old, the minimum age is 12.

Central Asian dress is quite conservative. Plan to pack loose-fitting light clothing appropriate for hot weather and plan to cover knees, shoulders and chest. For women, a hair scarf is recommended, though they are easy to buy in country.

ACCOMMODATION NOTE:

Please be aware that properties we stay in with only two stories may not have elevators installed and climbing the stairs with your luggage will be necessary.

CULTURE

Central Asia is a region which may be very different to anything you have experienced before. Mixture of Soviet heritage and Islam, summer heat and winter cold, religious conservatism, traffic and crowds can result in initial culture shock but should be seen as an exciting new challenge.

DRESS CODE

Though you can see lots of people in traditional clothes, Central Asia has adopted western style clothing as well. Don’t hesitate to pack your usual travel clothes: in summer it can be shorts and t-shirts, sandals etc. We recommend not to bring tank tops/singlets and any types of clothes with bare shoulders and backs – it is unacceptable in most areas, even in bigger cities. Our tour takes us to many religious sights, where dress code is very strict. We recommend women to have a headscarf in their day bags to cover up when going inside mosques (it’s also a great help in the heat in summer). Best things to pack for the hot Central Asian climate is loose, long clothing – long trousers and sarongs or long skirts for women. In colder months (from the end of October through the end of April) it can rain and snow – bring warm clothes, jackets and comfortable warm shoes for walking.

ALTITUDE CONSIDERATIONS

This trip operates at altitudes over 800m (max altitude 3016m at Song Kul ). Whilst we travel slowly allowing plenty of time to acclimatize you may experience headaches, nausea, lethargy. It is important to be aware of the affects of altitude on one’s tolerance especially on long driving days.

MONEY

Due to the restrictions on changing money in Central Asia region, only notes/bills printed after 1996 and in good condition will be accepted for exchange. Usually 50 and 100 USD/EUR notes get better exchange rate. We recommend to bring smaller denominations as well – many vendors accept them if you don’t have local currency.

RAMADAN

According to the lunar cycle, Ramadan will fall between Feb 28th – Mar 29th 2025, and Feb 17th – Mar 19th 2026. Please note that Ramadan is a month of fasting observed by Muslims throughout the world, during which time the followers of Islam should not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset. There may be some limitations to services and disruptions to schedules during Ramadan, but generally our tours still operate effectively during this period and food is available to non-Muslims throughout the day. It is very important to display increased cultural sensitivity during Ramadan. Please wear loose fitting clothes, that cover knees and shoulders, and try to avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public out of respect for those who can’t at that time.

COMBO TRIP

Please note that this tour combines with other G Adventures tours. As such, the staff and some travel companions on your tour may have previously been traveling together with G Adventures, prior to Day 1 of your tour. Likewise, some staff and travel companions may be continuing together on another G Adventures tour, after your trip concludes.

All G Adventures group trips are accompanied by one of our Chief Experience Officers (CEO). The aim of the CEO is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it’s the best of both worlds.

What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen, the countries you are visiting and when you are travelling. Generally speaking though, you should pack as lightly as possible. On the vast majority of our trips you are expected to carry your own luggage (please see below for exceptions), and though you will not be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes) we recommend keeping the weight under 10kg/22lb.

Suitcases are not recommended for G Adventures travellers! Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags with wheels are acceptable, although we recommend your bag has carry straps as well, as you may be required to negotiate bus and railway station steps. You will also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day walks and day trips.

Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.

Later on day 4, stroll the ochre ridges and wind-carved spires of Skazka (Fairytale) Canyon on Issyk-Kul’s south shore. Follow sandy paths between castle-like formations and gleaming fins of red sandstone.

As your CEO explains the geology, watch the light play across the rock — a perfect time to pause for photos and reflection. The canyon’s intimate scale and sculptural shapes offer a striking contrast to the wide blue sweep of Issyk-Kul.

Continue on day 5 to the red-rock valley of Jety Oguz (“Seven Bulls”). Enjoy a picnic lunch with a mountain view, then follow a moderate trail to a viewpoint over the formations, with the fabled “Broken Heart” cliff nearby.

