Central Asia - Kyrgyzstan - 4 days in Bishkek Lake-Ikkyk-Kul Karakol

Contents

• 1. A day in Bishkek city
• 2. A day at Lake Issyk Kul
• 3. A day at Karakol
• 4. Shopping near Bishkek
• 5. Cuisine
• 6. Skiing and ropeways

A day in Bishkek

Bishkek is a relatively new city located in the Tien Shan mountain range in the Chui Valley. The city is fast becoming popular with a lot of travellers from across the globe who wish to explore the country. It’s Central Asia’s greenest city, with rich biodiversity in its tree-lined streets and many parks. You also won’t see any skyscrapers here.
The Bishkek is very safe for expats but should still be vigilant about the safety of their personal belongings, especially in open-air markets such as the Osh bazaar or in city buses in Bishkek. The best solution to avoid being pick-pocketed is to stay very alert and aware of your belongings at all times, keep your wallet in your front pocket or carry a money belt. You should leave all your important and valuable items at your hotel and walk around only with what is absolutely necessary.

Victory Square

Monuments & an eternal flame in a square built in 1985 for the 40th anniversary of the end of WWII.

Bubusara Beishenalieva (the first great Kyrgyz ballerina) Monument, Abai Kunanbaev (Kazakh poet) Monument, Toktogul Satylganov (the most famous of the Kyrgyz Akyns – improvising poets and singers) Monument also next to it.

The Kyrgyz Opera and Ballet Theatre

Kyrgyz Opera and Ballet Theatre is known for its luxurious ancient Greek temple-style front gate. Inside the theatre, you can find the lavish performance hall. You can enjoy great night of the finest performing arts. The theatre showcases performances by local students and higher calibre performances by Russian and Kyrgyz artists. It’s also totally worth it considering the very affordable prices of the shows.

Gapar Aitiev Kyrgyz National Museum of Fine Arts

The basis of the museum collection were 72 works of Russian artists. Today the Gapar Aitiev Museum of fine arts is also the venue of many contemporary exhibitions. To date, the museum collection has about 18 thousand items in storage.
The museum is open to visitors Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00h without a break. Entry 100 som
The Kyrgyz National Museum of Fine Arts was named after Gapar Aitiev, who was born 1912 and became one of the first professional Kyrgyz artists.

Aaly Tokombaev (a poet, composer, and a famous novelist) monument, Cholponbek Bazarbayev (Ballet dancer, Actor) monument, Gennady Pavlyuk (journalist) monument

Fighters of the Revolution monument

This monument is dedicated to the 2010 revolution that occurred in Kyrgyzstan.

Ala-Too Movie Theater

The “Ala-Too” Movie Theater houses 4 cinema screening rooms. There are plenty of small restaraunts and bars next to it. The building is old and you can feel the old town atmosphere.

Kilometre Zero

All cities distance are measured from here; a starting point for Kyrgyzstan.

Bishkek Baatyr Monument

(commander of the Kyrgyz army) The sculptural composition is installed at the intersection of Erkindik and Chui avenues. Mounting and installation of the bronze figure cost 8 million soms - the money was collected by the public association "Bishkek Baatyr".

Oak Park

central park featuring fountains, lots of green space and historic monuments like:
Kurmanzhan Datka (politician) Monument,
Sculpture Museum in the open air,
Memorial For Red Guards,
Maksim Ammosov (Soviet politician) Monument
Mukhtar Auezov(Kazakh writer) monument,
Gallery "Oak Park" (Art Gallery),
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels(German philosophers) Monument.

Erkindik Boulevard | Эркиндик бульвары

Erkindik Boulevard is a long densely forested street that resembles a park. The avenue was first planted by the tsarist-ear Russians in the late 1800s and the street was called Bulvarnaya (Boulevard). It became Dzerzhinsky during Soviet times after one of the secret policemen during Stalin's times (Felix Dzerzhinsky) and then became Erkindik (Freedom in Kyrgyz) after the Soviet Union collapsed.

