SRAS Site Visits

June 12

City Walking Tour. Welcome (traditional) lunch. Early evening city walking tour.

Overnight in Bishkek. Included meals: B, L

June 13

After breakfast we will drive to the legendary Burana Tower, the surviving minaret of medieval Balasagun, once a thriving Silk Road city. Explore the site with its stone statues and ruins that bring history to life. Continue to a local village for a delicious home-cooked Dungan meal, where you’ll enjoy unique flavors and learn about the traditions of this Chinese Muslim community. In the afternoon, head to the scenic Ysyk-Ata Gorge, known for its fresh mountain air, beautiful views, and natural hot springs. Take a relaxing walk through the gorge and, if you wish, soak in the mineral waters that locals have cherished for centuries. On our way back to Bishkek we will stop to see the Ata Beyit Memorial.

Overnight in Bishkek. Included meals: B, L

June 14

After breakfast we will enjoy a lecture on contemporary Kyrgyzstan while visiting our host school – the London School of Languages and Cultures. Meet some of our students and teachers and also see the dorm (next door). Presentation about opportunities for study abroad and faculty-led programs in Central Asia. The rest of the afternoon is free. We will give you a list of recommended museums to check out.

Overnight in Bishkek. Included meals: B

June 15

After breakfast at your hotel, we set off from Bishkek towards Ysyk-Köl, following a route that forms part of the ancient Silk Road once travelled by merchants, pilgrims, and caravans. En route we will make a short stop to enjoy freshly baked kattama bread and traditional milk tea in an authentic railway-side setting and then continue towards Ysyk-Köl, the world’s second-largest alpine lake, located at around 1,600 meters above sea level and designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Arrive at a traditional yurt camp nestled among colorful canyons, alpine meadows, and the shimmering waters of Ysyk-Köl. Surrounded by open landscapes and silence, settle into one of Kyrgyzstan’s most iconic forms of accommodation.

After lunch at the yurt camp, explore the eco-yurt farm and learn about semi-desert plants, permaculture, and local conservation efforts. Our trip is supported by our partners at Deep Roots, and you will learn how they to preserve and restore plants connected to the cultural and ecological heritage of Ysyk-Köl – including willow species traditionally used in yurt construction and sea-buckthorn, an important plant for the lake’s ecosystem.

Join your hosts in preparing a traditional Kyrgyz dinner. Learn about local ingredients and cooking traditions, and then share the meal around the table.

As evening falls, explore the spiritual worldview of Kyrgyz nomads, where ancient Tengri traditions continue to coexist with Islam, and discover how nature has long been understood as sacred and deeply interconnected with human life.

Overnight in Yurt Camp. Included meals: B, L, D

June 16

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before heading out to Bokonbaev village, known for its living traditions of felt-making, handicrafts, and eagle hunting. Spend the morning with a local artisan in a hands-on workshop exploring the traditional art of felt-making. Learn about preparing and working with wool, traditional felting techniques, natural dyes, and the meanings behind Kyrgyz ornamental patterns. Discover why felt has been such an important material in nomadic life — from yurts and household objects to clothing and ceremonial items.

After home-cooked lunch with a local family, we will visit a local eagle hunter and discover the centuries-old tradition of hunting with golden eagles.

Learn how the birds are raised, trained, and cared for, and hear stories passed down through generations. Beyond the practice itself, the encounter offers a window into the close relationship between people, wildlife, mountains, and seasonal landscapes that has shaped nomadic life.

After dinner with the eagle hunter’s family we will take a walk through the village, noting the slower rhythm of rural life.

Overnight in Bokonbaev village. Included meals: B, L, C

June 17

Enjoy breakfast before setting off towards Kyzyl-Tuu, a village renowned for its generations of yurt makers.

Spend the morning with a yurt-making family and take part in assembling a traditional Kyrgyz yurt. Learn how the different wooden and felt elements come together, how the structure is adapted to nomadic life, and why the yurt remains such an important symbol of Kyrgyz cultural identity. The experience is connected to Deep Roots’ work on yurt heritage preservation, including a project documenting and supporting traditional yurt-making knowledge.

