What to do around Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan

Lake Issyk-Kul, the pearl of Central Asia

From its warm, salty waters to its golden sandy beaches, only the surrounding snow-capped peaks betray the true nature of Lake Issyk-Kul, nicknamed the “Kyrgyz Sea”. Perched at an altitude of 1,609 m, Issyk-Kul is one of the world’s largest high-mountain lakes. Bordered to the north by the Kungey Ala-Too mountains and to the south by the Terskey Ala-Too mountains, it is fed by the hundreds of rivers that flow down these mountains.

Benefiting from a temperate microclimate, the shores of the lake have attracted mankind for millennia. The many archaeological sites scattered around the lake are a reminder of the region’s prehistoric and ancient civilizations.

Today, a well-maintained asphalt road leads around the lake. In contrast to the north bank, which saw the emergence of numerous tourist infrastructures during the Soviet era, the south bank remains quite wild and offers a lively and vibrant nomadic cultural experience.

Created in 1948, the Issyk-Kul Lake Reserve is one of the oldest in Central Asia. The reserve’s fauna includes over a hundred species of birds, which can be observed quite easily along the lake’s shores. Some of the lake’s wetlands are important wintering sites for migratory waterfowl. Notable waterbird species include the endangered white-headed duck, as well as the macroule coot and red-crested pochard, which are fairly common in the area. You can also spot gulls and rarer birds such as pink flamingos and whooper swans.

Discover the lunar landscapes of the southern shore of Lake Issyk-kul

Canyon of forgotten rivers

Between Kyzyl-Tuu and Bokonbaevo, a small track leads along the lake shore to explore the lunar landscapes of the Canyon of Forgotten Rivers, named after the hundreds of dried-up rivers that have carved out the rock over the centuries. A few succulents and multicolored flowers dot the landscape. From time to time, a small lizard crosses the dusty road and the eagle circles high in the sky in search of prey. If you’re lucky, you may come across some camels. It’s possible to bivouac by the lake and swim along small deserted beaches. More information on this track can be found in the book EXPLORE KIRGHIZISTAN, track 5.

Jeti-Oguz

The splendid red sandstone cliffs of Jeti-Oguz or The Seven Bullsattract many visitors. Crowded during the day, we recommend a visit early in the morning or at the end of the day, when the light makes the cliffs glow. For more tranquillity, we recommend exploring the neighbouring valley: see track 9 in the book EXPLORE KIRGHIZISTAN.

After about twenty kilometers, the Jeti-Oguz valley widens into a vast summer pasture (jailoo) nicknamed the Valley of Flowers, because in spring it’s covered with thousands of wild flowers: tulips, poppies, crocuses, and so on. The valley is also famous for its mushrooms!

Skazka or Fairy-Tale Canyon

Also known as Fairy Tale canyon, Skazka canyon offers beautiful walks between red sandstone cliffs sculpted by erosion. Access to the valley is about 8 km from the village of Tosor. Access to the site costs 50 som per person. It’s best to go early in the morning or late in the day to avoid the crowds and the sometimes stifling heat of the summer months. The lights will be all the more beautiful!

Discover nomadic games and traditions

Bokonbaevo

Bokonbaevo is the most important town on the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul between Balykchy and Karakol. Here you’ll find all amenities: shops, restaurants, inns, banks, petrol stations and garages. This is also where you can organize various tourist activities such as eagle-hunting demonstrations or traditional carpet-making (shyrdak). The Birds of Prey Festival is held in August. If you’re visiting in July, theTeskey-Jeek Ethno-festival is just a few kilometers away in the nearby town of Ton. To find out the dates, program and prices of the various festivals, you can request information directly from Bokonbaevo’s tourist agencies.

Kyzyl-Tuu

While it’s true that there are few architectural remains in Kyrgyzstan, the long tradition of yurts is still very much alive, and the secret of their manufacture is revealed at Kyzyl-Tuu. It’s in this thriving little village that craftsmen make many of the country’s traditional yurts. You can visit one of these workshops or take part in yurt assembly/disassembly activities. In March, Kyzyl-Tuu hosts the Kyrgyz National Game Festival, featuring traditional music concerts, eagle-hunting demonstrations and nomadic games.

Eagle hunting

Eagle hunting is a tradition that has been handed down from father to son for centuries. Once practiced to acquire food and furs during the harsh winter months, this form of hunting almost disappeared during the Soviet era. Only a few dozen eagles (berkutchi) are still hunted in Kyrgyzstan. They promote their art through tourism and traditional nomadic festivals. Respected as the guardians of nomadic traditions by the Kyrgyz, they are also a source of inspiration for the Kyrgyz.

Ask at the Bokonbaevo agencies about attending a demonstration.

World Nomad Games in Cholpon Ata

The World Nomad Games is an international competition showcasing nomadic sports not represented in the Olympic Games, such as Kok-Boru, horse racing, horse archery, horse wrestling and more. Teams from all over the world, particularly from Central Asia and the Middle East, are invited to take part in the games traditionally held in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan.

Much more than a simple competition, this event is the largest nomadic gathering in the world. The festival also features traditional dance and music performances, eagle hunting demonstrations, yurt building and more. A real a journey to the heart of nomadic culture!

The first three editions of the World Nomad Games were held in the town of Cholpon-Ata. The 2020 edition, due to take place in Turkey, has been postponed due to the Covid-19 epidemic.

Equestrian competitions are regularly held at the Cholpon-Ata racecourse. It’s possible to attend!

Discover the historic sites of Lake Issyk-Kul

The Ornek Museum

The village of Ornek is home to a small museum where you can discover some interesting archaeological finds: ceramics, utensils, cavalry equipment, traditional clothing, carpets and more.

