Home / Tours / Issyk-Kul Winter Yurt & Canyons - 2 Days
Issyk-Kul Winter Yurt & Canyons - 2 Days
Two winter days around Issyk-Kul in a private heated car. We climb Burana Tower, hike Konorchek Canyon in the snow and sleep in a heated yurt on the south shore. Day two brings Skazka Canyon and the frozen Barskoon waterfall. An eagle hunting show and a lakeshore ride can be added at extra cost. A short trip with both culture and nature.
Why you'll love this tour
Good to know
- Accommodation: 1 night at yurt
- Activities: hiking - 2 days
- Departures from: Bishkek
- Best time to go: November to April
- Local certified English-speaking guide
- Private transport & airport transfers
- Small group or fully private
- 24/7 support team in Bishkek
What to pack
- Thermal base layers, top and bottom, to stay warm in deep cold
- An insulated hat and warm, waterproof gloves
- Heavy socks and warm, waterproof boots for snow
- Sunglasses and sunscreen: snow doubles the high-altitude glare
- A power bank, since the cold drains phone batteries fast
Full packing list and arrival tips: Easy from abroad: visas, arrival and logistics
Before you go
- Visa: most Western and East-Asian passports enter visa-free for up to 30 days within any 60-day period (the rule changed at the end of 2025), so check your own nationality on evisa.e-gov.kg
- Money: the local currency is the Kyrgyz som; carry cash for villages and camps, as card payments mostly work only in towns
- Connectivity: mobile data is decent in towns, but there is usually no signal at high mountain yurt camps, so let people know you may be offline
- Winter weather can change the day's plan; your guide adjusts the route for snow and road conditions
- Drinking water: stick to bottled or boiled water, and bring enough for stretches where none is available
Read before you go: Staying in a yurt: nomad culture & etiquette · When is the best time to visit Kyrgyzstan?
Day-by-day itinerary
Tap any day to expand. Every itinerary can be tailored to your dates, pace and fitness.
We pick you up at your hotel in the morning and head toward Issyk-Kul. Your guide runs through the plan as the city gives way to snowy mountains.
First stop is Burana Tower, a Silk Road landmark. Visit the small museum, walk among the old stone balbals and climb the tower for a view over the Chui Valley and the Tien Shan. In Boom Gorge we break for samovar tea, warm kattama bread and snacks.
Then comes the hike in Konorchek Canyon, 2 to 3 hours with your guide. Red rock and white snow make a strong contrast, and a viewpoint gives you a place to rest and take photos.
By late afternoon we reach a yurt camp on the south shore of Issyk-Kul. On request, a local hunter shows how Kyrgyz hunt with eagles. Dinner is home-cooked and served in the dining yurt. You sleep in your own heated yurt.
Breakfast is warm and served at the camp. If you asked for it, a 2-hour ride follows along the snowy shore of Issyk-Kul. The pace is easy, fine for beginners and experienced riders alike.
Next is Skazka Canyon, also called Fairy-Tale Canyon. You spend about an hour walking among its coloured rock shapes, which stand out sharply against the snow.
From there we drive up into Barskoon Gorge for a short winter walk to the frozen waterfall, between tall spruce and icy cliffs. A stop at a local hot spring is optional. Your guide checks the road and the weather and suggests the best one.
Then we turn back toward Bishkek, with lunch on the way. We drop you at your hotel or wherever suits you in the city.
Sights visited on this tour
Bishkek
Kyrgyzstan's leafy, Soviet-planned capital and the gateway to the mountains.
Fairy-Tale Canyon
Wind-carved red and orange rock formations near the Issyk-Kul shore.Burana Tower
Gallery
Common questions
It runs 2 days, starting and ending in Bishkek.
The season runs November to April. June to September brings the warmest days, and the high-pasture yurt camps are open.
It's moderately paced, with 2 days hiking. Good general fitness is enough, and there is no technical climbing.
A mix over the trip: 1 night at yurt.
From $500 per person. The exact price depends on group size and season, and we confirm it for your group within 24 hours.
Tell us about your trip
Tell us your dates and we'll confirm availability and a tailored price within 24 hours. Free to enquire, no prepayment.
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- Night with a local family in Chong-Kemin
- Private eagle hunting show and archery in Bokonbayevo
Winter tours4 daysWinter Issyk-Kul & Karakol Skiing - 4 Days
- A full ski day at Karakol, with lessons for beginners
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Combined2 daysIssyk-Kul Canyons, Eagles & Yurt - 2 Days
- Hike the red sandstone walls of Konorchek Canyon
- Hold a golden eagle at a live hunting show
- Ride 1-2 hours on the lakeshore or in the hills