Kyrgyzstan Escorted Tours

Escorted Tours to Kyrgyzstan

Lakeshore resorts are a magnet for summer visitors, while museums, malls and markets are lively markers of old Silk Road towns; but Kyrgyzstan’s biggest blessing is its landscape of glaciers and forests, peaks and pastures, peace and rusticity.

Why choose a tour in Kyrgyzstan?

Unspoilt, uncrowded, and unique in its culture and character, Kyrgyzstan is also largely undiscovered. The country gained its independence in 1991, with the collapse of the Soviet Union. It was little visited before then and is barely more so now. Still a secret gem, it is slowly revealing its treasures with the advent of tourism.
Much of Kyrgyzstan’s magnificent landscape is undisturbed, and many of its settlements are as they have been for decades. Balancing busy city streets with the yurt camps of semi-nomadic shepherds, it is an innately authentic country, where the welcome is friendly, sincere, and mildly inquisitive.

The capital is Bishkek, a gloriously green enclave, its broad boulevards flanked by irrigation channels for the thousands of trees. Soviet structures still form the framework, but the contemporary city is a mix of markets and modern malls, museums, marble monuments and myriad universities.

The capital town of the Issyk-Kul region, Karakol’s roots are as a Russian garrison and a refuge for Dungan Chinese Muslims, the dual identity displayed by the typical timber structures of a Russian Orthodox church and distinctly Chinese mosque. A long-time base for explorers charting surrounding peaks and gorges, it sits near the eastern tip of Lake Issyk-Kul.

‘Issyk-Kul’ translates as ‘warm lake’, an apt description as, despite being encircled by snow-capped mountains, at an altitude of 1,600m, its waters never freeze. Forming part of the UNESCO protected Biosphere Reserve, the lake is fed by hot springs, rivers, and streams; with submerged settlements in its shallows, and small towns dotting its 670km shoreline.

Kyrgyzstan’s breathtaking landscapes include the glacial gorge of Ala-Archa National Park, cut between high mountain peaks; the Djety-Oguz (‘seven bulls’) Gorge, where the river runs between soaring pink-red cliffs; and the pristine nature of the Chon-Kemin valley, climbing from 1,400 to 2,800m above sea level, tranquil, sparsely populated, and home to golden eagles.

Landmarks off the beaten track provide a glimpse of the country’s intriguing past, the Burana Tower minaret standing alone and isolated for over a thousand years, all that is left of the ancient city of Balasagun; and the Saka-Usun petroglyphs, etched into rocks and boulders to form an al-fresco gallery of animal, hunting and sun-god images.

Jules Verne teams Kyrgyzstan with Kazakhstan for scenic routes to Silk Road cities, and features on our Great Journey through the “stans” of central Asia, adding Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan.

When to go on Kyrgyzstan holidays

The country’s continental climate varies significantly according to altitude. In general, winters are cold to freezing, and summers are warm and sunny, but, in low-lying areas, temperatures can rise to 36° in July and August. The most comfortable months for touring are May, June, and September, when daytime temperatures hover between 24 and 29°, rain showers are few and far between, and the country enjoys about 9 hours of sunshine daily.

Who are Kyrgyzstan tours suited to?

Tourism is a relatively recent arrival in Kyrgyzstan, where the standard of infrastructure varies, and the nature of the tour includes long journeys, on sometimes uneven road surfaces. Patience and good humour will be rewarded with majestic scenery, stunning topography, fascinating cities, and fabled sites.

Jules Verne’s tours provide a unique experience of the country’s highlights and heritage, travelling in small groups of like-minded people who share your interests and enthusiasm.

Why book Kyrgyzstan tours with Jules Verne?

With 45 years’ experience and a passion for creating extraordinary holidays, Jules Verne takes you to iconic landmarks and lesser-known sites, with expert tour guides who share their local knowledge, and show you hidden gems. Special experiences on our journeys in Kyrgyzstan include a Kyrgyz folk concert, and the opportunity to cruise on Lake Issyk-Kul.

Our guided tours to Kyrgyzstan are ABTA and ATOL protected, so you can book with complete confidence.