Bishkek To Bishkek (16 Days) Kyrgyzstan Overland (Cabb16)
Bishkek To Bishkek (16 Days) Kyrgyzstan Overland (Cabb16)
$1328
Bishkek To Bishkek (16 Days) Kyrgyzstan Overland (Cabb16)
16 Days Starting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan and ending in Bishkek
Visiting: Bishkek, Almaty, Altyn-Arashan, Jeti Oguz, Song-Kul, Tash-Rabat
Tour operator:
Tour code:
472
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 10
Age range:
18-80
Special diets catered:
Please advise requests
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
From:
$1328
$1268
Exclusive Tourhub Members Discount: -$60
NB: Prices correct on 20-May-2024 but subject to change.
Tour Overview
Discover the stunning scenery of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan with a tour that takes you off the beaten track and into the heart of the wilderness. This journey will give you the unique opportunities to swim in the Lake Issy-Kul, trek the dramatic and vast mountain terrain and spend the night in a yurt by the banks of the Lake Song Kol. We travel towards the Chinese border to visit Tash Rabat, an ancient Silk Road Caravanserai before returning back to Bishkek. A truly once in a lifetime experience, this tour will give you memories to treasure forever.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 - 9 : Bishkek To Semenovskre Gorge
Location: Bishkek, Almaty, Altyn-Arashan, Jeti Oguz
Accommodation: Camp
We head north east to Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest metropolis and capital until 1997. Almaty is the largest and most ethnically and culturally diverse city in Kazakhstan. Set in the foothills of the Trans Lli Alatau mountains, the area has a ski resort (Shymbulak) at an elevation of 2,200 mtrs and enjoys a great amount of snow from November through to May. The city has many sights and attractions, including Ascension Cathedral in Panfilov Park; Abay Opera House; Golden Warrior Monument in the Republic Square and the giant Almaty Tower. Or for adrenaline lovers, why not ride the ‘Fast Coaster’ roller coaster, that is located on the side of a mountain and reaches speeds of 45 km per hour.
We continue east looking for amazing camping areas to explore, before crossing back in to Kygyzstan and the area of Lake Issyk-Kul, a mountain lake in the northern Tien Shan Mountains, once used by the Soviets to test their submarine torpedoes!
The area of Altyn Arashan and its surrounds offer the outdoor lover many hiking and horse riding opportunities and we spend a few days here to take in the amazing scenery.
We visit the vast red stone cliffs in Jeti-Oguz and visit the town of Karakol with its attractive houses and tree-lined streets. Behind it are the Terskay Ala-Too Mountains, an unspoilt wilderness populated only by nomadic shepherds.
Continuing around the lake to Semenovskre Gorge the adventurous can hike through lush terrain, following the rivers that wind through the national reserve.
As we travel around Kyrgyzstan we camp, but we also may have the opportunity to use some family homestays, where we are welcomed into a local home for the night. These are subject to availability, but if we can arrange them they offer a fantastic experience, allowing us to feel part of the family for a night and make some new friends!
Day 10 - 13 : Semenovskre Gorge To Tash Rabat
Location: Song-Kul, Tash-Rabat
Accommodation: Camp
Travelling south and leaving behind Lake Issyk-Kul, we make our way to the isolated and breathtaking Lake Song Kol, where we stay in traditional felt Yurts. There will be opportunity to either hike or horse back ride and explore the surrounding area. If we are lucky we may even see a game of Ulak Tartysh - a Kyrgyz version of polo.
We spend a couple of days driving south through the mountains towards the border with China. On the way we cross vast high plains where Kyrgyz nomads, living in their traditional yurts, practice a lifestyle which has changed little over the centuries. We will stop off at Tash Rabat, an ancient Caravanserai on the old Silk Route.
Day 14 - 15 : Tash Rabat To Bishkek
Location: Tash-Rabat, Bishkek
Accommodation: Camp
We retrace some of our steps and head north to Bishkek, seeking out scenic camping spots as we go.
