Traveller’s question
Trip plans for 7, 10 and 14 days, 7 in winter
Four plans for first-time visitors: 7 days in the north, 10 days with Song-Kol, 14 days with the south, and a winter week. Each day shows where you sleep, what you do, how you travel and what it costs. Altitude rises in steps following the rule in our safety guide. Prices and times are guideposts as of 13.10.2026; where there are no data, it says “check”. Tash Rabat is under restoration and is not part of the plans.
Updated 13 October 2026
- 4 plans7, 10, 14 days and a winter week
- 750 → 3,000 maltitude steps in the 10- and 14-day plans
- 12,400–203,700 som7 days per person, from budget to comfortable
- June – Septemberyurts at Song-Kol; in winter, skiing in Karakol
Before you look
How to read the plans
The plans are built from our data on transfers, prices, altitude and seasons. The country has almost no timetables: everything to do with time is a guidepost, not a ticket.
- Times and prices are guideposts
- Marshrutkas and shared taxis leave when enough passengers have gathered. Times and prices come from our guide “Getting Around” (checked 13.10.2026); where there are few reference points, we write “check”. The NBKR rate on 14.10.2026 is 87.45 som per USD. check for your date
- We gain altitude gradually
- The rule from our safety guide: from below 1,200 m, do not sleep at 2,750 m or higher on the same day; at 2,450–2,750 m it is better to spend 2–3 nights; above 3,000 m, a night’s sleeping altitude should be no more than 500 m above the previous one. Going up for the day and coming back down is easier than sleeping up high.
- What “we sleep” means
- “We sleep” is the base where you spend the night. Places and Routes are what you do by day from that base. Our site is organised the same way.
- A spare day
- In winter Dolon and Too-Ashuu are closed for hours or days because of avalanches; mountain weather cancels departures. Every plan has a reserve or a caveat. check for your date
- Tash Rabat and Kol-Suu
- Tash Rabat is under restoration, with temporary restrictions for tourists until 2027 (Kabar, 06.08.2026): it is not in the plans, only “if open, check”. Kol-Suu is only with a permit and an organised tour (Ministry of Natural Resources, 17.01.2025). check for your date
- Where there are no data
- The Cholpon-Ata — Karakol and Cholpon-Ata — Kochkor legs, the taxi price to Salkyn-Tor and winter roads to Song-Kol are marked “check”. We do not make things up.
Plan 1
7 days: Bishkek, Issyk-Kul, Karakol
A trip without passes: the capital, the lake, the most convenient town for the mountains. The road runs only along the north shore.
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1
Bishkek: arrival and the first evening
Bishkek, about 750 m
- From Manas airport to the centre: a Go Bus shuttle at about 200 som or Yandex Go at 500–1,000. There is no working Wi-Fi in the departure hall, so it is better to get a SIM or eSIM in advance.
- No rush: Ala-Too Square, the National Historical Museum, the Osh Bazaar. Withdraw som from a cash machine: there are fewer of them further from Bishkek.
shuttle or taxi · under an hour · 200 / 500–1,000 som exit from the Manas terminal check for your date
Heat or rain: the museum and the bazaar are indoors; do the square in the morning or evening.
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2
Ala-Archa: a mountain day without an overnight stay
Bishkek, about 750 m
- Bus No. 1 from the Old Square to the park, every 20–30 minutes from 8:00, 40 som by card or 50 in cash. Entry 250 som. A 4–5 hour walk along the valley by the mountaineering camp; be back by 19:00.
- This is a trial altitude: you go back down to sleep.
bus No. 1 · 41 km · 40–50 som + 250 entry Old Square (Usubaliev Square) check for your date
From November to March Ala-Archa has snow and a short day. Substitute: Burana (marshrutka to Tokmok 65–80 som, then a taxi) or museums.
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3
Bishkek — Cholpon-Ata
Cholpon-Ata, about 1,600 m
- A marshrutka from the new bus station in the morning. After lunch, petroglyphs; in the evening, the lakeshore. You climb 900 m and sleep at the height of the lake.
- In July and August lodging by the water is the most expensive of the year: book in advance.
marshrutka · 4–5 h · 250–400 som Bishkek new bus station
Cold, or no swimming: the Issyk-Kul History Museum instead of the beach.
