Our off Road Trip. 12 days through Kyrgyzstan.
We started in Bishkek, a example of Soviet city planning,
Afther Bishkek we drive to the Toktogul. The road takes us West and is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful of the country. The views are breath-taking, with impressive mountains and valleys. We cross the Tue Ashuu pass, more than 3000 meters high. From Toktokul we drive on to Arslanbob, where some 1500 ton of walnuts are produced per year, making this the world’s largest natural source of walnuts.
Day 4, we drive to Kazarman, a very remote village in the mountains. Nomads have lived here for centuries without changing much in their way of live. Today we will see this from close by. The route winds through mountains and along valleys
Day 5, After breakfast we head for the one but largest lake in Kyrgyzstan: Son Kul. Surrounded by mountains at 3013 meters, this is the highest altitude lake of Kyrgyzstan. For centuries nomads have come here to rest and use the pastures for their cattle. You will see herds of sheep, goats, yaks, horses and the odd cow. We eat and sleep in yurts, the traditional transportable tents of the nomads. They consist of a wooden frame and three layers of felt. Waterproof and warm.
We drive on day 7 to the Tash Rabat Karavanserai on the Silk Road. This is a stone, castle-like construction dating back to the 14th century of which nobody really knows its purpose. It is unique. Tash Rabat lies at an altitude of 3200 meters in the middle of the Tian Shan mountain range. It hides a total of 31 chambers; its walls are a meter thick.. We will cross the 3000-meter-high Moldo Ashu pass, again of wondrous beauty.
Day 8, After lunch we drive through the mountains to Naryn, a town in the middle of a valley.
Day 9: Naryn – Tosor – Tamga. Just as we think things can’t get any more spectacular, we cross the Tosor pass: 3950 meters high. I won’t forget this easily. The views are unbelievable and change all the time. We have a picnic, enjoying the silence and clean air. In the evening we arrive at Lake Issyk Kul, “the pearl of Central Asia”. It is a vast, somewhat saline lake lying at 1608 meters high. In spite of this altitude and winter temperatures as low as -25° centigrade.
Day 10: Tamga – Karakol, Today we go through the Jeti Oguz Valley. Jeti Oguz is famous for its red rock formations, called The Seven Bulls. We also pass the Mountains of the Broken Heart. These names come from legends, which we will tell you about when we’re there. We drive on to Karakol, a pleasant town. We visit the Dungan mosque, built in Chinese style, completely in wood without using any nails. We also visit an old wooden Orthodox church.
Dag 11: Karakol – Cholpon Ata.We drive along Lake Issyk Kul and come through the Semenovskoye and Grigorievskoye Valleys. These valleys twee valleys meet at the end. You drive in through one and out the other. We will see many yurts, have a picnic in nature, enjoy the peace and quiet.
Dag 12: Issyk Kul Lake – Bishkek. We are back in the inhabited world and head for Bishkek. We visit a vast plain full of rocks and stones, many of which showing drawing going back to 800 BC. We make a detour to see the Burana Tower, a minaret from the 11th century. In the days of the Silk Road it indicated there was town here. This has now completely disappeared. Next to the tower there is a field with so-called Balbans (stone warriors).