3 Days Around Issyk-Kul Lake — Eagle Hunting, Yurt Stay, Canyons and Waterfalls
Fully private 3-day adventure around Issyk-Kul Lake combining culture, nature, horse riding, eagle hunting, waterfalls, canyons, and authentic yurt stays for travelers wanting the complete Kyrgyz experience.
Price from:
275 USD
/ per person
Category:
Cultural/Multi-Day
Season:
All year around
Duration:
/1 night
2 Days
Sleep in a yurt. Hunt with an eagle. Never forget it.
Experience the very best of Issyk-Kul Lake on this unforgettable 3-day private journey combining Kyrgyzstan’s most beautiful landscapes with authentic nomadic traditions. Travel around the world’s second-largest alpine lake while discovering ancient Silk Road monuments, dramatic red canyons, mountain waterfalls, lush alpine valleys, and charming lakeside towns.
Meet a traditional eagle hunter and witness one of Kyrgyzstan’s proudest cultural traditions, ride horses through scenic mountain trails, sleep in a traditional yurt near the lake, and enjoy a boat ride on the crystal-clear waters of Issyk-Kul.
Known as the “Pearl of Central Asia,” Issyk-Kul never freezes despite sitting high in the mountains, making it one of the most unique lakes in the world.
Throughout the journey, your guide ensures the trip remains private, relaxed, and flexible to your group’s pace and interests.
Meet a traditional eagle hunter and witness one of Kyrgyzstan’s proudest cultural traditions, ride horses through scenic mountain trails, sleep in a traditional yurt near the lake, and enjoy a boat ride on the crystal-clear waters of Issyk-Kul.
Known as the “Pearl of Central Asia,” Issyk-Kul never freezes despite sitting high in the mountains, making it one of the most unique lakes in the world.
Throughout the journey, your guide ensures the trip remains private, relaxed, and flexible to your group’s pace and interests.
Highlights
Explore the ancient Silk Road ruins of the famous Burana Tower.
Hike the red walls of Konorchek and explore the golden rock formations of Skazka — Fairytale Canyon.
In Bokonbayevo, hold a real hunting eagle on your arm — trained by a world champion.
Ride horses along the shore of Issyk-Kul — one of the world's deepest lakes. No experience needed.
Spend the night in a real yurt right on the shore of Issyk-Kul Lake.
Itinerary
Approx. 280 km — 4 to 5 hours of driving
Day 1
Bishkek — Burana Tower — Boom Gorge — Bokonbaevo
Your guide picks you up from your hotel in Bishkek in the morning and your journey begins toward the beautiful shores of Issyk-Kul Lake. Your first stop is the historic Burana Tower, one of Kyrgyzstan’s most important Silk Road monuments dating back to the 11th century. Your guide explains the fascinating history of this ancient minaret and surrounding ruins before you climb to the top for panoramic views across the Chuy Valley. Nearby, explore the collection of ancient balbal stone statues and archaeological remains that tell the story of medieval Central Asia.
Continuing east, you drive through the dramatic cliffs of Boom Gorge where steep canyon walls rise above the rushing Chu River. Here your guide stops for a unique local tea break with traditional katama bread and tea served from a Russian samovar beside the river. It is a peaceful and memorable roadside experience loved by many travelers.
In the afternoon you arrive in Bokonbaevo village, where you meet a traditional eagle hunter and learn about the centuries-old nomadic practice of hunting with golden eagles. Watch the eagle fly across the open field during a live hunting demonstration and enjoy incredible photo opportunities with one of Kyrgyzstan’s most iconic cultural traditions.
By evening, arrive at your traditional yurt camp near the lake. Enjoy dinner and relax under the stars beside the peaceful shore.
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Traditional Lakeside Yurt Camp
Continuing east, you drive through the dramatic cliffs of Boom Gorge where steep canyon walls rise above the rushing Chu River. Here your guide stops for a unique local tea break with traditional katama bread and tea served from a Russian samovar beside the river. It is a peaceful and memorable roadside experience loved by many travelers.
In the afternoon you arrive in Bokonbaevo village, where you meet a traditional eagle hunter and learn about the centuries-old nomadic practice of hunting with golden eagles. Watch the eagle fly across the open field during a live hunting demonstration and enjoy incredible photo opportunities with one of Kyrgyzstan’s most iconic cultural traditions.
By evening, arrive at your traditional yurt camp near the lake. Enjoy dinner and relax under the stars beside the peaceful shore.
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Traditional Lakeside Yurt Camp
Bokonbaevo — Horse Riding — Skazka Canyon — Barskoon —Jeti-Oguz — Karakol
Day 2
Approx. 180 km — 4 to 5 hours of driving
Wake up to fresh mountain air and begin the day with breakfast beside the lake before starting a scenic horseback riding adventure. Your guide helps arrange the horses and explains the route before leading you through peaceful trails overlooking the lake and nearby hills. The ride is suitable for beginners and can be adjusted depending on your comfort level, offering beautiful panoramic views and fantastic photo moments throughout.
