How long to travel from Bishkek to Issyk Kul. Lake issyk-kul kyrgyzstan. From Bishkek to Issyk-Kul by rail

This lake does not freeze even in winter, so you can just go here at any time of the year. The beauty of Issyk-Kul can be compared with Lake Baikal. Repeatedly traveled in this direction, so I share the details.

From Bishkek to Issyk-Kul by car

Having your own car or renting it (you can see options or, in principle, the possibility of renting, for example), you will get to the lake from Bishkek in five hours. I am talking about the town of Cholpon-Ata (it is located exactly on the so-called northern coast, exactly in its center). Most often I rest in this place. It's about three hundred kilometers away. As for the condition of the road, in the mountainous part it is just perfect, it was built by the Chinese. Here is a super highway with fenders. But there are also frankly bad sections of the path, so sometimes be prepared for a real extreme. I advise you to travel on this route during daylight hours, because the lighting is not everywhere. There will be settlements along the way:

• Balykchy;
• Chirpykty;
• Tamchy.

Actually, they have gas stations and catering establishments, there is almost no infrastructure along the highway.

From Bishkek to Issyk-Kul by rail

The opportunity to travel by train on the route Bishkek - Issyk-Kul is available only in summer. The train runs from early June to late August. The railway station is called "Rybachye". It is located in the city of Balykchy. The train departs from Bishkek early in the morning, the journey will take five hours. There are no schedules for this year yet.

Prices

Train tickets from 700 soms (about 660 rubles).

Buying tickets

Travel documents can be purchased at the ticket office of the railway station. Also check the schedule on the official website. As for the issuance of travel documents in electronic form, this site does not provide such an opportunity.

From Bishkek to Issyk-Kul by bus

It all depends on where you specifically need to go, Issyk-Kul is a big one. For example, nine buses go to Balykchy daily. The journey will take four and a half hours.

You can also get to Jety-Oguz. Two buses run daily. You will spend ten hours on the road.

There are also flights to Karakol. There are many buses. The journey will take approximately nine and a half hours. The bus station is located on Chimkentskaya street, 1 (all buses depart from there).

Prices

Tickets to Issyk-Kul from 200 soms (about 190 rubles). Actually, the cost depends on the specific destination, there are a lot of different settlements on the lake.

Buying tickets

Travel documents are sold at the box office of bus stations.

conclusions

You won’t be able to get there by plane, so I personally recommend that you travel by bus if you don’t have your own car.

In June 2012, my wife and I visited Kyrgyzstan. The decision to go to Central Asia arose spontaneously. We wanted mountains, tasty food and a mountain lake. Before this trip, I did not know anything about Kyrgyzstan. I was told about all the beauty of nature by my friend, a teacher who every summer takes children to rest in Issyk-Kul. The Silk Road and the traces of Tamerlane beckoned us to such an unfamiliar Asia. The decision is made - let's go. Our choice is Cholpon-Ata.

City on the northern shore of the lakesIssyk-Kul . It is located 265 km from the capital of the Republic of the city ishkek, 145 km from the regional center city Karakol . The city is famous for its white sandy beaches and clear lake waters.
We began to prepare in about 3 weeks. We booked a room in a private boarding house in Cholpon-Ata for $8 per day and a transfer from Bishkek to the boarding house for $60. We bought train tickets from Yekaterinburg. I will not go into details now, but it is better to fly there by plane. The train is very exhausting, 4 borders, smugglers snooping around the cars, dirty toilets, sanitary zones, heat.....
But we went to Kyrgyzstan full of optimism and did not notice all the inconveniences. Part of the adventure, you might say.
And here we are at the Bishkek railway station. The clock is 1 am. We are met by a smiling Kyrgyz in an old Mercedes. The first thing we do is visit the nearest exchanger. The rate at that time was approximately 1 rub = 1.5 som. We decided to exchange 10 thousand for the first time. It was necessary to change more)))) And here we are going into the night through the gorge to Cholpon-Ata. We chat with the driver all the way, talking about the hard life in this country, about the lack of work, any industry in the country ....
In the morning we were in Cholpon-Ata.
5 hours sleep and we go to the lake! Beauty!

In the immediate vicinity of us is the pearl of Kyrgyzstan sanatorium "Blue Issyk-Kul". The prices there are ridiculous, the average procedure such as mud or swimming in a mineral pool costs about 30 soms. But we are healthy, we are not interested, we are interested in the lake! The beach also belongs to the resort. Very clean. Local children sell corn, fish and rent umbrellas.

