9-Day Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan Itinerary

Today I want to share my Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan itinerary with you. These countries in Central Asia are known for their rich history, stunning landscapes, and deep cultural traditions. If you want to travel to places that go beyond the usual tourist destinations, read on for my guide to how to spend 9 days in this amazing part of the world. I’ve included a map, too.

9 Days in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan aren’t on every traveler’s radar. Landlocked in Central Asia, they often get passed over for more visited destinations. But the countries are worth a special trip, and today I’m going to show you why.

A recent trip to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan left me wanting to see more of the region. When an opportunity arose to speak at a conference in Almaty, Kazakhstan, I jumped at the chance.

I wanted to see more than just Almaty, so I partnered with G Adventures to review their 9-day Highlights of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan tour. Starting in Bishkek and ending in Almaty, it looked to be the perfect pre-conference journey. Spoiler alert: it was. Read on for my story.

Day 1: Bishkek

My group of 16 travelers convenes in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. After checking into the Grand Hotel, we attend a briefing with Nas, our CEO (that’s G Adventures’ name for a tour leader). She spends an hour giving us an overview of the trip and answering our questions. She’s professional, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic, and I can tell we’re in good hands.

Day 2: Bishkek & Chong-Kemin Valley

The next morning we wake up early and head out on a tour of Bishkek. Nas takes us everywhere from the National History Museum to the opera house. Along the way we get to watch the changing of the guard in Ala-Too Square, explore the city’s attractive green spaces, and see the World War II memorial in Victory Square.

As we go, Nas tells us stories about the landmarks we see. A highlight is that of Kurmanjan Datka, a 19th-century Kyrgyz tribal leader known as the “Queen of the South”. After refusing an arranged marriage as a young woman, she went on to wed a local ruler and become a powerful stateswoman in her own right.

After the tour we make a quick stop at a grocery store to pick up water and snacks for the next leg of our journey. Settling into two comfortable vans, we’re off to the Chong-Kemin Valley.

En route we take a detour to the historic Burana Tower. One of the country’s oldest landmarks, this ancient structure is a rare sight in a semi-nomadic culture like Kyrgyzstan’s.

While here, Nas leads us through the small museum and tells us about the history of the tower. Dating back to the 10th or 11th century, this large minaret in the Chuy Valley was once on the Silk Road. Along with grave markers, earthworks, and the remnants of a castle and several mausoleums, the Burana Tower is all that remains of the 9th-century city of Balasagun.

After climbing the tower to take in the views of the countryside, we continue our journey with lunch. It’s not just any lunch, though. It’s lunch at a local family’s home.

The family is part of Kyrgyzstan’s Dungan minority. This ethnic group of Chinese-speaking Muslims is descended from people who emigrated from northwest China to Central Asia in the 1870s.

Dungan cuisine marries traditional Chinese culinary techniques with Central Asian flavors. It’s known for hand-pulled noodles called lagman, fried dough twists called sanzi, and other unique dishes. The family we’re dining with has a garden from which they’ve prepared all kinds of fresh vegetables for us, too. The warm garlic chives are my favorite.

After lunch we drive into the Chong-Kemin Valley. We stop at a viewpoint to take photos of a stunning river valley before continuing to a family-run guesthouse operated by Karal Dobo villagers.

We’re greeted by Gulzat, the daughter of the owner, who welcomes us with a warm smile and shows us to rooms in a brand new building. Outside in the garden there’s a traditional yurt guests can use as a lounge.

In the evening we enjoy a big outdoor dinner at the guesthouse. As we tuck into traditional Kyrgyz dishes, we learn that local students return from the cities to work here during the summers. They get to earn money while staying close to their families. It’s a great way to see tourism benefiting the local community.

Day 3: Chong-Kemin Valley & Song Kul Lake

The next morning we have a quick breakfast at the guesthouse before heading out on a hike. We walk through hillsides lush with purple wildflowers as we make our way to a viewpoint with stunning panoramas of the countryside. It’s a beautiful way to start the day.

After the hike our journey continues with a trip to Song Kul Lake, which is 9,895 feet (3,016 meters) above sea level. The scenic drive along the Kalmak-Ashuu pass is one of the most awe-inspiring I’ve been on. The layers of different colors and textures in the mountains are breathtaking, and our group is glued to the windows the whole time.

When we arrive at Song Kul Lake, we check into a yurt camp. Four of us share each yurt, and we look forward to experiencing an authentic nomadic stay.

We have free time in the afternoon. Most of us walk along the lake, soaking up the mountain views and taking in the sight of horses drinking from the shore.

In the evening we have dinner in the dining yurt at our camp. We tuck into a traditional meal, popping outside to see a spectacular sunset over the lake as we eat.

At night we have a bonfire and watch the stars. There’s no light pollution here, so we see everything from shooting stars to a meteor. Afterwards we retreat to our yurts, which are cozy and warm from the heat of wood-burning stoves.

Day 4: Song Kul Lake & Tamga

The next day we depart Song Kul Lake, drive back over the Kalmak-Ashuu mountain pass, and make our way to Kochkor for lunch. This quick stop at a local family’s place offers us a filling mid-drive meal.

From Kochkor we continue to Skazka Canyon, also known as Fairytale Canyon. This stunning place is known for its striking rock formations, and it reminds me of the red rocks in Utah.

We have way too little time to explore Skazka Canyon, but we rush around taking as many photos and videos as we can before we have to leave.

