Arrive in Bishkek; Team meet, Welcome dinner, Introductions and briefing about the trip.
Gently undulating grasslands under lofty snow-peaks and azure lakes trapped in the valleys define much of Kyrgyzstan’s landscapes. Jailoos, the rolling meadows in the hills are summer playgrounds of the magnificent Central Asian horses. Semi-nomadic shepherds riding these horses roam the countryside, directing their flock of sheep along the mountain slopes. In the months when the grass is plentiful, the herders set up their yurts, mobile circular dwellings and let their sheep and horses roam the mountains until the first snow of winter signals the time for retreat.
The undulating landscapes, meandering streams that find their way into deep-blue lakes and fast-flowing rivers, the grazing animals that often appear like shifting dots in the faraway mountains, and the bright-white yurts that shine in the soft sunlight come together to create a world that has a magnetic romance.
For the traveller and photography enthusiast, Kyrgyzstan is perhaps the ultimate amalgamation of the finest travel experiences combined with every kind of photography opportunities bundled together. There is probably no other place that offers so much diversity packed into a region of this size.
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
FRU - Manas International Airport
July 11, 2026
July 20, 2026
Suitable for the mountains and travel
USD 3,250* / Per Person
Airport pickup and drop-off at Bishkek.
Accommodation on a twin-sharing basis.
Ground transport on all days.
All meals start with dinner on Day 1 and end with breakfast on the last day.
Photography-related services as mentioned in the itinerary.
Services of your photography mentor during the tour.
Travel from your location to Bishkek.
Visa fees and Travel insurance.
Additional food/beverages consumed.
All expenses of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone calls, etc.
* GST at 5% for Indian nationals.
* Tax Collected at Source (TCS) for Indian nationals only. The Govt of India mandates TCS to be collected on all international travel bookings. The TCS amount will be remitted to your PAN account at the end of the financial quarter.
Arrive in Bishkek; Team meet, Welcome dinner, Introductions and briefing about the trip.
We are quickly dashing out of Bishkek and into the countryside. In fact, any place outside Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan is one large countryside. Our destination today is Song Kul Lake, a giant blue freshwater body surrounded by mountains in all directions. As we get closer to the lake, we are getting into the higher regions and yurts start appearing on the horizon. Soon we are in shepherd land and start encountering small flocks escorted by shepherds on horsebacks. Horses roam on the slopes and so do cows and sheep. This seems to be a region straight out of fairy tale – rolling meadows, gurgling streams, small habitations dotting the slopes and suddenly we have our first view of the huge, deep-blue Song Kul Lake.
This evening, we will spend time photographing the sunset by the lake, perhaps along with beautiful Central Asian horses striding along the landscape. And to end the day, we line up on the lakeshore to witness what could be a colourful sun setting behind the mountains across the lake.
We will be staying in yurts managed by shepherd families tonight and tomorrow!
The day will be spent driving along the meadows surrounding Song Kul Lake, visiting shepherds out in the slopes with their sheep and horses, and perhaps also visiting their yurts. The shepherds are usually welcoming and happy to spend a bit of time with the visitors, while our translator/guide will ensure that you can communicate with them. Look for a very well-spent day understanding the life of the shepherds and making a variety of images along the way.
Issyk Kul is known to be the tenth largest lake in the world by volume of water held, and the second largest lake by area at such high altitude. Except on perfectly clear days, you can’t see the opposite shore unless you carefully try to identify the barely visible pattern of faraway snow-capped mountains. Issyk Kul is surrounded by high mountains all around, several of them studded with huge reserves of snow. The water of the lake is transparent enough that at some places you can clearly see stones as deep as two meters.
We will reach Issyk Kul late in the afternoon and check-in to our hotel not far from the lake. In the evening, we visit the beautiful Skazka Valley with its Martian-like landscapes.
We have time available this morning to wander around the lake. Swimming in the lake is possible and recommended.
