All-Inclusive Day Trip to Burana, Canyons & Issyk Kul with Pickup

Burana Tower and the ruins of Balasagun

The Burana Tower stands in the Chuy Valley near Tokmok, about 80 kilometres east of Bishkek, and is the last major structure of Balasagun, a Silk Road city that flourished under the Karakhanid rulers in the 10th and 11th centuries. The brick minaret, built in the 11th century, was once much taller, but earthquakes reduced it to about 25 metres. The site is part of the Silk Roads World Heritage listing.

On this Burana Tower tour you can climb the steep, narrow staircase inside the minaret to a small platform with panoramic views of the valley and the snowy Kyrgyz Ala-Too range. Around the tower, the remains of the old city walls, mausoleums and a small museum show what life on the Silk Road was like. About 30 minutes are spent here, enough to climb and walk around.

The open-air museum of balbals

Beside the tower lies one of the most memorable sights of the day, a field of balbals collected from across the Chuy Valley. These carved stone figures, many of them over a thousand years old, were set up by early Turkic peoples as grave markers, and each face, hand and cup was carved to honour a warrior or an ancestor.

Your guide explains how the balbals were made and what they tell us about the nomadic cultures that lived here long before the Silk Road city of Balasagun. You will also see ancient millstones and petroglyph stones. Entrance to the Burana Tower and the open-air museum is included in the tour, so there is nothing to pay on the spot.

Traditional lunch at a local café

After the morning's history, the group stops at a local café for a hearty traditional lunch of about an hour. The meal starts with fresh kattama, a flaky layered flatbread, served with kaimak, a rich local cream, and hot tea, followed by a hot dish such as lagman, the hand-pulled noodles with meat and vegetables popular all over Central Asia. A vegan option is available.

Sharing bread and tea is at the heart of Kyrgyz hospitality, and your guide talks about everyday food traditions, from nomadic dairy products to the dishes served at celebrations. Halal food is widely available in Kyrgyzstan; if you have dietary needs, let us know when you book so we can pass them to the guide in advance. Bottled water is included throughout the day.

Kok-Moinok canyons

In the afternoon the road climbs towards the Issyk-Kul region and the Kok-Moinok canyons, a maze of red and orange sandstone ridges, walls and gullies shaped by wind and water. With their rust-coloured rocks and dry hills, the canyons look like the surface of Mars and are one of the most photogenic landscapes in northern Kyrgyzstan.

Your guide leads a walk of about an hour along trails into the canyons, with time for photos at the best viewpoints. Some sections are steep and loose, so shoes with good grip are essential. The hike is the most active part of the day, which is why the tour is not suitable for children under seven or travellers with reduced mobility.

Issyk-Kul Lake

The last stop is Issyk-Kul, often called the Kyrgyz Sea. Lying at about 1,600 metres in the Tian Shan mountains and stretching for some 180 kilometres, it is one of the largest mountain lakes in the world. Its slightly salty water rarely freezes, and on clear days snowy peaks line the far shore.

You spend about an hour on the shore near Balykchy at the western end of the lake. Stroll along the sand, enjoy the fresh breeze or, in the warm season from May to September, bring a swimsuit and towel for a dip in the clear turquoise water. Many travellers ask about the best time to visit Issyk-Kul: summer is ideal for swimming, while spring and autumn bring quieter beaches and crisp views. The drive back to Bishkek takes about three and a half hours.