Hear local legends explaining the cliffs’ crimson hue as wildflowers brighten the meadows in spring. The sandstone seems to change tone through the afternoon — ideal for photographers and walkers alike.

Arrive in Karakol on day 5 for a guided city tour. Step inside the timber-built Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral (1895) with its shingled spire, then visit the pagoda-style Dungan Mosque (1910), a masterpiece of Chinese carpentry assembled largely without nails.

Your CEO traces Karakol’s role on caravan routes and as a Russian garrison town, where traders, Dungan Muslims, and settlers shaped a diverse community. Between stops, pause for photos and reflection along leafy streets lined with classic wooden houses.

Cross into Kazakhstan on day 6 and continue to Saty, gateway to Kolsay Lakes National Park. Settle into a family-run homestay and share a traditional Kazakh dinner crafted from local produce.

Between tea and homemade jams, your hosts introduce village customs and the park’s alpine landscapes. With mountains rising beyond orchard gardens, this stay offers a gentle immersion into everyday Kazakh life.

On day 6, board sturdy vehicles for a 4×4 ride to Kaindy Lake, then set off on foot to see its otherworldly submerged spruce trunks rising from turquoise waters. The route threads through firs and alpine meadows with crisp mountain air.

Your CEO explains how a 1911 earthquake triggered the landslide that dammed this valley, creating the lake’s spectral forest. Trails are moderate; take time to pause for photos and reflection along the shore before returning to Saty.

Depart Saty early on day 7 and stop to explore Charyn Canyon, famed for its Valley of Castles where wind and water have carved towers and ramparts of red rock.

Walk to a viewpoint to feel the scale of the gorge and the play of colour from orange to russet. Your CEO sketches the natural history of this dramatic landscape before the journey continues west to Almaty.

On arrival in Almaty on day 7, join your CEO for an orientation walk around the neighbourhood near your hotel. Learn where to find ATMs, cafes, and parks so you can explore confidently.

Almaty’s tree-lined avenues sit beneath the Zailiysky Alatau peaks; this short stroll helps you get your bearings and enjoy a free evening in Kazakhstan’s cultural capital.

Discover Almaty on day 8 with a guided city tour. In leafy Panfilov Park, visit the Memorial of Glory honouring WWII soldiers, then step into the colourful Ascension (Zenkov) Cathedral, a wooden marvel famed for its resilience during the 1911 earthquake.

Continue to Independence Square to see the Golden Warrior monument and learn about Almaty’s transformation from Silk Road outpost to modern metropolis. Along the way, pause for photos and reflection as your CEO shares the city’s cultural threads and mountain backdrop story.

On day 8, join an optional stroll to browse Zelyony (Green) Bazaar, tasting dried fruits, nuts, and spices while learning bargaining etiquette. Nearby cafes pour rich espresso and local teas — perfect for a short break.

Absorb the city’s daily rhythm as vendors call out prices and families shop for produce. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; tastings and beverages are pay-as-you-go so you can sample as much or as little as you like.

After the meeting on day 1, join a local dinner to ease into Kyrgyz cuisine. Depending on availability, menus feature hand-pulled laghman noodles, steamed manty, fragrant plov, fresh salads, and warm non bread.

Your CEO offers ordering tips and explains culinary influences from nomadic traditions to Silk Road exchange. Dinner is at additional cost and bookable on tour; raise a glass of tea — or try a taste of fermented mare’s milk if you’re curious — to the journey ahead.

Cross the Kalmak-Ashuu pass on day 3 to reach high-altitude Song-Kul Lake (3,016m), where you’ll overnight in a yurt. Breathe the crisp air on the jailoo (summer pasture) as horses graze and skylarks wheel above the water.

Inside, learn how nomadic families arrange the yurt and tend herds in a landscape that can bring four seasons in one day. After a hearty dinner, step into the dark for stargazing over the steppe before returning to the gentle warmth of the stove.

