9D8N Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan Winter Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Almaty (Lunch/Dinner)

Arrive at Almaty airport and transfer to the hotel. After lunch, embark on a sightseeing tour of the majestic Charyn Canyon. Return to Almaty for overnight stay.

Accommodation: Hotel in Almaty

Day 2: Almaty City Tour (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

After breakfast at the hotel, we will visit Medeo and Shymbulak located at an altitude of 1,691.2 meters above sea level. The Medeo Ice Rink is the highest mountain sports complex, with an ice surface of 10.5 thousand sqm which can be used for ice skating, ice hockey and figure skating. The Shymbulak Ski resort is located in the picturesque Zailiuskiy Alwatau mountains. You can take the 3 ski lifts at the resort to reach the highest point at 3200m above sea level. Head back to Almaty. Visit the Central Museum of Kazakhstan, Independence Square, Koktobe (cable car to the top, and  back to the mountain). Overnight stay at hotel in Almaty. 

Accommodation: Hotel in Almaty

Day 3: Almaty to Bishkek (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

After breakfast, explore Almaty's Green Bazaar, Panfilov 28 Warriors Memorial Park, and Assumption Cathedral. Drive to Bishkek and overnight stay at a hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel in Bishkek

Day 4: Cholpon Ata and Issyk-Kul Lake (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Visit Chyngyz Aitmatov's cultural town, Cholpon Ata, which features a museum dedicated to his works. The museum includes a memorial, sculptures, exhibition halls representing nomadic and ethnic symbols, as well as photo, portrait, and music halls. Surrounding the museum are monuments to various thinkers, philosophers, and public figures, each with its own ancient legend.

Accommodation: Issyk-Kul Hotel

Day 5: Karakol City Tour (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Stroll around Issyk-Kul Issyk-Kul Lake, watching the sunrise and seeing the slow pace of local life, after lunch, head to Karakol. The city of Karakol is located in the eastern part of Issyk-Kul Province , 400km from Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

Accommodation: Hotel in Karakol

Day 6: Karakol Ski Resort or Jety-Oguz Sanatorium (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

After breakfast at the hotel, visit the Karakol Ski Resort. Karakol ski resort is a great place for both professionals and amateurs, since the resort offers tracks of various levels of complexity, and the height the rope way is up to 2500 meters. The ski base enjoys a panoramic view of the Chui Valley and the Kyrgyz mountains. 

If you don't want to go to the Karakol Ski Resort, you can stay at the sanatorium and enjoy the hot springs.

The Jety-Oguz Sanatorium, located in Kyrgyzstan, is well known for its natural beauty, healing mineral springs, and therapeutic treatments. Visitors come to the sanatorium to enjoy the picturesque surroundings of the Jety-Oguz Gorge. It's a popular destination for those seeking relaxation, rejuvenation, and natural healing in a serene mountain setting.

Note: the group cannot split up, have to do the same activity, either ski resort/hot spring. 

Accommodation: Hotel in Karakol

Day 7: Bishkek (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Drive to Bishkek, check into a hotel, and enjoy the scenic journey. Overnight stay in Bishkek.

Accommodation: Hotel in Bishkek

Day 8: Ala-Archa National Park (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Embark on a hike in Ala-Archa National Park and explore its scenic trails. Return to Bishkek for overnight stay.

Accommodation: Hotel in Bishkek

Day 9: Bishkek City Tour and Departure (Breakfast)

Visit the Victory Square, Ala-Too Square, Oil Painting Street in  Bishkek. Victory Square is a public square in the city of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. It is dedicated to the Victory over Nazi Germany. Ala-Too Square was originally called "Lenin Square", but after the country's independence in 1991, it was renamed Ala-Too Square. Depending on time, we will visit the local bazaar, do some shopping, and then transfer to the airport.