Itineraries - Central Asia - page 22

KAZAKHSTAN

Charyn
Canyon

Almaty

•

•

BISHKEK

Karakol

_ •

Issyk-Köl

Altyn Arashan

•

Kochkor

•

KYRGYZSTAN

Song-Köl

Naryn

•

Tash Rabat •

Chatyr-Köl

UZBEKISTAN

Torugart Pass

CHINA

Kashgar

•

TAJIKISTAN

Over the Torugart: Lakes, Herders &
Caravanserais

This trip takes in fabulous mountain scenery, a taste of traditional life in the pastures
and the roller-coaster ride over the Torugart Pass to Kashgar. There are lots of opportu-
nities for trekking or horse riding on this route.
Kick off with a couple of days in cosmopolitan Almaty (p56), with visits to Panfilov
Park, the Central State Museum and a soak in the Arasan Baths. From here it's an easy
four-hour drive to Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek (p232), from where you can head east to
the blue waters and sandy beaches of Issyk-Köl, the world's second-largest alpine lake.
For an adventurous alternative between Almaty and Issyk-Köl, hire transport to take
you to the colourful, eroded Charyn Canyon (p77) and on to the Kyrgyz border through
the immense, silent Karkara Valley to Karakol.
Take in a couple of days' trekking or visiting the alpine valleys around Karakol
(p258). The idyllic valley of Altyn Arashan (p265) offers great scope for horse riding or
the short trek to alpine Ala-Köl and the glorious Karakol Valley. If you have time you can
explore the little-visited southern shore, visiting an eagle-hunter en route to Kochkor. If
you are low on time head straight to Kochkor from Bishkek.
In small and sleepy Kochkor (p276) take advantage of the community-based tourism
(CBT) program and spend some time in a yurt- or homestay on the surrounding jailoos
(summer pastures). This is one of the best ways to glimpse traditional life in Kyrgyzstan.
Try to allow three days to link a couple of yurtstays by horse, although most can be
visited in an overnight trip. The most popular trip is to the herders' camps around the
peaceful lake Song-Köl (p273), either by car or on a two-day horseback trip. The pas-
tures are popular with herders and their animals between June and August.
From here head to Naryn (p280) and then the Silk Road caravanserai of Tash Rabat
(p284), where you can stay overnight in yurts and even take an adventurous horse trip to
a pass overlooking Chatyr-Köl. From Tash Rabat it's up over the Torugart Pass (p310)
and into China to wonderful Kashgar for it's epic Sunday Market.