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The sandy beach of Kara-Oy with clear shallows and the calm blue surface of Issyk-Kul.
Kara-Oy: summer

Kara-Oy

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A village with hot springs on the north shore of Issyk-Kul, near Cholpon-Ata.

  • ≈261 km from BishkekFrom Karakol ≈145 km
  • Hot springsAk-Bermet resort
  • 7 places nearby5 to 47 km away
  • 25 places to stay2 within 1.5 km of the centre
Kyrgyz SeasonsPlanning a trip?Ask about a triphello@kyrgyzseasons.com

7 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. A stone boulder with outlines of horned animals stands in the grass in an open area.October 10, 2014

    ≈5 km along the road1 / 7

    Cholpon-Ata petroglyphs

    By car, about 5 kmDaytime, best in dry weather

    An open-air museum above the highway. Animals, hunters and hunting scenes are carved into large boulders.

    Place page →

  2. A low museum building beside a town street, with leafless trees on the left.April 13, 2024

    ≈5.6 km along the road2 / 7

    History museum

    By car, about 5.5 kmAll year round, by day

    Cholpon-Ata’s town museum: Issyk-Kul history, traditional textiles, felt and musical instruments.

    Place page →

  3. A yurt on a green lawn, with three low reddish seats in front.

    ≈6.6 km along the road3 / 7

    Ruh Ordo cultural centre

    By car, about 6.5 kmWeather permitting

    A lakeside cultural complex named after Chingiz Aitmatov: chapels, sculptures and viewpoints.

    Place page →

  4. A beach beside a blue lake, buildings on the shore and a mountain range in the distance.July 6, 2017

    ≈8 km along the road4 / 7

    Cholpon-Ata beaches

    By car, about 8 kmJune–September

    The town’s sandy shore with piers. Some stretches are reached through resort grounds, so pick your spot in advance.

    Place page →

  5. A lake beside a gently sloping shore under grey clouds, with a barely visible mountain range in the distance.June 13, 2022

    ≈14 km along the road5 / 7

    Bosteri

    By car, about 14 kmJune–September

    A resort village beyond Cholpon-Ata: holiday resorts, beaches and a Ferris wheel on the shore.

    Place page →

  6. A pale pier runs from the sandy shore into the lake, with mountains stretching beyond the water.September 1, 2024

    ≈24 km along the road6 / 7

    Chok-Tal

    By car, about 24 kmJune–September

    A quiet village on the north shore on the way to Balykchy: a sandy shore and a pier, with beaches and gorges nearby.

    Place page →

  7. ≈47 km along the road7 / 7

    Grigoriev Gorge

    By car, about 47 kmWeather permitting

    The Chon-Ak-Suu river valley above Grigorevka: spruce-covered slopes and a walk along a mountain river.

Map

Kara-Oy: 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 +6 °C in March to +15 °C in May, nights from +3 to +11 °C.

    • MarchKara-Oy +6° / +3°
    • AprilKara-Oy +11° / +7°
    • MayKara-Oy +15° / +11°
  2. August 14, 2022

    Summer

    June–August

    A sandy beach with clear water by the shore. Days +18…+20 °C.

    • JuneKara-Oy +18° / +14°
    • JulyKara-Oy +20° / +17°
    • AugustKara-Oy +19° / +16°

  3. Autumn

    September–November

    Days from +17 °C in September to +7 °C in November, nights from +13 to +4 °C.

    • SeptemberKara-Oy +17° / +13°
    • OctoberKara-Oy +11° / +8°
    • NovemberKara-Oy +7° / +4°

  4. Winter

    December–February

    Days around +2…+4 °C, nights around 0 °C.

    • DecemberKara-Oy +4° / +1°
    • JanuaryKara-Oy +2° / 0°
    • FebruaryKara-Oy +3° / 0°

Where it is

Location
Issyk-Kul Region
Altitude
1,651 m
Coordinates
42.64° N, 77.02° E
Open in Maps

Getting here and getting around town

How to get there

  • From Bishkek

    about 4 h

    Via Balykchy along the north shore of Issyk-Kul, about 261 km by road. No marshrutka timetable found: check for your date.

  • From Karakol

    ≈2.5 h

    Along the north shore, about 145 km by road. Check marshrutka times and fares for your date.

Getting around town

  • On foot. You can walk to the beach and the Ak-Bermet hot springs. Take a taxi to Cholpon-Ata and on trips.

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

  • Marshrutka timetables from Bishkek and Karakol
  • Transport back after the trip
  • Mobile network coverage

Check on site

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

Where to stay: 2 of 25 places are within 1.5 km of the centre

1 km1.5 km centre
guesthousehostelhotelother© OpenStreetMap

How many places

25 on the map

17 guesthouses1 hostel6 hotels1 other

Within 1.5 km from the centre
2 of 25

Options with names, from the centre outwards

  1. Altairguesthouse
  2. Panaramahostel
  3. Dolinka Guesthouseguesthouse
  4. Ak-Bermethotel
  5. Ak-Bermet Guesthouseguesthouse
  6. Akun Guesthouseguesthouse
  7. Solnechny Bereg Guesthouseguesthouse
  8. Dolinka Hotel Complexhotel

Kara-Oy in photos

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

  1. April 13, 2024
  2. July 6, 2017
  3. June 13, 2022
  4. August 14, 2022
  6. October 10, 2014
  7. September 1, 2024

Guides and ready-made itineraries

Pages that include this place in a guide or itinerary.

Routes and programmes

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