Explore Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan on a 10 day autumn adventure with alpine lakes, canyon treks, horse riding, mountain valleys and a yurt stay.
Journey deep into the wild landscapes of Central Asia, where alpine lakes reflect snow-dusted peaks, horses still cross open mountain pastures and immense canyons cut through the autumn steppe.
Over 10 days, you’ll travel from the cosmopolitan energy of Almaty into Kazakhstan’s mountains before crossing into Kyrgyzstan, a country shaped by nomadic traditions, high valleys and some of Central Asia’s most dramatic scenery. Along the way, you’ll trek beneath the peaks of the Trans-Ili Alatau, descend into Charyn Canyon, walk beside the turquoise waters of Kolsai and Kaindy Lakes, ride through remote mountain valleys and spend a night beside Issyk-Kul in a traditional yurt.
This is an active journey, but not one designed to rush you from sight to sight. There are long drives through open landscapes, quiet evenings in mountain villages, time beside lakes and moments when the experience is simply about being surrounded by extraordinary nature.
For travellers who want their adventure to feel immersive rather than packaged, this journey brings together trekking, horse riding, local hospitality and the vast landscapes that make Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan so rewarding to explore.
Travel period: September – November
Twin Sharing: SGD 3,680 per person
Triple Sharing: SGD 3,380 per person
Arrive in Almaty, a leafy city sitting beneath the mountains of the Trans-Ili Alatau. Your private transfer will meet you at Almaty International Airport and take you to your hotel, giving you time to settle in after your flight.
Depending on your arrival time, head out for a relaxed walk through central Almaty and get your first feel for Kazakhstan’s largest city. If the season allows, there may also be an opportunity to experience apple picking in the surrounding orchards, a fitting introduction to a region closely associated with the origins of the apple.
Tonight is about easing into the journey before the mountains begin.
Meals & Stay: Dinner included.
Overnight at Holiday Inn Almaty.
This morning, the city gives way quickly to mountain scenery as you travel through Medeu towards Shymbulak.
Your first proper adventure begins here with a 3 to 4-hour moderate trek through the Trans-Ili Alatau. Walk along mountain trails surrounded by steep ridgelines, open viewpoints and the clear autumn air of the high country.
Take your time along the trail, stopping for photographs and enjoying lunch in the mountains before descending back towards Almaty.
The evening is free, giving you space to explore the city at your own pace or simply rest before tomorrow’s journey into the Kazakhstan countryside.
Meals & Stay: Breakfast and lunch included.
Overnight at Holiday Inn Almaty.
Leave Almaty behind and travel east towards one of Kazakhstan’s most striking landscapes, Charyn Canyon.
Burnt-orange cliffs and weathered rock formations rise above the canyon floor, creating a completely different world from yesterday’s alpine scenery. Spend 2 to 3 hours exploring the canyon on foot, descending into the famous Valley of Castles and taking time to appreciate the scale of the landscape from both below and the rim.
From here, continue deeper into rural Kazakhstan towards Saty Village, a quiet settlement surrounded by mountains and open countryside.
Tonight brings a change of pace. Settle into a local guesthouse and enjoy a traditional home-cooked dinner, with the simplicity and hospitality of village life becoming part of the experience.
Meals & Stay: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Overnight at Saty Village Guesthouse.
Today brings together several of Kazakhstan’s most memorable landscapes.
Travel by 4WD towards Kaindy Lake, hidden among forested mountains. Beneath its blue-green water, the trunks of submerged spruce trees rise eerily from the surface, creating one of the most unusual sights in the region.
Continue towards Kolsai Lake, where you’ll set out on a 3 to 5-hour trek through pine forests and autumn-coloured mountain scenery. The trail follows a landscape of clear alpine water, steep slopes and dense woodland, with plenty of opportunities to stop and take in the surroundings.
Later, experience the area from a different perspective on horseback. Enjoy a gentle ride through the Kolsai and Saty countryside, suitable for both beginners and experienced riders.
Return to Saty in the evening after one of the most active and varied days of the journey.
Meals & Stay: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Overnight at Saty Village Guesthouse.
Today is as much about the journey as the destination.
