The Ultimate 8 Day Kyrgyzstan Itinerary: Without a Car
- Margaux
- 11 minutes ago
- 9 min read
Kyrgyzstan is on everyone’s bucket list, and for good reason. I spent 8 days there and absolutely loved the country. It had such beautiful scenery and raw nature, and very varied landscapes. If you have limited annual leave (as I did) or want to see the highlights of Kyrgyzstan in just a week, here is the ultimate 8 day itinerary to seeing Kyrgyzstan without renting a car. This guide includes the best of the country’s hiking on the Ala Kul Trek, jaw-dropping scenery, and memorable experiences, and will tell you everything you need to know about getting around the country, making bookings, and more top tips and advice.
Contents
Itinerary Overview
Day 1: Bishkek - Karakol
Day 2: Karakol and Jeti Oguz
Day 3: Ala Kul Trek Day 1
Day 4: Ala Kul Trek Day 2
Day 5: Ala Kul Trek Day 3
Day 6: Skazka Canyon and Issyk Kul
Day 7: Issyk Kul and back to Bishkek
Day 8: Ala Archa National Park
Day 1: Bishkek - Karakol
Most flights into Kyrgyzstan arrive in the morning having flown overnight. While you’ll likely be tired if this is you, I recommend heading straight to Karakol. It’ll be a long day but I didn’t do this and I regret it as I wasted two days travelling rather than one. You will be able to spend more time enjoying the nature that Kyrgyzstan has to offer, particularly around Karakol. As one of my taxi drivers said to me “Bishkek isn’t Kyrgyzstan” - there isn’t as much to see here, so I recommend moving on. Take a Yandex (you’ll need the app) from the airport to the Bishkek Avtovokzal (Бишкек Автовокзал).
You can get a marshrutka (shared minivan) to Karakol from Bishkek. It’s number 501, but you can ask any driver and they will help you find the correct one. In fact, you’ll probably be approached. The marshrutkas leave very regularly from around 7am, and cost between 600-800 som (approx. £5-£7) with luggage. The journey is 6-7 hours and it is very smooth. From the bus stop in Karakol, you can again get a Yandex to your accommodation.
Day 2: Karakol and Jeti Oguz
For your first full day in Kyrgyzstan, take the time to explore Karakol and take a day trip to Jeti Oguz for a short hike. You can either get a marshrutka or a shared taxi there. You can book taxis through your accommodation - just ask them to secure it for you. The marshrutka will be one that goes along the south coast of Issyk Kul, likely number 315 that goes from here, starting around 11:00am. Tell the driver you want to get off at Jeti Oguz and then either hitchhike or get a taxi to the trailhead of Seven Bulls Rock when you get there. It’s a short and easy hike to see the infamous rock formation.
Head back to Karakol the way you came and spend the rest of the day preparing for the next three days of hiking! You can head into the Globus supermarket at any time (it’s 24/7) and pack up your backpack.
Day 3: Ala Kul Trek Day 1
The Ala Kul trek was the highlight of my trip to Kyrgyzstan. It’s one of the most popular treks in the country because of the variety of landscapes you walk through: from forests and rivers to rugged high alpine environments that are home to the turquoise Ala Kul lake. I have a full guide to the Ala Kul trek here, so be sure to check it out for everything you need to know, including what to expect each day, booking yurt camps, getting to the trailhead, packing lists, food, and more.
Day 1 on the trek is relatively straightforward, and you’ll head from Karakol to Sirota camp. It’s about 16km of walking with 700m of elevation gain, and should take you about 4-5 hours. The views of the valleys as you head up the mountains are stunning. You will stay the night in a cosy yurt and get some rest before the big second day!
Day 4: Ala Kul Trek Day 2
The second day on the Ala Kul trek is long and gruelling, but you’ll be rewarded with some incredible views. You will leave Sirota camp bright and early after breakfast and head up the first incline to the lake. It’s about 3km and 650m elevation gain to the Ala Kul lake viewpoint, where you get your first glimpse of the turquoise glacial waters. From there, you begin the hardest part of the trek, another 700m ascent over 2.5km to reach Ala Kul Pass at 3920m. It’s not easy but it’s worth it!
You’ll head down the pass and walk through a stunning valley until you reach Altyn Arashan. It’s about 19km total, with 1150m of elevation gain, and will take anywhere between 9 and 11 hours depending on your speed. Altyn Arashan valley was one of my favourite parts of the trek, with the river, forest, mountains, and animals grazing throughout. You will find your yurt camp or guesthouse here, and it’s such a great place to spend your night after a long day hiking! There are also hot springs here, so be sure to book them as soon as you arrive to guarantee a spot.
Day 5: Ala Kul Trek Day 3
The third day of the Ala Kul trek is mostly downhill along the dirt road that takes you to Ak Suu. You’ll walk through the forest and along the river as you head out of the mountains. It was a beautiful walk and a nice way to end the trek. From Ak Suu, you can either wait for a marshrutka back to Karakol, order a Yandex, or try your luck at hitchhiking! This is what I did and was picked up immediately.
The drive back to Karakol is about 30 minutes, and you can spend the rest of the day resting up after your trek. I recommend heading to Duet Café for a delicious meal!
