BOOK
This is one of the most packed journeys through northern Kyrgyzstan. In just a few days, we’ll drive a large loop across the Tien Shan and see the country’s most diverse landscapes — from the red mountains of Kyzyl-Oy and the high-altitude Lake Son-Kul to the rugged canyons of Aksay and the legendary Lake Kel-Suu.

The route brings together places that resemble Patagonia, the Atacama Desert, Arizona, and alpine Switzerland. We’ll drive over beautiful passes, hike through canyons, stay in a yurt camp at 3,000 meters, and spend a night in a glamping site on the shores of Issyk-Kul.
This is one of the most packed journeys through northern Kyrgyzstan. In just a few days, we’ll drive a large loop across the Tien Shan and see the country’s most diverse landscapes — from the red mountains of Kyzyl-Oy and the high-altitude Lake Son-Kul to the rugged canyons of Aksay and the legendary Lake Kel-Suu.

The route brings together places that resemble Patagonia, the Atacama Desert, Arizona, and alpine Switzerland. We’ll drive over beautiful passes, hike through canyons, stay in a yurt camp at 3,000 meters, and spend a night in a glamping site on the shores of Issyk-Kul.

The road to Kel-Suu
This is an adventure in itself — just as thrilling as the final destination. Along the way, there will be endless photo stops.
Kel-Suu
Every year, more tourists come here, but for now, this place remains difficult to reach because it’s a border zone — permits are required to visit. The road is quite challenging, though incredibly beautiful. But it’s all worth it! Kel-Suu is a top-tier location — the Patagonia of Central Asia.
Kok-Kyya
The canyon of the river that flows into Kel-Suu. An incredibly beautiful place with very difficult access. If the road allows it (and this part is very unpredictable), we’ll definitely go there.
Kok-Moinok Canyons
Amazing canyons located very close to the main road, yet completely deserted and of no interest to anyone — except us. People driving by just don’t know that sometimes you need to stop and go a little off the road.
Lake Son-Kul
A piece of Tibet that has become Kyrgyzstan's calling card for several years now — and we absolutely agree. It can’t be left out. Absolute silence, serenity, and incredibly beautiful sunsets.
Canyons of the Forgotten Rivers
This place, on the other hand, is little known to anyone — and so is the viewpoint, from which you'll have a view like a drone's. It's a real Death Valley, but right next to it is an incredibly beautiful lake — Issyk-Kul. And the best part is, we'll be on the side where no one ever goes.
Barskoon, Arabel, and Skazka (Fairy Tale) Canyon
If we describe this day very briefly, here's how it goes. From the sea (and Issyk-Kul really is a sea), you'll drive into Switzerland — giant spruce trees and waterfalls (that’s Barskoon Gorge). Then we ascend to a high-altitude plateau at 4,000 meters (Arabel) into the glacier zone. We’ll end the day in Skazka (Fairy Tale) Canyon — colorful mountains like those in northern Argentina or Peru.
Red Bowl of Kyzyl-Oy
A place we absolutely love, where mass tourism routes have not yet reached. We are endlessly amazed by these colorful cliffs, the fantastic Kök-Meren River, and the conglomerates of red mountain ridges. This is truly Argentina — its northern part.
Roads and Passes
The roads will be both paved and unpaved. Sometimes it will be bumpy, sometimes very smooth. Either way, it will be incredibly beautiful — you absolutely must look out the window. The roads themselves are one of the main attractions of Kyrgyzstan.
TRIP MAP
Route overview:

Part 1: The village of red cliffs — Kyzyl-Oy — and the high-altitude Lake Son-Kul, where we enter a world of serenity and edelweiss — casually chewed on by cows.
Part 2: We head to Naryn, where ochre hills, Lake Kel-Suu, yaks, and endless horses await.
Part 3: The canyons of the Forgotten Rivers, Barskoon Gorge, and Skazka (Fairy Tale) Canyon.
DAY BY DAY
Bishkek — Kyzyl-Oy
// We recommend arriving one day before the start. Hotel in Bishkek is NOT included in the trip price //

10:00 – Departure from Bishkek

The road is incredibly beautiful. We'll first drive along the Kyrgyz Ridge, then turn into the Karabalta River gorge, climb over the Too-Ashuu Pass (3,200 m), and then descend through the Suusamyr Valley (the country's largest jailoo) to the fast and stunningly beautiful Kök-Meren River.

In the evening, we'll go to a sunset viewpoint with a fantastic view of the cozy village of Kyzyl-Oy, the Kök-Meren River, pyramidal poplars, and colorful mountain conglomerates.

17:00 – Check-in at the guesthouse. Dinner at 19:00
Kyzyl-Oy — Son-Kul
09:00 – Breakfast

An incredibly scenic drive, where the landscapes of Argentina’s red cliffs give way to endless highlands resembling Tibet. And all of this within one tiny country!

First, the Kök-Meren Valley with its bright rockfalls, then the road to Son-Kul Lake over the Kara-Keche Pass.

We’ll spend the night in a very comfortable yurt camp at an altitude of 3,016 meters. The toilet is outside the yurt — quite simple, but very decent for this location. At night, the yurt is heated with a small wood-burning stove.

19:30 – Dinner
Son-Kul — Naryn
09:00 – Breakfast

After a hearty breakfast, those who wish can go explore petroglyphs — but in fact, the main highlight is the panoramic view of the lake that you'll get on the way to the petroglyphs. The mood is peaceful and unhurried.

We then head toward Naryn via the Teskey-Torpok Pass — also known as the "33 Parrots" Pass. Possibly one of the most beautiful serpentine roads you've ever seen.

