Hike in Ala-Archa National Park
Across the Celestial Mountains
Kyrgyzstan & Kazakhstan Adventure
Cross mountains, lakes, canyons and cities on a remarkable journey through Central Asia.
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About this trip
Kyrgyzstan & Kazakhstan Adventure
Beginning in Bishkek and ending in Almaty, this expedition connects two countries through mountain environments and living nomadic traditions.
Students hike, meet local communities and stay in yurts while investigating physical geography, Soviet history, borderlands and sustainable tourism.
Why this journey?
A journey beyond the classroom
- Hike in Ala-Archa National Park
- Experience traditional yurt hospitality
- Explore mountain lakes and gorges
- Learn how yurts are made
- Cross the land border into Kazakhstan
- Walk through Charyn Canyon
DID YOU KNOW?
The experience
Highlights of the journey
Meaningful places selected for their educational value and cultural significance.
Ala-Archa
01
Experience traditional yurt hospitality
Son-Kul & Issyk-Kul
02
Explore mountain lakes and gorges
Kolsai & Kaindy
03
Learn how yurts are made
Charyn & Almaty
04
12 days of discovery
Suggested itinerary
This itinerary can be adapted around your curriculum, group requirements and preferred travel dates.
Day 1
Arrival in Bishkek
Arrive in Bishkek and transfer to your accommodation. Settle in and prepare for a journey through Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan’s cities, mountain environments and traditional communities.
Day 2
Ala-Archa and Bishkek
Walk through the dramatic mountain landscape of Ala-Archa National Park. Return to Bishkek to visit Victory Square, Oak Park, Ala-Too Square and a lively local bazaar.Travel by high-speed train to Samarkand. Explore Registan Square, Siyob Bazaar, Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Ulugh Beg Observatory, Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum and the beautifully decorated Shah-i-Zinda necropolis.
Day 3
Burana Tower and Chon-Kemin
Travel to the historic Burana Tower and its collection of ancient stone figures. Continue to Chon-Kemin Gorge for a supervised horse ride through the mountains and an introduction to rural Kyrgyz life.Visit the Afrasiab Museum to see ancient murals reflecting connections between Persia, Central Asia and China. Continue to the Tomb of Saint Daniel before travelling onwards to Bukhara.
Day 4
Son-Kul Lake and Yurt Stay
Climb into the mountains to reach Son-Kul, a high-altitude lake surrounded by summer pastures. Explore the lakeside landscape before dining and spending the night in traditional Kyrgyz yurts.
Day 5
Yurt-Making and Issyk-Kul
Journey towards Issyk-Kul and visit Kyzyl-Tuu, where a local family will demonstrate how traditional yurts are made. Continue along the lake’s southern shore to Tamga village.
Day 6
Kyzyl-Suu Gorge
Hike through Kyzyl-Suu Gorge and examine its mountain scenery, rivers and vegetation. An optional supervised visit to nearby hot springs may be included before continuing to Karakol.
Day 7
Karakol and Jety-Oguz
Explore Karakol’s Russian Orthodox church, Dungan Mosque and museum before visiting Jety-Oguz Gorge. Enjoy a walk among its distinctive red sandstone formations and mountain scenery.
Day 8
Kyrgyzstan to Kazakhstan
Cross the border into Kazakhstan and continue to the Kolsai Lakes. Explore Kolsai-1 and its surrounding forest and mountain landscape before staying in Saty village.
Day 9
Kaindy Lake
Travel to Kaindy Lake, famous for the tree trunks rising from its turquoise water. Enjoy a walk and picnic while learning how a landslide and earthquake created this extraordinary environment.
Day 10
Charyn Canyon
Explore Charyn Canyon and walk among its dramatic sedimentary rock formations. Learn how erosion shaped the landscape before continuing to Almaty.
Day 11
Discover Almaty
Visit Panfilov Park, Zenkov Cathedral, the Museum of Musical Instruments and the Central State Museum. Continue to Medeu to see the mountain setting surrounding the city.
Day 12
Departure from Almaty
Enjoy breakfast before transferring to Almaty International Airport. The tour concludes after an immersive journey through Central Asia’s landscapes, cultures and communities.
This is a suggested itinerary. The order of activities may change according to flight schedules, local conditions and availability. Your Pathfinder specialist will confirm all timings and visits in the final programme.
TRIP AT A GLANCE
MADE FOR YOUR
SCHOOL
Stay
11 nights selected hotels
Transport
Coach, rail & flight
Guides
English-speaking
Programme
Fully adaptable
Kyrgyzstan & Kazakhstan
Cross mountains, lakes, canyons and cities on a remarkable journey through Central Asia.
YOUR TRIP PACKAGE
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Return international flights, including taxes
- Carefully selected accommodation
- Breakfast and evening meals
- Private airport transfers and in-destination coach travel
- Experienced English-speaking local guides
- Guided visits and activities shown in the confirmed itinerary
- Pre-departure planning and a detailed information pack
- Free staff places based on the agreed group size
Not included: travel insurance, visas where required, personal spending, optional activities and tips. Your final quotation will clearly confirm all inclusions.
Learning beyond the classroom
Designed to support curriculum learning
Guided visits encourage students to question, reflect and connect places with classroom studies.
Investigate evidence, chronology and the ways the past shapes modern communities.
History
01
Explore landscapes, settlement, tourism and relationships between people and place.
Geography
02
Encounter sacred architecture, shared heritage and cultural identity.
Religious Studies
03
Develop respectful enquiry, independence and responsible global citizenship.
Citizenship
04
Students will return with…
Stronger subject knowledge
Improved confidence and teamwork
Greater cultural awareness and empathy
Memories that bring learning to life
Teacher reassurance
Planned with care. Supported throughout.
Student wellbeing sits at the heart of every Pathfinder journey. We work with school leaders and experienced local partners to create a safe and rewarding programme.
01
Risk-aware planning
Information and support for school risk assessments.
02
Trusted partners
Experienced guides, accommodation and transport.
03
Group requirements
Support with dietary, medical and accessibility needs.
04
Before you travel
Dedicated planning and detailed final information.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Can the itinerary be adapted?
Yes. We can adjust the programme to suit your curriculum focus, preferred pace, group needs and available budget.
Are free teacher places available?
Free staff places are available according to the agreed pupil-to-staff ratio and will be confirmed in your quotation.
Can dietary requirements be accommodated?
Most dietary requirements and allergies can be accommodated when provided to us well before departure.
When should we book?
We recommend enquiring as early as possible, particularly for larger groups or specific travel dates. This gives your school the best choice of flights and accommodation.
Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School
"Working with Hisham and the Pathfinder Trips team made organising our school trip incredibly straightforward. Every detail was carefully planned, communication was excellent throughout, and the itinerary was perfectly tailored to our students. Their professionalism and attention to detail gave us complete confidence, allowing both staff and students to enjoy an unforgettable educational experience from start to finish."
Tauheedul Islam Boys
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Ready to book?
Where will the classroom take you?
Tell us about your school, preferred dates and group size. Our educational travel specialists will create a tailored itinerary and quotation.
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Address
41 Victoria Street, Blackburn, England, BB1 6DN
Connect
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