Bishkek Camp
Camping
Days 1, 2
Tien Shan Overland - 7 Days (Bishkek, Ala Archa, Kochkor, Song Kul & Issyk Kul)
Seven days across the Tien Shan, two nights at 3,016 m. The same route in shared vehicles with a larger group at the yurt camp and hostels in the towns.
Farthest Field Co.
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 Camp
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 Camp
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 Camp
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 Camp
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 Camp
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 Camp
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 Camp
- Day 3 · 2 nightsSong Kul Camp
- Day 5 · 2 nightsKarakol Camp
- 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 Camp
Camping
Days 3, 4
Karakol Camp
Camping
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
4.7/5
Based on 12 reviews
Review summary
Food4.6/5
Guide4.8/5
Itinerary4.7/5
Transport4.3/5
Accommodation4.6/5
Tour operator4.4/5
Sort by:Recommended
5
Y
Yuki Tanaka – Toronto2025-04-18 · Verified booking
Well organised from the pickup onwards. The daily distances were honest about what they'd be. Camp was pitched and the kitchen going by the time we walked in each evening. Plenty to eat and they were happy to work around a gluten allergy. Solid operator.
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5
D
Dev Chatterjee – Chennai2025-04-18 · Verified booking
Tien Shan in the right season is something else, and the team knew exactly where to camp. Food was plentiful and hot, which counts for a lot at altitude. Would send friends their way.
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5
P
Priya Nair – Chennai2025-04-18 · Verified booking
Well organised from the pickup onwards. The daily distances were honest about what they'd be. The campsites were well chosen — sheltered, and close enough to water. The lead was calm and knew when to slow the group down.
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3
F
Farah Qureshi – Indore2025-04-18 · Verified booking
The trek itself is good but the group was too large for the trail on the summit day. The team read the group well and adjusted without making a thing of it.
Reply from Farthest Field Co.
Glad you enjoyed it. Hope to see you on another trip.
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5
A
Aditi Rao – Mumbai2025-03-19 · Verified booking
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. Tents were warmer than expected and the camp was set up before we arrived. Would send friends their way.
Reply from Farthest Field Co.
Glad you enjoyed it. Hope to see you on another trip.
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5
M
Marc Dubois – Lisbon2025-03-19 · Verified booking
Did this over 7 days and it was the best walking I've done in years. Camp was pitched and the kitchen going by the time we walked in each evening. The cooking was a genuine surprise — better than most places we'd have picked ourselves. No hesitation recommending them.
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4
A
Ananya Gupta – Pune2025-03-19 · Verified booking
Did this over 7 days and it was the best walking I've done in years. No hesitation recommending them.
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5
D
Divya Reddy – Lucknow2025-03-19 · Verified booking
Well organised from the pickup onwards. The daily distances were honest about what they'd be. Sleeping under canvas at that height is cold work and the kit was up to it. Worth every rupee.
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Questions people ask
One other operator runs this trail. See all 2 side by side →