2 May to 15 May 2008

Where the caravans of the silk traders passed through in days of old, XWORLD crosses one breathtaking mountain pass after another. One of the most beautiful spots in the untamed Kyrgyzstan landscape is Ysyk-Koel. This, the second-largest mountain lake on earth, is the heart of the Tienshan, the mighty massif which rises to almost 7,500 metres at the horizon.

8 people

3,899 EUR

Individual arrival in Almaty, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Almaty

Organizational matters/vehicle instruction, sightseeing in Almaty, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Almaty

Stage for the day: Almaty – Taras (550 km), travel along the foot of the Talas Mountains, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Taras

Stage for the day: Taras – Toktogul (330 km), cross the border from Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan, cross the Ötmok Pass and Ala-Bel Pass, travel along Lake Toktogul, camp overnight at Lake Toktogul

Stage for the day: Toktogul – Suusamyr (170 km), visit a disused salt mine in Suusamyr, camp overnight at the salt mine or in the gallery

Stage for the day: Suusamyr to Lake Song Koel (200 km), cross the Kyzart Pass to Lake Song Koel via the 32-bend pass, travel through Song Koel National Park, overnight in a yurt camp by the lake

Stage for the day: Song Koel – Tash Rabat (230 km), visit the caravanserai ruins on the Silk Road, free time, opportunity for a riding trip*, camp overnight in the ruins

Stage for the day: Tash Rabat – Kochkor (230 km), cross the Dolon Pass (3,038 m), visit a felt carpet workshop in Kochkor, dinner together, overnight in hotel in Kochkor

Stage for the day: Kochkor – Karakol, Terskei Alatoo Mountains (450 km), cross the Dalpakbel Pass (3,300 m), Lake Ysyk-Koel, dinner together, overnight in hotel in Karakol

Stage for the day: Karakol – Balykchy (220 km), visit the red cliffs at Jeti Oguz, travel to the Ysyk-Koel Health Resort for an opportunity to bathe in the hot springs, camp overnight north-west of Lake Ysyk-Koel

Stage for the day: Balykchy – Ala-Arca Canyon (200 km), travel through Ala-Arca Canyon and the adjacent nature reserve, camp overnight at Ala-Arca Canyon

Stage for the day: Ala-Arca Canyon – Bishkek (150 km), cross the Ala-Arca Pass (3,598 m), the Karakol Pass (3,452 m) and the Shasby Pass (3,573 m), travel through Kegeti Canyon, discover the reserves and hot springs around Bishkek, visit the Burana Tower, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Bishkek

Sightseeing in Bishkek, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Bishkek

Free day, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Bishkek

Individual departure from Bishkek