Kyrgyz Self-drive routes
Self-drive routes - are the great option for all wishing to get great emotions. We are glad to introduce you the possibility to achieve emotions you have never felt. Kyrgyzstan is the part of Central Asia. And when you decide to travel in Kyrgyzstan it means you will start a tour in the very heart of mountains. An interesting fact is that the country has an abundance of high-altitude lakes and rivers, hills and low-lands, nomads still living in the mountains and breeding the cattle.
Starting to travel in Kyrgyzstan you may notice the fact that roads in the country are not in a great condition and it is of high importance to follow traffic rules. For you to be able to investigate the country we are glad to present self-drive routes which are great to be taken in consideration for rent the car tours in the country.
Start to travel in Kyrgyzstan and make sure your tour is going along interesting and amazing sites of great interest and significance. One of such places where you can travel at the altitudes of 1600-4800 m above sea level is Ala Archa National Park. The park is located in the Tien Shan mountains and seem to be so magnetic for all travelers in the country. When you decided to travel to the national park, you should know that it is located in 45km from Bishkek. There are a lot of opportunities for people of various desires - hiking, trekking, rafting, making a view of panoramic gorges.
Then your tour may go through Chon Kemin gorge where it is possible to investigate the skills of riding a horse. There are nomads in the mountains of the country and it is possible to get to know the country along with various popular sites of interest closer. In the course of a tour in Kyrgyzstan we advise you not to miss the opportunity of visiting and travelling in the Issyk Kul region.
Moving on, you travel on cars for rent to the famous lake which name is Issyk Kul. It is located in the very mountains at the altitude of 1600m above sea level. The lake is connected with different legends of its emergence, but one we would like to tell you before you start to travel along it. The legend says that the ancient town was taken under the ground by the massive earthquake; the girls who were out of the city were suffering so bitterly that filled the crack with their tears. On visiting the lake you can make a notice of amazing views of the surroundings and the beauty of the lake itself. And of course we recommend you to visit the following sites of the Issyk Kul region: Grigoryevskoe and Semenovskoe gorges, Jeti Oguz gorge, Barskoon waterfalls and Fairy Tale (Skazka) Canyon.
We would like to tell a little bit more about the town Karakol which seems to be a great site for tours by travelers of Kyrgyzstan. Being here you can make a notice of the Russian Orthodox Church, Dungan Mosque and Memorial Museum of N. M. Przhevalsky.
There are a lot of villages in the country which should be visited when you travel in Kyrgyzstan, the reason is that there you still can witness the culture of the ancient Kyrgyz. The village Kochkor is the place where you can make a witness of carpet performances, make a taste of delicious national food and of course feel the national hospitality. Being in a tour along the village you can notice that there are famous sites near it: Tash Rabat and Son Kul Lake. Tash rabat used to be the shelter for the people making a tour along the Great Silk Road. Lake Son Kul is truly the lake of indescribable beauty. It is located at the altitude of 3016m above sea level and seem to be a great option for all wishing to witness the beauties of heights. The season of travelling to the lake is from June to September, as during other months the territory is covered with constant snow.
Then you are going to travel in the village Kazarman which seems to be one of the ancient sites of the country and the entire Central Asia. In the course of a tour in Osh city you make a notice of it being locate very close to the border with Uzbekistan.
In any region of the country you will be met by significant sites and these sites seem to be of great importance for local population. The region of Jalal Abad is rich for its natural park Arslanbob where except walnuts you can notice pear, apple and cherry growing.
The other peculiar site to be visited in the course of a tour in Kyrgyzstan is Toktogul water reservoir of 284 km2. It is seen to be located on the river Naryn in the Tien Shan mountains. And of course we are glad to present you the example of the tour which you can travel:
Day 1: Bishkek - Ala Archa - Bishkek
Day 2: Bishkek - Chon Kemin
Day 3: Chon Kemin - Issyk Kul lake northern shore
Day 4: Issyk Kul northern shore - Grigorievskoye - Karakol
Day 5: Karakol - Jeti Oguz (can sleep here) - Issyk Kul southern shore - Kochkor
Day 6: Kochkor - Kichi Naryn - Naryn (or drive directly to Tash Rabat via Dolon pass)
Day 7: Naryn - Tash Rabat
Day 8: Tash Rabat - Son Kul
Day 9: Son Kul - Kyzyl Oi
Day 10: Kyzyl Oi - Bishkek
Those who have more free time to be spent in a tour in Kyrgyzstan can travel to the following sites as well:
Day 09: Son Kul - Kazarman
Day 10: Kazarman - Osh
Day 11: Osh - Arslanbob
Day 12: Arslanbob - Toktogul
Day 13: Toktogul - Bishkek
Day 14: Flight