State History Museum

The museum contains literally thousands of exhibits about the cultural heritage of the Kyrgyz people, whose sculptures and objects date from antiquity to the end of the 20th century. It is one of the most important museums in Central Asia. 10-6pm except Monday.
There is also Manas(first khagan of the Kyrgyz Khaganate) Statue and Vladimir Lenin Statue in each side
Epic of Manas is a traditional epic poem from 18th century. In one of its dozens of iterations, the epic poem consists of approximately 500,000 lines.

Ala Too Square

The main square of the city - Ala-Too Square. "Ala-too" translates as "motley mountains" and this name perfectly describes the face of the country, famous for its stunning mountain scenery. Ala-Too Square is located in the center of Bishkek and combines several attractions.

Stele of Friendship of Peoples

The People's Friendship Monument was erected representing 100 years of Kyrgyzstan's rule by Russia, the anniversary of which was in 1976. The monument sits in a quiet park, with two 28 meter high white columns. Near to the base of the columns, are sculptures of thirteen figures, which represent Russian and Kyrygz people. At the front of the monument are two mothers holding hands, one Russian and one Kyrygz.

Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) of the Kyrgyz Republic

White house / The Supreme Council is the unicameral Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Panfilov Park

Ivan Panfilov (Soviet general) Monument
The park bears the name of Hero of the Soviet Union, and the chairman of the Military Committee of the Kirghiz SSR, Ivan Panfilov. The park was made in the shape of a star when it was built.
Park also have Ferris Wheel and
Mini Exotica Zoo

Restaurants in Bishkek

Arzu Restaurant, Чайхана NAVAT

Walnut Grove

walnut garden with area to sit or walk. There is also a section for kids to play

Hotels in Bishkek

Golden Hotel, Plaza Hotel, Bugu Hotel, Ethno Boutique Hotel "Navat", Smart Hotel Bishkek

Night life

Nightlife in Bishkek can be defined in one word – Exciting! Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan is a young city and has a number of well-known nightclubs and bars where you can go to grab a drink and have fun with your friends.
Promzona Club
Karaoke 40X40
Save the ales
Save the Ales has an outdoor area with chairs and tables, If the weather is nice, you must visit.
Brewster Craft Beer
If you want to drink some great local beers and international beers, 'Brewster Craft Beer' is a must visit place.
They have a great selection of locally brewed IPA(India pale ale), APA(American pale ale), red ale, and Belgian ale as well as a delicious apple cider.

A day at Lake Issyk Kul (Cholpon Ata)

(from Bishkek 4hr/260kms) https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Bishkek/Cholpon-Ata

Issyk Kul meaning "warm lake", is the second largest mountain lake in the world. Measuring 182km long by 58km wide, the lake is heated from below by thermal activity and never freezes, even in the depths of winter. In the summer, the water temperature reaches 25-28 degrees centigrade (warmer than the air) and you can swim in the clear blue waters, enclosed on all sides by the snowy peaks of the Tien Shan Mountains.

Kruiz Yakht-Klub (Cholpon Ata)

Boating/Cruize Karakol Sunset Cruise 2 Hours | from 1,300 KGS per person

Accommodation: Recreation Center Kapriz / Центр Отдыха Каприз

A day at Karakol

Total day travel 230kms

Baza "Karakol" ski resort

2:30min/155kms | spend 2hrs

The Karakol Ski base (Baza Karakul) is at 3040 meters, this is the highest ski resort in Central Asia. There is cable car/chair lifts take you to some of best views. Chair lift is working from 9am till 3pm. If you pay 900 Som you can Ski the entire day and access the cable car as well. They want group of people min 20 people and total amount 8000 soms. If you are not “20 people” you will have to wait till it will reach minimum of people. Btw on the way up to lift you will have to pay 250 soms p/p. Beautiful view from the top(PANORAMA).

Karakol Holy Trinity Cathedral

30min/13kms | spend 30 min

This traditional Russian wooden cathedral with an onion dome has recently undergone extensive restoration work, paid for by the local Slavic community.

Jeti-Oguz Canyon (Seven Bulls Rocks)

36min/30kms

It was established in 1975 with a purpose of conservation of a unique geological formation – sheer cliffs composed of Tertiary red conglomerates.