On day 4, stop in Kochkor to share lunch with a local family and taste Kyrgyz home cooking. Afterwards, take part in a felt-making workshop, where artisans demonstrate age-old techniques for rolling, beating, and patterning vibrant wool.

Discover the symbolism woven into shyrdak carpets and alaaqiiz felt, and how these textiles still define household identity. It’s a tactile window into nomadic craft, hospitality, and the rhythms of village life.

Arrive in Tamga on day 4 and settle into a friendly village guesthouse framed by the Terskey Ala-Too mountains. Take a leisurely walk to soak in the lakeside atmosphere, with the vast mirror of Issyk-Kul just beyond the trees.

Your CEO recounts Tamga’s Soviet chapter, when a cosmonaut sanatorium hosted spacefarers returning from orbit. Over dinner, learn how contemporary village life balances farming, tourism, and storied history.

On day 5, visit the Ak-Orgo workshop in Barskoon for a hands-on yurt-building demonstration. Craftspeople show how the trellis walls (kerege), roof poles (uuk), and the crown (tunduk) come together into Kyrgyzstan’s emblematic home.

Learn how this social enterprise sustains local incomes while preserving nomadic knowledge. The tunduk motif, also at the heart of the national flag, takes on new meaning as you see the structure rise and the felt wraps tied in place.

On the morning of day 3, opt for a guided hike into the gorges above Chong-Kemin. Trails weave through Tien Shan spruce, wildflowers, and tumbling streams, with broad views across the valley’s patchwork fields.

Your CEO can arrange a local guide for route choices and mountain lore. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; duration and difficulty are tailored to the group, with time to pause for photos and reflection along the way.

Make the most of your free afternoon on day 8 by riding the cable car to Kok-Tobe (Green Hill) or hiking up the paths for a workout. From the summit, scan Almaty’s gridded streets and the snowy line of the Zailiysky Alatau.

Stroll the hilltop promenade and soak in the skyline at sunset before descending for dinner in town. Tickets are at additional cost and bookable on tour; your CEO will advise the best timing and route.

Arrive in the Kyrgyz capital and settle in before the evening welcome. On day 1, you’ll meet your CEO and fellow travellers in Bishkek to review the journey ahead, share first impressions, and get practical tips for navigating Central Asia’s rhythms and customs.

Set at the foot of the Tian Shan, Bishkek blends leafy boulevards with Soviet-era monuments. Your CEO will outline cultural etiquette, currency quirks, and the high-altitude sections to come so you can begin the trip feeling prepared and at ease. After the briefing, you’re free to enjoy a free evening and explore the neighbourhood at your own pace.

Begin day 2 with a guided tour of Bishkek, taking in Ala-Too Square, the imposing White House, shady Oak Park, and the bustle of Osh Bazaar. Stroll grand Soviet boulevards and leafy courtyards as your CEO frames the city’s past and present.

Hear how Bishkek grew from a Silk Road fort to a Soviet republic capital and, today, a creative Central Asian hub. Learn stories behind public art and memorials, then time permitting, pause for photos and reflection around Victory Square. The tour orients you perfectly for an afternoon to enjoy a free afternoon on your own.

Travel east on day 2 to the archaeological complex of Burana Tower, the lone minaret of medieval Balasagun. Climb the spiral stairs to survey the Chuy Valley, and wander among weathered stone balbals (ancient Turkic grave markers) scattered across the steppe.

Your CEO shares how this 10th–11th century city thrived on the Silk Road under the Karakhanids. Visit the small museum for ceramics and artifacts, then step outside to pause for photos and reflection where caravan routes once threaded the mountains. It’s a vivid link between nomadic culture and early urban life.

Arrive in the tranquil Chong-Kemin Valley on day 2 and settle into a village guesthouse run by local families. As evening falls, share a home-cooked traditional dinner showcasing hearty Central Asian flavours, from fresh breads and salads to slow-cooked stews.

Between courses, your hosts share village life in this fertile corridor between the Tian Shan ranges. The mountain air, orchard scents, and the warm rhythm of hospitality set the tone for the journey ahead. After dinner, step outside to soak in the valley’s quiet before turning in.