Ala-Kul, a place you’ll never forget.
Explore an undiscovered treasure. Based in the heart of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan has often been described as Switzerland on steroids. You should visit this wonderful country for a few reasons: Towering mountains, fantastic culture, glaciers and beautiful meadows.
This unique adventure will allow you to submerge yourself in the nomadic lifestyle. Kyrgyzstan has it all! It’s beautiful, safe and untouched.
Jack and the team have years of experience in Kyrgyzstan, having visited since 2018. They work closely with the local tourism office to deliver a second-to-none experience.
Photography Hosts: Jack Harding, Kai Grossmann, Jack Anstey, Rami Ravasio (and Visit Karakol for their fantastic support on the ground).
Price: £4750 (GBP)
Pay the deposit now and the balance 180 days before the workshop.
Upcoming dates
2024: 9 August - 20 August (one place available)
A small introduction
I can’t believe this is our fifth summer in Kyrgyzstan. We’re delighted to be sharing this opportunity with you! Read a selection of reviews here.
During previous workshops, we have had guests who are beginners and some professionals. There are no restrictions, and we welcome all levels. We all learn from each other; that’s the joy of photography. Usually, we have guests from all over the world with an open mind to travel and new cultures, which makes for a great learning experience.
Nurlan, one of our guides from the last few years! Location Ala-Kul, Karakol.
Sary Jaz, an area bordering the mountains of China.
The Plan
Day One - Bishkek
On this day you will arrive in the city of Bishkek and will be transported to the hotel. You’ll have the opportunity to relax upon arrival or explore the city. It’s quite a modern city with a lot of parks and Soviet architecture. During the evening we will have a group dinner, where you’ll have the opportunity to meet fellow guests and discuss the upcoming days. Jack, Jack and Kai will go through the itinerary with you. At this point, we can cover any questions that you may have before we begin the adventure.
A normal day at the office for a few of the very friendly locals.
Day Two - Bishkek to Karakol (via Issyk-Kul).
We will begin day two with breakfast at the hotel and then make our way in mini bus towards the region of Karakol. An area filled with beautiful meadows, canyons and endless peaks. For lunch, we will stop at a restaurant, grab some fresh air at the crystal clear waters of Issyk-Kul and make our way to a viewpoint outside Karakol for sunset. After this, we will have dinner and accommodation in our hotel in Karakol. The old town of Karakol is based at 1,760m and will be there will allow you to acclimatise.
Day Three - Karakol to Karakol Valley (via Alp Camp).
Now, we will head into Karakol Valley, an area I often call Switzerland on steroids! Our military-style truck will transport us to Alp Camp, located at an altitude of 2500m. Here, we will complete a simple three-hour hike and camp in front of the beautiful Peak Karakol. This colossal mountain with glacier sits at over 5200m and is a towering sight. We will spend the night in tents before the glacier and watch out for starry skies.
Optional - Horse riding can be possible for some hikes if you’re tired or injured.
Jack standing in-front of Peak Karakol during the first Kyrgyzstan adventure in 2018.
Huge Peak Karakol in the distance at over 5200m.
Day Four - Karakol Valley to Ala-Kul Lake.
After a good night’s sleep under the stars, we will pack up and go to the beautiful Ala-Kul lake. This will be the most challenging trip day, but it will be no problem for someone with an OK fitness level. We will make it up to this beautiful lake for Sunset camp overnight. This crystal blue lake is one of the most beautiful in the world, at approximately 3560 meters.
This route will depend on the group's fitness and could be adjusted. A group questionnaire will be shared a couple of months before the workshop and the hosts work closely with you to ensure your safety!
Forgotten Rivers Canyon, a location which is still a secret for many.
Day Five - Ala-Kul Lake to Karakol (via Alp Camp).
You’ll be awake at 5 am ready for a magical sunrise! After shooting, you can then take a couple of extra hours of sleep if you need to rest. After this, we will together hike down to Alp Camp, and our military-style truck will return us to the hotel at Karakol. We can then refresh for the evening as we recover from our couple of days in the mountains. This will be a great opportunity to back up your images and have a little look together at what you’ve already captured — dinner and stay in the hotel.
Ala-Kul, potentially the most beautiful lake in Central Asia.
Day Six - Karakol to Sary Jaz Mountains.
We will begin with breakfast at the hotel before making our way in comfortable 4x4s to the area of Sary-Jaz. We will be gifted with views of mountains at over 7000m, these are snowy all year round and are a sight you’ll never forget. We will shoot these epic peaks for sunset before setting up camp for the night. We will be looking out for local farmers and horses for photography opportunities.
For this area we will require a special permit which we will obtain before the trip for you, this is due to the location being on the border of China.
On the way through Basharin pass.
Day Seven - Sary Jaz Mountains to Karakol.
At the beginning of day seven, we will shoot the massive peaks where we wake up. If you wish, you could even shoot from your sleeping bag! Once we’ve finished sunrise and breakfast, we will journey back towards Karakol. We will explore Karkara Valley and Basharin Pass on returning to the hotel. Once back in Karakol, we will enjoy dinner and overnight at the hotel. This will be another opportunity to back up images and edit.
Day Eight - Karakol to Mars Canyon (via Arabel Plateau and Fairytale Canyon).
After a good night’s sleep in the hotel, we will head towards Arabel Plateau, located at over 4000m. After shooting this area and having lunch, we will make our way to Skazka Canyon (AKA Fairy Tale Canyon) for the early afternoon. Finally, we will shoot the sunset at Mars Canyon, a new location discovered in 2019! We can photograph the raw peaks and local eagle hunters at Mars Canyon. Overnight stay and dinner in a cosy yurt at Mars Canyon.
