Map
Issyk-Kul Region terrain: a lake encircled by mountain ranges
region terrain · © OpenStreetMap

Issyk-Kul

A lake encircled by mountains: northern beaches, southern canyons, gorges around Karakol and the remote eastern valleys. 63 places in five areas of the region.

  • 1,607 mlake elevation
  • ≈443 km aroundnorth 219, south 224 km
  • 63 placesroutes, culture, travel bases
  • June — September56+ places open
  • Check journey timeBishkek → Karakol · services and roads change
Kyrgyz SeasonsPlanning a trip?Help plan my trip

Highlights

Around the lake: ten places on the loop

A ≈443 km loop, clockwise from Balykchy: northern shore, Karakol and its valleys, southern shore. The map on the left follows the loop with you.

  1. Cholpon-Ata petroglyphs — open-air museum

    Northern shore · ≈82 km from Balykchy1 / 10

    Cholpon-Ata petroglyphs

    cultureAll year

    A large rocky site has images of animals, hunters and hunting scenes.

    Next: Semenov Gorge →
  2. Semenov Gorge

    Northern shore · ≈125 km from Balykchy2 / 10

    Semenov Gorge

    routeAll year

    In the valley, choose a short riverside walk or continue towards Kyrchyn.

    Next: Karkara valley →
  3. The Karkara river valley

    Eastern mountain valleys · ≈274 km from Balykchy3 / 10

    Karkara valley

    routeMay — October

    Visit Karkara on a separate driving trip or as part of a multi-day programme through the eastern valleys.

    Next: Karakol →
  4. From above: a cathedral with green domes among flowering trees, with the town’s roofs and mountains beyond

    Karakol and surroundings · ≈219 km from Balykchy4 / 10

    Karakol

    baseAll year

    A town near the eastern shore of Issyk-Kul. Walks through old neighbourhoods, local food and trips into mountain valleys.

    Place page →

    Next: Lake Ala-Kol →
  5. Lake Ala-Kol with a partly frozen surface

    Karakol and surroundings · ≈247 km from Balykchy5 / 10

    Lake Ala-Kol

    routeJune – mid-October

    Ala-Kol is a high mountain lake at around 3,500 metres, reached on foot. One option is a three-day route from Karakol via the lake and Altyn-Arashan.

    Place page →

    Next: Seven Bulls rocks →
  6. Red Seven Bulls rocks in Jeti-Oguz

    Karakol and surroundings · ≈215 km from Balykchy6 / 10

    Seven Bulls rocks

    routeAll year

    Seven Bulls is a group of red rocks in the Jeti-Oguz valley, opposite the sanatorium. Visit as a separate stop or on a trip to Kok-Jaiyk and the waterfall.

    Place page →

    Next: Barskoon waterfalls →
  7. One of the waterfalls in Barskoon Gorge

    Southern shore · ≈165 km from Balykchy7 / 10

    Barskoon waterfalls

    routeAll year

    Trails of different lengths and gradients lead to the waterfalls.

    Next: Tamga-Tash →
  8. A Buddhist inscription on the Tamga-Tash stone

    Southern shore · ≈143 km from Balykchy8 / 10

    Tamga-Tash

    cultureMay — September

    These are several separate inscribed stones above the village.

    Next: Skazka Canyon →
  9. Skazka Canyon near Tosor

    Southern shore · ≈126 km from Balykchy9 / 10

    Skazka Canyon

    routeAll year

    The canyon lies near the southern shore, in the Tosor area.

    Next: Tuz-Kol salt lake →
  10. Tuz-Kol salt lake near Kyzyl-Tuu

    Southern shore · ≈72 km from Balykchy10 / 10

    Tuz-Kol salt lake

    routeJune — August

    Tuz-Kol, also known as Kara-Kol, lies separately from the large Issyk-Kul.

    Next: 63 places in the region by area ↓

All places

63 places in the region by area

Routes, cultural sites and bases. Filter by category or by what is open in the selected month.

Bases

Where to stay: 22 bases around the lake

A town or village from which to visit places. The circle shows how many places are nearby; the distance is by road from Balykchy.

Issyk-Kul Northern shore · 219 kmSouthern shore · 224 km 050100150200 050100150200 2Balykchy1TamchyChok-TalChon-Sary-OySary-Oy13Cholpon-AtaBosteriBulan-SogottuGrigorevkaSemenovkaTyup25Karakol Kyzyl-Tuu6BokonbaevoKadzhi-SaiTosor1Tamga3BarskoonKyzyl-Suu 3Jyrgalan+59 km from the loopEngilchek+141 km from the loopAk-Suu+12 km from the loop

14 more villages on the shore, without their own trips: Semenovka, Kyzyl-Suu, Tyup, Bosteri, Chok-Tal, Bulan-Sogottu, Sary-Oy, Chon-Sary-Oy, Grigorevka, Tosor, Kadzhi-Sai, Kyzyl-Tuu, Engilchek, Ak-Suu.

Seasons

One region — four seasons

Summer is for everything: shores, mountains and remote valleys. At other times, about half the places are open. The number shows how many are in season.

  1. Meadows, horses and wooded slopes in Kichi-Ak-Suu Forest Reserve.

    Spring

    March–May

    The shore is empty and cool, with the first grass in the gorges; southern canyons are dry and warm. Mountain trails are still under snow.

    • March25 of 63
    • April25 of 63
    • May40 of 63
  2. Issyk-Kul near Bosteri

    Summer

    June–August

    The season for northern beaches and hiking: mountain lakes, passes and high plateaux are open. The shore is at its busiest.

    • June56 of 63
    • July56 of 63
    • August56 of 63
  3. Autumn valley with dry grass, stream and snowy peaks of Adyr-Tor; people are not the main story.

    Autumn

    September–November

    September is still in season for mountains and remote valleys; trails and camps close from October. The shore is quiet and the water cold.

    • September55 of 63
    • October40 of 63
    • November25 of 63
  4. Snow-covered observation deck at the top station: mountain slopes and a distant view towards the lake.

    Winter

    December–February

    Skiing above Karakol, museums and bazaars, and walks in the southern canyons. The high mountains are closed.

    • December25 of 63
    • January25 of 63
    • February25 of 63

What is open by month

AreaJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
West2222222
North146666614141414666
Karakol18121212121618181818171212
East9111179999711
South136666913131312866

Colour shows the share of places in season within each area; the number shows how many.

Getting there

Getting to and around the region

To the region from Bishkek via Balykchy, or from Almaty via Kegen

  • From Bishkek

    Check journey time for your date

    Choose a specific service and check the route and road conditions before leaving.

  • Around the lake

    ≈443 km

    219 km along the northern shore, 224 km along the southern shore, from Balykchy to Karakol

  • Between towns

    Cholpon-Ata → Karakol

    Marshrutka ≈2 h, from 200 som check for your date

  • By air

    Karakol airport

    Flights mainly from Bishkek check for your date

  • From Almaty

    420 km to Karakol

    7–8 h via Kegen, private transport

Check before travelling

  • Border-zone permit for Sary-Jaz and Engilchek: arrange 5–12 days aheadtour operator
  • Are camps and passes open in May and October?local operators
  • Book the return ticket from Karakol in advanceGoBus

Ask locally

  • Marshrutkas between southern-shore villagesbus station, guesthouse
  • Time needed for the loop with stopsdriver

Places with their own page

Issyk-Kul on the map

loop ≈443 km · 10 places

© OpenStreetMap

Each number is a place and its photo.