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4
Cholpon-Ata — Karakol
Karakol, about 1,750 m
- A transfer east along the north shore, with no passes. The day in Karakol: the cathedral, the Dungan mosque, the history museum. A 3–4 hour walk is in our guide “Cultural Karakol”.
- On Fridays around noon there is namaz at the Dungan Mosque: it is better to see the town in the morning.
marshrutka · about 2 h (estimate) · check the price; a guidepost of 100–200 som (estimate) Cholpon-Ata bus station
Rain: the Przhevalsky Museum and the Ak-Suu springs instead of the walk.
KarakolKarakol culture walkDungan MosqueHoly Trinity Cathedral
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5
Jeti-Oguz: red rocks and meadows
Karakol, about 1,750 m
- Marshrutka No. 372 from the Ak-Tilek bazaar, from 7:00: to the village about 40 som, to the resort 80–120. The Seven Bulls rocks are by the resort; no climbing is needed.
- From May to October, higher up are the Kok-Jaiyk meadows, about 6 km and 3 hours, then the Maiden’s Braids waterfall. Be on your way back by 16:00.
marshrutka No. 372 · 30 km · 40–120 som Ak-Tilek bazaar check for your date
From November to April, only the rocks, half a day. The rest of the time, the Ak-Suu springs (marshrutka No. 350, about 30 minutes).
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6
Karakol Gorge
Karakol, about 1,750 m
- Marshrutka No. 101 to the start of the gorge, 10 som. Up the valley along the river and back, as far as your strength allows. Entry is a guidepost of 300 som, in cash.
- Altyn-Arashan (about 2,600 m) is not part of this plan: a night there requires several nights lower down, and it is a separate trip.
marshrutka No. 101 · 6 km · 10 som Karakol centre check for your date
From November to April the gorge is closed for the season: the Przhevalsky Museum instead (15 minutes by taxi).
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7
Karakol — Bishkek
the road home, —
- The morning marshrutka at 6:00 arrives around 13:00. The night GoBus (23:00 — 5:40) takes the night in place of a hotel. Do not book a flight home the same evening without a three-hour margin.
marshrutka, night GoBus · 6–7 h / 6 h 40 min · 500–600 / 700 som Karakol bus station
Substitutes
What to swap by season
What is closed or worse, and what to swap it for.
| When | What is closed or worse | What to substitute |
|---|---|---|
| November — April | Karakol Gorge, the Kok-Jaiyk meadows, the waterfall | The town, the Jeti-Oguz rocks, the Ak-Suu springs, the Przhevalsky Museum; skiing (the winter plan) |
| June and October | The edge of the high-trail season, frost at night | Days 5–6 as they are, warm clothing |
| Rain | Walks and easy trekking | Museums, the mosque, the cathedral, the Ak-Suu springs |
| Friday around noon | The Dungan Mosque is closed for namaz | See the town from the morning |
Budget
The plan’s budget in three styles
What this plan costs per person.
| Item | Tight budget | Mid-range | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days on the spot, som | 11 500 – 25 800 | 33 200 – 72 300 | 103 100 – 187 100 |
| Transfers between bases, som | 800 – 1 200 | 1 200 – 1 800 | 12 400 – 16 600 |
| Total per person, som | 12 400 – 27 000 | 34 400 – 74 100 | 115 600 – 203 700 |
| In dollars (87.45 som/USD) | 140 – 310 USD | 395 – 845 USD | 1320 – 2330 USD |
Per person, two sharing a room, excluding the international flight, insurance, visas and souvenirs. The daily rates are from our guide “Budget” (NBKR rate on 14.10.2026, 87.45 som per USD). Transfers: budget, a marshrutka; mid-range, a shared taxi or a taxi for two; comfortable, a private car or a driver for the day; where there is no price for a leg, an estimate from the neighbouring leg. In the comfortable style transport may be counted twice: read the upper bound as a reserve.
Plan 2
10 days: the north, Kochkor, Song-Kol, Naryn
Bishkek, the lake, then Naryn region: Kochkor, Naryn, Salkyn-Tor by day, one night in a yurt at Song-Kol. Altitude rises in steps: 750, 1,600, 1,800, 2,050, 3,000 m.