After lunch with the family, we begin the return journey to Bishkek via the scenic Orto-Tokoy Reservoir, with opportunities to stop for photographs or exploration.

Our final stop, near Bishkek, is with a Turkish family, discovering the distinctive cuisine and cultural traditions of one of Central Asia’s many communities. Arrival in Bishkek approximately 8pm.

Overnight in Bishkek. Included meals: B, L, D

June 18

Today we have a couple of options and we will discuss them with you earlier in your stay. For those who care to join, we will arrange a visit to the Chingiz Aitmatov House Museum.

Chyngyz Aitmatov was a world-renowned Kyrgyz author and diplomat whose powerful, folklore-infused novels made him the most celebrated literary figure in Soviet and modern Kyrgyzstan. His works elevated Central Asian culture and identity onto the global stage, cementing him as a revered national symbol and the defining voice of Kyrgyz literature. This museum is a very good place to purchase his books, including in English, and with unique covers not available elsewhere.

After our visit we’ll have one last stop for tea and the rest of the day is yours to explore.

The other option for those of you craving more outdoors and hiking is for you to join one of the regular groups going going from Bishkek to Ala Archa National Park. We will give you guidance on this option.

Overnight in Bishkek. Included meals: B

June 19

Departure from Bishkek.

Note regarding airport transfers.As you are all very capable travelers and it is quite inexpensive if you navigate it on your own, ideally with Yandex, we do not include these. We acknowledge that in Bishkek it is a more “chaotic” experience navigating the throng of drivers fighting for your attention and if you would prefer that somebody meet you (perhaps more important for the non-Russian speakers), the cost is $35.

June 15

Today is a flight day and we are planning around morning arrivals. If you feel you will need more rest, you may want to arrive a day earlier – contact us about adding a day of hotel. Otherwise we will plan on an afternoon city tour and welcome dinner.

Overnight in Riga. Included meals: D

June 16

We will start the day with a short breakfast briefing, followed by a visit to our host school, Liden & Denz Riga, and to the nearby YoungFolks NGO. We will then head over to the Riga Central Market– the largest in Europe and a place where Russian is widely spoken. We will sample traditional Latvian and Russian foods and also explore the neighborhood, including the nearby Orthodox church and the Academy of Sciences building. 

Optional: Evening lecture on language policy in Latvia (with SRAS students)

Overnight in Riga. Included meals: B, L (sampling at market)

June 17

After breakfast we will visit housing options available to SRAS students and after lunch (on own) visit the Riga Media Hub. We’ll wrap things up with a Black Balsam tasting and Q&A.

Overnight in Riga. Included meals: B

June 18

Breakfast (depending on flight time) and departure. See section below about coordinating transition between sites.

Note: We were unfortunately unable to time this summer in a way that would allow participants to join all three of the sites visits (Bishkek, Riga, Tbilisi/Yerevan). If you would still like to include Riga, contact us – we can always accommodate individual visits.

June 19

Today is a flight day so we will stay flexible with an orientation meeting, get our bearings in the neighborhood of our guesthouse, and point the way to a light lunch or dinner. 

Overnight in Tbilisi. 

June 20

After breakfast we will have a short briefing, review our itinerary for the next few days, and then embark on a city walking tour to introduce you to the city and its extraordinary history. Lunch. In the afternoon, you can either have free time (we recommend visiting the National Museum, National Gallery, or the Wine History Museum) or join our Caucasus Site Manager for an exploration of the “Russian” spaces in Tbilisi. Throughout this day we will discuss current events in Georgia.

Overnight in Tbilisi. Included meals: B, L

June 21

After breakfast, we will depart for Kakheti, the wine region to the east of Tbilisi. This will be a culinary adventure day of wine tastings, workshops/demos, and traditional Georgian foods. 