After the ride, continue to the colorful Skazka Canyon, also known as Fairytale Canyon. This surreal landscape of red and orange sandstone has been shaped by wind into strange castles, cliffs, and fantasy-like formations. Your guide leads you on an easy walk through the canyon, showing you the best viewpoints and hidden corners.
Next, head into the lush Barskoon Valley to visit the famous Barskoon waterfalls. Enjoy a short scenic walk through pine forest trails until reaching the rushing cascades surrounded by cliffs and greenery.
Your final stop of the day is the legendary Jeti-Oguz Gorge, famous for its bright red rock formations known as Seven Bulls and Broken Heart. Your guide shares the romantic local legends behind these famous cliffs before you continue to Karakol.
Arrive in Karakol by evening and enjoy dinner before overnighting in a comfortable hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Karakol
After the ride, continue to the colorful Skazka Canyon, also known as Fairytale Canyon. This surreal landscape of red and orange sandstone has been shaped by wind into strange castles, cliffs, and fantasy-like formations. Your guide leads you on an easy walk through the canyon, showing you the best viewpoints and hidden corners.
Next, head into the lush Barskoon Valley to visit the famous Barskoon waterfalls. Enjoy a short scenic walk through pine forest trails until reaching the rushing cascades surrounded by cliffs and greenery.
Your final stop of the day is the legendary Jeti-Oguz Gorge, famous for its bright red rock formations known as Seven Bulls and Broken Heart. Your guide shares the romantic local legends behind these famous cliffs before you continue to Karakol.
Arrive in Karakol by evening and enjoy dinner before overnighting in a comfortable hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Karakol
After breakfast, your guide introduces you to the charming town of Karakol with a short city tour of its most famous landmarks. Visit the unique Dungan Mosque, built entirely without nails, and the beautiful Russian Orthodox Church, one of the finest wooden buildings in Kyrgyzstan. Your guide shares the multicultural history that shaped this fascinating mountain town.
Leaving the city, you drive toward the green alpine valleys of Grigoriev and Semenov Gorges. These peaceful mountain valleys are filled with pine forests, rivers, and flower-covered meadows. Enjoy time walking through the beautiful scenery and breathing the fresh mountain air while your guide points out the best scenic viewpoints.
In the afternoon continue to Cholpon-Ata, where you enjoy a relaxing boat ride on Issyk-Kul Lake. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, this is the perfect final experience of the journey and offers some of the most beautiful panoramic photos of the lake.
After the boat ride, begin your comfortable return drive to Bishkek through the scenic northern lakeshore road. Your guide drops you off at your hotel in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation: Not Included
Leaving the city, you drive toward the green alpine valleys of Grigoriev and Semenov Gorges. These peaceful mountain valleys are filled with pine forests, rivers, and flower-covered meadows. Enjoy time walking through the beautiful scenery and breathing the fresh mountain air while your guide points out the best scenic viewpoints.
In the afternoon continue to Cholpon-Ata, where you enjoy a relaxing boat ride on Issyk-Kul Lake. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, this is the perfect final experience of the journey and offers some of the most beautiful panoramic photos of the lake.
After the boat ride, begin your comfortable return drive to Bishkek through the scenic northern lakeshore road. Your guide drops you off at your hotel in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation: Not Included
3-4 people
250 USD
2 people
300 USD
1 person
500 USD
Tour Booking
Price per person
Pick-up and drop-off from your hotel in Bishkek
Bottled water during the tour
Osh Bazaar Excursion
Admission to National History Museum
Comfortable vehicle with air-conditioning
Professional English-speaking guide
Inclusions
Lunch(can be covered on the spot)
Personal expenses
Health Insurance
Not Included
Customise your tour
Flexible departures / customisable itineraries
Itinerary
3-4 people
250 USD
2 people
300 USD
1 person
500 USD
Tour Booking
Price per person
Pick-up and drop-off from your hotel in Bishkek
Bottled water during the tour
Osh Bazaar Excursion
Admission to National History Museum
Comfortable vehicle with air-conditioning
Professional English-speaking guide
Inclusions
Lunch(can be covered on the spot)
Personal expenses
Health Insurance
Not Included
Customise your tour
Flexible departures / customisable itineraries
Day 1
Bishkek — Burana Tower — Boom Gorge — Bokonbaevo
Approx. 280 km — 4 to 5 hours of driving
Your guide picks you up from your hotel in Bishkek in the morning and your journey begins toward the beautiful shores of Issyk-Kul Lake. Your first stop is the historic Burana Tower, one of Kyrgyzstan’s most important Silk Road monuments dating back to the 11th century. Your guide explains the fascinating history of this ancient minaret and surrounding ruins before you climb to the top for panoramic views across the Chuy Valley. Nearby, explore the collection of ancient balbal stone statues and archaeological remains that tell the story of medieval Central Asia.