Return to Karakol
35min / 30kms
Accommodation at Karakol

DAY 4 return Bishkek

6hrs / 400kms

Burana Tower (Tokmok)

(On the way to Bishkek - Isuk Kul)

25-m. 800s minaret overlooking the plains, with an open air museum & history exhibits in its base.

Shopping

Ak-kalpak (traditional white(ak) hat(kalpak))

Komuz (Kyrgyz musical instrument)

What are the best Bishkek top buying things for travellers?
Locally hand-woven clothes, Turkish clothing, footwear, handicrafts caps, Locally woven rugs, clothing, handicraft and labeled honey, Kyrgyzstan souvenirs.

(Tips to keep in mind while shopping
Beware of pickpockets at all times. Make sure your belongings always hold your attention.
Don’t fall victim to false cops, check their identity.
Carry your passport with you at all times.
Stay polite with the local people at all times. They’re decent in their candour.)

Osh Bazaar

8:30am to 7:30pm | Monday close

Large, iconic bazaar selling food, clothing, musical instruments, wooden trunks, souvenirs & more. It’s such a huge place that you could easily spend a whole day there and not see all of it. It’s a little hard to get around though, because the bazar isn’t very well organized, so you might want to go with a local friend or a guide.

Speciality:
Kyrgyz national items- clothes, carved wooden trunks, Hats, komuz-Kyrgyz musical instruments, Kyrgyzstan Souvenirs, Dried Fruits, Meat
Souvenir Options:
Fridge Magnets, Traditional Hats, Jewelry Boxes
National goods section Kyyal - Kyrgyz national clothes and other Bishkek souvenirs are sold in this section.
kalpak carved wooden trunks, traditional hats, national cradles, small souvenirs, and many other locally produced items
The Osh Bazaar is one of the top places to visit in Bishkek for photographers.

Dordoi bazaar

6amto4pm weekday / 8am to 3pm weekends

Another very interesting bazaar to visit in Bishkek is the Dordoi bazaar. It’s Central Asia’s largest market for imports and contains over 30,000 containers selling items from all over the world mostly from China and Turkey. The Dordoy market stretches for more than a kilometre. Different sections of the markets specialize in various types of consumer goods like clothing, jackets, shoes, furniture, electric and electronic equipment, toys, souvenirs (cheapest), automotive supplies, construction materials, etc.
Most of the market is built of double-stacked shipping containers. Typically, the lower container is a shop, while the upper one provides storage. It is an agglomeration of several independent markets adjacent to each other.
Ak-Suu
Vostok ('East')
Sever ('North')
Muras-Sport
Alkanov i K ('Alkanov & Co.')
Evropa ('Europe')
Kerben
Kitay ('China')
Zhonghai
Ideal Visiting Time 3-4 hours
Go with a local friend or guide to find your way and plan a whole day at least to visit Dordoi. From the city center of Bishkek, it’s possible to catch a taxi to the bazaar for about 200 som/3 usd, or take 4th or 17th tram(trolleybus) 1usd - distance is around 9kms/15-20 minutes. Note carry necessary cash as most traders only accepts cash, (Exchange money at Banks than Exchange offices for better conversion rates) and better go early as most of them close at around 3:30p.m.

Alamedin bazaar | Аламедин Базары

The market hall (known as Alamedin bazaar) is more modern and has been recently rebuilt and reorganized to make its visit more pleasant. You’ll be able to find clothes, shoes, furniture, food, meat, toys and even bikes.

Madina Market

The Madina bazaar is not like all the others in Bishkek: this one is exclusively dedicated to textiles and household objects. You’ll be able to buy rugs, curtains, covers, pillows and sheets, among others.

Cuisine

Beschbarmak

Beschbarmak or Beshbarmak or besh barmak is the national dish of Kyrgyzstan. It consists of horse meat (mutton or beef) cooked in a broth for several hours and served over homemade noodles with parsley. Beschbarmak means "five fingers" in the Kyrgyz language, and is so called probably because the dish is typically eaten with the hands.

