11 Day Kyrgyzstan Photography Tour

Likely to sell out soon
Free Tutorials
International Photo Workshop
Best combination

Description

Summary

Tour starts
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Minimum age:
None

Description

Discover Kyrgyzstan, a little-travelled destination in central Asia which encompasses some of the world’s most breathtaking and dramatic scenery. Surrounded by the spectacular snow capped Tien Shan Mountains, Kyrgyzstan has unique potential for landscape photography, with its wonderful combination of rugged, natural beauty, hospitality and authentic cultural traditions. Witness the charm of alpine lakes set amidst the open wilderness of remote and mountainous terrain as we embark upon an exclusive photography workshop to this one-of-a-kind destination. From photographing endangered wildlife to immersing yourself in the nomadic lifestyle of the local shepherds as they tend to their livestock across the undulating plains, this incredible adventure in Kyrgyzstan has it all. 

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Included

All transport, including airport transfers and transit in all-terrain vehicles
Accommodation in hotels, yurt camps and homestays. Twin share or double.
Photography tutoring as well as landscape photography and postprocessing workshops from experienced English-speaking guides
Meals
Permits to natural parks and museums

Map

Attractions

Activities

Bird watching
Photo Tours
Photo Workshop

Daily itinerary

Day 1
11 Day Kyrgyzstan Photography Tour - day 1

Day 1 - Arrival

You’ll arrive on your flight to Bishkek, where you’ll be transported to your hotel in the capital city of Kyrgyzstan. Situated in the Chu River Valley, this relatively new and modern city is the gateway to the Kyrgyz mountains where we’ll be heading in the next few days. There will be some time during which you’ll be able to freshen up, rest or explore the city at your own pace during the day. Colourful bazaars, stunning Soviet architecture, open-air markets, lush green parks and a craft beer brewery are but a few of the fascinating things to do in Bishkek. In the evening, we’ll meet together as a group for a welcome dinner, during which you’ll get to know your fellow travellers who will be joining you on this trip. Your photography guides will go over the plan for the next few days and you’ll have an opportunity to ask any questions that you may have. You’ll retire for the night at the 4* Ambassador Hotel.
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Day 2
11 Day Kyrgyzstan Photography Tour - day 2

Day 2 - Issyk-Kul Lake

We’ll have breakfast at the hotel before boarding our minibus at 8am to begin the journey towards Issyk-Kul Lake – the seventh deepest lake in the world and the biggest lake in all of Kyrgyzstan. Its name means “hot lake” in the Kyrgyz language and despite being surrounded by a mountainous landscape, the lake itself never freezes over in winter due to its salt content. Spread over 6000 square kilometres, this lake with its spectacularly clear water and sandy beaches is an astonishing sight, with the sprawling Ala-Too mountains in the background. The drive to the lake will take us about 4 hours. Along the way, we’ll stop by at the Kyzyl-Tuu Village, where we’ll have the chance to meet a local family and to experience their daily routine as they set about making wooden structures that are used for constructing yurts. Thereafter, we’ll continue on towards the village of Tosor, where we’ll stay for our first night in a fascinating yurt camp by the shores of Issyk-Kul lake. There will be a chance to rest and have lunch, before we explore the camp itself. The area is made all the more interesting by land art and other objects dotting the landscape, put there by artists from all over the world. The atmosphere is artistic and unique, with this yurt being a favourite place to visit amongst movie directors, yoga trainers and photographers alike. In the evening, we’ll make our way to the fairytale Skazka canyon, famous for its sandstone shapes and unusual colours that mark the rocky landscape. We’ll spend our time exploring different compositions, capturing the spectacular scenery during the sunset whilst scouting for points from where we’ll be able to photograph the sunrise on the next day. Once the sun has set, we’ll make our way back to the yurt camp for dinner.
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Day 3
11 Day Kyrgyzstan Photography Tour - day 3