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1
Bishkek: arrival
Bishkek, about 750 m
- A Go Bus shuttle from Manas at about 200 som or Yandex Go at 500–1,000. Ala-Too Square, the museum, the bazaar. A SIM card, som in cash, an offline map of the region.
shuttle or taxi · under an hour · 200 / 500–1,000 som exit from the Manas terminal check for your date
If you land in the morning, fit in Ala-Archa by bus No. 1.
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2
Bishkek — Cholpon-Ata
Cholpon-Ata, about 1,600 m
- A marshrutka from the new bus station. After lunch, petroglyphs and the shore. The first night higher than Bishkek.
marshrutka · 4–5 h · 250–400 som Bishkek new bus station
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3
Cholpon-Ata: a day by the lake
Cholpon-Ata, about 1,600 m
- The Issyk-Kul History Museum, the beach and, if you like, Semenov Gorge. A quiet day: the body gets used to the altitude, and you to the roads.
Rain: the museum and a café.
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4
Cholpon-Ata — Kochkor
Kochkor, about 1,800 m
- Via Balykchy. There is no price or time for the whole stretch: Cholpon-Ata — Balykchy by marshrutka is about 200 som; for the rest, ask at the Balykchy bus station. Allow half a day.
- In Kochkor is the CBT office (Pionerskaya, 22a): this is where you book a yurt and a car for Song-Kol. The livestock market is on Saturday or Sunday (sources differ).
marshrutka via Balykchy · half a day (no data) · about 200 + the leg to Kochkor (to be checked) Cholpon-Ata bus station
In spring and late autumn the yurts at Song-Kol are not operating: Kochkor stays, and we replace the lake with a day on Issyk-Kul.
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5
Kochkor — Naryn
Naryn, about 2,050 m
- A marshrutka, 1.5–2 hours, about 200 som, over the Dolon Pass (119 km). Naryn is 250 m higher than Kochkor: a quiet evening, the town and livestock markets, the local history museum (Mon–Fri 9–18).
marshrutka · 1.5–2 h · about 200 som ask on the spot in Kochkor check for your date
In winter the Dolon is closed because of avalanches: a spare day. In summer there are no restrictions.
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6
Salkyn-Tor: a day above Naryn
Naryn, about 2,050 m
- A national park 18–20 km away, 30–40 minutes by taxi, about 2,200 m. No permit is needed, and the entry fee is nominal (20 som or about $1, sources differ). A walk on foot or on horseback, May to October.
- We do not put Tash Rabat in the plan: it is under restoration, with temporary restrictions for tourists until 2027 (Kabar, 06.08.2026). If it opens, the trip takes about 2 hours each way by taxi, about $30–50; ask CBT the day before. Lake Kol-Suu is only with a permit and an organised tour (Ministry of Natural Resources ban from 17.01.2025).
taxi · 30–40 min one way · check the price (entry 20 som) Naryn
Rain, snow: Naryn, the museum, the markets, a spare day on the Dolon. Eki-Naryn (44 km) and Koshe-Kurgan are the alternatives for the day.
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7
Naryn — Kochkor
Kochkor, about 1,800 m
- Back over the Dolon. After lunch, book a yurt and a 4WD for the morning at CBT. Bring warm clothes: it is cold at the lake even in July.
marshrutka · 1.5–2 h · about 200 som Naryn bus station check for your date
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8
Song-Kol: a night in a yurt
a yurt at Song-Kol, about 3,000 m
- Kochkor — Kyzart takes about an hour, 70 km, a shared taxi at about 200 som a seat. From there to the lake by 4WD (about 5,200 som per car for 4–6 people, 2–3 hours) or on horses. No permit is needed. A CBT yurt costs 15–25 USD with dinner and breakfast.
- One night at 3,016 m is the weakest point of the plan as regards altitude: from Naryn it is almost +950 m, more than 500 m in a day. Do not drink alcohol on the first evening, and if you have a headache and nausea in the morning, go down.
shared taxi to Kyzart, then 4WD or horse · 1 h + 2–3 h · about 200 som a seat + 4WD 5,200 per car Kochkor main square check for your date
The yurt season runs from mid-June to mid-September. Outside that window, do not go without confirmation from CBT. Substitute: Kol-Ukok from Kochkor, about 20 km, a yurt at about 2,100 som.
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9
Song-Kol — Kochkor — Bishkek
Bishkek, about 750 m
- A morning by the lake, leaving after breakfast. Kochkor — Bishkek by marshrutka takes about 3–3.5 hours. It is a long day: you arrive in the evening.
