12 DAYS | €4295 | ADVENTURE SERIES | GROUP MAX 8
12 Days | From €4295 Twin Share
At TRVL° we are lucky to have a lot of pretty impressive friends. One of those friends is Stephen Lioy – a travel photographer, writer, and tour leader based in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Stephen has spent over a decade exploring Central Asia, with his photography and writing featured in outlets like Lonely Planet, National Geographic, BBC Travel, and more. In September 2026, Stephen will lead a brand-new TRVL° Photography Adventure in Kyrgyzstan!
Optional Add-on:
The WORLD NOMAD GAMES are being hosted by Kyrgyzstan in late August, early September, 2026. We want to offer a 5 day add-on at the beginning of this tour to experience the opening ceremonies and first couple days of the Games. If you’re interested, this a great way to kick off your adventure in Kyrgyzstan.
Main Tour: Costs, Info & Booking
Dates: September 4th -15th, 2026
Start/End City: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Days: 12
Maximum Group Size: 8
Trip Style: Adventure Series
Fitness Level 3: Moderate. Some longer hikes in the mountains.
Price: €4,295
Deposit (20%): €860
- HIGHLIGHTS:
- Street Photography in Bishkek's Bazaar
- Horse Trek from Son-Kol
- Amazing remote mountain landscapes
- Hiking and overnight in the wild
- Absolute drone paradise
- Incredible alpine lakes
- Sunset Boat Cruise on lake Issyk Kul
- Food & City tour of Karakol
Main Image Gallery
Itinerary: Main Adventure
Day 1: Welcome to Kyrgyzstan! Arrival in Bishkek & group Welcome Meeting.
Day 2: Sunrise at Burana Tower, morning orientation, street photography of Bishkek mosaics, sunset at Ak Tash panorama.
Day 3: Drive to Konorchek Canyons followed by Son Kol Shore for sunset.
Day 4: Full day Horse Trek to Kyzart, transfer to Kochkor.
Day 5: Kochkor Animal Bazaar and the Feel Nomad Canyon followed by a Salburuun Show on the shore.
Day 6: Ak Sai Panorama, abandoned Youth Lager, and Mars Canyon Starscape.
Day 7: Shatyly Panorama, Skazka “Fairy Tale” Canyon, Ak Orgo Yurt workshop and sunset at the Peak Yeltsin viewpoint in Kok Jaiyk.
Day 8: Seven Bulls Pano, Karakol City Tour and sunset at the top of the Ski Base Lift Pano.
Day 9: Bread-making workshop followed by a day of hiking from Turgen Ak Suu to Boz Uchuk, sleeping in yurts below the Boz Uchuk Lakes.
Day 10: Sunrise at Boz Uchuk Lakes then hike down Boz Uchuk Valley, stopping at Ak Suu hot springs during the transfer back to Karakol. Sunset Boat Cruise to end the day.
Day 11: Sunrise at the Karakol Wooden Church then visit the Rukh Ordo Cultural Center and Cholpon-Ata Petroglyphs en route back to Bishkek. Final group dinner.
Day 12: Departure day from Bishkek.
Add-On: World Nomad Games
Dates: August 30th – September 04th, 2026
Start/End City: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Days: 06
Maximum Group Size: 08
Trip Style: Comfort Series
Fitness Level 1: Easy. Some longer days on foot but no strenuous hiking or walking.
Price: €1,950
Deposit (20%): €390
- HIGHLIGHTS:
- WNG Opening Ceremonies
- Unique up close photo opportunities
- On the shores of Lake Issyk Kul
- Incredible mountains views
- Golden Eagle photography!
- Unique cultural photos & experiences
- Amazing local cuisine everyday
- WNG competitions on location
World Nomad Games Gallery
Day 1: Welcome to Kyrgyzstan! Arrival in Bishkek & group Welcome Meeting.
Day 2: Opening ceremonies of the World Nomad Games!
Day 3: Full day experiencing the highlights of the World Nomad Games.
Day 4: Another full day experiencing the highlights of the World Nomad Games.
Day 5: Morning at the WNG followed by the drive back to Bishkek, check into hotel and go out for final add-on group dinner.
Day 6: Chill morning followed by a Bazaar walk or Bishkek mosaics tour before full group arrives. Welcome Meeting that afternoon with full group about to begin the trip.
What’s Included:
- Twin occupancy lodging. Private single lodging is available with payment of a single supplement fee.
- All transportation during the tour, including internal flights.
- 3 meals a day within the main tour dates.
- Airport transfers at arrival/departure and during the tour.
- English-speaking local guides.
- All permits and entry fees.
- Instruction, guidance, and image reviews from our expert photography guides.
What’s Not Included:
- Airfare to and from Bishkek, airport taxes, and excess baggage fees.
- Passport and visa fees, if applicable.
- Travel medical & evacuation insurance (required).
- Trip interruption and trip cancellation insurance (optional but recommended).
- Alcoholic beverages.
- Snacks and munchies on the road.
- During WNG add-on lunch & dinner are not included to add more flexibility.
- Any accommodations or meals before or after the tour dates.
How to Book
To join the 2026 Kyrgyzstan photography adventure you’ll need to pay the deposit of 20%. Before you book, please be sure to read our cancellation policy.
The tour price is based on twin share which means that if you book solo, you’ll be matched with a roommate of the same gender. If you wish to have private accommodation throughout the trip, you’ll need to pay a single supplement – which is available on this trip and can be added to your final payment. Please contact us to request the amount.
Your Adventure Tour Leader
Stephen Lioy
Stephen Lioy is an American travel photographer, writer, and tour leader based in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan for nearly 12 years.
He is the author of the Kyrgyzstan chapter of Lonely Planet’s Central Asia guidebook and a renowned Central Asia specialist featured in numerous print and online publications. He is the perfect person to be running a TRVL° adventure to Kyrgyzstan.
TRVL° Trip Style
Adventure Series: The TRVL° Photography Adventure Series pushes beyond the familiar, taking photographers into rugged environments, unpredictable conditions, and wild corners of the world. These trips are built for those who crave challenge and authenticity. Capturing raw, unfiltered stories where comfort takes a back seat to discovery and experience.
This trip does have some challenges. The roads are bumpy, the rural accommodation are definitely rough around the edges. And, of course, you’ll have to deal a little bit with high altitude.
Fitness Level 3: Suitable for people with a decent base level of fitness who enjoy being active outdoors. At this level, participants can expect longer hikes, sometimes on uneven or steep mountain terrain. Trails may include sustained uphill sections, rocky paths, and higher altitudes, requiring stamina and balance. While no advanced technical skills are needed, participants should be comfortable spending several hours on their feet, carrying a daypack, and managing moderate physical exertion.
What is TRVL° All About?
Brendan van Son and Greg Snell – the founders of TRVL° – found themselves increasingly frustrated with the state of the travel photography tour/workshop industry.
Far too often, photography tours are built around the idea of simply taking people to famous photo spots and lining up photos for participants.
As avid adventurers and travellers, both Brendan and Greg felt like the travel experience was being sacrificed for a good photo – and not even a unique photo. Thus, TRVL° Photography was formed to put the travel experience back into the travel photography tour world.
We put a massive emphasis on the travel experience. We connect you with locals, put you in experiences that allow you to soak up the culture, and we give you photography experiences that are more natural and real.
Do we go to epic photo locations? Of course so. But our main goal is to give you the travel experience of a lifetime, and through all that lead you to photo experiences that have far more value.
Can't Join This Tour?
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