NORTHERN KYRGYZSTAN, 1- 13 JULY, 2023

NORTHERN KYRGYZSTAN

1-13 JULY, 2023

A 13-Day Photographic Journey with Jeremy Woodhouse 

Kyrgyzstan has been for many years an outstanding destination for experiencing authentic nomadic culture, where you drive through breathtaking scenery to reach remote landscapes dotted with alpine lakes. With more than 94% of the country considered mountainous, it lies on the historic Silk Route, and it is a country that possesses an extraordinarily rich history that allowed it to adopt the best of many civilizations and empires from the Scythians to the Soviets.

Rarely photographed and talked about in the western media, Kyrgyzstan is a hidden gem situated in Central Asia, at the crossroads of superpowers such as Russia, China and Turkey.

We have teamed up with local professionals to handpick the experiences for this trip. With lunar-like landscapes, canyons, waterfalls, glaciers, forests, alpine lakes, mountain gorges, mountain passes and nomadic people, the tour offers a wide variety of photographic opportunities— also, it is a perfect destination for drone photography. 

We visit some of the remotest areas of Kyrgyzstan to meet eagle hunters, horsemen, nomadic families, and farmers. While on tour we see wild flowers such as edelweiss, and animals including horses and yaks that live year-round in the high mountains. We will go on morning treks to photograph stunning glaciers and turquoise mountain lakes. 

The weather will be 30sºF in the high mountains, as opposed to 95ºF in the cities. We have scouted the accommodation, which ranges from cosy hotels in Bishkek and Karakol, to comfortable Yurt stays in more remote areas (with beds and separate showers). We will use 4WD vehicles to reach the remotest areas, and we will go on horseback to access some of our more remote photography locations. 

Join us in the summer of 2023!


Itinerary 

Day 1: July 1—Bishkek
Arrival in Bishkek. Accommodation in the hotel. Optional city tour.

O/N Damas Hotel

Day 2: July 2—Bishkek | Ala-Archa Park | Tokmok
Transfer for Ala-Arcah. National dress photo shoot by the river. For lunch we transfer to Supara Chungkurchak. Sunset photo shoot in the Chungkurchak gorge with the national folklore show band in the traditional Kyrgyz dress. Late transfer to Tokmok to the hotel Hawaii

O/N Hotel Hawaii

Day 3: July 3—Tokmok | Song-Kol
Today we travel to Song-Kol Lake, on the way stopping for lunch in Kochkor village. We will visit a local women's house where she will show her handicrafts. Felt show— many local women will be showing their fit designs by speeding the pieces on the ground— a great opportunity for a drone shot. Late afternoon arrival at Song-Kol Lake. Dine and sleep in the yurt camp. 

O/N Yurt Camp Nomad’s dream

Day 4: July 4—Songkol
Day in Song-Kol, visit the local shepherd's yurt, shepherd’s life, migrating herd of horses, and horse milking.

O/N Yurt Camp Nomad’s Dream

Day 5: July 5—Song-Kol | Naryn
Spend the morning side at the lakeside. Visit the several mountain panorama highlights like Moldo-Bel Ashuu and 32 serpentine passes. Afternoon transfer for Naryn. Accommodation in a guesthouse

Hotel Khan Tengri

Day 6: July 6—Naryn | Kel-Suu
After breakfast, transfer to Kel-Suu. Arrive at the yurt camp for a late lunch. Afternoon sightseeing and scouting the surroundings for our sunset shoot, and/or visiting the lake if the weather is favorable. Dine and sleep in the yurt camp

O/N Yurt Camp

Day 7: July 7—Kel-Suu
We will spend the whole day at Kel-Suu. In the morning we take the horses and ride up to the lake and take a boat trip along the shore. In the evening we return to the yurt camp.    

Overnight Yurt Camp

Day 8: July 8—Kel Suu | Naryn
After breakfast, travel back to Naryn. Hotel accommodation.

O/N Hotel Khan Tengri

Day 9: July 9—Naryn | Kochkor
Today we explore the Eki Naryn gorge and Solton Sary mountain valleys. On the way visit the local shepherd’s yurts and photograph the panoramic landscape views. Arrive in Kochkor village late evening. Accommodation in the hotel with dinner. 

O/N Hotel Olive

Day 10: July 10—Kochkor | Bokonbaevo 
Travel for the south lake shore of Issyk-Kul. Accommodation in the guesthouse. In the afternoon we visit the Shatyly panoramic view in the Skazka canyon for our landscape photography session.

O/N Guesthouse

Day 11: July 11—Bokonbaevo 
Early morning photographing the Kyrgyz Golden Eagle Hunters at a pre-determined location. After a late breakfast or lunch, we will visit a local farmer's house in the Jaychy valley. Late afternoon photo shoot of the horse game Kok-Boru.

Day 12: July 12—Bokonbaevo | Bishkek
After breakfast, transfer to Bishkek. Accommodation in the hotel. Farewell dinner in the restaurant.

O/N Damas Hotel

Day 13: July 13—Departure
Transfer to the airport. Departure Kyrgyzstan

Make it 3 Stans…

If, after the tour in Kyrgyzstan, you are joining us on the Pamir Highway tour in Tajikistan, we will transfer by van to Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan, where we will spend the night before catching our flight to Dushanbe on 14 July, 2023


Arrival & Departure 

Arrival & Meeting Place
Arrive Bishkek from Dubai or Istanbul

Departure
Depart Bishkek for Dubai or Istanbul on the 4AM flight


Visa Requirements

Kyrgyzstan eVisa Requirements

If you are a US or Canadian citizen planning to travel to Kyrgyzstan for the period up to 60 days you do not need to get a visa. It doesn’t matter if you cross the border by air or by land.

In accordance with the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic nationals holding any category of passports of the following countries can enter the Kyrgyz Republic without obtaining visas for a term up to 60 days.


    Average Weather in July

    Kyrgyzstan
    Warmest months (with the highest average high temperature) are July and August (15°C). The month with the lowest average high temperature is January (-14°C).

    Average low temperature in August: 2°C. Months with the highest average low temperature are July and August (2°C). The coldest month (with the lowest average low temperature) is January (-24°C).

    7 SPOTS OPEN

    Tour cost: $7,600
    DeposiT: $1,000
    Single: $250

    In some inStances a single may not be possible

    Max Group Size: 6-8


    Tour Includes

    • Private and reliable 4x4 transport during the program destinations with experienced drivers (each car 3 passengers maximum)
    • English-speaking tour guide
    • Accommodations in the guesthouses, hotels, and yurt camps
    • All meals during the tour
    • All enter fees
    • Local guides
    • Eagle hunting show
    • National dress show
    • Traditional folklore show
    • Felt show
    • Shepherd’s life (horse parades, milking the horses) 

    It does NOT include: 

    • Air Tickets from Almaty, Kazakhstan to Dushanbe, Tajikistan
    • Personal expenses 
    • Other activities out of the program:

      Paying by check

      If you would like to pay your deposit and/or balance with a check, please make the check payable to: Pixelchrome, Inc and mail it to:

      Nicole Woodhouse
      Pixelchrome, Inc, 
      605 Rouen Drive, 
      McKinney TX 75072

      Paying by Wire Transfer

      If you would like to pay by Wire Transfer please contact nicole@pixelchrome.com for bank account details.