Dimlama - Harvest stew

Dimlama is a stew consisting of meat, potatoes, onions, vegetables and sometimes fruits.

Kuurdak

The name comes from a nominalisation of the word "roast", "fried", referring to how the food is made. It is described as "stewed brown meat". Kuurdak is one of the main and oldest dishes in Kyrgyz cuisine.

Shashlik

Skewered chunks of mutton grilled over smoking coals that come with raw sliced onions, is served in restaurants and often sold on the street.

Paloo

(Kyrgyz: палоо or күрүч/аш) is the Kyrgyz version of what is generally referred to as plov in Central Asian cuisine. It consists of pieces of meat (mutton or beef sometimes chicken) fried in a large qazan and mixed with fried shredded carrots, jiucai(garlic chives) and cooked rice. The dish is garnished with whole fried garlic cloves and hot red peppers.

Orama

The dough for orama is made from flour, water, and salt. It is kneaded and rolled thin, and a filling is spread over it. The fillings are incredibly versatile and may include anything from shredded meat to different vegetables such as potatoes, pumpkin, or onions. The dough is then rolled around the filling in sections to create a long, thin wrap. The wraps are laid in a circle in steamer pots and steamed. it is typically served sliced.

Ashlan-fu

Ashlan-fu, probably the most famous Dungan dish in Karakol, Kyrgyzstan. This is a cold soup made from wheat noodles, potato starch strips, various toppings like chopped egg, meat, cucumber, all topped with a special vinegar sauce.
The cold noodle soup dish is one of the most popular dishes in Kyrgyzstan, it’s extremely spicy and best served cold.

Samsa

little pockets with meat and vegetables wrapped in flaky pastry or bread, very similar to Indian samosas.

Lagman noodle

(or laghman) is a very popular noodle dish. is a dish of meat, vegetables and pulled noodles from Uyghur cuisine and Central Asian cuisine.

Nɑn / lepeshka

Central Asian flat bread (Kyrgyz: нан [nɑn]) is cooked over coals in tandoori (Kyrgyz: тандыр [tɑndɯr]) ovens, and is round and relatively flat. (Kyrgyzstan also have thick, sturdy Turkish breads)

Boortsog

(boorsok, borsook) Fried dough

Saamal

Saamal, another word for mare’s milk. Milking a mare is far trickier than milking a cow and requires the person to essentially hug the animal's thigh to reach. The milking is done between mid-May and mid-July, with the appearance of the Pleiades star cluster in the night sky a traditional sign of its end.

Kumis

Kumis (the national drink of Kyrgyzstan) is a fermented milk drink from mare’s milk with the addition of leaven. It has its own specific, tart and sour taste. The mare’s milk is remarkable in that it is significantly different in composition from cow’s: it contains fewer fats and proteins, and significantly more vitamins. From the species of animal milk, the mare is as close to the female milk as possible, and therefore it is perfectly absorbed by the body: it improves the metabolism, is used as a means of preventing colds and improving blood circulation.

It should be noted that kumis is an alcoholic drink. The softest kumis contains 1 degree of alcohol. Average kumis has 2.5 percent alcohol. Strong kumis contains from 4.5 and up to 40 (!) degrees of alcohol.

Maksym

One popular non-alcoholic beverage, especially in the summer, is maksym. It is a slightly fizzy drink made by fermenting grains like barley, wheat, millet and corn.

Ayran

Ayran is a cold savory yogurt-based beverage. It has a slightly tart/sour taste from the natural yogurt, but the biggest surprise is the saltiness. The principal ingredients are yogurt, water and salt. Herbs such as mint may be optionally added. Some varieties are carbonated.

Chalap

Chalap (shalap / chalob) is a beverage consists of qatiq (more solid form of yogurt) or suzma (strained yogurt), salt, and in modern times, carbonated water.

Jarma

Jarma (Dzarma / zharma) is a traditional Kyrgyz drink made from crushed wheat. The taste is similar to sour, salty, slightly-off oatmeal and it’s delicious, although maybe an acquired taste.

Boza

Boza (Buza / Bozo) is a ,malt drink made by fermenting various grains, millet, corn or a millet-yeast mixture. It has a thick consistency, a low alcohol content (around 1%), and a slightly acidic sweet flavor.