Forgotten Rivers Canyon with the famous Issyk-Kul in the backdrop.
Fairytale Canyon.
Day Nine - Canyon Of Forgotten Rivers and Son Kul.
We will begin the day by driving forty-five minutes to the Canyon of Forgotten Rivers. We will ascend on foot for fifteen minutes before sunrise to make it to a viewpoint looking over this incredible canyon. Once we’ve shot sunrise and had breakfast at the yurt camp, we will be driving to Son-Kul lake via Dolon pass and 33 parrots pass. We will shoot sunset at the beautiful Son Kul area, which is an alpine lake in northern Naryn Province. It lies at an altitude of 3016m and has towering peaks which often provide a magical view. We will stay overnight at a yurt camp on the edge of the lake.
Day Ten - Son Kul to Bishkek.
Our tenth day in Kyrgyzstan will begin with shooting one of the most beautiful alpine lakes in the world. Son Kul Lake is considered by many to be the ‘Jewel in the Kyrgyz Crown’ for natural beauty, and this is a land of nomadic shepherds tending their flocks. After sunrise shooting and breakfast, we will make our way back to Bishkek. There will be stops at Tuz pass with great views to Kyzart village mountains and Kilemche pasture. Dinner and overnight stay in Bishkek.
Day Eleven - Bishkek.
After many days taking images, we would like to assist you with making selections, editing and post-processing tips. This would be a final opportunity to explore the city and wind down after our busy itinerary. There is a spa at the hotel, dinner and overnight stay there.
Day Twelve - Bishkek.
Breakfast at the hotel and then you will be provided transport for your journey to the airport. Final goodbye, many hugs and kisses.
The valley of Karakol, a place I often refer to as Canada on steroids.
Mars Canyon from the sky.
What’s included?
Live support in the field from Jack and Kai. Shooting landscapes, nightscapes, automotive and lifestyle situations.
All travel from arrival until departure.
Hands-on education in both Adobe Lightroom/ Bridge/ Photoshop. We will have areas booked for working together on an evening. *Software not included.
Help with social media, utilising Instagram and how to make the best of the apps available.
General help with running a photography business and an overview of the apps and programs that the four hosts use.
Special entry permits for Sary-Jaz, arranged by Visit Karakol.
Accommodation during the entire stay. This will be in a local yurt, hotel and sometimes in a tent when we are in the mountains. As we have porters, you will never have to carry a tent or heavy kit.
Transport throughout the trip with our local drivers. This is mainly with 4x4’s and a couple of journies with minibus.
Food to ensure you don’t go hungry. We have a chef with us for the days when we’re not at hotels or yurts who is great!
What do I need to plan or pay for?
Transport to and from Bishkek from the airport. However, we can offer advice and book for you with the hotel.
Any private insurance, taxes, levies, immigration, duty and visa fees.
Camera equipment, tripod, hard drives/ SSD, computer and SD cards. Please bring your own storage devices for any content you take.
Extra accommodation and food before or after the tour. We recommend guests come a day early to be fresh for the start of the adventure and to adjust to any time differences.
Tips for any porters or the chef. This is not mandatory but they play a huge role in supporting the group in the mountains.
Canyon of forgotten rivers, a secret of Kyrgyzstan.
Mars Canyon, one of the most unique places on earth.
The magical Ala-Kul lake in Karakol. One of our sunrise spots during the trip.
Frequently asked questions
What level of photography is required?
The workshop is open to all levels of experience. The only thing I ask is that you bring some passion and energy, with the drive to be out in the field every day.
What should I bring?
Your camera equipment and a selection of clothing of course! We will be sending out a clothing list for the trip. I’d recommend that you layer up! Bring comfortable clothes for during hot days and layers for when it’s colder in the evening. A rain jacket, preferably Gore-tex and a wool underlayer will help for any shooting after dark. Merino socks and hiking boots are your best friend. As the saying goes “there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.” Temperatures during the day could hit over 25 Celsius and on an evening in the mountains close to 0 Celsius. As this is a raw part of the world we will be ready for any kind of weather.
Does Kyrgyzstan have a difficult visa process?
Not often, more than 90 countries are visa-exempt or can apply for a visa on arrival. I’d recommend checking the link here to confirm.
Where will we be staying?
Accommodation in hotels, yurt camps/ home-stays and the occasional overnight tent stay in the mountains.
Can I bring a drone?
Of course! Please don’t drone around any cities or airports. We’d recommend bringing a Mavic-size drone to give you smooth travel. Please educate yourself on the drone laws in Kyrgyzstan before arriving..
What kind of weather can I expect?
Generally, August is one of the best months for Kyrgyzstan, with clear skies and beautiful golden hours. However, this is a wild part of the world, and I wouldn’t rule snow out. We are in the mountains after all. Temperatures in Bishkek could reach 35 degrees and in the mountains around 15-20 in the day and 0-7 at night. Please bring a 0 comfort sleeping bag.
What and where will we eat?
During the hiking days, we will have porters and a chef with us. On the other days, we will eat at restaurants, our hotel or cafes. You will not be left to go hungry on this adventure!
Let the adventure begin! To apply, please make contact with the form below. Jack will then drop you an email to arrange a call to discuss the adventure. .
To view the Terms and Conditions for photography workshops under Jack Harding Photography, please click here.