From the canyon we drive to Tamga village. It’s in the shadow of the Terskey Ala-Too mountains and next to the massive Issyk Kul Lake. We enjoy a big dinner at a village guesthouse here before spending the night.

Day 5: Jety Oguz & Karakol

The following morning we head out to Barskoon village to visit the Ak-Orgo workshop. It’s a G Adventures-supported project working to preserve Kyrgyz traditions and create employment opportunities.

We’re here for a yurt-making demonstration. From the felt-creating process to the actual assembly of a yurt, we get a start-to-finish guide to how to make a traditional nomadic dwelling. It’s a great way to learn about the craft and support a worthy cause at the same time.

From the workshop we drive to Jety Oguz, home to one of Kyrgyzstan’s most spectacular natural landmarks. The Seven Bulls are sheer cliffs composed of red sandstone. Their name derives from the rock formation’s resemblance to seven bulls and a legend about a khan’s wife.

The Seven Bulls are amazing to see, and their rocks once again remind us of Utah. We spend a while walking around the trails at the visitor center, taking in the views as we capture them with our cameras.

While in the area we also see a rock formation that looks like a broken heart and enjoy a picnic lunch with a stunning view over a river valley. It’s peaceful here, and we watch the horses below us as we eat.

From Jety Oguz our day continues with a drive to Karakol. This multicultural city is known for everything from a Russian Orthodox church to a Dungan mosque. The former was built in 1895, and it’s said to be one of the oldest buildings in the city (and possibly the country).

The latter was built between 1907 and 1910. It resembles a Chinese temple, and it’s unique in that it was made with no nails to hold it together.

After sightseeing we head to dinner and a cultural show at a restaurant run by the Uyghur ethnic minority. It’s another great way to get a glimpse into Karakol’s diversity.

Day 6: Canyons & Saty Village

The next morning we cross the border from Kyrgyzstan into Kazakhstan. After driving through the countryside, we find ourselves at Moon Canyon (also known as Uzunbulak or Yellow Canyon). This place was once at the bottom of a lake, and a range of minerals gives it a yellow color.

From Moon Canyon we drive to Black Canyon. This spot is volcanic in origin (hence the color and the name). It’s home to a visitor center and restaurant, too. We spend time walking along the edge to take in the deep gorge and Charyn River below.

From Black Canyon we head to lunch at a local rest stop. It’s a cafeteria-style place with a supermarket attached, and we fuel up on both lunch and snacks while we’re here.

When lunch is finished, we drive to the village of Saty. It’s in the Kolsay Lakes National Park, and it’s thought to have once been a trading village. Today it’s at the heart of the regional tourism industry, and it’s home to a number of guesthouses.

After checking into one, we hop in a convoy of 4×4 vehicles for the ride to Kaindy Lake. From the busy parking lot it’s a 20-minute hike to the lake, which is unique in that it’s home to a sunken forest.

Kaindy Lake is so otherworldly we have to pinch ourselves when we see it. The spruce tree trunks growing up out of the water lend an ethereal feel to the place.

Day 7: Charyn Canyon & Almaty

The following morning we enjoy a big breakfast at our guesthouse before driving to Charyn Canyon. One of the most famous sites in the region, this natural phenomenon is a 93-mile (150-kilometer) sandstone gorge.

Charyn Canyon features stunning shades of red, orange, and brown, as well as striking rock formations that are often nicknamed “castles”. There are hiking trails and panoramic views galore.

We spend a couple hours here, walking through the canyon and out to a river. It’s hot outside, but there’s a nice breeze and the scenery gets more spectacular the farther into the gorge we go.

In the late afternoon we arrive in Almaty. The former capital of Kazakhstan, it’s the most populous city in the country and a cosmopolitan one at that. We check into our accommodation, a Soviet-era behemoth called Otrar Hotel. It’s in a great location in the city center.

From there Nas takes us on an orientation tour of the local area. She shows us where we can do laundry, exchange money (although ATMs are common and credit cards are accepted pretty much everywhere), and get food and coffee.

In the evening we’re on our own for dinner. A group of us goes to a local Indian restaurant (of which there are many near the hotel), where we tuck into generous portions of curry, naan, and other classic dishes.

Day 8: Almaty

The next morning we head out on a walking tour of Almaty with a local guide named Madina. She takes us to Independence Square, where she tells us about the history of Kazakhstan.

Our next stop is the Green Bazaar, a huge indoor market selling everything from nuts and fruit to horse meat (it’s popular here) and local sweets. There’s a great coffee shop here, too.

The market is near the Rahat Chocolate Factory, where we stop to pick up souvenirs and presents for people back home. They sell great gift boxes, and we load up on them before leaving.

From the shop we walk to the Military History Museum, where we admire the tanks outside. The museum is right near the World War II memorial, which is a moving tribute to those who lost their lives.

Behind it is the Russian Orthodox Cathedral. Completed in 1907, it’s the tallest church in the world made from wood. With its pretty pastel colors, it’s stunning to see. The inside impresses us with its icons and incense, too.

The tour gives us a great overview of the historic areas of the city, and we feel like we’ve hit a lot of the highlights. Afterwards I can’t help taking a walk in the park around the cathedral. It’s peaceful and full of trees that provide welcome shade from the heat of the sun.

Day 9: Almaty

The next morning our tour comes to an end. The rest of my group continues on as part of a larger G Adventures tour to Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, but I’m staying in Almaty for a few more days to speak at the conference.