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Experience Overview
Ready for a wild ride through Central Asia? This 12-day adventure through Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan is the perfect mashup of jaw-dropping landscapes and deep cultural dives. Hike through canyons that look like they belong on another planet, listen to the desert sing beneath your feet, and learn how to build a yurt like the nomads do. From village stays and yurt workshops to city streets buzzing with history in Bishkek and Almaty — this is one epic journey where nature stuns, culture shines, and every day brings something totally unexpected.
Highlights
- Marvel at the colourful rock formations of Skazka Canyon and Charyn Canyon
- Feel the desert hum beneath your feet at Kazakhstan’s Singing Dunes
- Stay with local families in Saty and enjoy a home-cooked Dungan lunch in Iskra Village
- Learn to build a traditional yurt alongside nomadic experts
- Soak up the local energy in the cultural hubs of Bishkek and Almaty
Trip Details
Product Code: 37281
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Basic
Transport: Private Vehicle, Walking, Train, 4x4 Vehicle.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles: 18 - 39 Year Olds Only, Budget
Tour Operator: G Adventures
Supplier Code: AYBC
Starts: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Finishes: Almaty, Kazakhstan
Duration: 12 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating: Average
Includes
Activities
- Your G for Good Moment: Yurt Building Demonstration, Barskoon Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends Your Big Night Out Moment: Almaty, Almaty
- Free Time in Bishkek
- Bishkek Orientation Walk
- Burana Tower Visit
- Iskra Village Dungan Family Lunch
- Shatyly View Point Hike
- Free Time in Tamga, Skazka "Fairytale" Canyon
- Barskoon Waterfall
- Yurt Building Demonstration
- Karakol Orientation Walk
- Free Time in Karakol
- Kaindy Lake Hike Visit
- Saty Village Stay
- Charyn Canyon Visit
- Singing Dunes
- Almaty Orientation Walk
- Free Time in Almaty
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Hostel (4 nts, multi-share), Guesthouse (5 nts, multi-share), Yurt Camp (2 nts, multi-share).
- 7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 6 dinners
Transport
- Private Vehicle, Walking, Train, 4x4 Vehicle.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $2399 ($200 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Bishkek
Arrive at any time. Join your new crew this evening at a welcome moment before heading out for your first night out! Grab a bubbly (water or beer) if you choose and get to know your new travel friends in Kyrgyzstan!
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.Activity - Connect with new friends on your first night out in a new destination. Only available on 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours.Accommodation - Cozy Hotel
Day 2: Bishkek
Today is yours for adventure through Bishkek, the capital city of Kyrgyzstan. After an orientation walk to get your bearings, spend the rest of the day seeing the city how you'd like. Opt to join a guided tour of the city or learn to make local Kyrgyz dumplings called manti.
Meals included: Dinner
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Join your CEO to get to know the city of Bishkek. Visit notable spots like Osh Market and see the neighborhood. Your CEO will point out restaurants, bars, coffee shops and supermarkets while teaching you how to navigate the city.Free_time - The rest of the day is yours to explore Bishkek.Accommodation - Cozy Hotel
Day 3: Bishkek/Chon Kemin
Visit the historic Burana Tower on the way to Iskra Village where we will enjoy a yummy lunch with a Dungan family, a group of Muslim-Chinese heritage. After spending time with the family and digging into the yummy food, drive to Chom Kemin for the night.
Meals included: Lunch,Dinner
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Enjoy an intimate and delicious local lunch in the family home of a local Dungan family, of Chinese-Hui Muslim minority group. Learn about the history of their migration, their tradition, and then try a traditional Dungan Chinese meal.Activity - Visit the historical site of Burana and climb the stairs to check out the view from the top. A large minaret, along with some grave markers and remnants of a castle and mausoleums, are all that remain of the 9th century city of Balasagun.Accommodation - Jekshen Guest House Chon Kemin
Day 4: Chon Kemin/Tamga
Start today with an easy hike up to the Shatyly view point. Take in the view from above before hiking back down for some free time at camp. Take a dip if you wish in Issyk Kul Lake, meaning "Warm Lake" in Kyrgyz. In the afternoon, visit the famous Fairytale Canyon, Skazka. Walk through the wild rock formations that resemble castles and gnome homes. Then enjoy a relaxing evening on the shores of Issyk Kul Lake.
Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Hike through the gradual hills of Kyrgyzstan up to the incredible panoramic view of Shatyly. On this easy hike, admire the spectacular views all around you, especially of the lake spanning in the distance.Free_time - Enjoy some free time on the shores of Issyk Kul Lake.Activity - On the Southern Shore of Lake Issyk Kul, visit the breathtaking Skazka Canyon, also known as the Fairytale Canyon. It's nickname speaks for itself, with natural rock formations that tower like princess castles in faraway lands.Accommodation - YurtCamp tosor Tonya
Day 5: Tamga
After breakfast at camp, hike to the beautiful Barskoon Waterfall. I mean, who doesn't love a little waterfall adventure? Then head to Ak Orgo, a G Adventures-supported project that helps bring much-needed job opportunities to the Barskoon region. We'll dig into some lunch then learn how to build a yurt (like the one we're staying in here in Tamga!) Then head back to camp and take a dip in the lake.
Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Hike to the frothy Barskoon Waterfall and watch as the rushing water cascades down the cliff. In addition to the waterfall, we'll see bright red reds and interesting rock carvings on display for us!Free_time - Enjoy some free time for leisure and to swim in Issyk Kul Lake.Activity - Visit the Ak-Orgo workshop, a G Adventures-supported project working to preserve Kyrgyz traditions and create employment opportunities in Barskoon. Observe how traditional yurts are built.Accommodation - YurtCamp tosor Tonya
Day 6: Tamga/Karakol
Drive to Karakol this morning and join your CEO on an orientation walk, the perfect way to start your time in Karakol and get to know this city a bit better. Then the day is yours for adventure! Opt to visit the colorful Dungan Mosque, Karakol Market or the impressive Russian Orthodox Church.
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Free_time - Spend today free time wander through Karakol!Activity - Get your bearings in the great city of Karakol on this CEO-guided orientation walk.Accommodation - Madanur Hotel
Day 7: Karakol
Fill up on breakfast before heading out for a free day in Karakol. How about a tour of the city? Or maybe get back out into nature with visits to the spectacular Jety Oguz or Aksu Kench hot springs!
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - A full day free in Karakol means a day full of adventure!Accommodation - Madanur Hotel
Day 8: Karakol/Saty Village
Cross the border into Kazakhstan, stopping for a scenic picnic lunch along the way. Then climb into a 4x4 vehicle to visit the stunning Kaindy Lake. Grab your camera and get ready for some jaw-dropping views. This evening, connect with local Kazakh culture at our Saty Village homestay.
Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Jump in a 4x4 vehicle to get off-road in Kazakhstan.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.Activity - Be immersed in Kazakh culture during a homestay near the Kolsay Lakes National Park. Eat a traditional dinner and marvel at the mountain range and forests surrounding the village.Activity - Visit the perfectly turquoise colored Kaindy Lake. In this unique lake, you can see spruce trees sticking out of the crystal water. This sunken forest will leave you in awe of its beauty.Accommodation - Zhuldyz Guest House
Day 9: Saty Village/Altyn Emel National Park
Get ready to see red... red rocks and canyons we mean! Our first stop of the day is to Charyn Canyon. Full of different shades of reds, oranges, and browns, the beautiful Charyn Canyon is often compared to the Grand Canyon. Then continue on to Altyn Emel National Park where more red and orange rocks make up this beautiful landscape.
Meals included: Breakfast,Dinner
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Enjoy the views of the beautiful Charyn Canyon. Breathe the fresh air and snap a few photos of this stunning landscape.Accommodation - Algai Quinn Guesthouse
Day 10: Altyn Emel National Park/Almaty
Right on the bank of the Ili river sits the beautiful golden Singing Sand Dunes. On a windy day, when the sad moves across the dunes, it produces a low-pitched humming sound, giving it its name. Get your body moving as you trek through the sand. Return to the guest house for a well-deserved lunch before driving to Almaty. Then join your crew and CEO for an orientation walk.
Meals included: Breakfast,Lunch
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Enjoy the chance to see Almaty on this orientation walk led by your CEO.Activity - Wander across the drifting sand at the seemingly unending Singing sand dunes. Hike through the dunes and take in the breathtaking views of snow capped mountains in the distance.Accommodation - Mildom Express Hotel
Day 11: Almaty
Almaty is on full display as you get to choose your own adventure through the city. We recommend a city tour to connect with Kazakhstani culture. Then see the city come to life at night on your Big Night Out!
Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - A full free day in Almaty is on the docket for today!Activity - See the beautiful city of Almaty light up with lights when we head out for a Big Night Out with the crew. Grab a drink of choice and enjoy the Kazakhstani night life!Accommodation - Mildom Express Hotel
Day 12: Almaty
Depart at any time.
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Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures, founded in 1990 by Bruce Poon Tip, is a global adventure travel company specializing in small-group tours that emphasize authentic, sustainable, and culturally immersive experiences. Originally launched as GAP Adventures (“Great Adventure People”), the company pioneered the concept of community-driven travel by offering affordable trips that connect travelers with local communities while minimizing environmental impact. Today, G Adventures operates in more than 100 countries, offering a wide range of itineraries across themes such as active adventures, wildlife, wellness, family, and National Geographic–partnered tours, while maintaining a strong commitment to responsible tourism and social enterprise through its Planeterra Foundation.
In Business Since 1990
