Around Issyk-Kul: A Perfect Kyrgyz Adventure
Info Shymkent made a unforgettable adventure around Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-Kul this summer. Read about our journey around Central Asia’s largest and beautiful mountain lake.
Kyrgyzstan, the neighbor of Kazakhstan, is a small, mountainous country in Central Asia that offers breathtaking landscapes, rich culture, and hospitable people. One of the most popular tourist destinations in Kyrgyzstan is Issyk-Kul, the world’s second-largest mountain lake in the world behind Lake Titicaca in South America. With its clear blue waters, framed by the stunning Tianshan mountains, and fascinating history, it’s no wonder why Issyk-Kul attracts visitors from all over the world.
Our journey around Issyk-Kul began in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. After exploring the freshly renovated National Museum, we hopped into our 4×4 rental car and headed towards Cholpon Ata, our first stop on the trip. On the way, we made a detour to visit the Burana tower, a 12th-century minaret that stands as a testament to the ancient Silk Road.
Upon arriving in Cholpon Ata at the shore of the Issyk-Kul, we checked into a cozy log house managed by a Russian couple. We couldn’t resist to see the beach first before we unpack our stuff in the hotel room. We walked along the sandy beach with its multiple piers and enjoyed the sunset which colored the snow-capped mountains of the Tianshan into a warm red light. The next day, we woke up early and visited the Petroglyphs museum in Karakol in the morning. and continued our drive east along the northern shore of Issyk-Kul. We stopped at a one of so many beautiful flowering field on the northern shore along our way for lunch and then made our way to the Przhevalsky museum near Karakol, named after the famous Polish-Russian explorer who traveled through Central Asia on four expedition in the 19th century. He died of typhus in Karakol in 1888 before he could start his fifth expedition and was buried near today’s museum. A huge statue is placed next to his grave.
After the museum visit we drove further to the town Karakol to sleep over night at the small hotel ALTAY. But before we finished the day we visited the Dhungan mosque, a unique wooden structure that blends Kyrgyz and Chinese architectural styles and people telling it was build without one single nail. For dinner, we indulged in Ashlyan fu, a delicious Kyrgyz-Dhungan dish made with noodles, vegetables, and meat at the restaurant Dastorkon.
The next day started early with a tour through the old town of Karakol, where we explored the old wooden Russian-Orthodox Holy Trinity Cathedral and the nearby Karakol Historical Museum. We then continued our drive to the Jeti-Ögüz rocks, where we had a walk up a nearby hill to have a better overview of this unique shaped red rocks. We indulged in samsa and watermelon while taking in the stunning scenery.
Our next stop was the Barskoon waterfalls – just a valley more to the west. Barskoon means in Kyrgyz “Tears of the Snow Leopard”. This where we hiked up to two of the nearby waterfalls, just as the first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin did during his first vacation after his historical space flight.
After the hiking tour a rain shower pushed us back in our car and we continued our drive along the southern shore of Issyk-Kul, heading more westward towards the village Tosor. Here, we spent the next two nights in the Eldos-Ata Eco Hotel with delicious well-made food, a great view of the snow-capped mountains, and a nice calm sandy beach. The next day, we relaxed in the morning in the beautiful well-kept garden of the Eco Hotel with many blossoming flowers, apricots trees and many bird life. After we recharged our human batteries we went with our Dacia Duster 4×4 vehicle to the Skazka Gorge also known as Fairy-Tale Canyon. This canyon is known for its stunning red-colored rock formations that resemble fairy-tale characters and buildings.
After the second night in the eco hotel, we continued our drive westward along the southern Issyk-Kul shore, making our way back to Bishkek to clean and return our 4×4 rental car. For our last dinner in Kyrgyzstan, we visited the famous Navat restaurant to savor the last time Kyrgyz cuisine.
In conclusion, our journey around Issyk-Kul was an unforgettable adventure that left us with memories that will last a lifetime. With its stunning landscapes, fascinating culture, and hospitable people, Kyrgyzstan is a country that should be on every traveler’s bucket list.
Learn more about the Issyk-Kul: