Kyrgyzstan Self Drive Road Trip

Kickstart your Kyrgyzstan road trip in the capital, Bishkek. Our representative awaits at the airport to escort you to the hotel, where you'll meet the Adventures Overland family.

From a visit to the heart of the city Ala-Too Square, a stroll through Oak Park, and a shopping spree in the local Osh Bazaar, we will spend our day exploring Bishkek. In the evening, we will relish our welcome dinner and retire for the night.

Today we will rev our engines to embark on an exhilarating journey through the breathtaking landscapes of Kyrgyzstan. Our first stop will be the earliest architectural wonder of Central Asia - The Burana Tower which dates back to the 11th century. After having lunch hosted by a local Dungan family, we will get back on the road. Traversing rugged mountain gorges and serpentine routes with the convoy on this Kyrgyzstan road trip, we will reach Tar Suu. A ride in the horse-drawn carriage, pebblestone streets, and starry skies, all come together to make this village as enchanting as the fairytales we grew up reading about.

After a hearty breakfast, we brace ourselves for the most exciting adventure - conquering the Boom Gorge. The narrow routes passing through high mountains, the Chu River's rapid flow, and the Gorge's vast expanse make this stretch equally challenging and thrilling. As we head towards the magnificent Issyk-Kull region, the shore of Kyrgyzstan’s largest lake, Lake Issyk-KulI will slowly start to come into focus. We will stop for lunch at a panoramic point near Ornok village, where the blue waters of the lake and the azure skies seemingly blend into each other, making it a breathtaking sight to witness. Afterward, we will head towards a small resort town on the lake shore - Cholpon Ata where we will retire for the night

In Cholpon Ata, we start our day with a heartfelt breakfast and then head towards the fascinating Petroglyph Museum, delivering into the rich history depicted in ancient rock carvings. Some of these are considered to be 4 thousand years old. After such an insightful morning, we head to a local restaurant for a delicious lunch, savoring Kyrgyzstan’s authentic flavors.

The adventure continues as we make our way to the enchanting Lake Issyk Kul. The tangerine glow of the sunset along with the Tien Shan mountains will make the perfect backdrop for a boat ride across the serene waters of the lake as we conclude our day on a serene note. 

Today we will embark on yet another adventurous day on this Kyrgyzstan road trip as we prepare ourselves to conquer the Grigoriev and Semienov gorges. The untamed beauty and ceaselessly flowing mountain rivers of these gorges are enough to make you fall head over heels in love with Kyrgyz. Imagine driving through mountain trails, past a herd of horses with nothing but eden-like valleys spanning as far as your eyes can see. And, in the middle of it all, two snowy peaks, Kum-bel (4200m) and Eshenbulak Peak (4647m) shine like crowning jewels making the scene look straight out of a storybook. As we reach Karakol, a hot steaming lunch awaits us followed by a sightseeing walk through the lively city. After relishing our meal, we will visit the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, which was the first-ever church built in Karakol. We will also visit the famous Dungan Mosque before calling it a day.

Every day is a new adventure on this Kyrgyzstan road trip and today we take it up a notch, quite literally as we hike towards the highest ski resort in Kyrgyzstan, the Karakol Ski base (3020m). From the base, we take a ski lift toward Panorama Point which is arguably the best viewpoint in Kyrgyzstan, and enjoy a delicious lunch. Afterward, we will watch the Kyrgyz traditional horse game Kok-Boru, played by two teams on horseback. To witness this game itself is a thrill unlike any other. After a long day of activity, we will return to Karakol.

Today we drive towards Jeti Oguz which literally translates to “Seven Bulls” where dense vegetation covers the red rocks of the gorge making it a beautiful sight to behold. Our next stop on the Kyrgyzstan road trip itinerary is in Barskoon Gorge where the cascading waterfall creates soothing melodies. After lunch at Tamga Village, we will drive to Skazka Canyon. Because of their dramatic carvings and sandscapes that look straight out of a storybook, it is also known as ‘Fairytale canyons’. En route to Bokonbaevo, we will witness eagle hunters with their birds of prey, which is one of the oldest traditions of Kyrgyz nomads. You get to observe the birds in their element with a wingspan of 6 feet fly with great speed and hunt with precision.

Today we will dive deeper into the culture of the land as we attend a traditional felt show that showcases the craft behind Shyrdaks, the UNESCO-listed Kyrgyz felt carpets. We will then start our return journey towards Bishkek. We will conquer the Kyzart pass which is nestled at an altitude of 2664 meters followed by a scrumptious lunch in the charming village of Kyzyl Tuu. Traversing through the enchanting Suusamyr valley and the majestic Too Ashuu mountain pass, we will reach Bikshek.

After conquering Kyrgyzstan’s rugged terrain and making memories of a lifetime, it’d be time to bid farewell to the land of nomads. We will leave for the airport where we will part ways with the fellow road-trippers who became family in a matter of a few days.