3 Weeks Backpacking Kyrgyzstan Itinerary

Kyrgyzstan Itinerary Map

3 Weeks Kyrgyzstan Itinerary

Bishkek is the perfect base to launch yourself into many of the mountains surrounding this capital city. First, spend the day walking around the city, checking out the many brutalist architectures like the Manas statues and Ala Too Square. You can get a free audio walking tour app here to learn more about the city’s top attractions.

Looking for a place to take a break? Drop by Sierra Cafe to have a nice coffee. At night, if you are interested in experiencing the party scene, do check out No Name Bar for a nice beer or Tuman for a crazy psychedelic trance club. If you are looking for a rooftop bar, check out Bar 12.

The next day, go on a day trip to Ala Archa National Park with an organized tour and hike the valley along the river to immerse yourself in the amazing nature the country has to offer. The national park is only 30 minutes away from the city, so you can easily do it in a day.

The third day, take another taxi or a marshrutka towards Issyk Kul lake and drop off at Konorchek canyon and start hiking. The Konorchek canyon is considered a hidden gem since not many people know where it actually is. If you decide to hike the canyon, you will be rewarded with this beautiful orange landscape, a good change from the green you saw in Ala Archa National Park.

You can also visit Konorchek Canyon and Burana Tower, another remnant of the Ancient Silk Road, all in one day with a Konorchek Canyon & Burana Tower 1-day tour, which will save you a ton of trouble trying to manage your way around marshrutkas here.

The fourth day, take a marshrutka towards the town of Tokmok and, when you arrive, get a taxi to the Burana Tower and spend an hour there, climbing the tower and appreciating the surroundings. The trip should take half a day. Spend the last half of the day chilling out in the city and enjoy a selection of proper Kyrgyz food at Navat or Cafe Faiza.

If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.

For more things to do in Bishkek, check out:Top 10 Things to Do in Bishkek

Karakol (4 nights)

Karakol is where you start one of the most epic treks you can do in the Issyk Kul region: the Ala Kul trek. The trek will take you around 3 days of hiking, starting from Karakol Valley and ending in Altyn Arashan. So, spend your first day preparing for the trek by buying supplies, etc.

If you are there between July and August, you might not have to carry a tent and food supplies as there will be stops where they rent out these items so you can keep your pack light. Trust me, you will appreciate it when you are on the trail. Be sure to check with the people at Duet Hostel for the latest information about these stops before embarking on the hike.

The trail can be quite tricky to navigate since there aren’t many signs along the trail, but I have a solution for you. Get Maps.me app and save the region offline. This will come in handy when you are at an intersection and you don’t know which trail to take. The app will give you a quite accurate general direction you can take. Be careful as it is not uncommon to see people taking the wrong trail and wasting precious hours of daylight.

It is a tough trail that takes you up some crazy steep mountains and lots and lots of uphill in a few hours, so prepare accordingly.

That said, the view up on the pass (3800m) is one of the best views you can get in Kyrgyzstan.

If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.

If you are short on time, here is:how I trekked the Ala Kul trail in 2 days with a daypack

Kadji Say (1 night)

After a crazy trek, don’t you wish you could chill out at a beach, dipping your tired feet in the water? Well, this is the place to be. Kadji Say is a small beachside town in a remote part of Issyk Kul. It is the best place to have a quiet evening watching the sun set behind the Tian Shan mountain range and listening to waves crashing on the second highest alpine lake in the world.

The next day, you can take a taxi to Fairy Tale Canyon and hike around the beautiful, jagged terrain for a few hours. You will see why it is named that when you get there.

Kochkor and Song Kul (2 nights)

From Kadji Say, you can take a shared taxi to Kochkor, where you can start planning your trip to Song Kul Lake. There are a few options for you to get to Song Kul Lake. You can either go with one of the tourism organizations like CBT (Community Based Tourism) and Shepherd’s Life, or you can go on this 2-day Song Kul Lake organized tour.

I chose the Shepherd’s Life because they were one of the more affordable options I found, and I had a wonderful time with them. The transportation is not inexpensive because you are ascending up to 3000m through a desert-like landscape, so don’t be surprised when you see the cost. However, I can assure you that it was definitely worth the price.

Osh (2 nights)

From Kochkor, you can take a marshrutka back to Bishkek and either take an overnight bus or a flight to Osh. Osh is like a different country compared to Bishkek due to the number of Uzbeks living in that region. Spend one full day hiking the Sulayman Hill and enjoying all the tasty food they have in the city while paying half the price you would in Bishkek.

If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips.

Arslanbob (2 nights)

From Osh, you can take a 2 PM marshrutka directly to Arslanbob. When you arrive, go directly to the CBT office, and they will assign you a homestay. Spend your full day here hiking to the two waterfalls near the village, which should take you an entire day. The trail is quite tricky to navigate, so be prepared.

Sary Chelek (2 nights)

Sary Chelek is a beautiful biosphere reserve, and within the reserve, there is a stunning lake tucked away in the Chatkal mountains. Here, you can camp and experience nature at its best, untouched by any kind of tourism.

It is quite a challenge to go from Arslanbob to Sary Chelek, but not impossible. You have to take a bus back to Jalal Abad and from Jalal Abad to Tash-Komur, and then change to another bus to go to Kara-Jigat. From there, you will have to hitchhike 25 km to Arkyt.

Another option is to arrange transportation with CBT if you have enough people to share the cost with. This is definitely a much easier and more convenient option than taking multiple marshrutkas.

BONUS Tip: Start your trip to the Pamir Highway (8 days)

If you are planning to do the Pamir Highway, Osh is the best place to start planning your trip. I was able to find a bunch of other people to share the cost of the jeep through this Caravanistan Forum.

Looking for a complete Pamir Highway itinerary and travel guide?8 Days Pamir Highway Itinerary

Why Visit Kyrgyzstan?

First off, within Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan has one of the easiest entry procedures of all the Stan countries, with many nationalities being exempt from the visa requirement. And even if you are not exempt, you can easily obtain one at Manas International Airport with options ranging from 30 to 90 days for single or multiple entries. Additionally, you can use Bishkek as a base to obtain visas for surrounding countries such as Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan.

Secondly, Kyrgyzstan has some of the best mountains and countless alpine lakes in Central Asia. You can trek, ride horses, or spend some time with nomadic families in traditional yurts. There is something for all types of travelers here.

When To Visit Kyrgyzstan?

Summer (July-August) is, hands down, the best time to visit Kyrgyzstan. Most of the hiking trails are open during this time, with some trails having locals providing supplies and tents along the way, so you don’t have to carry your own stuff. Additionally, during the high season, there is a higher chance for you to join up with other travelers, rent a jeep, and go somewhere remote without having to pay for the entire jeep by yourself.

How to Get to Kyrgyzstan?

There are plenty of flights via Aeroflot or Air Astana that fly into Bishkek from Europe and Asia. Be sure to browse through Skyscanner or Expedia before comparing prices so that you will get the cheapest flight possible.

How To Get Around Kyrgyzstan?

Like with all other post-Soviet states, a marshrutka (minivan) is the cheapest way to get around the city or between cities. You can easily go to a bus station in Bishkek, and there will be people shouting the name of the city you want to go to. Just tell one of the people there, and you will be on your way. However, keep in mind that they will leave only when the van is filled up, and some roads are terrible, so expect to spend a full day traveling somewhere.

Within cities like Bishkek or Osh, you can easily find a shared taxi or private taxi on the streets, but make sure to negotiate the price.

For traveling from Bishkek to Osh, you have two options. One is a $30 flight, which takes around 30 minutes. The other option is a $15 bus that takes approximately 15 hours. If you are short on time, I suggest going with the plane. However, if you have time to spare and want to see the countryside, a bus is a better option for you.

What to Pack for Kyrgyzstan?

As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Kyrgyzstan:

Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.

Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.

Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi’s jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.

Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).

Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It’s lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.

Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker’s towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.

Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.

Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.

Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It’s a total game-changer.

Universal Adapter: You’ll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.

Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.

Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It’s large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it’s stylish as hell!

Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can’t go wrong with Osprey.

For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.

Further Reading for Central Asia

Are you looking to dive deeper into Central Asia? Here are a selection of travel guides and itineraries for traveling in Central Asia.

Looking for a complete one-month itinerary and a travel guide for Central Asia? One Month Itinerary For Central Asia

For a complete itinerary in Kazakhstan, check out: 10 Days Backpacking Kazakhstan Itinerary.
Looking for things to do in Almaty, Kazakhstan? Check out the 10 Best Things to Do in Almaty.
Want to get off the beaten path in Kazakhstan? Shymkent is an awesome place to visit. Here are the 9 Best Things to Do in Shymkent.
Want to visit Turkestan in Kazakhstan? Check out our Complete Travel Guide to Turkestan.
If you want to witness the city of the future in Central Asia, Astana is definitely the place you want to be. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Astana.
Bishkek, the capital city, is a great place to use as a base for you to obtain all tourist visas for the surrounding countries like Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, and the city has a ton to offer. Here are the top 10 things to do in Bishkek.
Kyrgyzstan is known for its mountains, and one of the best treks you can do is the Ala Kul trek. Here’s a travel guide for trekking the Ala Kul trail and how you can do it in 2 days.
The Pamir Highway is one of the best road trips you can do in your life and it begins in Osh, Kyrgyzstan and ends in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Here’s a complete guide on how to plan your Pamir Highway road trip.
If Kyrgyzstan is known for its mountains, then Uzbekistan is known for its culture and architecture. With several ancient Silk Road cities, there is a ton to see in Uzbekistan. Here’s a 2-week itinerary and a travel guide in Uzbekistan.
Last but not least, one of the hardest countries to visit in Central Asia is Turkmenistan, and you will require a lot of planning before you can visit. Here’s a complete travel guide with a one-week itinerary for Turkmenistan.
You can watch all my travel videos from Central Asia here: Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan.
Looking for more travel guides for Central Asia? You can find more on my Central Asia Travel Guide page.
For more of my travel guides, visit the All Destination Travel Guide page.