Bishkek Residency
Hotel
Days 1, 2
Kyrgyzstan: Song Kul & Issyk Kul - 7 Days (Bishkek, Ala Archa, Kochkor, Karakol & Altyn Arashan)
Seven days across the Tien Shan, two nights at 3,016 m. Seven days by private 4x4 with a guide throughout, family-run yurt camps and guesthouses booked ahead.
Meridian Overland
Runs this trip
Trekking
Seven days across the Tien Shan, two nights at 3,016 m
Group Tour
Join a fixed-date departure with other travellers
Top Highlights
Ala-Too SquareBishkek is a planned Soviet city with a 4,800 m range on the skyline behind it. Ala Archa National ParkForty kilometres from the capital and 800 m of climbing on a proper mountain trail. Boom GorgeSong Kul is summer pasture — the herders come up in June and go down in September, and the yurts go with them. Song KulThere is no electricity, no signal and no road markings. Jailoo pasturesThat is the entire point of the two nights here. Altyn ArashanThe track up is two hours of 4x4 for fourteen kilometres.
Itinerary
Bishkek is a planned Soviet city with a 4,800 m range on the skyline behind it.
BishkekHow the day runs
- 1 hrsAirport transfer into the city
- MealsDinner
- AccommodationBishkek Residency
Included Activities
- Airport transfer
- Guesthouse night
LANDMARKS Ala-Too Square Osh Bazaar Start point Bishkek, Manas International Airport (FRU), Bishkek 00:00 - 23:59Forty kilometres from the capital and 800 m of climbing on a proper mountain trail.
Bishkek, Ala ArchaHow the day runs
- 1 hrs8:00 AM — 40 km south into the national park
- 5 hrs9:30 AM — up the gorge to the waterfall and back
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationBishkek Residency
Included Activities
- Park entry
- Guided day walk
- Guesthouse night in Bishkek
LANDMARKS Ala Archa National Park Ak-Sai waterfall Song Kul is summer pasture — the herders come up in June and go down in September, and the yurts go with them.
Bishkek, Kochkor, Song KulHow the day runs
- 3 hrs8:00 AM — south through the Boom gorge
- 3 hrs1:00 PM — up the 33 Parrots pass to the lake
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationSong Kul Residency
Included Activities
- Yurt camp with all meals
- Private 4x4
LANDMARKS Boom Gorge 33 Parrots Pass Song Kul There is no electricity, no signal and no road markings. That is the entire point of the two nights here.
Song KulHow the day runs
- 9:00 AM — half a day on horseback with a herder
- 4:00 PM — kymyz, and the shepherds bringing the flocks in
- MealsBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- AccommodationSong Kul Residency
Included Activities
- Half-day horse ride with a local herder
- Yurt night with all meals
LANDMARKS Song Kul Jailoo pastures Issyk Kul is saline and never freezes, which is what the name means.
Song Kul, Issyk Kul, KarakolHow the day runs
- 4 hrs8:00 AM — down off the plateau to the lake
- 3 hrs1:00 PM — east along the south shore
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationKarakol Lodge
Included Activities
- Private transport
- Guesthouse night at Karakol
Optional Activities
- Skazka (Fairytale) canyon on the south shore
LANDMARKS Issyk Kul Skazka canyon Karakol The track up is two hours of 4x4 for fourteen kilometres. There is a hot spring at the top of it.
Karakol, Altyn ArashanHow the day runs
- 2 hrs8:00 AM — the rough track up the valley
- 3 hrs11:00 AM — the valley walk and the springs
- MealsBreakfast, Dinner
- AccommodationKarakol Lodge
Included Activities
- 4x4 up the valley
- Hot spring entry
- Guesthouse night
LANDMARKS Altyn Arashan Palatka peak Hot springs The north shore road is faster and passes the Cholpon-Ata petroglyph field.