4WD to Kyzart, then a marshrutka · 2–3 h + about 1 h + 3–3.5 h · 250–400 som for the marshrutka Kochkor main square
Insure against delays: do not schedule a flight for the same evening.
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10
Bishkek: spare day and departure
departure, —
- A spare day: a delay on the Dolon, a closed pass, a cancelled flight. If the spare is not needed, Burana by taxi or Ala-Archa.
Substitutes
What to swap by season
What is closed or worse, and what to swap it for.
| When | What is closed or worse | What to substitute |
|---|---|---|
| May and late September — October | The yurts at Song-Kol are not operating | Days 8–9: Kol-Ukok from Kochkor, or two days on Issyk-Kul (Jeti-Oguz, Burana) |
| November — April | The Dolon is closed because of avalanches; winter roads to Song-Kol — “check with CBT” | Do not take this plan in winter; in winter, the winter plan |
| Tash Rabat | Restoration, restrictions until 2027 | Salkyn-Tor, Eki-Naryn, Koshe-Kurgan; Tash Rabat only if open |
| Rain, cold | Walks, horses | Kochkor’s felt workshops, Naryn’s museum and markets |
| Altitude sickness at Song-Kol | A night at 3,016 m | Go down to Kochkor in the morning and skip the lake |
Budget
The plan’s budget in three styles
What this plan costs per person.
| Item | Tight budget | Mid-range | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days on the spot, som | 17 300 – 34 400 | 48 200 – 93 400 | 151 400 – 241 100 |
| Transfers between bases, som | 800 – 1 300 | 1 500 – 2 600 | 6 600 – 11 200 |
| Total per person, som | 18 100 – 35 800 | 49 600 – 95 900 | 158 000 – 252 300 |
| In dollars (87.45 som/USD) | 205 – 410 USD | 570 – 1095 USD | 1805 – 2885 USD |
Per person, two sharing a room, excluding the international flight, insurance, visas and souvenirs. The daily rates are from our guide “Budget” (NBKR rate on 14.10.2026, 87.45 som per USD). Transfers: budget, a marshrutka; mid-range, a shared taxi or a taxi for two; comfortable, a private car or a driver for the day; where there is no price for a leg, an estimate from the neighbouring leg. In the comfortable style transport may be counted twice: read the upper bound as a reserve. The days in Kochkor, Naryn, Salkyn-Tor and Song-Kol are calculated from the range “Mountains: yurts and jailoos”.
Plan 3
14 days: the north, Song-Kol and the south to Osh
The first nine days are the 10-day plan, then a flight to Osh and Arslanbob: the walnut forest and waterfalls. Alay is only with a permit and an extra night.
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1
Bishkek: arrival
Bishkek, about 750 m
- A Go Bus shuttle from Manas at about 200 som or Yandex Go at 500–1,000. Ala-Too Square, the museum, the bazaar. A SIM card, som in cash, an offline map of the region.
shuttle or taxi · under an hour · 200 / 500–1,000 som exit from the Manas terminal check for your date
If you land in the morning, fit in Ala-Archa by bus No. 1.
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2
Bishkek — Cholpon-Ata
Cholpon-Ata, about 1,600 m
- A marshrutka from the new bus station. After lunch, petroglyphs and the shore. The first night higher than Bishkek.
marshrutka · 4–5 h · 250–400 som Bishkek new bus station
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3
Cholpon-Ata: a day by the lake
Cholpon-Ata, about 1,600 m
- The Issyk-Kul History Museum, the beach and, if you like, Semenov Gorge. A quiet day: the body gets used to the altitude, and you to the roads.
Rain: the museum and a café.
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4
Cholpon-Ata — Kochkor
Kochkor, about 1,800 m
- Via Balykchy. There is no price or time for the whole stretch: Cholpon-Ata — Balykchy by marshrutka is about 200 som; for the rest, ask at the Balykchy bus station. Allow half a day.
- In Kochkor is the CBT office (Pionerskaya, 22a): this is where you book a yurt and a car for Song-Kol. The livestock market is on Saturday or Sunday (sources differ).
marshrutka via Balykchy · half a day (no data) · about 200 + the leg to Kochkor (to be checked) Cholpon-Ata bus station
In spring and late autumn the yurts at Song-Kol are not operating: Kochkor stays, and we replace the lake with a day on Issyk-Kul.
