Kyrgyzstan
A never-freezing alpine lake, south-shore canyons and the Terskey range.
Issyk-Kul is the world's second-largest alpine lake. The north shore offers beaches and resorts, the south shore wild canyons, the Barskoon and Jeti-Oguz gorges, eagle hunters and yurt camps. Karakol is the base for treks to Ala-Kul and Jyrgalan.
ISSYK-KUL
42°N · 75°E
Issyk-Kul
Chon-Kemin, the Cholpon-Ata petroglyphs, Karakol, the Jeti-Oguz and Barskoon gorges and sunrise in Skazka Canyon — a loop around Issyk-Kul in four days.
Dates on request
from · per person
$460
Issyk-Kul
All of Kyrgyzstan in one epic journey: Bishkek, Ala-Archa, Chon-Kemin, a loop around Issyk-Kul, Karakol, the canyons and a horseback crossing to Son-Kul. If you have the time, take this one.
Dates on request
from · per person
$898
Issyk-Kul
The old merchant town of Karakol, the red rocks of Jeti-Oguz and the Altyn-Arashan hot springs, reachable only by a 4×4 UAZ.
Dates on request
from · per person
$460
Issyk-Kul
The wilder, less crowded south shore of Issyk-Kul — authentic villages, hidden canyons and nomadic traditions.
Dates on request
from · per person
$460
Issyk-Kul
Short but intense — made for photographers and Instagram lovers: Kok-Moinok, Jeti-Oguz at sunrise, the Barskoon waterfalls and Skazka at golden hour.
Dates on request
from · per person
$351
Pearl of the Tian Shan: 182 km of turquoise water ringed by mountains.
Town of merchants and mountaineers: wooden cathedral, Dungan mosque, ashlyan-fu.
The red “Seven Bulls” and “Broken Heart” cliffs.
Wind-sculpted red sandstone shaped like castles and dragons.
The “Leopard's Tears” waterfalls and the road to a 3,800 m pass.
Eagle hunting demonstrations and lakeside yurt camps.
Open-air petroglyphs and north-shore beaches.
A glacial lake at 3,530 m — goal of the country's best-known trek.
Radon hot springs in an alpine valley.
A valley for trekking, horse tours and freeride.
Red canyons and narrow labyrinths near the Boom Gorge — a little-known alternative to Skazka.
A quiet village on the south shore of Issyk-Kul: a homestay and sunset on the beach.
Kyrgyzstan's best ski resort: 2,300–3,040 m and Tian Shan powder snow.