Karakol, BishkekHow the day runs
- 6 hrs8:00 AM — back west along Issyk Kul
- MealsBreakfast
- AccommodationNot included — onward travel
Included Activities
- Transport to the airport
LANDMARKS Cholpon-Ata petroglyphs
- Day 1Airport transfer
- Day 1Guesthouse night
- Day 2Park entry
- Day 2Guided day walk
- Day 2Guesthouse night in Bishkek
- Day 3Yurt camp with all meals
- Day 3Private 4x4
- Day 4Half-day horse ride with a local herder
- Day 4Yurt night with all meals
- Day 5Private transport
- Day 5Guesthouse night at Karakol
- Day 5Skazka (Fairytale) canyon on the south shoreCosts extra
- Day 64x4 up the valley
- Day 6Hot spring entry
- Day 7Transport to the airport
- Day 1 · 2 nightsBishkek Residency
- Day 3 · 2 nightsSong Kul Residency
- Day 5 · 2 nightsKarakol Lodge
- Day 1Bishkek to BishkekAirport transfer into the city
- Day 2Bishkek to Ala Archa8:00 AM — 40 km south into the national park
- Day 3Bishkek to Kochkor8:00 AM — south through the Boom gorge
- Day 3Kochkor to Song Kul1:00 PM — up the 33 Parrots pass to the lake
- Day 5Song Kul to Issyk Kul8:00 AM — down off the plateau to the lake
- Day 5Issyk Kul to Karakol1:00 PM — east along the south shore
- Day 6Karakol to Altyn Arashan8:00 AM — the rough track up the valley
- Day 7Karakol to Bishkek8:00 AM — back west along Issyk Kul
Where you'll stay
All accommodations are subject to change
Song Kul Residency
Hotel
Days 3, 4
Karakol Lodge
Lodge
Days 5, 6
What you'll eat
6 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 4 dinners across 7 days, at camp. It opens with dinner on day 1 and closes with breakfast on day 7.
- DinnerServed on days 1, 3, 4, 6
- BreakfastServed on days 2–7
- LunchServed on day 4
11 meal services named in the itinerary. Vegetarian and vegan covered; Jain, gluten-free and allergies on notice at booking
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Customer reviews
Overall rating
4.6/5
Based on 13 reviews
Review summary
Food4.6/5
Guide4.2/5
Itinerary4.5/5
Transport4.5/5
Accommodation4.5/5
Tour operator4.2/5
Sort by:Recommended
5
E
Elena Petrova – Zurich2026-05-20 · Verified booking
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. No complaints about any of the hotels — all of them well placed. Food was plentiful and hot, which counts for a lot at altitude. Worth every rupee.
Reply from Meridian Overland
Appreciate the honest feedback; we're looking at the pacing on that section.
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5
R
Rohit Verma – Kochi2026-05-20 · Verified booking
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. No complaints about any of the hotels — all of them well placed. Plenty to eat and they were happy to work around a gluten allergy. No hesitation recommending them.
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4
H
Hannah Lindqvist – Dubai2026-05-20 · Verified booking
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. Solid operator.
Reply from Meridian Overland
Thanks for writing this up. We've passed your note to the team.
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5
R
Rahul Menon – Chennai2026-05-20 · Verified booking
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb. Rooms were comfortable and the locations meant we could walk most evenings.
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5
C
Carla Mendes – Auckland2026-01-18 · Verified booking
Well organised from the pickup onwards. The daily distances were honest about what they'd be. No complaints about any of the hotels — all of them well placed.
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5
F
Farah Qureshi – Chandigarh2026-01-18 · Verified booking
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. Hotels were clean and central, which saved a lot of time. The team read the group well and adjusted without making a thing of it. Good value for what's included.
Reply from Meridian Overland
Appreciate the honest feedback; we're looking at the pacing on that section.
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5
P
Priya Nair – Delhi2026-01-18 · Verified booking
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. No complaints about any of the hotels — all of them well placed. Would send friends their way.
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5
I
Ishita Ghosh – Ahmedabad2026-01-18 · Verified booking
Well organised from the pickup onwards. The daily distances were honest about what they'd be. Rooms were comfortable and the locations meant we could walk most evenings. Plenty to eat and they were happy to work around a gluten allergy. Recommended.
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Questions people ask
One other operator runs this trail. See all 2 side by side →