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5
Kochkor — Naryn
Naryn, about 2,050 m
- A marshrutka, 1.5–2 hours, about 200 som, over the Dolon Pass (119 km). Naryn is 250 m higher than Kochkor: a quiet evening, the town and livestock markets, the local history museum (Mon–Fri 9–18).
marshrutka · 1.5–2 h · about 200 som ask on the spot in Kochkor check for your date
In winter the Dolon is closed because of avalanches: a spare day. In summer there are no restrictions.
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6
Salkyn-Tor: a day above Naryn
Naryn, about 2,050 m
- A national park 18–20 km away, 30–40 minutes by taxi, about 2,200 m. No permit is needed, and the entry fee is nominal (20 som or about $1, sources differ). A walk on foot or on horseback, May to October.
- We do not put Tash Rabat in the plan: it is under restoration, with temporary restrictions for tourists until 2027 (Kabar, 06.08.2026). If it opens, the trip takes about 2 hours each way by taxi, about $30–50; ask CBT the day before. Lake Kol-Suu is only with a permit and an organised tour (Ministry of Natural Resources ban from 17.01.2025).
taxi · 30–40 min one way · check the price (entry 20 som) Naryn
Rain, snow: Naryn, the museum, the markets, a spare day on the Dolon. Eki-Naryn (44 km) and Koshe-Kurgan are the alternatives for the day.
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7
Naryn — Kochkor
Kochkor, about 1,800 m
- Back over the Dolon. After lunch, book a yurt and a 4WD for the morning at CBT. Bring warm clothes: it is cold at the lake even in July.
marshrutka · 1.5–2 h · about 200 som Naryn bus station check for your date
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8
Song-Kol: a night in a yurt
a yurt at Song-Kol, about 3,000 m
- Kochkor — Kyzart takes about an hour, 70 km, a shared taxi at about 200 som a seat. From there to the lake by 4WD (about 5,200 som per car for 4–6 people, 2–3 hours) or on horses. No permit is needed. A CBT yurt costs 15–25 USD with dinner and breakfast.
- One night at 3,016 m is the weakest point of the plan as regards altitude: from Naryn it is almost +950 m, more than 500 m in a day. Do not drink alcohol on the first evening, and if you have a headache and nausea in the morning, go down.
shared taxi to Kyzart, then 4WD or horse · 1 h + 2–3 h · about 200 som a seat + 4WD 5,200 per car Kochkor main square check for your date
The yurt season runs from mid-June to mid-September. Outside that window, do not go without confirmation from CBT. Substitute: Kol-Ukok from Kochkor, about 20 km, a yurt at about 2,100 som.
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9
Song-Kol — Kochkor — Bishkek
Bishkek, about 750 m
- A morning by the lake, leaving after breakfast. Kochkor — Bishkek by marshrutka takes about 3–3.5 hours. It is a long day: you arrive in the evening.
4WD to Kyzart, then a marshrutka · 2–3 h + about 1 h + 3–3.5 h · 250–400 som for the marshrutka Kochkor main square
Insure against delays: do not schedule a flight for the same evening.
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10
Bishkek — Osh by plane
Osh, about 1,000 m
- A flight of 40–60 minutes instead of 10–17 hours in a car. Several flights a day; mountain weather sometimes cancels them. By day, Sulaiman-Too and the Osh Bazaar.
plane · 40–60 min · 2,800–6,500 som Manas airport
Flight cancelled: a shared taxi to Osh, 10–17 h, 1,200–2,500 som, leaving by 6–7 in the morning.
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11
Osh: the city and the mountain
Osh, about 1,000 m
- The Museum of Fine Arts, Babur’s house on the slope of Sulaiman-Too, the Uzgen Minaret if you wish. A spare day before the road into the mountains.
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12
Osh — Arslanbob
Arslanbob, about 1,500 m
- A direct marshrutka from Osh once a day at about 13:30–14:00, 3–5 hours, 200–370 som (sources differ). Via Manas (formerly Jalal-Abad), about 200–250 som and a change. You stay with families under the CBT system.
marshrutka, shared taxi · 3–5 h · 200–370 som Osh bus station check for your date
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13
Arslanbob: the walnut forest and waterfalls
Arslanbob, about 1,500 m
- The small waterfall is about 40 minutes, slippery. The big one, about 80 m, takes 2–4 hours. The nut harvest: late September and October, no posted schedule, the host of your house takes the guest.