Cable Car / Ropeway / Ski lift and Ski Resorts in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is a country of celestial mountains, therefore it is not surprising that 23 ski resorts operate on the territory of the republic. 20 of them are located in Chui Oblast, 2 in Issyk-Kul and one in Naryn. The most popular in the country are two bases - Karakol and Chunkurchak.

1. Baza "Karakol"

https://www.karakol-ski.kg/
The slopes at Karakol ski resort, surrounded by pine forest, can delight both beginners and experienced skiers, and there are beautiful views to be had over Issyk-Kul lake and the wider Tien Shan range.

Price Cost for cable car 400som
half day cable car 1000som

Ski equipment rental 900som

2. Orlovka

Rodelbahn

Rodelbahn

http://orlovka.kg/
After Karakol, Orlovka is probably the second best ski resort in Kyrgyzstan based on the number of slopes and the quality of the infrastructure and slope preparation. It’s a 2 hour drive east from Bishkek, which means crowds are a bit smaller on weekends than at the nearby beginner slopes like Zil and Chunkurchak. In any case, you will get more options for a slightly lower price.

Snow cannons work to maintain the natural snow pack, necessary at Orlovka’s low altitude.

Price
Cost of one ascent on chair car and descent on the Rodelbahn is 300soms

3. Too-Ashuu

https://too-ashuu.kg/
About 130 km south of Bishkek, Too (mountain) Ashuu is located in the Suusamyr valley and offers 2 lifts and 3 slopes. Too Ashuu is arguably the most beautiful ski resort in Kyrgyzstan: the panoramic views are spectacular, and the sun hits your face the whole day long, since you are skiing on south-facing slopes. Heliskiing also happens on Too-Ashuu.

Price
Single day pass cable car & ski slopes 800 soms
Single rental on the cable car Up and back 200 som

Ski equipment rental 600 soms

4. Chunkurchak

https://chunkurchak.kg/

Just 40 km from Bishkek, Chunkurchak brands itself as a family-friendly resort. Expect lots of families at the weekend, when long queues at the lifts can happen on good days. Luckily, the wide slopes make sure there is plenty of space for all.
In summer, lifts are not operating, but you can go for a leisurely hike and a picknick here.
Cable cars
BLUE four seater chair lift. Upper station 2440 m. Ski length 1100m with 250m vertical drop for confident riders.
GREEN triple chair lift. Ski 1000 meter long with a 170-meter vertical drop for intermediates.
WHITE 1000 meter-long with 120 meters vertical drop. Very wide and even slope, slight slope for beginners.
YELLOW Quadruple chair lift 1100 meters, vertical drop 180m. Ski on both sides of the lift for confident skiers.
ORANGE 300 meters long, vertical drop 60m. Ski on side for beginners & under cable car for experts.
RED children's lift - a 100 m long belt travolator.

Price
Ski-pass full day weekdays 1000 soms
Ski-pass one hour weekdays 400 soms

Ski-pass full day weekends 1400 soms
Ski-pass one hour weekdays 400 soms

Equipment rental 1200 soms

5. Zil

http://zil.kg/
40 km out of Bishkek, this accessible ski base is ideal for kids and beginners. Excellent slopes to learn how to ski and instructors are on standby if you need one. If you know how to ski, you will get easily bored here, though.
Tubes and sleds available for kids who want to go down the sledding hill.
There are four cable lifts operating at the base. There is also a zipline, downhill rope, tubing. 35km from Bishkek. Skibase is good for beginners and it have good roads around.
Opening hours: 7 days a week from 10.00 to 16.00

Price
Rope lift
price from Monday to Friday 1000 soms Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 1400 soms
Ski rental
Skis 600 soms
Snowboard 700 soms
Tubing
Weekends and holidays: 1 hour 400 soms; 1 descent 100 soms. Weekdays 1 hour 300 soms; 1 descent 100 soms
Zipline1 descent 700 soms

Zil also has a golden statue of Putin.

