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Day 1
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“Manas” international airport - Bishkek – Karakol (400km).
Arrival in Bishkek early in the morning. Meeting at the airport. Transfer to the Guest House. After short rest and late breakfast transfer to town of Karakol. Lunch on the way. Arrival to Karakol.
Overnight and dinner in hotel.
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Day 2
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Karakol sightseeing tour. Karakol 1700m a.s.l.- At-Jailoo Base Camp 2500m a.s.l.
After breakfast short sightseeing tour around Karakol. Karakol town situated in the east of the lake area, at the foot of the most picturesque mountains of Tien Shan. This sleepy but very interesting Old Russian town was first erected by Cossacks in the middle of 19th century and became an important garrison settlement.
Upon arrival to Karakol check in the hotel/guesthouse. After a short rest you visit Dungan mosque, a unique construction in Chinese style, but serving as a mosque. Also you will see an Old Russian Orthodox Cathedral made of wood without any nails.
Lunch in local caf?. Transfer to At-Jailoo base camp.
Dinner and overnight in tents.
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Day 3
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At Jailoo – Inylchek glacier (18km, 6-8 hours). 2900m a.s.l.
Trekking from At-Jailoo along Inylchek River to the beginning of Inylchek glacier.
The Inylchek Glacier is the largest glacier and centerpiece of the Central Tien Shan. Extending 62km in length with a width of over 3km, the Inylchek Glacier is the third longest glacier outside the Polar Regions. It is estimated that the glacier holds enough ice to cover the entire country of Kyrgyzstan in three meters of melt water (Stewart, 2002). The first outside to travel into the area and visit the glacier was the European Pyotr Semenov in 1857. Climbing in the area began in the early 1900’s and continued through the 1930’s. Under Soviet rule, the permitting system restricted foreign access. It was not until after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 that foreign climbers began to climb in the area (Stewart, 2002).
Overnight in tents.
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Day 4
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Inylchek glacier – Putevodniy (8km, 6-8hours). 3100 m a.s.l.
Trek up along left lateral moraine of South Inylchek Glacier to confluence with Putevodnyi Glacier. Trek across the glacier.One of the most difficult parts today (especially in the second part of the day) can be the crossing a wide stream situated closer to the right shore of the Glacie. There is a big smooth sandy ground at the confluence of the right moraine of Putevodnyi glacier and South Inylchek glacier.
Overnight in tents.
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Day 5
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Putevodnyi – Merzbacher Glade (8km, 5-7hours). 3400m a.s.l.
Trekking along flank moraine of the glacier to Merzbaher's meadow. The passage during this day is not difficult and short. In the second part of the day having rest. Merzbacher glade – the last grassy place in the area located just across the unique Merzbacher Lake. There is a small metal cabin comfortable for 4 persons and a large green area around which is flat enough for camping.
Overnight in tents.
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Day 6
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Merzbacher Lake.
Rest day or radial hiking to Merzbacher Lake. Sandwiched between the Northern and Southern branches of the glacier lies the mysterious Merzbacher Lake, which form every summer and then, sometime in August, burst through the ice banks and the waters flow into the Enchilek River. (Actually, the timing varies – for example in 2002 and 2004 it happened in August, but in 2003, as early as July.) In reality, only part of the lake drains – the lake, which is 6kilometers long and one kilometre wide, is in fact divided into two by a bridge of ice and whilst the lower half empties regularly, the upper part is always full of water. Also, the lakes empty twice a year – once in the summer and once in the winter – but most people only know about the August event.
In 1903 the German geographer and mountaineer, Gottfried Merzbacher, first discovered the lake while leading an expedition into the Tian Shan Mountains aiming to reach the summit of Khan Tengri. Forced back by ice, from their originally intended route through the Byankol Pass and along the Semyenov and Mushketov glaciers, they attempted a different approach – along the Enilchek glacier. Once again they failed, but they had shown that Khan Tengri was in fact on a ridge and not in the centre of that particular knot of the Tian Shan Mountains as had been thought. The expedition will be better remembered, however, for the discovery of the mysterious lake that now bears Merzbacher’s name.
Overnight in tents.
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Day 7
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Merzbacher Lake – Komsomolskiy Glacier (10km, 6-8hours). 3800m a.s.l.
It is a long day of trekking surrounded with beautiful landscapes – snow, rocks and multi-colored ice – black, white and sometimes even striped, we cross Ice Rivers and streams.
Overnight in tents.
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Day 8
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Komsomolskiy Glacier – Dikiy Glacier (7km, 4-6 hours). 3900m a.s.l.