- Alay instead of Arslanbob: a border-zone permit is needed, arranged through an operator, allow no less than a week, and Osh — Sary-Tash in one day is a jump from 1,000 to 3,160 m. You need an extra night at 2,500 m.
October: warm in the valley, the high trails are closed. Arslanbob’s season is May to October.
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14
Arslanbob — Osh — departure
departure, —
- Three to five hours to Osh. A flight home or to Bishkek no earlier than the next morning. A spare: mountain weather cancels flights.
marshrutka, shared taxi · 3–5 h · 200–370 som Arslanbob, the market (to Osh at about 6:50) check for your date
Substitutes
What to swap by season
What is closed or worse, and what to swap it for.
| When | What is closed or worse | What to substitute |
|---|---|---|
| May and October | Song-Kol without yurts | Days 8–9: Kol-Ukok or Issyk-Kul; Arslanbob stays |
| November — April | The Dolon, Too-Ashuu and the flights to Osh — depending on the weather | Do not take this plan in winter |
| Flight to Osh cancelled | Days 10–11 | A shared taxi, 10–17 h, 1,200–2,500 som, by 6–7 in the morning |
| Tash Rabat | Restoration, restrictions until 2027 | Salkyn-Tor; Tash Rabat only if open |
| Alay instead of Arslanbob | A border-zone permit (no less than a week) | Through an operator; a night at 2,500 m before Sary-Tash |
Budget
The plan’s budget in three styles
What this plan costs per person.
| Item | Tight budget | Mid-range | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days on the spot, som | 25 100 – 48 400 | 69 200 – 132 600 | 209 600 – 330 100 |
| Transfers between bases, som | 6 800 – 10 200 | 7 500 – 16 300 | 19 200 – 32 900 |
| Total per person, som | 31 900 – 58 600 | 76 800 – 148 900 | 228 800 – 363 000 |
| In dollars (87.45 som/USD) | 365 – 670 USD | 880 – 1705 USD | 2615 – 4150 USD |
Per person, two sharing a room, excluding the international flight, insurance, visas and souvenirs. The daily rates are from our guide “Budget” (NBKR rate on 14.10.2026, 87.45 som per USD). Transfers: budget, a marshrutka; mid-range, a shared taxi or a taxi for two; comfortable, a private car or a driver for the day; where there is no price for a leg, an estimate from the neighbouring leg. In the comfortable style transport may be counted twice: read the upper bound as a reserve. For Osh we took Bishkek’s rate, and for Arslanbob the mountain rate: the “Budget” guide has no prices for these bases.
Plan 4
Winter, 7 days: Bishkek, Karakol, skiing
The cold version of the week: two days in the capital, the road to Issyk-Kul, four days in Karakol, two of them on skis.
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1
Bishkek: arrival
Bishkek, about 750 m
- From Manas, a Go Bus shuttle at about 200 som or Yandex Go at 500–1,000. Warm clothes, a SIM card, som.
shuttle or taxi · under an hour · 200 / 500–1,000 som Manas terminal check for your date
New Year holidays, 1–7 January: there is a New Year tree on Ala-Too Square, and ski prices are higher.
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2
Bishkek: museums and the bazaar
Bishkek, about 750 m
- The Historical Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Osh Bazaar. Ala-Archa in winter means snow and a short day; bring dry footwear.
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3
Bishkek — Karakol
Karakol, about 1,750 m
- A marshrutka from the new bus station, the north shore with no passes. No winter timetable was found: set off in the morning and ask at the ticket office. The night GoBus (23:00 — 5:40, 700 som) replaces a night’s lodging.
marshrutka / night GoBus · 6–7 h / 6 h 40 min · 500–600 / 700 som Bishkek new bus station
A blizzard: a spare day.
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4
Karakol: the town and the springs
Karakol, about 1,750 m
- The town on foot in the morning; in the afternoon the Ak-Suu hot pools (marshrutka No. 350 from the Central Market, about 30 minutes). Check whether the pools are working on your day.