Continuing east, you drive through the dramatic cliffs of Boom Gorge where steep canyon walls rise above the rushing Chu River. Here your guide stops for a unique local tea break with traditional katama bread and tea served from a Russian samovar beside the river. It is a peaceful and memorable roadside experience loved by many travelers.
In the afternoon you arrive in Bokonbaevo village, where you meet a traditional eagle hunter and learn about the centuries-old nomadic practice of hunting with golden eagles. Watch the eagle fly across the open field during a live hunting demonstration and enjoy incredible photo opportunities with one of Kyrgyzstan’s most iconic cultural traditions.
By evening, arrive at your traditional yurt camp near the lake. Enjoy dinner and relax under the stars beside the peaceful shore.
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Traditional Lakeside Yurt Camp
Continuing east, you drive through the dramatic cliffs of Boom Gorge where steep canyon walls rise above the rushing Chu River. Here your guide stops for a unique local tea break with traditional katama bread and tea served from a Russian samovar beside the river. It is a peaceful and memorable roadside experience loved by many travelers.
In the afternoon you arrive in Bokonbaevo village, where you meet a traditional eagle hunter and learn about the centuries-old nomadic practice of hunting with golden eagles. Watch the eagle fly across the open field during a live hunting demonstration and enjoy incredible photo opportunities with one of Kyrgyzstan’s most iconic cultural traditions.
By evening, arrive at your traditional yurt camp near the lake. Enjoy dinner and relax under the stars beside the peaceful shore.
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Traditional Lakeside Yurt Camp
Bokonbaevo — Horse Riding — Skazka Canyon — Barskoon — Jeti-Oguz — Karakol
Day 2
Approx. 180 km — 4 to 5 hours of driving
Wake up to fresh mountain air and begin the day with breakfast beside the lake before starting a scenic horseback riding adventure. Your guide helps arrange the horses and explains the route before leading you through peaceful trails overlooking the lake and nearby hills. The ride is suitable for beginners and can be adjusted depending on your comfort level, offering beautiful panoramic views and fantastic photo moments throughout.
After the ride, continue to the colorful Skazka Canyon, also known as Fairytale Canyon. This surreal landscape of red and orange sandstone has been shaped by wind into strange castles, cliffs, and fantasy-like formations. Your guide leads you on an easy walk through the canyon, showing you the best viewpoints and hidden corners.
Next, head into the lush Barskoon Valley to visit the famous Barskoon waterfalls. Enjoy a short scenic walk through pine forest trails until reaching the rushing cascades surrounded by cliffs and greenery.
Your final stop of the day is the legendary Jeti-Oguz Gorge, famous for its bright red rock formations known as Seven Bulls and Broken Heart. Your guide shares the romantic local legends behind these famous cliffs before you continue to Karakol.
Arrive in Karakol by evening and enjoy dinner before overnighting in a comfortable hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Karakol
After the ride, continue to the colorful Skazka Canyon, also known as Fairytale Canyon. This surreal landscape of red and orange sandstone has been shaped by wind into strange castles, cliffs, and fantasy-like formations. Your guide leads you on an easy walk through the canyon, showing you the best viewpoints and hidden corners.
Next, head into the lush Barskoon Valley to visit the famous Barskoon waterfalls. Enjoy a short scenic walk through pine forest trails until reaching the rushing cascades surrounded by cliffs and greenery.
Your final stop of the day is the legendary Jeti-Oguz Gorge, famous for its bright red rock formations known as Seven Bulls and Broken Heart. Your guide shares the romantic local legends behind these famous cliffs before you continue to Karakol.
Arrive in Karakol by evening and enjoy dinner before overnighting in a comfortable hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Karakol
Karakol — Grigoriev Gorge — Cholpon-Ata — Bishkek
Day 3
Approx. 410 km — 6 to 7 hours of driving
After breakfast, your guide introduces you to the charming town of Karakol with a short city tour of its most famous landmarks. Visit the unique Dungan Mosque, built entirely without nails, and the beautiful Russian Orthodox Church, one of the finest wooden buildings in Kyrgyzstan. Your guide shares the multicultural history that shaped this fascinating mountain town.
Leaving the city, you drive toward the green alpine valleys of Grigoriev and Semenov Gorges. These peaceful mountain valleys are filled with pine forests, rivers, and flower-covered meadows. Enjoy time walking through the beautiful scenery and breathing the fresh mountain air while your guide points out the best scenic viewpoints.