Overnight in Tbilisi. Included meals: B, L

June 22

We start our morning with at the Ukrainian House in Tbilisi for breakfast and a briefing on SRAS programming in the Caucasus. We will then visit NovaMova School, host to our Georgia-based programs. Observe classes, meet our students, and then meet with a representative from the US Embassy. The rest of the day is free, with an optional visit to one of our host families.

Overnight in Tbilisi. Included meals: B

June 23

After breakfast we will depart by private van to Yerevan. Along the way we will make stops for traditional lunch and tolma masterclass and also to see Dilijan and Lake Sevan. Check-in to our hotel and free evening.

Overnight in Yerevan. Included meals: B, L

June 24

After breakfast at our hotel, one of our regular lecturers will introduce us to Armenia, sharing many of the perspectives that students gain in their programming here. After lunch (on own) we will visit the Parajanov Museum and enjoy an evening walking tour of Yerevan.

Overnight in Yerevan. Included meals: B

June 25

Breakfast. Our first stop is the Genocide Memorial. We then continue on to visit the Greco-Roman colonnaded Garni Temple, built in the first century AD as a temple to the sun god Mihr. Enjoy a demonstration oflavash making and a traditional lunch, then transfer to Geghard Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage Site), which began construction in the fourth century after Armenia’s conversion to Christianity. We will also stop to walk at Symphony of Stones.

Overnight in Yerevan. Included meals: B, L

June 26

Breakfast. Khachkar carving workshop and rest of day is free. We will provide a list of recommendations.

Overnight in Yerevan. Included meals: B

June 27

Breakfast. Departure.

Included meals: B

Because Warsaw can act as a transit hub for Riga and Tbilisi, we will work individually with participants interested in visiting our sites in Warsaw. For example, those planning to visit Riga and Tbilisi/Yerevan can do an extended transit in Warsaw on Friday, June 18 and see quite a bit. 

Bishkek to Tbilisi.There are daily flights with Turkish Airlines. On Saturday there are also flights with Azerbaijan Airlines. We suggest looking at both multi-city routing and separate segments with Turkish to compare prices.

Riga to Tbilisi.There are daily flights via Warsaw (LOT), with the one variable being how many hours you are in Warsaw. If you take the very first flight of the day you can fit in a full day seeing Warsaw.

Departure from Yerevan.Turkish Airlines does not fly to Yerevan. Bear this in mind if you are doing an overall Turkish Airlines routing. Pegasus Airlines (budget) flies nonstop from Yerevan to Istanbul, but it is to SAW airport, not IST.

Many of you may be vistiting other regional sites as well, so the above is general guidance related to taking part in multiple SRAS site visits. 

You will stay in single rooms in centrally located guesthouses/hotels, inclusive of breakfast. If you can team up with another participant, it is possible to save some money by shifting to twin rooms.

Breakfast is included at your guesthouse/hotel. Other meals as indicated in itinerary. Vegetarian/Vegan and other dietary needs will be accommodated.

Bishkek can be quite hot, with temperatures reaching into the 80s and at times considerbly higher already in June. Temperatures in June in Georgia and Armenia are warm, with an average temperature in the 80s (F) during the day, falling to 60s at night. Riga is more temperate with an average temperature in the 70s (F) during the day, falling to 50s at night.

When completing the short application for this trip, you will pay a $50 non-refundable fee that is applied to the total trip cost. When your participation is confirmed on our end (you will receive an email) a deposit of $450 is due within 7 days to hold your space. Full trip payment is due 45 days prior to arrival.

Due to the limited space on these tours we need to keep strict cancellation terms. Full trip cost is subject to the following schedule:

• If we receive cancellation in writing 20+ days before the program start, 20% of the total trip cost is refundable
• If cancellation occurs less than 20 days before the program start, no refund is guaranteed.

Because we know things happen, if somehow we are able to fill your spot, we will endeavor to refund as much as possible. If you have things going on in your life (or in the life of those around you) that could lead to cancellation, we recommend securing travel insurance.