A two-day group tour from Bishkek to the high-altitude Son Kol lake at 3,000 m: Burana Tower, the Konorchek canyon, a night in a yurt, horse riding on alpine meadows and full board.
This is the group version of the operator's private two-day Son Kol tour, with fixed departure dates and up to 12 participants per vehicle. The group meets at Ala Too square in Bishkek at 8 AM and drives into the mountains. On the first day you stop at the 11th-century Burana Tower in Tokmok and hike in the Konorchek canyon, then climb the serpentine passes to Son Kol, check into a yurt camp, ride horses on the green meadows, have dinner and sit by the bonfire. The second day is free for walking and, in summer, swimming, before the return drive via Kochkor town and the turquoise Orto Tokoi reservoir. Transport is an air-conditioned Mercedes minibus or similar.
Group format: up to 12 participants per vehicle, fixed departure dates.
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, hiking shoes, umbrella, camera.
355 USD per person, all-inclusive package: transport with driver, English-speaking guide, 1 night in a yurt (twin or double stay), full board, horse riding and the Burana Tower admission.
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 the 2026 and 2027 seasons: the two-day tour starts every four days from May 21-22 to October 24-25, and availability is limited.
The tour is operated only from May to October.
Meeting at Ala Too square in Bishkek and departure. Stop in Tokmok for the Burana Tower: about 40 minutes on the tower, around the balbals and in the archaeology museum. Then a light hike in the Konorchek canyon with its otherworldly red clay scenery and lunch on the road. Continue along serpentine mountain passes to Son Kol, check in to a yurt camp and spend the evening at the lake: green pastures, horse riding on the alpine meadows, dinner, a bonfire and stargazing. Overnight in yurts.
After breakfast, more time at Son Kol: walking around the lake and, in the summer season, swimming. In the afternoon the group descends the mountain passes, has lunch in Kochkor town, stops at the turquoise Orto Tokoi reservoir and returns to Bishkek, with drop-off at your hotel (not included).
Fixed date Ventura Tours Central Asia 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.
Multi-day Ventura Tours Central Asia A private six-day journey through the Issyk Kul region with a challenging two-day trek to the alpine lake Ala Kol at 3,600 m: Burana Tower, a ship ride on the lake, hot springs, Jeti Oguz, waterfalls, a yurt camp and eagle hunting.
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