An express two-day group tour along the south coast of Issyk Kul: Burana Tower, the Konorchek canyon, a night at the Bel Tam yurt camp on the wild beach, Skazka canyon, eagle hunting and a picnic by the lake.
This is the group version of the operator's private two-day Issyk Kul tour, offered all year round with fixed departure dates. The group meets at Ala Too square in Bishkek at 8 AM. On the first day you stop at the 11th-century Burana Tower, hike in the Konorchek canyon and continue along the south shore to the Bel Tam yurt camp on the wild beach, with dinner in a big kitchen yurt and a bonfire. The second day covers the Skazka canyon, an eagle hunting demonstration with archery in Ak Sai village, a picnic and swim on the beach and a hike to the Canyon of Forgotten Rivers.
Group format: up to 12 participants per vehicle, fixed departure dates, run all year round.
Start time 8 AM or coordinated, meeting at Ala Too square in Bishkek.
Duration 2 days / 1 night. Level of difficulty: easy.
Transport: minibus Mercedes Benz or similar.
Suggested to bring: summer clothes, warm clothes, baseball cap or panama, sunglasses, sunscreen, swimwear, towel, hiking shoes, umbrella, camera.
310 USD per person, all-inclusive package: transport with driver, English-speaking guide, 1 night in the yurt camp (twin or double stay), full board, all programme activities and entrance fees.
Not included: flight tickets, the accommodation for the second night, travel and health insurance and other personal expenses.
The same route is also offered as a private tour; this page is the group version with fixed dates.
Fixed departures are published for 2026 and 2027: the two-day tour starts every four days from January 8-9 to December 29-30, and availability is limited.
Because the tour is available all year round, departures continue through the winter months as well.
Meeting at Ala Too square in Bishkek and departure towards the Issyk Kul region. Stop at the 11th-century Burana Tower, a UNESCO World Heritage site: about 30 minutes to climb the tower, visit the archaeology museum and look at the balbals. Then a light hike in the picturesque Konorchek canyon and lunch in a road cafe. Drive towards the south shore and check in at the Bel Tam yurt camp on the wild beach: free time to explore the camp, dinner in a big kitchen yurt, a bonfire under the starry sky and an optional tasting of local beer. Overnight in yurts.
In the morning the group visits the nearby Skazka (Fairy Tale) canyon for a walk of about an hour, then drives to the neighbouring Ak Sai village to watch an eagle hunting demonstration: the berkutchi explains this traditional way of hunting and everyone takes part in the archery. Picnic on the wild beach with swimming and sunbathing, followed by a short hike to the Canyon of Forgotten Rivers. Drive back to Bishkek and drop-off at your hotel.
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