Central Asia’s falconry and eagle-hunting practices are legendary. Today, we will have an opportunity to meet an eagle hunter and watch the eagles fly up and land on the hand of the master. We will spend the morning hour interacting with and photographing the eagle-hunters. The birds—Golden Eagles—are so large and so graceful that you will instantly fall in love. They have a wingspan of about as much as five feet! And then they have such powerful and capable talons that you will want to keep as far from them as possible!
Drive along Issyk-Kul Lake towards Karakol. We will stop to photograph the dramatic Arabel Plateau. Arrival and city tour, including the wooden Dungan Mosque and Russian Orthodox Church.
Venture into the remote Sary-Jaz Valley, one of the remotest and least-travelled valleys by outsiders. Capture pristine mountain landscapes and spend the night camping under the stars.
Morning shoot in the high mountains. Continue to Karkyra Valley, known for its vast meadows and photogenic yurts.
Return journey to Bishkek via the northern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake. Evening farewell dinner.
Check out after breakfast at your convenience and drive to the airport.
Tour ends, a farewell to the beautiful mountains country of Central Asia.
This tour is for photographers and travellers who want to explore Kyrgyzstan.
Note that the participants are not required to be experts in photography or carry professional equipment. Beginners as well as serious photographers benefit from our personalised attention to photography sessions and on-field assistance. Non-photographers interested in exploring this beautiful central asian country are welcome too.
This tour is for everyone who would love to experience and photograph the beautiful landscapes and experience nomadic life here in Kyrgyzstan. The tour is designed to help participants learn the nuances of making beautiful photographs of landscapes through an immersive experience.
Note that the participants are not required to be experts in photography. Beginners, as well as serious photographers, benefit from our personalised attention to photography sessions and on-field assistance. Non-photographers interested in exploring the region are welcome too.
Please note that we do not offer separate non-photographer pricing.
Yes, you can. There is much enjoyment about this tour, even for people who may not be keen photographers, in seeing beautiful locales in Kyrgyzstan. Your partner will enjoy the journey with the group. However, non-photographers should note that our itineraries are designed keeping photography in mind. We are generally slower than typical travel itineraries and don’t make a long sightseeing list.
Yes. We visit many beautiful places in the region, and having a good time during the trip is as much on the agenda as photography is. However, non-photographers should note that our itineraries are designed keeping photography in mind. We are generally slower than typical travel itineraries and don’t make a long sightseeing list.
We will be accommodated in a well-equipped hotel in Bishkek. Karakol and Issyk Kul, the Hotels/Homestays are comfortable and well-managed.
The yurts are circular summer dwellings made from fabric, sheep-skin and similar materials. They are more like an upgrade from camping in tents. They are, however, equipped with comfortable and warm bedding and have plenty of room to move around. Please note that we may not always be able to provide private rooms/yurts in these places. They are more like shared spaces and may sometimes require to accommodate more than two persons in each yurt.
Sary Jaz – we will be camping out under the stars, and you will get your single expedition tent for the night under the stars.
Flights: Here is a quick look at options to fly into Bishkek. These are not comprehensive, but provide a good idea of some ways to get in.
Bishkek’s Manas International Airport (Airport code: FRU) has direct connections from Delhi, Dubai, Istambul and several Russian airports.
If you can’t find a direct flying option or you don’t find it convenient to fly through any of the above airports, perhaps the next best option is to arrive in Bishkek via Astana or nearby Almaty in Kazakhstan. Almaty (Airport code: ALA) is just 45 minutes flying time from Bishkek across the border in Kazakhstan and passengers transiting through the airport do not require a visa. Almaty International Airport is well-connected with most of the major hubs in Asia and Europe. For citizens from many countries, a free transit visa is available in Kazakhstan.