In the afternoon continue to Cholpon-Ata, where you enjoy a relaxing boat ride on Issyk-Kul Lake. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, this is the perfect final experience of the journey and offers some of the most beautiful panoramic photos of the lake.
After the boat ride, begin your comfortable return drive to Bishkek through the scenic northern lakeshore road. Your guide drops you off at your hotel in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation: Not Included
Leaving the city, you drive toward the green alpine valleys of Grigoriev and Semenov Gorges. These peaceful mountain valleys are filled with pine forests, rivers, and flower-covered meadows. Enjoy time walking through the beautiful scenery and breathing the fresh mountain air while your guide points out the best scenic viewpoints.
In the afternoon continue to Cholpon-Ata, where you enjoy a relaxing boat ride on Issyk-Kul Lake. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, this is the perfect final experience of the journey and offers some of the most beautiful panoramic photos of the lake.
After the boat ride, begin your comfortable return drive to Bishkek through the scenic northern lakeshore road. Your guide drops you off at your hotel in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation: Not Included
MONEY&COSTS
The national currency is the Kyrgyz Som (KGS). In Bishkek and major towns, ATMs are widely available in shopping centers and on main streets, and you can pay by card in most restaurants and shops. Visa is the most widely accepted card, while MasterCard is less common and accepted only by specific banks. However, when traveling to the mountains or small villages, you must carry enough cash as ATMs are non-existent. We strongly recommend bringing new USD banknotes, as old or marked bills are often refused by exchange offices.
SAFETY
Kyrgyzstan is widely considered the safest and most open country in Central Asia, known for its stable political situation and hospitable locals. While the country is very safe, we recommend taking standard travel precautions just like anywhere else in the world: keep an eye on your belongings, avoid unlit streets at night, and always use official taxi services. Your safety is our top priority, and we work closely with trusted local partners to ensure a smooth and worry-free journey.
BEST TIME TO GO
Kyrgyzstan features a dry continental climate with a striking contrast between the valleys and the mountains. In major cities like Bishkek and the Ferghana Valley, summers can be intense, with daytime temperatures soaring between 30°C and 40°C (86°–104°F). However, since most of the country sits above 1,500 meters, the mountain air is much fresher and more comfortable, typically hovering around a pleasant 20°C–25°C (68°–77°F) during the day.
For outdoor enthusiasts, summer is the ideal season for trekking and jeep tours, granting full access to high-altitude pastures and breathtaking passes. Winter, on the other hand, transforms the landscape into a premier destination for skiing and snowboarding. Regardless of the season, mountain weather is unpredictable—at elevations over 3,000 meters, temperatures can drop below freezing even in July, so packing warm layers is essential for a comfortable journey.
For outdoor enthusiasts, summer is the ideal season for trekking and jeep tours, granting full access to high-altitude pastures and breathtaking passes. Winter, on the other hand, transforms the landscape into a premier destination for skiing and snowboarding. Regardless of the season, mountain weather is unpredictable—at elevations over 3,000 meters, temperatures can drop below freezing even in July, so packing warm layers is essential for a comfortable journey.
HEALTH
To ensure a healthy trip, avoid drinking tap water or using it for brushing teeth; rely on bottled or filtered water instead. When it comes to food, it is safer to stick to freshly cooked, hot meals and fruits that you can peel yourself. These simple habits are your best defense against common stomach issues and will help you stay energized.
Before you travel, we recommend checking that your routine vaccinations—specifically Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, and Tetanus—are up to date. Since medical infrastructure in remote mountain areas can be limited, having comprehensive travel insurance that covers emergency evacuation is essential for your safety and peace of mind.
Before you travel, we recommend checking that your routine vaccinations—specifically Diphtheria, Hepatitis A, and Tetanus—are up to date. Since medical infrastructure in remote mountain areas can be limited, having comprehensive travel insurance that covers emergency evacuation is essential for your safety and peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
The tour starts at 7:40 AM from the meeting place and lasts around 9-11 hours.
The best way to pay is cash (USD or local currency) directly to the guide on the day of the tour. We also accept card payments and can provide a payment link if needed.
The tour operates in all weather conditions. If it rains, we recommend bringing an umbrella or raincoat. If the weather is extreme, the boat ride may not be possible, but the rest of the activities will continue as planned.
Yes! You’ll have time to explore, take photos, and enjoy the scenery at Issyk Kul Lake, Burana Tower, and cultural sites.
- Professional English-speaking guide
- Comfortable sedan/minibus during the day
- Small-group tour (min 3 and max 15 passengers)
- Admission tickets to Burana Tower, Boat Tour, and Petroglyphs
- Small bottled water
- Comfortable shoes for walking and exploring
- Weather-appropriate clothing (hat/sunscreen in summer, warm layers in winter)
- Packed lunch (optional) if you’d like to have a meal during the boat ride
- Towel and swimsuit for the hot springs
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