Issyk Kul Lake and Burana Tower Day Trip

This full-day trip from Bishkek combines two of northern Kyrgyzstan's best-known sites, the Burana Tower and Issyk-Kul Lake, giving you time to explore both at an unhurried pace over the course of the day.

A roundtrip transfer collects you from your Bishkek hotel from 10:00 am, and a guide travels with you for the full day, covering the drive out to Burana and on to the lakeshore.

The first stop is Burana Tower, a brick minaret near the town of Tokmok that stands around 25 meters tall today, the last standing remnant of Balasagun, a Silk Road capital of the Kara-Khanid Khanate in the 10th and 11th centuries. Once close to 40 meters, the tower was damaged by a medieval earthquake, and you can climb the narrow stairs inside for a view over the surrounding valley. Around its base, a field of balbal, carved stone figures once used as grave markers by early Turkic peoples, is laid out for you to walk among, and a small on-site museum displays artifacts uncovered during excavations of the wider Balasagun site, from pottery fragments to carved stonework.

From Burana, the drive continues east to Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan's largest lake and one of the largest alpine lakes in the world, set against the peaks of the Tian Shan at an elevation of over 1,600 meters. You have time to walk along the shoreline, photograph the clear water against its mountain backdrop, and relax by the lake before the drive back toward Bishkek. The route also gives a sense of the wider Chuy valley, once a key corridor of the Silk Road connecting Bishkek and the lake.

The return drive retraces the route through the Chuy valley as the day winds down. Rayna's local team arranges the transfer and guide for this trip and stays available for support throughout your day out.

• Breathe in the crisp mountain air along the shores of Issyk-Kul Lake, Kyrgyzstan's largest lake.
• Visit the ancient Burana Tower and see its historic stone carvings up close.
• Learn about the Silk Road and the legacy of the Karakhanid period from your guide.
• Take in a scenic drive through valleys and snow-covered peaks along the way.
• Travel with an experienced tour guide in comfortable transportation for the full day.

• Roundtrip hotel pickup and drop-off
• Experienced tour guide
• Comfortable transportation throughout the trip
• Visits to Burana Tower and Issyk-Kul Lake

• Food and drinks
• Anything not mentioned in the inclusions

1. Download the soft copy of your voucher from your dashboard after booking.
2. Carry the voucher on your phone.
3. The driver verifies it at pickup time.

• Carry a valid ID or passport with you during the transfer for identification purposes.
• Bring comfortable shoes for walking at both Burana Tower and the lakeshore.
• Be ready in the hotel lobby 15 minutes before the pickup time to avoid delays.
• Provide accurate details, including your hotel address, during booking to help arrange pickup smoothly.
• If you fail to report at the designated time, it will be treated as a no-show, with no rescheduling or refund.
• Timings may vary depending on traffic and other factors.