Visa: For citizens of most countries where a visa is required, a visa can be obtained online at http://www.evisa.e-gov.kg/ There is a long list of countries for which a Kyrgyz visa is not required or can be obtained on arrival. Please see your entry/visa requirement at http://evisa.e-gov.kg/get_information.php?lng=en
Bishkek, Karakol and Issyk Kul areas have pleasant to cool weather, with daytime temperatures hovering in the lower twenties (Celcius) and nighttime temperatures from ten to twenty.
Sara Jaz will have similar daytime temperatures. The nighttime temperature may drop to single digits or it may reach freezing point at night time.
It usually doesn’t rain much in Kyrgyzstan. While rainfall can occur in any season, it rarely lasts long enough to spoil an entire day’s plan.
Traditional food bases in Kyrgyzstan include a circular flat-bread, noodles, dumplings and rice. Perhaps one of the most popular Central Asian dishes that has travelled across the world is pilaf/plov/paloo/pulao, a preparation of rice and spices (This is the best we photographers can do to describe food!).
Vegetarians can sail through comfortably in Kyrgyzstan, but this may require that you speak Russian or have someone who can explain your food preference. For vegetarians travelling in our group, our guides will ensure that they are fed properly but do not expect a lot of variety. Thanks to a steady stream of European travellers who are asking for vegetarian food, restaurants and yurts in many parts of Kyrgyzstan including remote yurt camps understand what vegetarian food is, and are happy to provide it. We once found ourselves without a translator in a faraway mountain yurt, and when we said ‘vegetarian,’ the lady nodded and made a preparation of rice and a vegetable stew that would go down as one of our best meals in the country.
In the yurts, you are normally served a set meal that includes a salad, soup and a main course. As always, our tour guides will ensure that requests for vegetarian food are addressed. In most yurt camps, there will be a selection of bread, dry fruits, chocolates and fresh fruits that are always available on the table to supplement the meal.
Menus in restaurants usually have little vegetarian foods on the menu but are always willing to listen to a vegetarian’s requirement and prepare something suitable.
While we recommend that you make a note of standard and recommended safety precautions and travel advisories from your government, our own experiences in travelling Kyrgyzstan is that the country feels very safe, secure and easy to travel in without any concerns. Our impression of Kyrgyzstan is that it is perhaps as safe and worry-less as travelling anywhere can be, although we recommend that you always heed any safety and security-related advisories.
– 25% of the tour fee is charged as a cancellation fee for cancellations earlier than 120 days before the start of a tour.
– 50% of the tour fee is charged as a cancellation fee for cancellations between 119 days and 60 days before the start of a tour.
– 80% of the tour fee is charged as a cancellation fee for cancellations between 59 days and 46 days before the start of a tour.
– No refund for cancellation within 45 days of the tour start date or for a no-show.
* This tour requires a quorum of five pax.
Cancellations have to be communicated via email to photography@darter.in. The date of email receipt in our account will be used to apply the cancellation policy mentioned above.
Few people can boast of having travelled the high Himalayas like Manish has. For more than 15 years, he has explored these mountains extensively on foot, on bicycles and on two and four wheels, often making his own path. He is a versatile photographer with a history of creating brilliant images of culture, heritage and landscapes.
Photography holidays to interesting and often isolated places where you get up close with unique landscapes, traditions, festivals, and the everyday life of people with strong bonds to their roots.
Manish Lakhani
+91 99988 66669Shreeram MV
+91 97400 83260
Thanks Manish for organising a smooth and hassle-free trip as always. Also, thanks to everyone for making it such a memorable experience. Looking forward to meeting you all sometime soon.
Thank You Manish ji for all guidance . This trans will continue next few months with post processing . A very cool trip .
Thanks to everyone on a memorable trip.
It was a very memorable trip - for the mesmerizing theyyams and all you amazing people!
Thank you Manish for all your efforts in arranging this!
Thanks Manish for the great experience at my home town. Learned a lot about Theyyam and Insights on Photography from you. Hope to join more trips with you.It was great experience knowing each of you from different places and countries. We all had a great time.
All good check in as always Manish thanks for the great experience really enjoyed my time.