Stories
EN
Ask about a trip
A sign with the name Saruu in red, a row of tall poplars and a country road under clouds.
Saruu: summer

Saruu

Updated How we check facts

A village on the south shore of Issyk-Kul at the mouth of Juuku Gorge, 45 km from Karakol.

  • ≈363 km from BishkekFrom Karakol ≈45 km
  • Village on footMuseum in the village centre
  • 6 places nearby7 to 53 km away
  • 4 places to stay4 within 1.5 km of the centre
Kyrgyz SeasonsPlanning a trip?Ask about a triphello@kyrgyzseasons.com

6 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 decorative arch with lettering marks the village entrance, with trees and mountains behind it.

    ≈6.9 km along the road1 / 6

    Kyzyl-Suu

    By car, about 7 kmAll year round, by day

    The neighbouring village on the road into Chon-Kyzyl-Suu Gorge: guesthouses and trips to Jeti-Oguz.

    Place page →

  2. A dirt road enters a green valley between red cliffs under a cloudy sky.July 16, 2017

    ≈17 km along the road2 / 6

    Juuku Gorge

    By car on a dirt road, about 17 kmJune–September, for a day

    The Juuku River valley between red cliffs. A dirt road climbs the gorge from the shore to a viewpoint over the red rocks.

    Place page →

  3. A row of red rock towers rises above trees and small houses in the valley.September 23, 2023

    ≈40 km along the road3 / 6

    Seven Bulls rocks

    By car, about 40 kmAll year round, by day

    Red cliffs above the Jeti-Oguz resort: a panorama of ridges and green slopes. On the map the road ends 0.2 km from the cliffs.

  4. Low houses of Barskoon above a grey bluff; green fields and mountains under a blue sky in the distance.August 19, 2023

    ≈35 km along the road4 / 6

    Barskoon village

    By car, about 35 kmAll year round, by day

    A large village at the entrance to a gorge with waterfalls. It has shops, cafés and an ATM; from here people head into the gorge and up to the Arabel Plateau.

    Place page →

  5. Wooden houses of Tamga with green gables, carved window frames and flowers behind the fence.July 17, 2018

    ≈41 km along the road5 / 6

    Tamga

    By car, about 41 kmAll year round, by day

    A south-shore village with wooden houses and an old Soviet sanatorium. From here people go to the Tamga-Tash stones and Skazka Canyon.

    Place page →

  6. Bust of Gagarin on a pedestal beside the road, with a spruce-covered slope and gorge cliffs behind it.August 15, 2022

    ≈53 km along the road6 / 6

    Barskoon waterfalls

    By car via Barskoon, about 53 kmJune–September, for a day

    The gorge above Barskoon village: busts of Gagarin at the trailhead; from the road’s end it is a 15–20 minute walk to the Tears of the Snow Leopard waterfall, with two more cascades above.

    Place page →

Map

Saruu: 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 +5 °C in March to +14 °C in May, nights from −1 to +7 °C.

    • MarchSaruu +5° / −1°
    • AprilSaruu +10° / +3°
    • MaySaruu +14° / +7°

  2. Summer

    June–August

    A sign with the village name, tall poplars along the road. Days +18…+20 °C.

    • JuneSaruu +18° / +11°
    • JulySaruu +20° / +14°
    • AugustSaruu +19° / +13°

  3. Autumn

    September–November

    Days from +16 °C in September to +5 °C in November, nights from +10 to −2 °C.

    • SeptemberSaruu +16° / +10°
    • OctoberSaruu +11° / +4°
    • NovemberSaruu +5° / −2°

  4. Winter

    December–February

    Days around 0…+1 °C, nights down to −7 °C.

    • DecemberSaruu +1° / −5°
    • JanuarySaruu 0° / −7°
    • FebruarySaruu +1° / −6°

Where it is

Location
Issyk-Kul Region
Altitude
1,723 m
Coordinates
42.32° N, 77.92° E
Open in Maps

Getting here and getting around town

How to get there

  • From Bishkek

    about 6 h

    Along the south shore of Issyk-Kul, about 363 km by road. No marshrutka timetable found: check for your date.

  • From Karakol

    about 50 min

    Along the south shore, about 45 km by road. Check marshrutka times and fares for your date.

Getting around town

  • On foot. The village is walkable; the museum is in the centre. Take a taxi to the gorges and nearby villages.

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: 4 of 4 places are within 1.5 km of the centre

1 km1.5 km centre
guesthousehostelhotelother© OpenStreetMap

How many places

4 on the map

4 guesthouses

Within 1.5 km from the centre
4 of 4

Options with names, from the centre outwards

  1. Fatima Guesthouseguesthouse
  2. Roza Guesthouseguesthouse
  3. Kubanych Guesthouseguesthouse
  4. Sovetbek Guesthouseguesthouse

Saruu in photos

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

  3. July 16, 2017
  4. July 17, 2018
  5. August 15, 2022
  6. August 19, 2023
  7. September 23, 2023

Guides and ready-made itineraries

Pages that include this place in a guide or itinerary.

Routes and programmes

Kyrgyz SeasonsPlanning a trip?Ask about a triphello@kyrgyzseasons.com

Ask about a trip

Tell us what you would like to know. We reply by email or WhatsApp, usually within a day.

Or write to us at hello@kyrgyzseasons.com