2 week itinerary in Kyrgyzstan (Aug-Sept)- please advise, DEPARTING TODAY!!!

[ji5865]

Hi
I'm travelling with my wife for 2 weeks in Kyrgyzstan, leaving today. Keen to get independent feedback on the itinerary below. Let me know if it sounds realistic (especially travel between places and time required for hiking), and anything we should add/ avoid?? We will be using taxis or minibuses, but happy to get organised tours where necessary or beneficial.

Obviously trying to get a balance between an active, ambitious itinerary, and something pragmatic about what can be achieved in the time.

Day 1 26th Sat
15:00 Arrive Bishkek Manas
∙ Overnight in Bishkek

Day 2 27th Sun
Drive to Tamchy via:
∙ Burana Tower + graveyard
∙ Overnight in Tamchy"

Day 3 28th Mon
∙ Tamchy to Cholpon-Ata
∙ Petroglyphs
∙ Travel to Karakol
∙ Overnight in Karakol"

Day 4 29th Tues
∙ Day hike from Karakol- NEED TO ORGANISE
∙ Overnight in Karakol

Day 5 30th Wed
∙ Day trip to Red cliffs of Jeti-Oguz
∙ Overnight in Karakol

Day 6 31st Thur
Independence Day
∙ Visit Karakol's Holy Trinity Cathedral and Dungan mosque
∙ to Bokonbayevo
∙ Overnight in Bokonbayevo

Day 7 1st Fri
∙ Day trek
∙ Overnight in Bokonbayevo

Day 8 2nd Sat
∙ To Kochkor
∙ Overnight in Kochkor

Day 9 3rd Sun
∙ Kochkor To Naryn (minibus or shared taxi)
∙ Naryn to Tash-Rabat
∙ Overnight in Tash-Rabat

Day 10 4th Mon
∙ Hiking in Tash-Rabat pass (organised by yurt camp)
∙ Overnight in Tash-Rabat

Day 11 5th Tues
∙ Hiking in Tash-Rabat pass (organised by yurt camp)
∙ Overnight in Tash-Rabat

Day 12 6th Wed
∙ Travel from Tash-Rabat to Naryn/Kochkor then to Son Kul (c.5hrs)
∙ Overnight in Son Kul

Day 13 7th Thurs
∙ Son Kul hiking
∙ Overnight in Son Kul

Day 14 8th Fri
∙ Son Kul to Kochkor
∙ Kochkor to Bishkek (maybe necessary via Balykchy) - c.3hrs
∙ Overnight in Bishkek

Day 15 9th Sat
Day in Bishkek, visiting:
∙ Osh bazaar
∙ Lunch in local café.
∙ the Place of Victory.
∙ White house – white marble Palace inc. president’s office and Parliament
∙ Panfilov park - with rusting rides and arcades.
∙ Manas monument – hero of Kyrgyz people
∙ Ethnographic Museum or Museum of Fine Arts
∙ Ala-Too Square – watch changing of Guard ceremony
∙ Kuranzhan Datka monument – 1st female General
∙ Old Sqaure
Overnight in Bishkek

Day 17 10th Sun
c.6am Depart Bishkek Manas

[bwv812]

Seems quite unrealistic unless you are chartering private vehicles for virtually all of your transportation.

[steven]

I disagree. The part around Issyk-Kul you can do with public transport in the allotted time, except for a taxi to Jeti Oguz. Tash Rabat and Song Kul you will need to get a taxi for sure, but you can easily arrange it in Kochkor.

Hope this still reaches you in time!

[bwv812]

They've changed their itinerary since I commented. Earlier they included Osh via Kazarman in the same time frame.

[steven]

Oh, I see. In that case, yes, you are absolutely right.