Leave Saty after breakfast and travel through the wide landscapes of the Kegen and Karkyra valleys towards the Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan border. Mountains rise around long stretches of open steppe as you move towards your second country of the trip.
After completing the border crossing, continue into Kyrgyzstan and make your way towards Karakol, a historic mountain town close to the eastern edge of Issyk-Kul.
Arrive during the afternoon and check into your hotel. If time permits, head out for a relaxed introduction to Karakol before settling in for the evening.
Please note that operations at the mountain border are seasonal and will need to be reconfirmed for the exact travel dates.
Meals & Stay: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Overnight at Nomad Hotel.
Today takes you into one of Kyrgyzstan’s best-known alpine valleys.
Transfer from Karakol to the trailhead and begin a 4 to 6-hour trek into Altyn Arashan. The route leads through forests and mountain terrain, with high peaks framing the valley as you travel deeper into the landscape.
Enjoy a picnic lunch surrounded by the mountains before reaching one of the day’s most welcome rewards, the natural thermal hot springs of Altyn Arashan.
After hours on the trail, ease tired muscles in the warm water and enjoy the stillness of the valley before making your way back to Karakol for the evening.
Meals & Stay: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Overnight at Nomad Hotel.
Travel into the remote Jyrgalan Valley, where open grasslands stretch towards mountain ridges and horses remain an important part of everyday rural life.
Meet your local horse guides and set out on a 3 to 4-hour ride through the valley. Follow trails across broad pastures and rolling countryside, with the possibility of seeing local shepherds tending livestock against the golden autumn landscape.
There is no need to be an experienced rider. The day is designed to give you time to settle into the rhythm of travelling through the countryside on horseback.
For those who would like to explore a little further on foot, an optional 1 to 2-hour walking excursion offers more time for photography and enjoying the valley at a slower pace.
Return to Karakol for your final evening in this part of Kyrgyzstan.
Meals & Stay: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Overnight at Nomad Hotel.
Today, follow the southern shores of Issyk-Kul, one of the world’s great high-altitude lakes.
Your first stop is Jeti-Oguz, known for its distinctive red sandstone formations rising dramatically above the surrounding valley. Continue towards Barskoon, where mountain streams and waterfalls break through the landscape.
Later, explore Skazka Canyon, also known as Fairy Tale Canyon. Walk among sculpted clay formations coloured in shades of red, orange and gold, with shapes carved over time by wind and water.
By evening, arrive at your lakeside yurt camp.
Settle in beside Issyk-Kul, enjoy a traditional dinner and watch the light change across the water as the sun drops behind the mountains. Tonight, instead of a hotel room, you’ll sleep in a yurt beneath the Central Asian sky.
Meals & Stay: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Overnight at Yurt House.
Wake beside Issyk-Kul and enjoy a slower start to the day.
Take a peaceful walk along the lakeshore or, if the weather allows, enjoy an optional swim before beginning the journey west towards Bishkek.
The road takes you away from the lake and towards Kyrgyzstan’s capital, bringing a gradual return to city life after several days among mountains, villages and valleys.
After checking into your hotel, spend the afternoon discovering Bishkek. Explore Ala-Too Square, wander beneath the trees of Oak Park and experience the lively atmosphere of Osh Bazaar.
It is a chance to see another side of Kyrgyzstan before your final day in the mountains.
Meals & Stay: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Overnight at Plaza Hotel.
Your journey ends where much of it has unfolded, beneath the mountains.
After breakfast, travel south of Bishkek to Ala-Archa National Park, where steep valleys and alpine peaks rise just beyond the capital.
Enjoy a short walk through the valley, breathing in the crisp mountain air and taking time for final photographs. After days of trekking, riding and crossing some of Central Asia’s most remarkable landscapes, it is a fitting final encounter with Kyrgyzstan’s mountains.
Return to Bishkek for lunch before your private transfer to the airport for your international departure.
You leave with memories not only of turquoise lakes, canyons and high passes, but of the quieter moments too, sharing meals in mountain villages, travelling on horseback through open pastures and waking beside Issyk-Kul with the mountains on the horizon.
Meals & Stay: Breakfast and lunch included.
