Arriving in Bishkek in the early morning, we transfer to the group hotel, a drive of around 40 minutes. After settling in, we visit the famous Osh Bazaar, one of the largest and most vibrant bazaars in Central Asia. "A feast for your senses", this endless maze of shops and vendors sell a dizzying variety of products and produce from household items and traditional clothing to local foods and spices, exploring this market is a great introduction to Kyrgyz culture and daily life. We then embark on a walking tour centred around the Ala Too Square, where we will explore the legacy of the Soviet Union and Kyrgyzstan's independent history. Lunch will be taken in a local café before heading to Victory Square, the capital's World War Two Monument, concluding the city tour. A welcome meal is included in the evening as a chance to get well acquainted with the group and tour leader.

In the morning we leave the city towards the picturesque Son Kul Lake, Kyrgyzstan's second largest mountain lake. On our way we visit Burana Tower, one of the oldest existing minarets in Central Asia. Dating back to the 12th Century it is located in the former capital of the Karakhanid State. Alongside the tower we also find a collection of intriguing 'Balbal' stone statues - a series of curious nomadic tombstones steeped in tradition and superstition. We continue on to the town of Tokmok, not far from the border with Kazakhstan, where we meet for lunch with a Kazakh Family to learn about their culture and traditional way of life. In the afternoon we continue our journey to Son Kul Lake (3000m) where we will spend the next two nights at our yurt camp.

Today we step into the nomadic life at Son Kul Lake. Here Kyrgyz people still live in traditional yurts. Yurts are made up of a wooden frame and several felt layers, making them ideal for quickly dismantling and transporting as their nomadic inhabitants migrate from summer to winter pastures with their horses and other livestock. Already at 3000m, we will take a short acclimatisation walk as we see the local families as well as learning about the nomadic lifestyle. Tonight we spend a second night in the yurt camp.

In the morning we leave the yurt camp and drive to Issyk-Kul Lake, this time Kyrgyzstan's largest mountain lake. As we round the southern shore, we stop to visit the 'Fairy-tale Canyon' (Skazka Canyon). This aptly named canyon is full of red spires and bizarre rock formations, a stark contrast to the greenery and forest we are soon to explore in the neighbouring mountains. Formed by a unique mix of ice, water and wind erosion over thousands of years, local legend speaks of a dragon turning to red stone having flooded the ancient cities now under the waters of Lake Issyk-Kul, all because the local beauty would not marry the dragon. After this visit and a stop for lunch, we continue on towards the Tien Shan, literally translated as 'The Mountains of Heaven'. Our track takes us up a steep gorge, lined with the famous Tien Shan Blue Spruce, as we head about 25km along a mountain river in to the Terskey Alatau Range. The track eventually opens on to the so called 'Flower Meadow' (Kok Jaiyk) where we continue by vehicle to our beautifully situated yurt camp at 2250m, the starting point for tomorrow's trek into the mountains.

This morning we will meet the porter team who will support us throughout our trek, they will carry your main luggage (max 15kg) to the next camp, where you will be reunited with it each evening. Our trek starts directly from the camp, winding along the riverbank of a narrow wooded gorge. This gorge leads us up to an alpine meadow; here, walking on a carpet of wild flowers, the mountain air is sweet and clear, long views stretch across the endless mountain vistas of the Tien Shan; the perfect place to forget about life's troubles and be at one with stunning nature around you. After a rest in the meadow, we continue trekking to the tent camp (3000m) at the foot of the Telety Pass, as we approach the camp we cross a bridge over a large and fast-flowing river. There is an easy walk to a waterfall from the camp.

After breakfast we start our ascent of the Telety Pass (3800m). The first kilometre of the trail is hidden among juniper bushes before the route winds up a narrow path with a shallow ascent. The pass provides gateway to the central mountains of the Terskey Alatau and affords great views down the valley. A simple descent leads us down a wide scree slope to alpine meadows covered with endemic herbs and flowers. From here we continue along the East Telety River, where we need to make a simple river crossing as there is no bridge. The route leads us down through more woodland until we end up on an old dirt track for the final kilometre to our tented camp in the forest (2565m).