6. Kashka Suu

https://kashka-suu.kg/
This is the second-biggest ski resort in Kyrgyzstan measured in piste kilometers. There are 5 good slopes, something for beginners and advanced skiers alike. Almost all of the runs are served by an ancient, slow, two-seat chairlift.

Kashka-Suu resort also offers minibus service during weekends.

Cableways 10:00 to 16:00
Chairlift with a length of 1365 m, speed 2m/s, elevation difference - 380m. The cable car will take you from 1890m to a height of 2270 meters, from where you can enjoy a magnificent view of the city and the surrounding area. The cable car is used not only for lifting snowboarders and skiers, but also for sightseeing tours.
Icerink
Two fields have been prepared at the base for filling the ice rink. It is especially nice to skate when it snows.

Price
Chairlift - day pass (Sat, Sun, public holidays) 1300
Chairlift - Day Pass (Wed, Thu, Fri) 900
Chairlift - one-time lift 300

Rental Ski sets/Snowboard kits 800som/day

7. Ak-Tash

http://aktash.kg/

The Ak-Tash Ski Resort is located 30 km from Bishkek. Ak-tash is not only a ski base, but also a base in the mountains with a swimming pool, a sauna and a cafe. They track is best for experts than beginner.
Cable Car / Ropeway
Working hours from 10-00 to 16-00
There are 2 cable cars service.
1) The length of the lower cable car is 500 meters
2) The length of the upper cable car is 900 meters
The cost of the ski pass for the cable car:
Weekends, Holidays 800 som
Weekdays 800 som

Snowboarding
The total length of the descent is 1800 meters.
Equipment rental from 500 soms

8. Tatyr

Ski-Tatyr is located 25 km from Bishkek outside of the village Tatyr Strelnikova. It’s a small place targeted to families with their kids. 2 surface lifts and 2 easy slopes make the ideal learning environment for beginners. Instructors and ski rental are on-site. Prices are lower and crowds are small, so this is in our opinion a better option than Zil for the absolute beginner.

9. Kyzyl Beles

Kyzyl Beles is the highest ski resort near Bishkek, above Oruu-Sai in the Ala-Archa valley. This is where the skiing season starts and ends for residents of the capital. It’s nothing special: just 1 lift and 1 ungroomed slope, so this is mostly for the fanatics who want to ski until the last snowflake has disappeared.

10. Kolgookar

A small resort near Bishkek, Kolgookar has 3 surface lifts that lead to a big variety of slopes and a great panoramic view over the Chuy valley. Kolgookar is located between the ski resorts Kashka-Suu and Oruu-Sai.

11. Polytech

Polytech, one of the oldest ski resorts in Kyrgyzstan, located about 30 km out of Bishkek operating since the 70s. There are 3 slopes, 1 green/blue, 1 blue/red and 1 red/black. Prices are low for a day pass or ski rental. There is no food or accommodation on site.

11. Norus

With 2 lifts and 3 kilometers of slopes of easy/medium difficulty, it is suited to absolute beginners. The cable car is old and uncomfortable

12. Gornolizhnaya Basa Oruu-Say

The base has one cable car with a length of 800 meters. The base is too basic and bit old.

13. Sosnovka Ski base

About Kyrgyzstan

Timezone

GMT+6 (No DST)

Currency

Kyrgyzstani Soms KGS/SOM

Capital

Bishkek

Daylight

DEC - 8:30 to 5:30

International Airport

International airport “Manas” (FRU) is located near the capital of Kyrgyzstan – Bishkek. The airport is a 30-minute drive from Bishkek city center, you shouldn’t pay more than 800 som (USD 10) for a taxi ride.
Domestic flights to Osh, Batken, and Jalal-Abad are operated from Bishkek.

VISA

https://www.evisa.e-gov.kg/step_1.php / 52USD (expect 8,9 days to get visa and you have to enter country within 30 days)

Language

Kyrgyz and Russian are common language used there.
Few Russian expressions that you could use to communicate with people in Bishkek:
Gee-dee-yay na-ho-deet-sa magazine?: Where is the store?
Skolka sto-it yeda?: How much is a meal?
Spassiba: Thank-you
Voo-ee mojhet-ee-ay zapessat eta?: Can you write this down?

