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A village road runs past trees and low houses, with a snowy ridge on the horizon.
Tosor: summer

Tosor

Updated How we check facts

The village on the south shore of Issyk-Kul closest to Skazka Canyon.

  • ≈314 km from BishkekFrom Karakol ≈94 km
  • Village on footTaxi for trips
  • 7 places nearby9 to 40 km away
  • 12 places to stay9 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. Tall orange weathering pillars of the canyon rise above a sandy path.April 27, 2023

    ≈9 km along the road1 / 7

    Skazka Canyon

    By car, about 9 kmAll year round, by day

    A canyon of red and orange sandstone: about 2 km of trails, roughly 1.5 hours to walk round, with a steep climb to the viewpoint.

    Place page →

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

    ≈10 km along the road2 / 7

    Tamga

    By car, about 10 kmAll year round, by day

    The neighbouring village with wooden houses and an old Soviet sanatorium. From here people go to the Tamga-Tash stones and Barskoon Gorge.

    Place page →

  3. A round boulder with carved signs stands by a dry slope among shrubs.August 25, 2008

    ≈16 km along the road3 / 7

    Tamga-Tash stones

    By car via Tamga, about 16 kmBy day, in dry weather

    A boulder in the hills above Tamga bearing the Tibetan inscription “Om mani padme hum”. Do not scratch or trace the signs, and do not climb the stone.

    Place page →

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

    ≈18 km along the road4 / 7

    Barskoon village

    By car, about 18 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. A sandy shore and calm Issyk-Kul water under the clouds; two children by the water in the distance.August 8, 2014

    ≈27 km along the road5 / 7

    Kadzhi-Sai

    By car, about 27 kmJune–September

    A south-shore village: a sandy lakeside beach, a pier and resorts. Trips to Skazka Canyon also start here.

    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

    ≈31 km along the road6 / 7

    Barskoon waterfalls

    By car, about 31 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 →

  7. An asphalt road runs between a colourful building and a monument to a horseman on a stone pedestal.

    ≈40 km along the road7 / 7

    Bokonbaevo

    By car, about 41 kmMay–September

    A large village with a tourist office: trips run from there to the Ak-Say canyons, the salt lake Tuz-Kol and the yurt makers of Kyzyl-Tuu.

    Place page →

Map

Tosor: 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 +7 °C in March to +15 °C in May, nights from +2 to +10 °C.

    • MarchTosor +7° / +2°
    • AprilTosor +11° / +6°
    • MayTosor +15° / +10°

  2. Summer

    June–August

    Trees along the streets, a snowy range in the distance. Days +18…+21 °C.

    • JuneTosor +18° / +14°
    • JulyTosor +21° / +16°
    • AugustTosor +20° / +15°

  3. Autumn

    September–November

    Days from +17 °C in September to +6 °C in November, nights from +12 to +2 °C.

    • SeptemberTosor +17° / +12°
    • OctoberTosor +11° / +7°
    • NovemberTosor +6° / +2°

  4. Winter

    December–February

    Days around +2…+3 °C, nights down to −3 °C.

    • DecemberTosor +3° / −1°
    • JanuaryTosor +2° / −3°
    • FebruaryTosor +3° / −2°

Where it is

Location
Issyk-Kul Region
Coordinates
42.17° N, 77.44° E
Open in Maps

Getting here and getting around town

How to get there

  • From Bishkek

    about 5 h

    Along the south shore of Issyk-Kul, about 314 km by road. No marshrutka timetable found: check for your date.

  • From Karakol

    about 2 h

    Along the south shore, about 94 km by road. Check marshrutka times and fares for your date.

Getting around town

  • On foot. The village is small and walkable. Take a taxi to the canyon 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: 9 of 12 places are within 1.5 km of the centre

1 km1.5 km centre
guesthousehostelhotelother© OpenStreetMap

How many places

12 on the map

5 guesthouses1 hostel1 hotel5 other

Within 1.5 km from the centre
9 of 12

Options with names, from the centre outwards

  1. Akkemeguesthouse
  2. Shansonguesthouse
  3. Eldos Ata Eco Hotelguesthouse
  4. Tonya Yurt Camp
  5. Nazaralievsky

Tosor in photos

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

  1. April 27, 2023
  4. August 25, 2008
  5. August 8, 2014
  6. July 17, 2018
  7. August 15, 2022
  8. August 19, 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

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