Day 16 : Bishkek
Location: Bishkek
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your trip ends after breakfast. Bishkek is a well-connected city, with the airport serving destinations throughout Asia with connections for onward travel further afield. For those with some time to spare it’s a pleasant city to spend a few days at the end of your trip, with some excellent bars, cafés and restaurants dotted around to relax and reflect on your trip through Central Asia.
What's Included
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Accommodation - approx. 90% camping & 10% simple hostels/hotels/homestay
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Yurt Stay at Lake Song Kol
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Tash Rabat Caravanserai
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Meals - approx. 50%
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All Transport on Oasis Expedition Truck
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Camping and Cooking equipment
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Services of Oasis Crew
What's Not Included
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Visas
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Optional Excursions as listed in the Pre-Departure Information
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Flights
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Airport Taxes & Transfers
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Travel Insurance
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Meals - approx. 50%
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Drinks
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Tips
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Local payment from US$400
Local Payment (LP) is in the addition to the Trip Price and is paid to your Tour Leader at the start of your Trip.
It covers some of the trip's day to day expenses such as food and accommodation which your tour leader pays direct to local people.
More Info
Discover the stunning scenery of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan with a tour that takes you off the beaten track and into the heart of the wilderness. This journey will give you the unique opportunities to swim in the Lake Issy-Kul, trek the dramatic and vast mountain terrain and spend the night in a yurt by the banks of the Lake Song Kol. We travel towards the Chinese border to visit Tash Rabat, an ancient Silk Road Caravanserai before returning back to Bishkek. A truly once in a lifetime experience, this tour will give you memories to treasure forever.
Mode of Transport
The Oasis expedition truck will be your new home giving you a comfortable & secure base with which to experience your trip. We use a purpose built truck which has been converted especially for this expedition, which passes through all types of terrains from soft sand, mud, rock and potholed roads to tarseal. It is reassuring to know that these vehicles can handle the tough conditions that they are put through. The truck is equipped with all of the equipment we may need en-route, including a professionally compiled expedition Medical Kit, large water & fuel carrying capacities, an extensive range of spare parts as well as the kitchen sink, (well almost!) so all you need is your sleeping bag, a roll mat and your own personal gear!
Seatbelts
All Oasis Overland trucks are fitted with seatbelts. For your own safety and security we recommend that travellers wear these at all times whilst the vehicle is moving. Most of our overland trucks also have a ‘beach area’ which is a chill out zone to be used when the truck is not moving.
Accommodation
Accommodation is split throughout this trip between simple hotels and hostels and camping. The variety of accommodation provided is great and often a totally unique experience, including bush camps with no facilities, yurts and simple village pensions. Some are well managed and some very basic. Oasis uses roomy three-person tents but only for two people. They are specially made for us to meet the tougher conditions of an expedition trip and have mosquito netting sewn into the door and windows. It would also be a good idea to bring your own freestanding mosquito net so as to give you the freedom of sleeping under the stars at night. At bush camps you will be living off the truck, so there will be no showers or en-suite facilities, so digging your own toilet pit with the shovels supplied is essential!
Check out our Q&As
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Are flights included in this tour?
Starting in Istanbul - If you plan to collect your Iranian visa in Istanbul, we recommend that you arrive at least five working days before your trip departure date and take in to account any days the embassy/consulate may be closed (holidays, weekends etc). Starting in Tbilisi, Bishkek or Dushanbe - Please note that our trip leaves the city on Day 1 - we recommend arriving a day or two earlier if you wish to make the most of the sights and attractions of the relevant city and surrounding areas. Starting in Ashgabat - Because of restrictions on tourism in Turkmenistan, we advise arriving no earlier than the day before the trip begins. Please note that pre-trip accommodation in Ashgabat must be booked and paid to Oasis Overland before travelling. Return flights must be booked for at least the day AFTER the trip is due to end, but flexible tickets are best in case of unforeseen delays. You may wish to allow some extra time to explore your departure cities. One way ticket - If you intend to travel on a one way ticket to meet up with one of our trips, without possessing an onward flight ticket - we recommend that you have a copy of your payment confirmation/receipt (that you will be sent at time of your balance payment) available at immigration to assist easy entry. Departure Taxes - Please check with your Travel Agent or Airline if your flight ticket already includes a departure tax payment out of the country. If it does not - please budget for approx US$30 to $70 USD - to be paid in US$ only.