Day 3 - Skazka Canyon, Jety-Oguz Gorge

On day three, we’ll rise early and head back to the Skazka canyon for sunrise. We’ll then return to the yurt camp for breakfast before packing our belongings and continuing on our journey across the mountainous landscape. It will take us 3 hours to reach our next destination – the Jety-Oguz gorge. This picturesque ridge of red sandstone rocks is famous amongst locals for resembling seven large bulls. It makes for an incredible sunset location and we’ll spend the afternoon exploring it in detail. We’ll stay in another yurt camp tonight, where we’ll have dinner and experience the local way of life of the shepherds and their horses.
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Day 4
11 Day Kyrgyzstan Photography Tour - day 4

Day 4 - Jety-Oguz Gorge, Karakol

On day four, we’ll return to the Jety-Oguz gorge for a sunrise shoot. Thereafter, there will be some time to explore the surrounding highlands before we leave the yurt camp and head towards the Rheina Kench eco farm. The farm is well-known in the area for its special horse breeding traditions, as well as the fantastic cuisine produced from its plantations. We’ll spend our time photographing the horses set against the backdrop of the Tien Shan mountains, before sampling some of the delicious local fare for lunch. Once we’ve had our fill, we’ll travel for 20 kilometres to Karakol – the fourth largest city in Kyrgyzstan. Our accommodation for the night will be the Green House Hotel. We’ll settle in for the afternoon over a post-processing masterclass, before heading out as a group for dinner at a local restaurant.
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Day 5
11 Day Kyrgyzstan Photography Tour - day 5

Day 5 - Barskoon Gorge, Tosor Village

On day five, we’ll rise early and make our way to the maal bazaar. This local cattle market is a great place for practicing reportage photography, as the local herdsmen go about their business. We’ll then return to the hotel for breakfast before packing our belongings and travelling towards the Barskoon gorge. This hidden beauty on the southern shore of Lake Issyk Kul is famous for its high waterfalls and spectacular mountain scenery. We’ll stop by at a waterfall for a brief shoot before having lunch at a local cafe. From there, we’ll travel another 2 hours to the Arabel plateau – a highland valley which provides stunning views of the surrounds. This amazing place features winding rivers amidst mountainous landscapes and beautiful marshes. It’s the perfect place for both landscape and aerial photography. We’ll spend our time exploring for compositions until sunset, when we’ll make our way down to the familiar yurt camp in Tosor village for dinner. We’ll stay overnight in the Tosor yurt camp.
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Day 6
11 Day Kyrgyzstan Photography Tour - day 6

Day 6 - Song Kul Alpine Lake, Kochkor Village

There will be another chance to photograph the Skazka canyon at sunrise, before we return to the yurt camp for breakfast. We’ll then pack our belongings and make our way to the Song Kul alpine lake. We’ll stop for lunch along the way at the large but sleepy Kochkor village, whose inhabitants are mainly farmers and shepherds. It is famous for its traditional felt carpets, shyrdak, which are crafted by the local women. There will be the chance to purchase a carpet, as well as other souvenirs. From there, we’ll continue our journey to Song Kul, reaching the lake by sunset. There will be an amazing vantage point from which we will shoot the rolling green pastures surrounded by the Tien Shan mountains, before we reach our main sunset location at the shore of the lake. Once the sun has set, we’ll head to our yurt camp for dinner before retiring for the night.
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Day 7
11 Day Kyrgyzstan Photography Tour - day 7

Day 7 - Kok Boru

Day seven begins early with a sunrise shoot, though there will be the opportunity to rest after breakfast. You’ll then have some time to spend at your leisure until lunch, when we will meet as a group for post-processing classes and a critique session. After lunch, we will bear witness to the horse game of Kok Boru – a traditional Kyrgyz horseback competition. During this game, men on horseback play what is essentially polo with the head of a goat. Though not for the faint of heart, this spectacle provides an intense insight into the local culture, as well as presenting an amazing opportunity for photography. Towards sunset, we’ll trek by foot to a spectacular vantage point where we’ll capture the last rays of the sun over the landscape. After that, we’ll return to the yurt camp for dinner and a much-needed rest.
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Day 8
11 Day Kyrgyzstan Photography Tour - day 8