The Cholpon-Ata museum and petroglyphs

This medium-sized town of 8,000 inhabitants welcomes many Russian and Kazakh tourists every year, attracted by the few hotel complexes and sanatoriums built on the shores of the lake during the Soviet era. If you’re passing through, don’t miss the Cholpon-Ata museum, where you’ll find a wealth of ancient artifacts from Kyrgyz and pre-Kyrgyz nomadic cultures: tools, carpets, jewelry, musical instruments and more. For the modest sum of 200 soms, you can also hire a guide to accompany you to the petroglyph site to the north of the town. This remarkable archaeological site is home to hundreds of petroglyphs, the oldest of which date back to the 8th century BC. The engravings and paintings depict scenes of life and hunting, as well as animals and shamanic rituals.

The burial mounds of San-Tash

Close to the Karkyra valley, near the San-Tash pass (2,195 m), lies the San-Tash archaeological site: dozens of tumuli or Kourgans dating back to the 6th century BC. as well asa strange stone mound 4 m high and 56 m wide called “San-Tash”, which means “to count the stones”. According to legend, this work dates back to the 15th century, the time of Tamerlane’s military campaigns. As Tamerlane led an attack against China, he ordered each of his soldiers to bring a stone from Issyk-Kul to measure the size of his army. It is said that a wise old man, who wanted to teach Tamerlane a lesson about the price of war, suggested that he order his men to pick up a stone from the heap on their return from war. The remaining pile of stones represented the number of soldiers who had died during his campaigns.

The Tamga-Tash Tibetan petroglyph

A rare millennium-old proof of the spread of Tibetan Buddhism to Central Asia, this stone block carved with the incantation Om Mani Padme Hum in Tibetan script is not easy to find. From the village of Tamga, follow the river of the same name for around 5 km before you find it.

The most beautiful beaches of Lake Issyk-Kul

As the lake lies at an altitude of 1,607 m, the water can reach 24°C in summer! The lake never freezes in winter, hence the name Issyk-Kul, which means “the warm lake”.

There are numerous resorts built during the Soviet era on the north shore of the lake. The most famous are Cholpon-Ata and Bosteri. Here you’ll find large resorts offering all-inclusive packages that Russian and Kazakh tourists love! Avoid this if you don’t want to get caught between two towels on a crowded beach!

If you prefer quieter beaches, we recommend Tosor or Tamchy. The water is clear and the sand fine. Many Kyrgyz families come here in summer.

And if you want to discover small, deserted beaches, we invite you to take a look at track 5 in our book EXPLORE KIRGHIZISTAN.

Discover the Karakol cattle market

The town of Karakol is the main base camp for tourists setting out to conquer the Tian Shan Mountains. Here you’ll find numerous travel agencies, inns, restaurants and other amenities. Don’t miss the beautiful Orthodox church, built entirely of wood! The Karakol cattle market is held every Sunday morning at dawn. This weekly market brings together the region’s livestock farmers, who come to sell their cows, sheep, horses and more. It’s a real change of scenery!

Hiking in the misty mountains

The southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul is bordered by the Terskey Ala-Too range. Terskey Ala-Too means “misty mountains” or “mountains in the shade”, as opposed to Kungey Ala-Too, “sunny mountains”, which lie on the north shore of the lake on the border with Kazakhstan. Reminiscent of Switzerland in places, these mountains abound with hiking trails, between pine forests, alpine meadows, lakes and glaciers.

Many of our hikes are easily accessible and self-guided. But beware: there are no signs on the trails, and if there are, they’re in Russian. For hiking maps, contact the Trekking Union of Kyrgyzstan. Alternatively, you can use applications such as Maps.me or wikiloc. If you’re going to be in the mountains, especially for several days, we strongly recommend that you take a guide with you. You’ll find local guides in the many agencies in Karakol, which is the main base camp for tourists setting out to conquer the Tian Shan mountains.

Lake Ala-kul

Nestled at an altitude of 3,560 m in the Terskey Ala-Too range between the Karakol and Altyn-Arashan valleys, this sumptuous glacial lake is a popular destination for hikers exploring the region. The trek to Lake Ala-Kul can take between 2 and 4 days, depending on the route taken, and requires good physical fitness. If you’re not used to high mountains, we recommend that you go with a guide (easily available in Karakol).

Karakol Valley

The Karakol valley is famous for its ski resort, the Karakol Ski resort, one of the largest in the country with over 20 km of pistes. The start of the hike to Lake Ala-Kul is also at the end of this valley. Just follow the Karakol River to a small wooden bridge.

Altyn-Arashan Valley

The Altyn-Arashan valley is the starting point for many treks in the Terskey Ala-Too, particularly to Lake Ala-Kul. You’ll also find plenty of hot springs, ideal after a long hike! There are not only paying pools but also free natural springs, which are not easy to find!

Ak-Suu Valley

At the entrance to the Altyn-Arashan valley, on the left, is the entrance to the Ak-Suu valley. Popular with locals for its many thermal springs and sanatorium, it is also a great place for walking. The pools are equipped and access is subject to a charge.

Barskoon waterfalls

Around 20 km from the village of Barskoon in the valley, there are some beautiful waterfalls along the road. A short one-hour walk takes you up to a viewpoint overlooking the three waterfalls that follow one another in the gorge. Watch out, it’s going up! You’ll probably be offered the chance to climb it on horseback. At the foot of the waterfall, you’ll find a number of yurts for refreshments. The site is very popular with tourists.

The Jirgalan area

This small village at the foot of the mountains is a well-known base camp for hikers in the region. You’ll find a number of inns and guides to accompany you on horseback or on foot through the region’s mountains. The road to get there is in very good condition.

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