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What to expect at meal times?
When 'on the road' with the expedition vehicle or camping, we usually cook using gas or over open fires in a rota system and you can expect to cook in a group of two or three people approximately once every ten days depending on the number of people on trip and whereabouts you are. Your cook group will have to decide on what to cook, utilise stocks from the truck stores and locally obtain ingredients from markets, shops etc and rustle up a meal. But don't worry if you're not a Gordon Ramsay as the rest of the group and the Tour Leader usually lend a helping hand. Here is an idea of what to expect at meal times: Breakfasts - Usually simple - we help ourselves to cereal, toast, hot drinks and on occasion we will splurge with a cooked breakfast. Lunch - Cold and usually quick. The cook group will put out bread, tinned supplies and maybe make a salad. Dinner - Cooks come into their own in the evening and will always attempt to cook up some delights. When the truck is parked up for a few days in a town or city most people usually like the option to eat out at local restaurants - so we often don't cook all meals when at these locations. Meals whilst staying in Hotels/Hostels/Pensions are not included in the local payment price.
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Where does the trip start?
The trip starts from the Interhouse at approximately 8am on the morning of Day 1 of your trip. The hostel is situated in a quiet place in the centre of Bishkek, just a 10 minutes walk from MosSovet (crossing of central streets Moskovskaya and Sovetskaya). Trip Joining Point: Interhouse - Bishkek Start Time Day 1: 08:00 Address: 91/1 Manas Ave, Bishkek Telephone: +996 705 123 456 Website: www.interhouse.life Email: bishkek@interhouse.life
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Can there be changes in the itinerary?
Because Oasis Overland do not operate normal 'package holidays' the itineraries given cannot be guaranteed to run exactly as outlined. However, it is rare that we have to make major changes and in the event that we do this will be discussed with you either before or during the trip. It is important to bear in mind that should it not be possible to enter a certain country due to safety concerns, visa problems or political turmoil etc, and it becomes necessary to fly over a country in order to continue a trip, that all costs for flights will be borne by you and not Oasis. Should it not be possible for an Oasis trip to begin from a scheduled starting city due to border closures, civil unrest etc, Oasis will make all reasonable efforts to begin the trip from an alternative location. However, all additional costs that you may incur in travelling to the alternative location will be paid by you or your insurance company and not Oasis.
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Airport Transfer Costs: Approximately $30 USD Transfer costs are per person and are payable to the transfer representative on arrival. On arrival into Bishkek airport you will be met by a local representative who will take you to the group joining Hotel. The driver will have your name on a sign with Novi Nomad. If you have not arranged an airport transfer there is a taxi rank outside of the airport, expect to pay approximately $30 USD. We recommend to change some currency into Kyrgyzstani Som in the airport at an ATM's, rates in town for changing cash are better than at the airport. The return airport transfer can be arranged through your hotel / hostel and is not included, it is at your own expense. We regret these services cannot be arranged via the Oasis office before departure.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
As detailed in the itinerary.
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What is the maximum group size?
Maximum 10 people.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Yes, if you are travelling solo. On our Overland Adventures and Ultimate Expeditions, we will pair you up with a tent buddy of the same sex when we camp and the same goes for twin & shared rooms in hostels, so there is no need to go it alone! If you specifically would like to request your own single room whilst on the trip, this may be requested subject to availability and additional fee.
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How many people do you take on your Trips?
On most of our Overland Adventures and Ultimate Expeditions our vehicles can carry a maximum of 24 travellers, the average however is around 16-20 on any one trip. Our Small Group Adventures have a maximum of 18 people per Tour Leader, although again the average is around 10-14 people.
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Wednesday - Thursday
Jun 19, 2024 - Jul 04, 2024Saturday - Sunday
Aug 24, 2024 - Sep 08, 2024Monday - Tuesday
Jun 09, 2025 - Jun 24, 2025Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Oasis Overland requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of oasis overland charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 69 days before tour starts: Forfeit 33% of booking price.
At 45 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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