# Kilemche, Song-Kul & Altyn-Arashan - 6 Days Ride from Kyzart to Kilemche and over the Jalgyz-Karagai pass to Song-Kul, with two nights in yurts. Then the south shore of Issyk-Kul and a two-day trek into Altyn-Arashan and back out. Six days, and you are moving on most of them. - Duration: 6 days - Type: Combined - Best season: May to October - Starts and ends in: Bishkek - Pace: Moderately paced - Activities: horse riding - 3 days, trekking - 2 days - Accommodation: 1 night at hotel, 2 nights at guesthouse, 2 nights at yurt - Total driving: 1030 km - Price: on request (depends on group size, season and options). Free quote, no prepayment to enquire. - Group: small group or fully private, with a local English-speaking guide - Page: https://azattours.com/tours/kilemche-song-kul-altyn-arashan-6-days/ ## Highlights - A night in a yurt at Kilemche - Over the Jalgyz-Karagai pass to Song-Kul - The south shore of Issyk-Kul - A two-day trek into Altyn-Arashan ## Itinerary ### Day 1: Drive to Kyzart & ride to Kilemche We set off from Bishkek to Kyzart Village, in the hills below Song-Kul. A homemade lunch is waiting at a family homestay, and once you've eaten, your guide shows you the basics in the saddle before you head out. The afternoon ride is an easy one, following the Chaar-Archa River through wide valleys to Kilemche. By evening you reach a herder family's yurt camp, a good place to settle in with your horse and watch the slow pace of pasture life before dinner. - Transfer: 280 km · 4 h - Activity: Horse riding · 21 km · 4-5 h - Meals: Lunch at guesthouse, dinner at yurt - Overnight: Yurt (2700 m) ### Day 2: Over Jalgyz-Karagai Pass to Song-Kul Today asks a little more of you. After breakfast you climb toward the Jalgyz-Karagai Pass at 3300 m, the steeper sections take some effort, but the top brings open mountain views and your first sight of Song-Kul. After a rest at the pass you drop down to a yurt camp for lunch, then ride west along the shore past nomad camps and grazing herds. You finish at the Tuz-Ashuu pasture by the lake, where the horses are turned loose for the night and dinner is waiting in the yurt. - Activity: Horse riding · 23 km · 5-6 h - Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner at yurt - Overnight: Yurt (3100 m) ### Day 3: Ride back to Kyzart & drive to Issyk-Kul You return to Kyzart over the scenic Tuz-Ashuu Pass at 3300 m. After farewells to your nomad hosts, you ride up for a last sweeping view of Song-Kul, then descend to the village for lunch and a rest. In the afternoon we drive to Issyk-Kul, following the southern shore with the lake on one side and mountains on the other. You arrive in the evening at a guesthouse in Bokonbaev Village, with time to settle in before dinner. - Transfer: 200 km · 3-4 h - Activity: Horse riding · 20 km · 4-5 h - Meals: Breakfast at yurt, lunch & dinner at guesthouse - Overnight: Guesthouse ### Day 4: South shore of Issyk-Kul The day opens with an eagle hunter showing how he works with his bird, a tradition still kept alive in these villages. From there we drive to the Fairy-Tale Canyons, a maze of red and orange rock shaped by wind and time. Lunch is in Tamga Village at the home of a Soviet-era mountaineer, then we visit the Barskoon Waterfalls and the striking red cliffs of the Jety-Oguz Valley. You reach Karakol in the evening, with a chance for a short look around town before dinner at a restaurant. - Transfer: 150 km · 3-4 h - Meals: Breakfast & lunch at guesthouse, dinner at restaurant - Overnight: Hotel ### Day 5: Trek to Altyn-Arashan We drive the short way to Ak-Suu village, where the trail to Altyn-Arashan begins. With your pack on, you follow the river up through alpine forest, the mountains rising steadily around you. A riverside picnic breaks up the walk. The path climbs gently the rest of the way to the gorge, and you reach the guesthouse in the early evening. After the trek, the natural hot springs are the place to soak away tired legs before dinner and a quiet night under the stars. - Transfer: 30 km · 30 min - Activity: Trekking · 12 km · 5 h - Meals: Breakfast at hotel, picnic lunch, dinner at guesthouse - Overnight: Guesthouse ### Day 6: Trek out & drive back to Bishkek After breakfast you walk back down to Ak-Suu, retracing the river trail through the forest. It's the same path, but a different feel on the way out, a last stretch of clean mountain air and time to take it all in. From the village we drive to Karakol for lunch, then follow the northern shore of Issyk-Kul back toward Bishkek with the lake glinting alongside. You'll reach the city in the evening, around 8-9 PM, at the end of the trip. - Transfer: 420 km · 6-7 h - Activity: Trekking · 12 km · 5 h - Meals: Breakfast at hotel, lunch at restaurant ## Common questions **How long is this tour?** It runs 6 days, starting and ending in Bishkek. **When is the best time to go?** The season runs May to October. June to September brings the warmest days, and the high-pasture yurt camps are open. **How fit do I need to be?** It's moderately paced, with 3 days horse riding and 2 days trekking. Good general fitness is enough, and there is no technical climbing. **Do I need horse-riding experience?** No. Our guides match each horse to your level and keep the first day gentle, so complete beginners ride this route every season. **Where will I stay?** A mix over the trip: 1 night at hotel, 2 nights at guesthouse, 2 nights at yurt. ## How to book Send your dates and group size and we confirm availability and a tailored price within 24 hours: https://azattours.com/tours/kilemche-song-kul-altyn-arashan-6-days/#book - WhatsApp and phone: +996 502 888 001 (https://wa.me/996502888001) - Email: azatbeyshenaliev1@gmail.com - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azattourskg/ - Enquiry form: https://azattours.com/#plan - Based in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan