ENRU
Request a tour
Horses grazing beside Song-Kol Lake in Kyrgyzstan

6-Day Kyrgyzstan Photo Tour from Bishkek

A private six-day photography tour through Kyrgyzstan, starting and ending in Bishkek.

Duration6 days / 5 nights
Price per person from$1020
5.0 / 5 TripAdvisor · Silk Travel guest reviewsBook this tour

Route map

Main itinerary stops. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Dotted line shows the order of stops, not the exact road. Open the route in Google Maps
Route stops (11)
  1. 1
    Bishkek — start

    08:00 departure on Day 1.

  2. 2
    Burana Tower

    Day 1 stop en route to Song-Kol.

  3. 3
    Song-Kol Lake

    Day 1 sunset photography and overnight by the lake.

  4. 4
    Fairy Tale (Skazka) Canyon

    Day 2 red-rock canyon and photography stop.

  5. 5
    Barskoon Waterfall

    Day 3 waterfall photography stop.

  6. 6
    Karakol

    Days 3 and 4 overnight base for Jeti-Oguz and Altyn-Arashan.

  7. 7
    Altyn-Arashan

    Day 4 mountain valley and hot springs; return to Karakol.

  8. 8
    Issyk-Kul south shore

    Day 5 lakeside photo stop; the exact viewpoint depends on conditions.

  9. 9
    Bishkek — Day 5

    Evening city tour, dinner and overnight stay.

  10. 10
    Ala-Archa National Park

    Day 6 mountain views and cable car, subject to operation and weather.

  11. 11
    Bishkek — finish

    Day 6 city stops and transfer to a Bishkek hotel or airport.

Duration6 days / 5 nights

Detailed tour program

  1. Day 1Bishkek to Song-Kol via Burana and Orto-Tokoy

    Burana Tower and Orto-Tokoy

    Leave Bishkek at 08:00. Visit Burana Tower, then travel past Orto-Tokoy Reservoir toward Kochkor, with scenic photo stops along the way.

    Light lunch in Kochkor and Song-Kol at sunset

    Stop for a light lunch or snack in Kochkor, then continue to Song-Kol Lake, around 3,000 m above sea level. Plan to arrive in time for sunset and photograph the lake and mountain scenery in the evening light. Enjoy a walk, a traditional dinner and an overnight stay in a yurt.

  2. Day 2Song-Kol to Kaji-Say via Kochkor and the canyons

    Travel from Song-Kol to Kochkor

    After breakfast, leave Song-Kol and travel to Kochkor for a short snack stop. Continue toward the southern shore of Issyk-Kul, with scenic photography stops along the way.

    Ak-Sai and Fairy Tale canyons

    Visit Ak-Sai Canyon and then Fairy Tale (Skazka) Canyon for photos. Continue to Kaji-Say for a traditional dinner and overnight stay.

  3. Day 3Kaji-Say to Karakol via Barskoon and Jeti-Oguz

    Barskoon, Jeti-Oguz and Karakol

    Travel from Kaji-Say to Barskoon Gorge for photos. Continue to Jeti-Oguz Gorge and visit its waterfall, then drive to Karakol for the night.

  4. Day 4Altyn-Arashan hot springs from Karakol

    Hot springs and mountain scenery

    Travel from Karakol to Altyn-Arashan. Spend the day enjoying the mountain scenery and hot springs, with lunch during the visit. Descend in the evening and return to Karakol for an overnight stay in a hotel.

  5. Day 5Karakol to Bishkek via the south shore of Issyk-Kul

    Issyk-Kul south shore photo stops

    After breakfast, leave Karakol and follow the southern shore of Issyk-Kul toward Bishkek. Stop at scenic lakeside viewpoints for photographs along the way.

    Evening in Bishkek

    Arrive in Bishkek for a short evening city tour, followed by dinner and an overnight stay in the city.

  6. Day 6Ala-Archa cable car and Bishkek city sights

    Morning in Ala-Archa National Park

    Leave Bishkek in the morning for Ala-Archa National Park. Ride the cable car into the mountains, subject to operation and weather, and stop at scenic viewpoints for photographs. Have lunch before returning to the city in the afternoon.

    Bishkek bazaar, mosque and departure

    In Bishkek, visit a local bazaar and a mosque. The six-day tour ends with a transfer to your hotel or Bishkek airport.

This route is designed around scenic photography stops at Song-Kol, the canyons, Barskoon and Jeti-Oguz, Issyk-Kul and Ala-Archa. We allow time at the best accessible viewpoints; exact stops and timing depend on light, weather, road access and the group’s pace.

Video reviews from our guests

Real travellers tell in their own words how the trip went.

Prices by group size

A private tour: the more people in the car, the lower the price per person.

GroupPer personTotal for the group
1 traveller$2820$2820
2 travellers$1570$3140
3 travellers$1220$3660
4 travellers$1020$4080

Prices in US dollars, for a private SUV tour with a driver-guide. Final cost is confirmed before booking.

Reviews about us

5.0●●●●●Excellent · TripAdvisor
S
StJFamilyFredericton, Canada · 56 contributions
●●●●●

Great Guide, Great Tour

Had an excellent three day small group tour to Altyn Emel, Kaindy/Kolsai and Charyn Canyon with Tau. Tau was a terrific guide and I highly recommend him. He was friendly and a lot of fun. He has lots of knowledge of the area and was very generous with his time to allow us all the opportunity to enjoy the area. Also takes great photos!

The places we visited on the tour are beautiful and very worth the effort to travel there. Kazakhstan surpassed all expectations and loved my time there.

d
dyCanada2Hong Kong, China · 13 contributions · Jun 2019 • Friends
●●●●●

Fantastic guide, amazing trip!

Travelled with my mom in a group tour last June. We had Tau as our guide and it was a magical trip! Great driver and conversationalist, and he took us to some beautiful landscapes and also on some unreal hikes and climbs. Also very well prepared - borrowed many blankets when the temperatures got a little chilly, and had rain ponchos on hand when the weather turned rainy.

After we returned to Almaty, Tau provided great recommendations and showed some pretty neat bars / spots around town.

Hands-down, one of the highlights for summer 2019. Highly recommended. Tau will ensure that you have a great time in Kazakhstan!

E
Excursion29147138082Oct 2025
●●●●●

6 days private tour in Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan

“Our guide, Ray, was knowledgeable, friendly, and flexible.”

l
lenb277Oct 2025
●●●●●

A great way to explore Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan

“My husband and I tailored the 6 day tour and spent 5 amazing days outdoors.”

r
rosr972025
●●●●●

Amazing 6-Day Trip

“We had the most wonderful experience in this 6 day tour.”

A
Anisa JJun 2025
●●●●●

Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan private tour

“We had an amazing time on our private tour of 6 days.”

n
nirhkangMay 2025
●●●●●

Wowed in every destinations

“Made plenty of unforgettable memories. We were well taken care of.”

4
49faridahj2025
●●●●●

A thrilling 6 day tour

“He tailored and adjusted the tour schedule according to our preference.”

1 / 8Read all on TripAdvisor
Burana Tower in Kyrgyzstan with mountains behindYurt camp in the rolling hills around Song-Kol at sunsetRed sandstone formations in Fairy Tale Canyon near Issyk-KulWaterfall in Barskoon Gorge, KyrgyzstanRed Seven Bulls cliffs at Jeti-Oguz, Kyrgyzstan

Included

  • Comfortable 4x4 SUV / Fuel
  • English-speaking guide-driver
  • Five nights of accommodation, including a yurt night at Song-Kol, and all meals during the tour (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
  • All planned entrance tickets and national park fees
  • Pick-up in Bishkek and final transfer to a Bishkek hotel or airport
  • Drinking water

Not included

  • International flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal expenses and souvenirs
  • Activity costs (horse riding and other optional activities)
  • Tips for the guide (optional)

What to bring

Footwear with good grip for slopes and uneven ground; budget trekking boots are suitable for our standard scenic toursA warm fleece, vest or windbreaker, even in summer: Assy, Arabel, Kolsai, Kaindy and evenings in Saty can be cool; a rain poncho is optionalSun hat, sunglasses and sunscreenID or passport; for an international itinerary, check the required entry documents before travellingPhone or camera, chargers and a power bankCash for personal purchases and additional servicesA small daypack and a reusable water bottlePersonal toiletries and medication; trekking poles and specialist equipment are not normally needed on the standard 5-, 6- and 8-day scenic tours; check requirements for dedicated trekking itineraries

Why Silk Travel

01

Exceptional service

A personal approach to every guest and safety throughout the journey.

02

Transport for your group

For road travel, we select the vehicle according to your group size, itinerary and assigned guide. Makes and models vary between departures. See examples of the vehicles we use.

03

Individual tours

No big groups. Change the route, take breaks, extend the trip.

04

Certified guides

Our guides speak English, are certified and have more than five years of guiding experience.

6-Day Kyrgyzstan Photo Tour from Bishkek: what to expect

This six-day private photo tour starts and ends in Bishkek. On day one, travel via Burana Tower and Orto-Tokoy Reservoir, stop for a light lunch in Kochkor and reach Song-Kol at around 3,000 m for sunset photography. On day two, return through Kochkor before continuing to Ak-Sai and Fairy Tale canyons. The remaining route includes Barskoon, Jeti-Oguz, Karakol, Altyn-Arashan, Issyk-Kul and Ala-Archa.

All six days take place in Kyrgyzstan. The tour returns to Bishkek on day five; after Ala-Archa and the city stops on day six, guests are transferred to a Bishkek hotel or airport.

Photography stops and travel pace

The route combines highland scenery at Song-Kol and Ala-Archa, red-rock canyons, the south shore of Issyk-Kul and a short Bishkek city visit. The programme leaves room for photographs at accessible viewpoints.

Mountain roads, weather and daylight can affect the timing of each stop. The guide adjusts the order and length of photo breaks to the conditions and the group’s pace.

Who this Kyrgyzstan photo tour is for

This tour suits travellers who want time to photograph Kyrgyzstan’s lakes, canyons, villages and mountain scenery. It is a six-day round trip from Bishkek with five overnight stays, including a yurt night at Song-Kol and two hotel nights in Karakol.

Best time to go and what to prepare

Yurt stays at Song-Kol normally run from late May to early September, subject to weather, camp availability and mountain road conditions. Confirm travel dates before booking; outside this period we will discuss an adjusted route. The Song-Kol yurts on our route are unheated, with shared showers and toilets outside. Bring warm layers for the night at around 3,000 m, comfortable walking shoes, sun protection and your camera equipment.

How to book

Send your travel dates, group size and pick-up location in Bishkek. Tell us whether the final transfer should be to a Bishkek hotel or the airport. We will confirm Song-Kol access, the detailed schedule, accommodation and the final price for your group before booking.

Questions about this tour

Where does the 6-day Kyrgyzstan photo tour start and end?

The tour starts in Bishkek at 08:00 on day one and ends in Bishkek on day six, with a final transfer to your hotel or Bishkek airport. All sightseeing is in Kyrgyzstan.

How do I book?

Send your dates and group size. A manager agrees the route, preferred stops, accommodation and dietary needs with you. After you confirm the itinerary and total price, pay a 20% deposit: we secure your guide and then reserve the agreed accommodation. The remaining 80% is due on day one; payment in US dollars is available. For direct Silk Travel bookings, cancellation 14 calendar days or more before the start receives a refund of 100% of the amount paid; with less notice, the 20% deposit is non-refundable. Third-party bookings follow their platform terms.

Are the tours private?

Yes. Every tour is for your own party, including solo travellers. We do not run join-in groups or add you to another booking. Your English-speaking guide adapts walks, stops and time at locations to your interests and ability within the agreed itinerary. Extra days, accommodation upgrades and optional paid activities are quoted separately.

What vehicles do you use?

Our vehicles are comfortable, air-conditioned and undergo technical inspections. We select the vehicle according to your group size, route and assigned guide, so the make and model can vary between departures. The photographs on About Silk Travel show examples of vehicles we use.

What if prices differ by group size?

The price depends on group size. Send your dates and the number of people and a manager will confirm the exact offer.

Can you arrange halal meals, vegetarian food and food allergies?

Yes. Vegetarian and halal meals can be arranged in advance, with food adapted to guests’ preferences. Tell us about allergies before booking. A severe allergy requires individual discussion and confirmation of arrangements, including any needed controls against contact with the allergen. Check the chosen tour’s meal inclusions: meals are paid separately on some itineraries.

Do you provide child car seats?

Yes. We provide a child car seat on advance request. Tell us the child’s age and height when booking so we can prepare a suitable seat before the tour starts.

How can I stay connected during the trip?

On routes through Almaty, Bishkek or Karakol, you can buy a local SIM card along the way; tell us if you would like help. Mobile coverage depends on the operator and may be unavailable in remote mountain areas.

Photos

2 photos
Pine-covered Altyn-Arashan valley near Karakol
Rocky mountains in Ala-Archa National Park, Kyrgyzstan

Free drone video of your trip

Book this tour and get aerial footage of your journey.

See offers

Book this tour

Tell us the dates, group size and places you want to see. A manager replies within an hour with a route and a fixed price.

Prefer a chat? WhatsApp · +7 (701) 740-00-33 · info@silktravel.kz

Booking and cancellation terms

Request a tour

Leave your contacts and choose how to send: we reply within an hour.

By sending you agree that we use your contacts to answer your request. Privacy policy

Places on this route

Burana TowerKochkorSong-Kol Lake: yurt stays, access and seasonal routesAksai CanyonFairytale CanyonBarskoon GorgeJeti-OguzKarakolAltyn-Arashan from Karakol: UAZ journey and hot springsIssyk-Kul LakeAla-Archa National Park
WhatsAppRequest