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The town from above: blocks of five-storey flats and houses among greenery, the turquoise Naryn and mountains beyond the valley
Tash-Komur

Kara-Kul

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Home town of the Toktogul dam builders on the Naryn: a park, two lakes and the road to the reservoir.

  • Jalal-Abad ≈186 kmAbout 3 h by car
  • A park and two lakesToktogul monument ≈1 km
  • 8 places nearby71 to 171 km away
  • 8 places to stay8 within 1.5 km of the centre
Kyrgyz SeasonsPlanning a trip?Ask about a triphello@kyrgyzseasons.com

8 places from the centre outwards

Start with places you can walk to, then roads out of town. The map shows the route from the centre to the place you are viewing.

  1. ≈1 km on foot1 / 8

    Toktogul monument

    On footDuring the day

    A monument to the akyn Toktogul Satylganov in the town centre, about 1 km on foot.

  2. The town from above: blocks of five-storey flats and houses among greenery, the turquoise Naryn and mountains beyond the valleyNovember 17, 2006

    ≈71 km along the road2 / 8

    Tash-Komur

    By car, about 71 kmAll year round, by day

    A town further down the Naryn River.

    Place page →

  3. The blue water of the reservoir lies between a green shore and a long rocky ridge.July 15, 2018

    ≈110 km along the road3 / 8

    Toktogul

    By car, about 110 kmAll year round

    A town on the shore of the Toktogul Reservoir; about 5 km from the centre to the water.

    Place page →

  4. Turquoise water lies beside pale layered cliffs, with a green strip of shore in the foreground.July 15, 2018

    ≈114 km along the road4 / 8

    Toktogul Reservoir

    By car, about 114 kmMay–October

    One of Central Asia’s largest reservoirs, on the Naryn: turquoise water with dry ridges behind it.

    Place page →

  5. Low-rise blocks of Kerben from above, with streets running towards a hazy mountain horizon.March 14, 2022

    ≈130 km along the road5 / 8

    Kerben

    By car, about 130 kmAll year round

    The centre of Aksy District: a park, a House of Culture and the road to the Padysha-Ata and Sary-Chelek reserves.

    Place page →

  6. A dirt street with low houses and poles at the foot of green mountain slopes.August 10, 2017

    ≈137 km along the road6 / 8

    Arkit

    By car, about 137 kmMay–October

    A village at the gate of the Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve, home to its headquarters. Visitors stay in guesthouses before heading to the lakes.

    Place page →

  7. A turquoise lake among wooded slopes, with a long snowy ridge rising behind.May 30, 2026

    ≈152 km along the road7 / 8

    Lake Sary-Chelek

    By car, about 153 kmJune–September

    The reserve’s main lake, about 6 km long, among forested mountains. A dirt road leads to it from the gate at Arkit; there is an entry fee.

    Place page →

  8. An arch shaped like a yurt dome on the round square in the village centre, with houses, poplars and cars aroundDecember 12, 2021

    ≈171 km along the road8 / 8

    Ala-Buka

    By car, about 171 kmAll year round

    A district centre in the west of the region, near the 11th-century Shakh Fazil mausoleum.

    Place page →

Map

Kara-Kul: four seasons

Things to do in and around town throughout the year. Monthly temperatures are averages for 2016–2025, not a forecast.

  1. Spring

    March–May

    Days from +9 °C in March to +23 °C in May, nights from +3 to +14 °C.

    • MarchKara-Kul +9° / +3°
    • AprilKara-Kul +16° / +8°
    • MayKara-Kul +23° / +14°

  2. Summer

    June–August

    Days +26…+28 °C, nights +17…+20 °C.

    • JuneKara-Kul +26° / +17°
    • JulyKara-Kul +28° / +20°
    • AugustKara-Kul +27° / +19°

  3. Autumn

    September–November

    Days from +24 °C in September to +8 °C in November, nights from +16 to +2 °C.

    • SeptemberKara-Kul +24° / +16°
    • OctoberKara-Kul +16° / +9°
    • NovemberKara-Kul +8° / +2°

  4. Winter

    December–February

    Days around +1…+4 °C, nights down to −3 °C.

    • DecemberKara-Kul +3° / −2°
    • JanuaryKara-Kul +1° / −3°
    • FebruaryKara-Kul +4° / −1°

Where it is

Location
Jalal-Abad Region
Altitude
935 m
Coordinates
41.63° N, 72.67° E
Open in Maps

Getting here and getting around town

How to get there

  • From Jalal-Abad

    about 3 h

    About 186 km by road. Departures at 8:20 and 11:40; check the schedule for your date.

  • From Bishkek

    about 6 h

    About 381 km on the Bishkek–Osh highway. Check transport for your date.

Getting around town

  • On foot. The town centre, the park and the lakes are walkable; Toktogul and Tash-Komur need a car.

Contact and help

112 single emergency number

  • 101 fire and rescue
  • 102 police
  • 103 ambulance

You can call 112 with a local SIM or without one.

Check in advance

  • Whether hotels are open, and prices
  • The bus schedule
  • Mobile network coverage

Check on site

  • Road conditions and transport back At your accommodation
  • Price and availability Accommodation host

Where to stay: 8 of 8 places are within 1.5 km of the centre

1 km1.5 km centre
guesthousehostelhotelother© OpenStreetMap

How many places

8 on the map

2 guesthouses6 hotels

Within 1.5 km from the centre
8 of 8

Options with names, from the centre outwards

  1. Bridge Guesthouseguesthouse
  2. Ak Niethotel
  3. Hotel Altynhotel
  4. VIP Guesthouseguesthouse
  5. Turisthotel

Kara-Kul in photos

Real photos, each with the date it was taken. Tap or click to enlarge.

  1. March 14, 2022
  2. May 30, 2026
  3. August 10, 2017
  4. July 15, 2018
  5. July 15, 2018
  6. December 12, 2021
  7. November 17, 2006

Guides and ready-made itineraries

Pages that include this place in a guide or itinerary.

Routes and programmes

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