Few Kyrgyz expressions that could also be very helpful:
Salam: Hello
RaHmat: Thank you
Tualet Kayda?: Where is the toilet?
Kança?: How much?
Men jogolgon jatam: I am lost

Power plugs and sockets

Plug Euro Type C

Plug Schuko Type E

Yurt

A yurt is a portable, circular dwelling made of a lattice of flexible poles and covered in felt or other fabric. They are a sturdy, reliable type of tent.
Kyzyl Tuu village - visit to understand how Yurt are made of.

Piala

Whether at home or in a chaikhana, tea is always served in a piala. A piala is a ceramic or porcelain bowl

Dastarkhan

Dastarkhan refer to the traditional space where food is eaten. The term may refer to the tablecloth/food mat which is spread on the floor. The Chaikhana usually has a clay flooring, and guests sat on the floor cross-legged around the dastrakhan.

Local Travel

Public transportation in Kyrgyzstan has its own peculiarities. Mainly mini-buses are used in Kyrgyzstan; here locally call them Marshrutka. Usually, the timing for marshrutka is from 7.00 am to 7.00 pm. There are also shared taxis at the same bus stations. They are slightly more expensive than marshrutka.
If you have an android phone, install the app Maps.me, type in ‘mashrutka 265’ and the app will show you exactly on the map where to find the bus stop.
https://kyrgyzstan-tourism.com/travel/
Main bus station - Bishkek Western Bus Station / Zapadnyi Avtovokzal / Бишкек Западный Автовокзал

Best time to visit

Best time to visit the city is in fall and spring.
The weather in Bishkek is very sunny and hot during summer (June – September) with average temperatures around 35°C . It’s better to spend the summer in the beautiful Kyrgyz mountains than inside the city.
Bishkek tends to become cold in winter with average temperatures around -10 °C / -15°C.

More places

Kegeti Vodopad (waterfall)

Kol-Tor Lake - turquoise alpine lake

Fairytale canyon "Skazka"

Ala-Archa national park

Chunkurchak Gorge / Alamedin river

Barskoon Waterfall (There are 2 Yuri Gagarin monuments on the entry of the road)

Tash-Rabat Caravan Palace - which was built in 15th century, it has 31 room and underground jail, citadel and tomb, on the roof holes for light, they could be used as a chimney in winter also to hear the announcment for praying.

Community-based tourism (CBT)

Community-based tourism (CBT) is a way of sustainable tourism that allows travellers to closely connect to local communities. Tourism where travellers are invited into local homes. Experiencing the actual local culture, the diversity, local rituals and beliefs.

CBT Naryn

https://www.cbt-naryn.com/en/
Tours in Naryn city: Lagman Cooking Class, Beschbarmak (national Kyrgyz food) Cooking Class, Boorsok (local bread) Cooking Class, Cultural Movie Nights, one day treks around Naryn to Ak-Tash, one day trip to Shaar - the highest waterfall in Central Asia, and Eagle Hunting Show.
Trip to Kol Suu with border permit (may take 2 days for them to arrange, cost 30EUR per permit)

Price list
https://www.cbt-naryn.com/en/our-services/our-prices

Arslanbob, Bokonbayevo, Bishkek

https://cbtkyrgyzstan.kg/ Tours: https://cbtkyrgyzstan.com/tours/
https://cbtkyrgyzstan.com/tour/around-issyk-kul-lake-2023/

Jailoo Tourism Community, Kochkor

http://jailoo.com.kg/
Two/Three days horse ride trek to Song Kul lake and accomodation in a yurt.
Stay organised in Kol Ukok
Contact: Asipa

More reference

https://www.musafir.com/Holidays/kyrgyzstan-holiday-package
https://trvlland.com/tours/the-pearl-of-central-asia
https://greenyard.kg/services
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M-xCCVHVLaJype-dx5brAoyQQkDw4Pm3/view
https://www.journalofnomads.com/places-to-visit-in-kyrgyzstan/

https://www.budgetwayfarers.com/bishkek-top-buying-things/