The next day we go for a boat ride.

On the horizon is the southern coast of Issyk-Kul. Snow-capped peaks of the Tien Shan, behind the mountains of China!

We look back, and there is a thunderstorm in the mountains .....

In the middle of the lake, the ship anchors and those who wish can swim! I, too, did not deny myself this pleasure!

The storm is gone....

In the evening we go for a walk around the city. At the entrance we are met by the same Cholpon-Ata.

And one more Kyrgyz.

There are also a few museums in Cholpon-Ata.
Cholpon-Ata is home to a popular open-air museum, sometimes referred to as the Stone Garden, spread over an area of ​​42 hectares.

we got to it on foot through the local airfield, thorns, sand and stones. Along the way, we met blanks of building materials :)

The museum presents prehistoric monumental images: cromlechs, tombstones, border stone fences, as well as petroglyphs dating back to 2000 BC. - 4th century ADMany of the drawings are made in the Saka-Scythian style: images of hunters, hunting scenes with the participation of tamed snow leopards. One drawing depicts hunting leopards in motion. This is the only image of such a plan in Central Asia.

Lots of goats.

Did everyone see a beautiful deer here?

Walking under the scorching sun, we were very badly burned, although we were smeared with the strongest sunblock.
Hence the best time to visit the museum is early morning or late evening.

Not far from the petroglyphs is a very interesting local history museum. Few people know about it, we stumbled upon it quite by accident.

National vessel for kymyz made of leather.

National felt carpet.

Reduced copy of the Kyrgyz yurt. I will talk about yurts separately in other posts about gorges and mountains .....

National musical instruments.

One of the most ambiguous impressions on us was made by the Cultural Center Rukh Ordo named after. Ch. Aitmatova. Enough expensive entry something around 300 soms per person. A little bit of everything mixed in from different cultures. No hint of authenticity. For example, ancient Greece Hestia goddess of the family hearth and sacrificial firein Ancient Greece.

H territory there are 5 identical chapels: Buddhist, Orthodox, Muslim, Catholic Jewish .
Five identical chapels speak of the equality of all religions.

And this walnut chair...

In a word, the Resort City, everything for tourists. A few goodbye tips. If you go to rest in Cholpon-Ata, be sure to change the currency immediately in Bishkek, because the exchange rate changes very sharply closer to the resort area. Be sure to visit the cafe "At the fisherman". The best place in town, trout, all types of lagman other national wow. Delicious beer "Arpa", very polite waiters. If you are going to the mountains, look around and ask the price. He called for tours in the mountains and in the gorges a lot. There are comrades who offer very interesting outings not on the main routes. They have the appropriate technique like Delica.
In the next post I will talk about the Semenov Gorge.

Basic moments

Issyk-Kul is one of the deepest lakes in the world, located in the north-east of Kyrgyzstan in the Tien Shan mountains at an altitude of 1600 meters. The length of the lake reaches 180 km, and its width varies from 30 to 60 km. The average depth of the lake is 300 meters, but in some places it reaches 700 meters. In terms of purity and transparency of water, the lake is second only to Baikal. Due to the huge water column, the lake does not have time to cool and never freezes. About 80 rivers and tributaries flow into Issyk-Kul, flowing from the Tien Shan glaciers. But there is no runoff from the lake, and it accumulates all the valuable minerals brought by rivers and rains.

The climate in the vicinity of Issyk-Kul is temperate maritime. The sun pleases with its appearance more often than on the Black Sea coast. But there is no sweltering southern heat, and there are no frosts in winter. The average summer temperature is +24 °C, the water warms up to +22...+24 degrees. In winter, the thermometer rarely drops below 6 degrees below zero.

Hundreds of thousands of birds spend the winter or rest on the ice-free lake during their migrations, and nature lovers will spend many exciting hours watching them.

Why go

Issyk-Kul gives incredible opportunities for recreation and health improvement - the purest mountain-sea air, thermal springs available all year round, therapeutic mud and healing mineral water. For a good rest, a year-round tourist infrastructure has been created here - comfortable housing, comfortable sandy beaches, cafes, cinemas, discos, boat and catamaran rentals. Guests of Issyk-Kul are offered fascinating excursions to places untouched by civilization. Fans of outdoor activities will be happy to take part in mountain climbing, hiking and horseback riding, rafting. For those wishing to see the underwater world, diving into the lake to a depth of more than 20 meters is organized. A hang glider flight over the beautiful Issyk-Kul will be one of the most exciting adventures in your life!

