Work & Travel

Digital Nomad Escape

18 days of work and travel: Issyk-Kul, Karakol and a yurt camp at Song-Kul

Duration: 18 days
Route: Cholpon-Ata – Karakol – Song-Kul
Group: 1–12 people, private tour
Season: June – mid-September

Tour Highlights

Work with views of Issyk-Kul: hotels chosen for reliable Wi-Fi.
Starlink in a yurt camp at Song-Kul, 3,016 m above sea level.
Ancient petroglyphs of Cholpon-Ata.
Grigorievskoe and Semenovskoe gorges and the red rocks of Jeti-Oguz.
Hot springs near Karakol and in Altyn-Arashan.
A cooking session with a Dungan family.
Skazka Canyon and the eagle-hunting tradition.
A felt workshop in Kochkor.
Horse riding and nomadic life at Song-Kul.
A local SIM card with mobile data.

Day-by-Day Programme

Day 01Bishkek — Cholpon-Ata
- Meeting at the airport or your hotel in Bishkek.
- A local SIM card with mobile data.
- Drive to the northern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake.
- Check-in and time to set up your workspace.
- Welcome dinner.
- Overnight in Cholpon-Ata.
Day 02A Working Day by Issyk-Kul
- Work with views of the lake.
- Later — the beach, a swim or a walk along the shore.
- Overnight in Cholpon-Ata.
Day 03Work and Ancient Petroglyphs
- Morning for work.
- The open-air petroglyph site in Cholpon-Ata, where ancient rock carvings have survived for centuries.
- Overnight in Cholpon-Ata.
Day 04Work and Time on the Water
- A working morning.
- Free time by the lake.
- Optional stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking or cycling along the coast (at extra cost).
- Overnight in Cholpon-Ata.
Day 05Work and Sunset by the Lake
- A day for work and online meetings.
- Evening by the water and sunset over the lake.
- Dinner at a lakeside café.
- Overnight in Cholpon-Ata.
Day 06Grigorievskoe and Semenovskoe Gorges
- A break from your laptop.
- Two scenic mountain gorges with rivers, spruce forests and alpine meadows.
- Guided walk and a picnic in nature.
- Overnight in Cholpon-Ata.
Day 07Free Day
- Work, beach time, yoga or your own plans.
- Overnight in Cholpon-Ata.
Day 08Cholpon-Ata — Karakol
- Drive to Karakol and check-in.
- Walk around the town.
- The wooden Dungan Mosque and the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church.
- Overnight in Karakol.
Day 09Work and Jeti-Oguz Gorge
- Morning for work.
- The red sandstone formations of Jeti-Oguz: the Seven Bulls and the Broken Heart.
- Overnight in Karakol.
Day 10Work and Hot Springs
- Time for your work commitments.
- Relaxing at hot springs near Karakol.
- Overnight in Karakol.
Day 11Karakol: Work and Dungan Cuisine
- Work in the first part of the day.
- Visit to a local market.
- Cooking session with a Dungan family: ashlyan-fu and homemade noodles.
- Overnight in Karakol.
Day 12Altyn-Arashan Gorge
- Off-road drive into the high mountain valley of Altyn-Arashan.
- Natural hot springs.
- Overnight in Karakol.
Day 13Karakol — Southern Shore of Issyk-Kul
- Drive along the southern shore of the lake.
- Skazka (Fairy Tale) Canyon with its colourful rock formations.
- The Kyrgyz tradition of eagle hunting near Bokonbaevo.
- Overnight at a guesthouse on the southern shore.
Day 14Kochkor — Song-Kul Lake
- Felt workshop in Kochkor, known for traditional shyrdak carpets.
- Over a mountain pass to Song-Kul Lake (about 3,016 m).
- Yurt camp with Starlink satellite internet and a generator.
- Overnight in a yurt camp.
Day 15Working from a Yurt and Horse Riding
- Morning work via Starlink.
- Horse ride across summer pastures with local hosts.
- Overnight in a yurt camp.
Day 16Discovering Nomadic Life
- A quiet working morning or a digital detox — your choice.
- Walks by the lake.
- The way of life of a nomadic family.
- Starry night sky.
- Overnight in a yurt camp.
Day 17Song-Kul — Bishkek
- Goodbye to the high-altitude lake.
- Return to Bishkek and hotel check-in.
- Free time.
- Overnight in Bishkek.
Day 18Departure
- Airport transfer or end of the tour in Bishkek.
- Timing depends on your flight.

What’s Included

Private transport with a driver throughout the route
17 nights of accommodation as per the itinerary
Daily breakfasts
Full board on the southern shore of Issyk-Kul and at Song-Kul
Local SIM card with mobile data
Starlink and a generator at Song-Kul
Guide services on sightseeing days
Excursions to Grigorievskoe and Semenovskoe gorges, Altyn-Arashan, Skazka Canyon and the eagle-hunting demonstration
Felt-making workshop in Kochkor and horse riding at Song-Kul
Entrance fees and site charges for visits in the programme

What’s Not Included

International flights
Visa fees, where applicable
Medical and travel insurance
Lunches and dinners around Issyk-Kul and in Karakol, unless stated in the programme
Optional activities: SUP, kayaking, cycling, massage
Personal expenses

On the map

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Good to know

Part of the route runs at about 3,000 m (Song-Kul). At this altitude headaches, weakness and poor sleep are possible.
If you have heart or lung conditions, or are pregnant, talk to your doctor before the trip.
Nights at Song-Kul are cold even in summer: bring warm clothes.
We confirm the final list of services and accommodation details when you book.

Tour FAQ

01Will the internet be good enough for work?

Hotels in Cholpon-Ata and Karakol are selected for reliable Wi-Fi. Song-Kul generally has no mobile coverage or mains electricity, so the camp runs on Starlink and a generator. Transfer days are not suitable for a full remote-working schedule.

02What are the conditions at Song-Kul?

Nights at Song-Kul can be cold even in summer — bring warm clothes. Yurt accommodation is simpler, and bathroom facilities may be shared.

03When does the tour run, and can it be tailored?

The tour runs from June to mid-September. Difficulty is easy to moderate. The route and accommodation level can be tailored by arrangement. Price available on request.