Day 8 - Kara-Koyun Valley, At-Tash Ridges

On day eight, we’ll have breakfast before continuing our journey towards our next yurt camp at the Kara-Koyun valley. There will be time to explore the local area and the At-Tash ridges around the yurt camp at your leisure, before we meet as a group for lunch. For those who are willing, there is the option of taking a short hike towards a viewpoint from which we’ll be able to capture the sunset. We’ll then return to the yurt camp for dinner in the evening.
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Day 9
11 Day Kyrgyzstan Photography Tour - day 9

Day 9 - Tash Rabat, Naryn

On the morning of day nine, we’ll travel further into Kara-Koyun gorge for a sunrise shoot over the ancient Tash Rabat. This 15th century stone fortress is set upon a spectacular mountainous backdrop and provides many compositions for photography, both inside and out. We’ll explore the area before returning to our yurt camp and travelling to the town of Naryn. Once we arrive, we’ll check into the Khan-Tengri hotel before meeting as a group for lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we’ll drive to the Naryn River Valley, where the Naryn and Eki-Naryn rivers meet. It’s a pretty prairie filled with herbs and wildflowers, making for stunning photography. Once the sun has set, we’ll return to the hotel for dinner.
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Day 10
11 Day Kyrgyzstan Photography Tour - day 10

Day 10 - Bishkek

This will be our final day of photography. In the morning, we’ll pack our belongings and make the 320 kilometre journey back to Bishkek. The drive will be long, though we’ll break it up with a stop at Kochkor village for lunch. Once we arrive at Bishkek, we’ll check in to the Ambassador hotel. There will be a chance for you to freshen up and to rest before we meet as a group for our final farewell dinner.
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Day 11
11 Day Kyrgyzstan Photography Tour - day 11

Day 11 - Departure

This day marks the end of your spectacular adventure capturing the remote and unique landscape of Kyrgyzstan. When it is time, you will take your transfer to the airport for your flight home or onwards to your next destination.
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Departure Schedule

8-18 July 2020 – Guided by Albert Dros & Anton Agarkov

Disclaimer

We highly recommend that you get a travel and medical insurance. Your own domestic medical insurance and private health scheme will not cover you whilst you are overseas.

The tour is always dependent on weather, as the weather can indeed be highly unpredictable.

Video

Guides

Albert Dros

Albert Dros

English, Dutch
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Albert is a Dutch photographer with an extreme passion for landscape photography. He aims to capture places and certain moments in the best way possible by using his own vision and unique style. His style consists of strong vibrant, sometimes fairytale like images in which he expresses himself. Albert has a background in Design, Video and Animation. He has worked for himself his whole life and has as a Master Degree in Multimedia & Entertainment Technology.

Albert loves to travel. Next to photo tours and workshops he likes to explore the world on his own or with friends. He has a passion for visiting the most beautiful spots in the world, whether known or unknown. Challenging himself is what keeps him motivated. Albert loves planning his shots carefully.

He does this with great detail to make sure his efforts have the highest chances of success. He sometimes plans days, weeks, months or even years to get that particular shot he wants. Challenging himself combined with planning and writing a story of the whole process is Albert’s specialty. He is always looking for new challenges and adventures. He is able to find beauty anywhere in the world: from misty mornings in the forests minutes away from his home to rooftops of the highest buildings in Dubai to remote locations in Iceland or the US. Next to taking photos, Albert also likes to teach and write about photography.

He occasionally writes for the most well known Photography magazines both on - and offline. Along that he has worked with many brands in the photography industry and is an official Sony Ambassador of Imaging.

His work has been featured in some of the biggest news outlets & magazines worldwide, like TIME, National Geographic and Adobe.

Anton Agarkov

Anton Agarkov

English
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Anton Agarkov is a travelling photographer and journalist with more than ten years of shooting experience.

Anton shoots mostly landscape and travel stories and organises photography workshops and expeditions in Russia and Central Asia in which he spends more than 200 days a year. His outmost interest lies in the territories of natural parks and reserves as well as hard to reach territories.

Anton has vast experience in shooting in harsh weather conditions such as snow and sandstorms, extreme cold and heat. He is a Tamron ambassador in Russia and pro-rider for Marmot Russia, working on a regular basis with Nikon, Lowepro, Carl Zeiss and multiple other brands. In addition, he organises lectures and workshops on traveling and photography.

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