Issyk-Köl Oblast
The two-day trek to stunning Ala-Köl is for many visitors a highlight of the entire Kyrgyzstan experience. Though less than 1.5 km², the range of massive…
Must-see attractions in Issyk-Köl Oblast
Issyk-Köl Oblast
This workshop became famous after one of its products won the 'most beautiful yurt' competition at the 1997 'Manas 1000' festival and had its work…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
Built into the hometown studio of Kyrgyzstan's national artist, Yuristanbek Shygaev, this delightful space is one of the most engaging museums in the…
Karakol
Hike the hour or two up from the village of Jolgolot (a suburb of Karakol) to take in stunning views of the city and Issyk-Köl to the north and the…
Karakol
Early on Sunday mornings one of Kyrgyzstan's biggest animal markets takes place around 2km north of central Karakol. Typical of such markets, you'll…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
One of Kyrgyzstan's most photographed natural features, the Seven Bulls (Jeti-Ögüz) is an abrupt serrated ridge of ferric-red sandstone cliffs that have…
Karakol
The main attraction of the shrine-like Przhevalsky memorial garden is a small, well-presented museum dedicated to Nikolai Przhevalsky, the Russian…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
A small collection of Tibetan-script petroglyphs and accompanying Soviet-era graffiti make for a nice 3km walk (one-way) from the nearby highway, but the…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
The Skazka Valley is an area of bare red earth eroded into photogenic corridors, paws and spires of rosy rock. It's hardly Bryce Canyon but it makes a…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
At the beginning of the attractive Boz-Salkyn Valley an easy 1¾-km walk leads to a viewpoint with extraordinary views over Issyk-Kül, especially at…
Karakol
Set peacefully amid trees, this hefty wooden structure is topped with green-roofed towers and almost-golden onion domes. The 1872 stone original was…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
This surprisingly well-curated museum displays artefacts and exhibits on traditional Kyrgyz culture, clothing, and history in an airy space that draws…
Karakol
Occupying an archetypal 1887 Russian house, this museum has a few Scythian bronze artefacts, local tools and musical instruments. Taxidermists' victims…
Karakol
In addition to the standard monument of Victory on a plinth, memorialising the end of WWII, Karakol's Victory Park also includes an interesting monument…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
Though small, the craggy mountains that back these two high-altitude lakes make for an impressive scene; as does the long look back down from their shelf…
Karakol
Developed under the initiative of the Destination Karakol public association, this area of nicely maintained land alongside the Karakol River has benches,…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
Locals pack picnics and head 20km up the huge Barskoön Valley to the Barskoön Waterfall, where kymys is sold from summertime yurts near a defaced…
Karakol
A tip-tilted triple roof, carved-layered eaves and wooden exterior pillars give this colourful 1910 mosque the look of a Chinese Buddhist temple…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
The large open-air stadium east of the centre is host to occasional concerts and events, but really comes to life every two years as the base for sports…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
The still waters of this quiet mountain lake reflect the surrounding forests, and the trail up looks out over splendid views of the surrounding valleys…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
North of the centre is an extensive field of glacial boulders, many with pictures scratched or picked into their surfaces. Some of these petroglyphs date…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
Rumoured to cure everything from upset stomach to infertility, the many springs that dot the Manjyly-Ata site have been the site of pilgrimage since at…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
Cut by a raging river, this 22-kilometre valley north of Grigorievka contains three small alpine lakes. It's quite popular with domestic tourists on day…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
Just before you arrive at the Jeti-Ögüz resort from the north, the partly-wooded back side of the Seven Bulls ridge appears to be a single splintered hill…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
This typical, well-presented museum includes copies of locally found Scythian (Saka) gold jewellery and displays on ethnography, Kyrgyz bards, textiles…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
The height and impressive rocky cove, as well as pleasant landscapes en route, make this waterfall a nice walk or horse ride from the village even if it's…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
This curious museum-cum-theme-park depicts Kyrgyz legends, historical characters, and the interplay of five religions in a large and somewhat surreal…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
Kyrgyzstan's largest Ferris wheel, where the sixteen-minute ride gives plenty of time to admire the lake- and mountainscapes surrounding the town of…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
This small but pretty mountain lake is a great day trip up the Ak-Suu Valley. The hike climbs from 1760m off the highway to 3245m at the lake, so don't…
Karakol
This two-storey home with an ornate balcony is one of the most attractive historic structures in town, but sadly isn't open to the public.
Karakol
Attractive historic building just opposite the cathedral, worth a look though they don't welcome tourists wandering in.
Karakol
This historic building still serves as the office of the local Radio and TV company, which is not open to the public.
Issyk-Köl Oblast
According to local legend, this large pile of thousands of rocks hearkens back to the Timurid era. As the story goes, en route to an invasion of China the…
Karakol
Local hero Tagay-biy, renown as a great warrior who lead the Kyrgyz to victory during the 16th invasion of Kalmyk tribes, is memorialised in statue form…
Karakol
Keep an eye out for the small statue of Lenin along Gebze, overlooking the university.