We'll spend the night at the Khan Tengri Hotel (subject to availability).
Naryn — Kel-Suu
08:00 – Breakfast

This is a challenging drive, but it's worth it. The reward is a fantastic place. Early in the morning, we head to the border zone with China.

Lake Kel-Suu (3,200 m) is already gaining recognition, but due to its difficult accessibility, it remains relatively little-visited. It is known for changing its appearance depending on the season — it can be covered in ice, it can be green or turquoise, and sometimes it can disappear entirely — the lake drains, then later refills on its own. In summer, it will most likely be full of water.

You can reach the lake either on foot, by UAZ, or on horseback. You can decide on the spot. Your guide will advise you on the cost.

We'll spend the night in yurts (quite basic) or basic cabins.
Kel-Suu — Naryn
We spend the first half of the day in the Kel-Suu valley — you can walk around on your own, rent horses if you liked them, or head to the nearby hills for panoramic views. After all, the road was tough, and we want to remember this place. If the weather didn’t cooperate the previous day, the expedition to the lake will take place today.

After a lunch snack, we gather and head back — returning to the cozy Khan Tengri Hotel.
Aksay Canyons
9:00 – Breakfast

We head toward Issyk-Kul. Perfect asphalt, beautiful passes, and maybe even camels along the Orto-Tokoy Reservoir await us.

To reach the lakeside where our hotel is located, we drive 14 km along a dry riverbed (which sometimes turns into a real river during rain). The scenery and experience are indescribable. At sunset, we’ll climb up to a dizzying viewpoint. We’ll spend the night at the Remote.kg glamping site.
Aksay Canyons — Skazka (Fairy Tale Canyon)
09:00 – Breakfast

After breakfast, you can go paddleboarding or take a swim. Then we’ll gather and head out to explore Skazka (Fairy Tale) Canyon and Barskoon Gorge. In Skazka, we’ll walk among colorful rock formations, and in Barskoon, we’ll find ourselves in a local Switzerland, strolling through Tien Shan spruce forests to the waterfalls.

If you’d rather just relax by our “sea” that day, you can stay at the glamping site and enjoy a detox. SUP boards and table tennis will be at your disposal.

In the evening, we’ll watch the stars by the campfire. Believe us — you haven’t seen this many stars in the sky for a long time!

19:30 – Dinner
Bishkek
Departure time is adjusted to your flight if you're flying out today. If you're not in a hurry, we'll head calmly to Kok-Moinok, then arrive in Bishkek and go souvenir shopping (we'll point you in the right direction). Thank you for this journey through the Tien Shan!
Price upon request
  • Payment
    Prepayment of 30%. The remaining amount is paid on site upon arrival in Bishkek. Any currency is accepted — the exchange rate is arranged in advance. If you cancel the tour less than 15 days before the start date, the prepayment is non-refundable.
  • Includes:
    • Accommodation: 2 nights at a glamping site on the southern shore of Issyk-Kul, 2 nights at a hotel in Naryn, 2 nights in yurts at Son-Kul and Kel-Suu, and a guesthouse in Kyzyl-Oy
    • Meals throughout the entire route (except restaurants in Bishkek) — breakfasts, lunches/snacks, dinners
    • Transport for the entire route, depending on group size
    • Border zone permits
    • Guide support
    • SUP paddleboarding
  • Does not include:
    • Flight
    • Alcohol
    • Meals at restaurants where you order from a menu
    • Personal expenses
LOGISTICS / PRACTICAL INFORMATION
  • TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES
    Our choice — comfortable and capable vehicles that everyone will find convenient. The type of transport depends on the size of the group and may be a jeep, minivan, or van.
    1
  • WALKING / HIKING
    There will be no serious trekking — mostly just walks.
    2
  • ACCOMMODATION
    We travel as a group and stay together in hotels, guesthouses, or yurts. Everywhere is clean and tidy. We try to place people in pairs; very rarely there are situations where triple occupancy is needed.
    3
  • MEALS
    All meals are included in the price. We will be fed at the places where we stay. There is not much choice, nor a set menu. One dish is prepared for the whole group, and it's usually very well liked by everyone. If there are vegetarians in the group or people with dietary restrictions (allergies, etc.), please let us know in advance.
    4
  • GROUP
    The group has a leader and participants. There are no "clients" or "executors." Ask as many questions as you like before the trip to clearly understand its goals. The group size is up to 12 people.
    5
  • WEATHER
    Fingers crossed for sunshine and beautiful sunsets! We have no other choice.
    6
  • FLIGHTS
    Flights are purchased by participants on their own after consulting with the guide. If you need help buying tickets, please let us know in advance.
    7
  • PAYMENT FOR PARTICIPATION
    A participant is finally added to the group after the 30% advance payment is made. The full payment for the trip is made on site in any currency agreed upon in advance.
    8
We stay
We live in the most comfortable conditions possible for the chosen locations. We will have 2 nights in good hotels (in Naryn), 2 nights in a glamping site, 2 nights in yurts, and 1 night in a guesthouse. On this trip, we tried to strike a fine balance between comfort and location. We chose the best possible places, and we are not ashamed of them.

In the yurts, there are beds, but you need to walk to the shower and toilet. At the glamping site, the bathroom is also outside the cabins. On the last night (Kyzyl-Oy), we will stay in a guesthouse. The feeling of the guesthouse is like stepping into your grandmother's home 30 years ago. But perhaps that's where the kindest atmosphere is, even if it’s simple.
GO FOR IT!
These are just stunning photos and a story about the trip.
All of this needs to be seen with your own eyes.

Fill out the form, and if you have any questions — just ask.