# Song-Kul Yurts, Eagles & Karakol - 4 Days A private four-day trip that links Song-Kul and Issyk-Kul. You cross Kalmak-Ashuu Pass to a yurt camp on Song-Kul, ride a horse across its meadows and come down the 33 Parrots road. Then an eagle show, a second yurt night by Issyk-Kul, the red rocks of Jeti-Oguz and hot springs. Good for travellers short on time who still want both lakes. - Duration: 4 days - Type: Road trip - Best season: May to September - Starts and ends in: Bishkek - Pace: Fast-paced - Activities: sightseeing - 4 days, horse riding - 1 day - Accommodation: 2 nights at yurt, 1 night at hotel - Total driving: 1280 km - Price: from $1200 per person (the exact price depends on group size and season). No prepayment to enquire. - Group: small group or fully private, with a local English-speaking guide - Page: https://azattours.com/tours/song-kul-yurts-eagles-karakol-4-days/ ## Highlights - Yurt nights at both Song-Kul and Issyk-Kul - Horse ride across the Song-Kul meadows - Felt workshop and home-cooked lunch in Kochkor - Boat ride and a swim on Issyk-Kul ## Itinerary ### Day 1: Bishkek to Song-Kul via Kochkor and Kalmak-Ashuu We pick you up in Bishkek and head for the mountains. First stop is Burana Tower on the old Silk Road. You climb it for the view, then look around the ruins and the small museum. The road runs through Boom Gorge to the Orto-Tokoy Reservoir, bright blue water against dry hills. In Kochkor a local family cooks lunch for you. Afterwards you visit a felt workshop where women make carpets by hand, the way it has been done for centuries. In the afternoon we climb Kalmak-Ashuu Pass. Here the land turns to green pasture with grazing herds and wildflowers. After a photo stop at the top we drop down to Song-Kul. You reach the yurt camp late in the afternoon. There is time for a walk along the shore before dinner. At night the sky over the lake is one of the clearest in the country. - Transfer: Bishkek to Song-Kul · 380 km · 7-8 h - Activity: Sightseeing · felt workshop - Meals: Lunch & dinner - Overnight: Yurt camp, Song-Kul ### Day 2: Song-Kul to Bokonbayevo via the 33 Parrots road Mornings at Song-Kul are fresh and quiet. After breakfast you ride a horse across the open meadows, with the lake in view the whole way. It is an easy ride and a real taste of nomad life. Late in the morning we start down the 33 Parrots road, a chain of hairpin bends with big mountain views. At the bottom a short, easy walk leads to a waterfall. Lunch is in Kochkor. In the afternoon we reach Bokonbayevo for the eagle show. A hunter works with his golden eagle in front of you and explains the tradition. You can hold the bird for a photo. The night is at Bel-Tam yurt camp on the Issyk-Kul shore. Dinner is by the lake, and the evening ends around a bonfire. - Transfer: Song-Kul to Bokonbayevo · 300 km · 6-7 h - Activity: Horse riding · 1-2 h · waterfall walk · eagle show - Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner - Overnight: Bel-Tam yurt camp, Issyk-Kul ### Day 3: Bokonbayevo to Karakol via Skazka, Barskoon and Jeti-Oguz We follow the south shore east. In Skazka Canyon, the Fairytale Canyon, wind has shaped red sandstone into castles, animals and tall walls. Viewpoints above the canyon make good photo stops. In Barskoon Gorge a short, easy path through pine forest leads to one of the finest waterfalls in the area. The air is cool and the water loud. Jeti-Oguz is next, with its red cliffs called the Seven Bulls and the Broken Heart. Your guide shares the legends behind them. Late in the day you soak in natural hot springs with mountains all around. Then we drive on to Karakol, and the evening is yours. - Transfer: Bokonbayevo to Karakol · 180 km · 4-5 h - Activity: Canyon walk · waterfall walk · hot springs - Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner - Overnight: 3-star hotel, Karakol ### Day 4: Karakol to Bishkek via Grigoriev Gorge and Cholpon-Ata We start with a short look at Karakol. The wooden Dungan Mosque was built without nails in a Chinese style, and the Holy Trinity Cathedral shows the Russian side of the town's past. Your guide explains how these faiths have lived side by side. We also walk through the local bazaar. Then we drive into the Grigoriev and Semenov gorges for a gentle walk among forest and rivers. A horse ride is possible here at extra cost. In Cholpon-Ata you visit the Rukh Ordo open-air centre and the petroglyphs, stone carvings more than 2,000 years old. From May to September a boat takes you out on Issyk-Kul, and you can swim straight from the deck. We reach Bishkek in the evening and drop you at your hotel. - Transfer: Karakol to Bishkek · 420 km · 7-8 h - Activity: Town tour · gorge walk · boat ride - Meals: Breakfast & lunch ## Common questions **How long is this tour?** It runs 4 days, starting and ending in Bishkek. **When is the best time to go?** The season runs May to September. June to September brings the warmest days, and the high-pasture yurt camps are open. **How fit do I need to be?** It's fast-paced, with 4 days sightseeing and 1 days horse riding. 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: 2 nights at yurt, 1 night at hotel. **How much does it cost?** From $1200 per person. The exact price depends on group size and season, and we confirm it for your group within 24 hours. ## How to book Send your dates and group size and we confirm availability and a tailored price within 24 hours: https://azattours.com/tours/song-kul-yurts-eagles-karakol-4-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