Кыргызстан с Рго: Экспедиция в поисках петроглифов с археологом

Day 1. Bishkek Balasagun Chon-Kemin (225 km)

Arrival by international flight at Manas International Airport. Morning meeting at the airport with the driver and guide.Departure along the route. En route, visit the Burana Tower (the ancient settlement of Balasagun, 9th13th centuries), a guided tour of this Unesco-listed historical site.We then continue to the Chon-Kemin Valley, a national nature reserve of Kyrgyzstan.In the center of the valley is a village where we will stay overnight. Time to rest.In the evening, before dinner, we will take a walk through the surrounding foothills and hike to a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the mountain valley. Optional horseback riding or carriage rides can be arranged upon request.Possible scientific program for the first day:Field seminar and practical training in photo documentation methodology for creating 3D models using photogrammetry. We will practice on balbals and millstones located in the open-air lapidarium on the territory of the Burana archaeological site.Meals included: lunch, dinneraccommodation included: Kemin Guest House or similarrecommended flights from Moscow to Bishkek:

• Direct Tezjet flight, departure June 13 at 08:50, arrival in Bishkek at 16:10 (additional overnight stay in Bishkek required).

• Direct Aeroflot flight, departure June 13 at 21:35, arrival June 14 at 04:50.

• Direct Aeroflot flight, departure June 13 at 09:20, arrival at 16:35 (additional overnight stay in Bishkek required).

• Any other flight arriving in Bishkek no later than 09:00 on June 14.

Day 2. Chon-Kemin Boom Gorge Cholpon-Ata Issyk-Kul Lake Semenovskoe Gorge Karakol (350 km)

Departure toward the stunning mountain lake Issyk-Kul via the Boom Gorge, driving along the northern shore of the lake.Lunch in the town of Cholpon-Ata. Visit to the Museum of Nomadic Cultures — the Center of Nomadic Civilization named after Kurmanjan Datka — and the ancient petroglyphs dating back to the Saka period (8th4th centuries Bc).Boat cruise on Issyk-Kul Lake.En route, visit the picturesque Semenovskoye Gorge (Kyrchyn), the venue of the World Nomad Games.Upon arrival in Karakol, a city tour: 19th-century Russian merchant houses, the Dungan Mosque, and the Orthodox Holy Trinity Church.Kyrgyzstan is a multinational country home to more than 80 ethnic groups. One of them is the Dungan people, who migrated from China after the 1877 uprising. We will learn about their culture and enjoy traditional Dungan cuisine.Possible scientific program for the second day:Work in two teams: Documentation of individual stones to prepare photogrammetric models of petroglyph stones. Survey of the distribution area of petroglyph stones within the Ornok complex, including the search for the northern boundary of the complex.Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinneraccommodation included: Tagaitai Guest House, U Dzhamili, or similar

Day 3. Karakol Jety-Oguz Gorge Juu Ku Gorge Barskoon Gorge Bel-Tam Yurt Camp, Issyk-Kul (280 km)

At the entrance to Jety-Oguz Gorge, we admire the famous red rock formations — Broken Heart and Seven Bulls — and visit the health resort where cosmonauts Yuri Gagarin and Alexei Leonov once recovered after space missions.We continue to the Juu Ku and Barskoon gorges and visit the Manas Bowl Waterfall.Along the way, we meet local herding families grazing horses and taste kumys — traditional fermented mares milk.Later, we arrive at a yurt camp on the shore of Issyk-Kul, where there is time to swim and relax.In the evening, a folklore concert at Bel-Tam Yurt Camp performed by a renowned family music ensemble known both in Kyrgyzstan and internationally.Possible scientific program for the third day:If a drone is available, photogrammetric survey and preparation of materials for creating an orthophoto plan of medieval caravanserais and medieval burial grounds.Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinneraccommodation included: Bel-Tam Yurt Camp or similar

Day 4. Bel-Tam Bokonbaevo Kyzyl-Tuu Kochkor (170 km)

Departure toward Kochkor village along the southern shore of Issyk-Kul, through the Konor-Olon Valley with its sacred mountain.In the foothills near Bokonbaevo, we meet a berkutchi — a traditional eagle hunter — and learn about Kyrgyz falconry traditions.Lunch in Kyzyl-Tuu village at the home of a local craftsman who makes wooden frames for yurts. We visit his workshop and learn about traditional yurt construction.We then continue into the central Tian Shan Mountains, passing the Orto-Tokoy Reservoir, and arrive in Kochkor.Possible scientific program for the fourth day:If a drone is available, photogrammetric survey of medieval fortified estates and the petroglyphs of the sacred Mount Alabash. If no drone is available, photo documentation and Gps recording of the petroglyphs of sacred Mount Alabash.If time permits, photogrammetric documentation of historic gumbazes (mausoleums) in the Alabash Valley may also be conducted.If time allows, collection of surface finds from the ruins of the medieval city discovered last year. It is also possible to collect samples of metallurgical slag for metallographic analysis at the ancient metallurgical site located on the territory of the medieval caravanserai.Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinneraccommodation included: U Mila Guest House or similar

Day 5. Kochkor Son-Kul Lake (150 km)

Morning departure to Son-Kul Lake — a high-altitude summer pasture used by modern nomadic herders.Son-Kul is a stunning alpine lake located at over 3,000 meters above sea level, known for its harsh mountain climate.The road leads through high mountain passes and scenic serpentines, where herds of yaks can often be seen.Evening walk across alpine meadows; optional horseback riding available at an extra cost.Today we will observe traditional nomadic horse games: Kok-Boru (Ulak Tartysh), Oodarysh, and others.Accommodation in a yurt camp with a Kyrgyz family, offering immersion into local traditions and daily life.Possible scientific program for the fifth day:If a drone is available, photogrammetric survey and preparation of materials for creating an orthophoto plan of a Bronze Age Early Iron Age kurgan burial ground at Lake Son-Kul.Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinneraccommodation included: Yurt camp Nurguli & Bayish or similar

Day 6. Son-Kul Bishkek (370 km)

After breakfast, return to the capital. City walk through the historical center, visiting Ala-Too Square, Victory Square, and Theater Square.Dinner at a restaurant with a folklore performance by the renowned ensemble Uluu Koch, featuring traditional Kyrgyz instruments such as the komuz, temir-komuz, jyghach-ooz-komuz, dobulbas, chopo-choor (sybyzgy), and kyl-kyyak.We will enjoy Kyrgyz melodies and listen to an excerpt from the epic Manas, performed by a traditional storyteller (manaschi).Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinneraccommodation included: Central Park Residence Hotel, Bishkek, or similar

Day 7. Bishkek Departure (35 km)

After breakfast, transfer to Manas International Airport. Departure from Bishkek.Meals included: breakfastaccommodation included: nonerecommended flights from Bishkek to Moscow:

• Direct Tezjet flight, departure June 20 at 06:00, arrival at 07:50.

• Direct Aeroflot flight, departure at 06:05, arrival at 07:35.

• Direct Aeroflot flight, departure at 17:55, arrival at 19:35.

• Any other flight departing Bishkek on June 20.

The operator reserves the right to change the order of the program subject to keeping of all activities.