- A transfer to the ski base is arranged by the guesthouse: find out in the evening.
marshrutka No. 350 · about 30 min · check the price Karakol Central Market check for your date
Sunday morning, 7–11: the livestock market.
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5
Skiing: the first day
Karakol, about 1,750 m
- The ski base is 13 km away, the bottom at 2,400 m, more than 20 km of pistes. The 2026/27 season is announced from 18 November 2026 to 31 March 2027: check the opening with the base.
- The 2026/27 ski pass: Tue–Thu 1,500, Fri–Mon 1,800, 31 December to 12 January 2,000 som; the electronic card 300; rental 700–900.
transfer · 13 km · through the guesthouse guesthouse check for your date
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6
Skiing or Jeti-Oguz
Karakol, about 1,750 m
- A second day on the pistes — or half a day at the Jeti-Oguz rocks (in winter only the rocks) and the Przhevalsky Museum. From November to February you can book an outing with a berkutchi (eagle hunter), a guidepost of 30–60 dollars a day (one source).
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7
Karakol — Bishkek
the road home, —
- The 6:00 marshrutka arrives at about 13:00. Book a flight home with a three-hour margin, or for the next morning.
marshrutka, night GoBus · 6–7 h / 6 h 40 min · 500–600 / 700 som Karakol bus station
Substitutes
What to swap by season
What is closed or worse, and what to swap it for.
| When | What is closed or worse | What to substitute |
|---|---|---|
| Before the base opens | Skiing | The town, the Jeti-Oguz rocks, the Ak-Suu springs, the Przhevalsky Museum |
| A blizzard | Roads, lifts | A spare day in Karakol, the springs |
| 1–7 January | Few free places and high prices | Book in advance; ski pass 2,000 som |
Budget
The plan’s budget in three styles
What this plan costs per person.
| Item | Tight budget | Mid-range | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days on the spot, som | 16 700 – 27 200 | 35 100 – 64 500 | 75 900 – 132 900 |
| Transfers between bases, som | 1 000 – 1 200 | 1 000 – 1 400 | 16 000 – 19 500 |
| Total per person, som | 17 700 – 28 400 | 36 100 – 65 900 | 91 900 – 152 400 |
| In dollars (87.45 som/USD) | 205 – 325 USD | 415 – 755 USD | 1050 – 1745 USD |
Per person, two sharing a room, excluding the international flight, insurance, visas and souvenirs. The daily rates are from our guide “Budget” (NBKR rate on 14.10.2026, 87.45 som per USD). Transfers: budget, a marshrutka; mid-range, a shared taxi or a taxi for two; comfortable, a private car or a driver for the day; where there is no price for a leg, an estimate from the neighbouring leg. In the comfortable style transport may be counted twice: read the upper bound as a reserve. Days without skiing are at the winter rate without ski pass and rental. The ski pass in the rate is for the 2025/26 season (1,400–2,000 som); in 2026/27 it is 100 som higher.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can the plans be combined?
Yes: the 7-day plan plus Naryn region is almost the 10-day one. But gain altitude gradually: a night at Song-Kol after a week at 1,700 m is a jump of more than 1,000 m. One night, no alcohol, and if you have a headache, go down. check for your date
What should I bring if I am flying in June?
Warm clothes: at Song-Kol and in Naryn it is cool even in July, and snow is possible at altitude. The yurt season opens in mid-June. check for your date
Do I need a permit?
For Issyk-Kul, Kochkor, Naryn, Salkyn-Tor, Song-Kol and Arslanbob, no. For Chatyr-Kol and Kol-Suu, yes, and Kol-Suu moreover only with an organised tour. For Alay a border-zone permit is needed. check for your date
Why is there no Tash Rabat?
It is under restoration, with temporary restrictions for tourists until 2027 (Kabar, 06.08.2026), and there is no public transport. If it opens, add it as a day trip from Naryn by taxi; ask CBT the day before. check for your date
What can replace Song-Kol if the yurts are closed?
Kol-Ukok from Kochkor, or extra days on Issyk-Kul: Jeti-Oguz, Burana by taxi from Tokmok, Ala-Archa by bus No. 1. check for your date
Is it worth taking a car with a driver?
To Song-Kol, yes, if there are several of you: the price per car is shared. The comfortable style in the budget counts this option. check for your date
Can I go to Song-Kol in winter?
There are no data on the winter road. Choose the 7-day winter plan.