Trekking in this part of Tien Shan is absolutely fabulous. The distinctive characteristic of the region is a great number of nameless peaks, unclimbed yet, about 5000m above sea level high. There can be seen the traces of alpinist expeditions.
Overnight in tents.
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Day 9
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Dikiy glacier – South Inylchek base camp (5km, 2-4 hours). 4100m a.s.l.
Optionally: Climbing to Pesnya Abaya - 4901a.s.l.
Trekking Dikiy glacier – South Inylchek base camp (15km, 6-8 hours).
INYLCHEK Base Camp is ideally situated in the heart of North Tien-Shan at the South Inylchek glacier approximately at 4000m. above the sea level. It has a picturesque view of Khan-Tengri (7010m) and Pobeda (7439m) peaks.
Overnight in BC in tents.
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Day 10
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South Inylchek base camp.
Rest day at South Inylchek BC. There is fabulous view at Pik Gorkogo (Gorkiy Peak) (6050m) situated on the north side of the glacier, opposite the Inylchek base camp.
“South Inylchek” BC is ideally situated in the heart of North Tien-Shan at the South Inylchek glacier approximately at 4000m asl. It has a picturesque views of Khan-Tengri (7010m) and Pobeda (7439m) peaks. “South Inylchek” BC is open from 1st of July till 10th of September every year and might be interesting not only for alpinists, but also for usual travelers, who would like to enjoy the views of beautiful mountains on the flight by helicopter.
Overnight in tents.
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Day 11
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Around Khan Tengri Peak.
Radial hiking to Khan-Tengri Peak (7010 m a. s. l.).
The beautiful pyramid of Khan Tengri is without doubt the Jewel of the Tien Shan. It is the second highest mountain in this most northerly and remote of the great Asian mountain ranges. Among the local people, the white peaks are known as 'The Mountains of Heaven'.
Khan Tengri peak was first climbed by a Soviet expedition in 1931, via the West Col and West Ridge. Since then, most of its ridges and faces have been climbed – all by Soviet teams.
Overnight in BC in tents.
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Day 12
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Helicopter flight to Karkara helicopter pad – Issyk Kul Lake.
Breakfast. Helicopter flight from BC to Karkara helicopter pad. Transfer to Issyk-Kul Lake.
Transfer to Issyk-Kul Lake. In the afternoon three hour drive to the Issyk-Kul Lake, the second largest alpine lake in the world after Lake Titicaca in South America. Measuring 182km long by 58km wide, the lake appeared as a result of volcanic activity. It is heated from below by thermal activity and never freezes even in the depths of winter. In the summer the water temperature reaches 25-28 degrees centigrade (warmer than the air) and you can swim in the lake enclosed on all sides by the snowy peaks of the Tien Shan Mountains. Extremely deep and nicely warm over the centuries the lake has been something of an oasis in this inhospitable mountain environment. With diverse flora and fauna Issyk-Kul Lake and the surrounding environments are rightly considered to be one of Central Asia most remarkable locations.
Lunch on the way. Arrival to the hotel. Overnight and dinner in hotel.
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Day 13
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Issyk- Kul – Bishkek (250 km).
Breakfast. Time at leisure. Lunch.
In the afternoon transfer to Bishkek through tight Boom Gorge where boisterous Chu River, so much loved by rafters (routes up to 6th category difficulty!), cuts its way.
On the way visit Burana Tower (old minaret) near Tokmok town. That minaret was constructed in Balasagyn town; one of the capitals of Karakhanid State existed in 11-12 centuries AD. Explore ruins of that important trading point at the Great Silk Road and visit a little local museum telling about that civilization. Also watch a collection of Balbals, Turkic ancient tombs.
Arrival to Bishkek. Accommodation in guesthouse.
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Day 14
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Sightseeing tour in Bishkek. Full day.
The capital and industrial centre of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek is a city of wide avenues, handsome buildings and Soviet heritage. The gesturing statue of Lenin can still be seen in the city’s vast central square, yet it is the permanently snow capped Kyrgyz Alatau mountain range which towers over Bishkek providing a quite stunning backdrop.
After breakfast a short sightseeing tour in the city. Visit Manas Monument, the main national hero of the Kyrgyz people. Then excursion to the State History Museum and walking tour around main Ala Too Square to watch ceremony of changing of the Guard of Honor, Independence Monument, main governmental buildings, and finish at the Old Square with Parliament House. Transfer to the Victory Square to finish the city tour by short excursion there. After excursion tourists may go shopping in the largest department store in the city – ZUM and a colorful oriental bazaar.
Farewell dinner in restaurant. Overnight is in guesthouse.
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Day 15
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Flight back home.
Early in the morning transfer to the airport.
Departure back home.
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