Day 6: Karakol - Skazka Canyon - Issyk Kul
Today you will make your way to Tong, a town on Issyk Kul, and stop by Skazka Canyon on your way. To get a marshrutka to Skazka, you will go to this bus stop. It’s not signposted and is more of a parking space, but marshrutka 315 goes from here, leaving hourly starting around 11am. There is no set timetable and the marshrutkas leave when they are full, so be sure to get there before the hour. It costs 400 som cash (approx. £3.30) to get to Skazka, and you just have to tell the driver to drop you there. They do it all the time so it’s not a problem. The journey is about 2 hours. You will be dropped at the junction where you can walk up the dirt road for about 2km to the canyon.
It costs 50 som (approx. £0.40) to enter, and if you want to leave your luggage at the gate hut, they let you do that. If you can, try and hitchhike up the road as it’s not very interesting, but the likelihood is someone will stop and offer to drive you. You can spend about an hour at the canyon, it’s really incredible. There are plenty of little paths to explore, but I recommend heading to the very top for a view across all of it and Issyk Kul in the background.
When you leave, either flag down a marshrutka or hitchhike to Tong. Any vehicle going in the direction of Bokonbayevo is the one for you. If you take a marshrutka, it will cost you about 200 som (approx. £1.70).
Tong is on the shores of Issyk Kul and is idyllic. I stayed at one of the many yurt camps and absolutely loved my time there. It was so peaceful and such a good way to switch off after all the hiking. You can swim in the lake or just enjoy the lakeshore.
Day 7: Issyk Kul and Bishkek
If you can start your day with sunrise at Issyk Kul, I strongly recommend it! This day is perfect for an eagle show. Eagle hunting is a big part of Kyrgyz culture, and is really unique - there are only 50 eagle hunters in the country. The eagle show is a great way of supporting the eagle hunters in their off season (summer) as they only hunt in the winter. You’ll get to see first-hand how these incredible eagles hunt, and even get the chance to hold an eagle yourself. I learned so much during this demonstration and I really recommend it. You can usually arrange this through your accommodation in Tong or Bokonbayevo, and the cost will depend on how many people join. It’s 5000 som (approx. £42) split by the number of people in your group.
After this, you can spend more time at the lake or head to Bishkek. Marshrutkas leave from Bokonbayevo bus station very regularly and it costs 550 som (approx. £4.60) for the journey which takes 4-5 hours.
Take the evening to explore Bishkek, including the State History Museum and Victory Square, and have a nice dinner too. I recommend Navat highly - there are several across the city.
Day 8: Ala Archa National Park
Your last day in Kyrgyzstan! Ala Archa National Park is one of the most popular day trips from Bishkek and for good reason. It’s very accessible and hosts some incredible day hikes. You can get bus number 1 from here - I recommend getting on at the first stop or you will be standing the entire way. It leaves every 20 minutes or so after 8am and runs until about 7pm. It costs 40 som (approx. £0.35) each way, and you can pay on the bus by tapping a Visa card. They don’t take cash. The journey is approximately 45-50 minutes to the park entrance. From there, you will pay your entrance fee (250 som or approx. £2.10) and get on a free bus to the trailheads.
Ak Sai waterfall is one of the most popular hikes in the park, which is about a 4 hour return trip. You can also go further up and cover 1200m of elevation gain to Razeka Station, a hut by a glacier. This provides you with some incredible views of the glacial valley.
Another popular hike is along the gorge and river which is much easier with less elevation gain. It also has great views of the mountains and river.
There is a lot of construction going on in Ala Archa National Park at the moment, so I am predicting that it will lose some of its charm when it gets busier. However, it is still much nicer than staying in Bishkek for the day!
When is the best time to visit Kyrgyzstan?
The best time to visit Kyrgyzstan is in the summer, June - September. The weather is warmer and drier than in winter. Nevertheless, it’s a very mountainous country and you should be prepared for every type of weather. So, regardless of season, bring waterproofs and layers!
How much does it cost to travel Kyrgyzstan?
I did this trip and my daily average spend was £32. This included accommodation (mostly shared), activities, transportation, my eSIM, food, and other miscellaneous items. Kyrgyzstan is getting a lot more expensive, especially in the high season, so be prepared to spend more than you would expect.
You will need cash for most purchases in Kyrgyzstan, so make sure you have enough. Most ATMs don’t charge a fee, so if you find one that does, try another!
Do you need to book accommodation in advance in Kyrgyzstan?
Kyrgyzstan is becoming increasingly popular, especially in the high season (summer), and while there is a lot of construction of new guest houses, hotels, and yurt camps going on, it’s currently not fast enough to keep up with demand. If you want to stay in the nicer hostels and camps, I recommend booking your accommodation in advance. I found one-two weeks was enough to ensure I had my first choice of accommodation.
I hope this helps you plan your trip to Kyrgyzstan. I would always recommend staying longer - I wish I could have done, but this is a perfect 8 day itinerary if you only have a week to spare. As Kyrgyzstan develops its tourist economy, please stay mindful and respectful of the local people and their customs. And make sure that whenever you’re out experiencing the incredible nature that Kyrgyzstan has to offer, you leave only your footprints behind :)
Want more on Kyrgyzstan? See my other posts here:
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