Premium Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
Trip Code: KFPK
Why we love it
Head off the tourist track and see some incredible natural landscapes – on this trip, you’ll visit Sharyn Canyon (nicknamed the little brother of the Grand Canyon), Jety Oguz, Skazka Canyon and Lake Isky-Kul., Soak up some of the layered history and diverse architecture of two former Silk Route cities – Almaty in Kazakhstan and Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan., Spend a memorable night in a comfortable yurt camp for an authentic local experience. You’ll have dinner around the campfire with the locals and wake up in the morning beside Lake Issyk-Kul – the second largest alpine lake in the world!, Meet local artisans keeping traditional craftsmanship alive – meet with a local yurt maker and learn how they make these tents without electric tools, see how felt rugs are made and visit a leather workshop., Feast on delicious local cuisine with visits to a family-owned winery in Almaty, a family home of local Dungan people for dinner and a traditional lunch in a remote Kyzyl Tuu Village.
Is this trip right for me?
This trip involves some long journeys by road, but you will stop at many interesting places along the way to stretch your legs.
Accommodation may not always live up to western expectations and may lack some amenities you would expect from other Premium accommodation. The accommodation chosen will be among the best available, it will be well-located and comfortable.
Your yurt accommodation is comfortable, but relatively basic. We think this is an essential part of visiting the region, and worth sacrificing some amenities for a memorable night in a spectacular place. Because these are sacred dwellings, there are no bathrooms within the yurt. Shared facilities will be available.
A single supplement is not available on Day 5 at the yurt camp.
Important information
1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
2. A single supplement is available if you'd prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
What to bring/pack
What you need to bring will vary according to the trip style you have chosen, the countries you are visiting and when you are travelling. We recommend you pack as lightly as possible, ensuring that you are able to carry and lift your own luggage and walk with it for short distances or up or down a flight of stairs. Help will be on hand in most locations, but there may be times you need to handle your own luggage, for example in airports and train stations.
A lockable suitcase with wheels is ideal for this trip. It is recommended that you keep your main luggage weight around 15kg and certainly no more than 20kg. A small or medium-sized backpack (45-50 litres) is another good option.
You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water, camera, jacket, etc. when you’re exploring during the day.
Below is a link to our ultimate packing list, a guide to get you started:, https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list
Physical rating
Joining your group
Almaty, , Almaty, KAZAKHSTAN
Alternate Joining Point
Joining instructions
Finishing your trip
Almaty, , Almaty, KAZAKHSTAN
Alternate Finish Point
Meals & dietary information
Breakfasts included: 8
Lunches included: 4
Dinners included: 4
While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader or local representative will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. If you have dietary requirements and/or food allergies, please let your booking agent know prior to departure.
Climate & seasonal information
In case of emergency
For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us
While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.
We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.
You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.
In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:
Local Bishkek Office: +996555303025
Accommodations
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.