Today we will complete an 'out-and-back' hike to the foot of Karakol Peak, the highest peak in the Terseky Alatau at 5216m. We hike along the Uyun Tor River, through Blue Spruce Forest (in the summer months the flowers are in bloom in the forest meadows - snowdrops, tulips, primrose, white anemone, alpine aster, Edelweiss can all be spotted). We then climb out of the forest up to a rocky prominence to reach the Karakol Peak viewpoint. Here is a nice place to have lunch admiring the wonderful view. After this stop we walk back to the tent camp in the forest by the same route.

After breakfast we descend the gorge for about 1km before crossing the river over a bridge where the trail leads us into a forest. A rather long ascent finishes with a steep grass-covered slope on a switch-back path, arriving to the unusual 'Sirota' at 2975m. A wooden mountain hut resides here with tables, benches and a fireplace inside. We can find a number of sculptures of animals and idols carved in wood around the hut. It's a nice place to sit and relax after the long climb. The trail continues higher, leaving the forest behind we hike along the river and reach a beautiful waterfall, which flows down from Ala-Kul Lake. We pass the waterfall and ascend on a natural dam, from where we can see the lake. A final kilometre along the lake shore leads us to our next tent camp, the highest on our journey.

Ala-Kul is a special place to wake, possibly the prettiest lake in Kyrgyzstan it is surrounded on all sides by high mountain peaks, creating a dramatic natural amphitheatre to enjoy our breakfast in awe of. Translating as 'Colourful Lake' it changes colour depending on the light conditions and can appear emerald green, turquoise, light green, dark grey or even black. After breakfast we start the ascent to Ala-Kul pass (3850m), the highest point of the trek. During the ascent we enjoy wonderful views of the lake as well as the main range of the Terskey Alatau with numerous peaks such as Ak-Suu, Djigit, Karakol, Oguz Bashi and many more. From the lake edge it will take us an hour and a half to climb the pass. Descending the other side we cross the wide Keldike Valley with picturesque views and herds of cattle and flocks of sheep grazing the fertile landscapes. Upon arrival to our next tent camp there is opportunity to relax in the hot springs. There are thermal baths (up to 50C) found across the valley.

The resort of Altyn Arashan, founded in 1963, is famous for its hot mineral springs. The resort comprises of several wooden huts located on a large treeless meadow on the fir-covered banks of the Arashan River. It paints an unforgettable picture - dark green fir trees leading up to the snow-capped mountains of the 'Ak-Suu Wall' (5022m). Today we may choose to relax and enjoy the hot springs or take a day hike to Anyr Tor valley. We return to the same tent camp for dinner and our final night under the stars.

In the morning a special military truck will come to the tent camp to pick up our baggage. We will walk the first 7kms down the valley along a track through green fields with blooming flowers and crystal mountain springs (2 hours walking). On arrival at a yurt camp situated in an idyllic location by the river, we'll be collected by the 4 wheel drive vehicle and driven the final 9kms of the track along the valley (approx. 1 hour driving). In places the gorge is narrow, not more than 30 metres across with high rock walls. At the head of the valley we pass by a village - Ak Suu (the name comes from the hot springs). Here we will swap vehicles and say goodbye to the Terskey Alatau as we drive on to Karakol. After some sightseeing and lunch at a local café in the town, we continue our drive to Cholpon Ata, in the direction back towards Bishkek, where we will overnight in a hotel on the north shore of Issyk-Kul Lake.

In the morning we drive to Bishkek. En route we visit Cholpon Ata's 'Stone Garden', an open air museum containing some of the best preserved, and most accessible, petroglyphs dating from the 2nd millennium BC. Thought to be the site of an ancient open air temple, it is dotted with stone circles, tombs, balbals and depictions of animals carved into the stone - an art that gradually disappeared with the spread of Islam through Central Asia, which restricted such images. The stone drawings include impressions of tame snow leopards being used for hunting deer, there are also images of the sun and racing chariots. Lying at the foot of the Kungei Alatau Range the area provides a beautiful final view over Lake Issyk Kul. After lunch we continue on to Bishkek where we will check in to our hotel for the night. We enjoy a final group dinner together to celebrate our adventure through this magnificent country.

Your holiday ends after breakfast with an early morning transfer to the airport.