Fishermen will appreciate fishing on the lake - bream, carp, trout, tench, carp are found here.

There are only a few places on Earth with such a unique microclimate - the air contains a huge amount of iodine ions, sea salts, ozone, and the water of Issyk-Kul is a truly magical storehouse - it contains all the useful chemical elements and microelements, which, coupled with a weak alkaline reaction, have powerful healing effect on the human body.

Resorts and attractions

The northern coast of Issyk-Kul is more comfortable, there are a lot of hotels for every taste and a good entertainment infrastructure. The Cholpon-Ata resort is located here, the mineral waters of which are similar in composition to the Essentuki springs. Local silt and hydrogen sulfide muds are famous for their analgesic and antibacterial properties. Worthy of attention are local attractions, a water park and a 70-meter Ferris wheel. In the vicinity of Cholpon-Ata, look into the Stone Garden, where you will see the unique ruins of the city from the time of the Great Silk Road.

Not far from Cholpon-Ata there is the village of Bosteri, famous for its fair and local apricots, cherries, and honey.

For a relaxing family holiday, the village of Bulan-Sogotu is perfect.

In Korumdu village you can see an ethnographic zone with ancient petroglyphs.

A shallow beach near the village of Sara-oy will satisfy vacationers with children.

Near the Ak-Suu village you can plunge into unique springs - although they are located next to each other, the water in them differs in composition (hydrogen sulfide and radon) and in temperature (from +32 to +50).

Fans of esotericism consider it their duty to reach the local shrine of Tanga Tash - three gigantic stones lying at a distance of a kilometer from each other.

A 5-hour drive from Issyk-Kul lies the Dead Lake with healing mud and so salty water that it is impossible to drown in this reservoir. The chemical composition of the water of the lake is equivalent to the water of the Dead Sea in Israel. Local mud is very effective in the treatment of colds and skin diseases. If you come here, be prepared for the fact that the lake is not equipped in any way, there are only yurts on its shores, where you will be offered dishes of the national Kyrgyz cuisine. In no case do not try to take out water - you are punished for this with a large fine.

To the east of Issyk-Kul is the legendary Sentash Pass - it was here that Tamerlane ordered to pour his famous stone heaps.

Be sure to go on an excursion to at least one of the most beautiful local gorges - Jety-Oguz with a zoological reserve and hydrogen sulfide springs; Barskhan, along which the Great Silk Road ran; Boom with a botanical reserve; Barskoon with magnificent waterfalls and a monument to Yuri Gagarin, who loved to visit these places.

Accommodation

More than two hundred sanatoriums with excellent medical base, boarding houses, rest houses, mini-hotels are at the service of tourists. For those who want to get as close to nature as possible and enjoy the local exotic, traditional Kyrgyz yurts are offered for accommodation.

Helpful information

• Do not buy alcoholic beverages in the markets and in small shops - there is a danger of buying counterfeit products.
• During forest walks, do not eat unfamiliar berries and plants, do not pick mushrooms unknown to you.
• It is more profitable to buy souvenirs and things not at Issyk-Kul, but at the Dordoi market in Bishkek.

How to get there

We fly by plane to Bishkek or Alma-Ata, then by bus or train we go to Issyk-Kul. From Bishkek the road will take 4 hours, from Almaty 8 hours. To cross the borders of Kyrgyzstan or Kazakhstan, a Russian passport is enough.

Issyk-Kul is one of the most picturesque places in Kyrgyzstan. There are many attractions and beautiful nature, which allows you to get excellent spiritual development and relaxation for the whole family. If earlier it was difficult to get to the lake, now it has become much easier, and you can get there from the city of Bishkek.

Distance

It is approximately 250 kilometers. On the coast, you will be offered a rich variety of services and entertainment, you can choose the place of accommodation that you like, as well as create excellent conditions. For lovers of a full range of services, you can choose a hotel room in any resort town, and for those who want to save money and enjoy nature, you can rent a room in the house of local residents, which will cost less. Moreover, you can live in a house and use the services of hotels, of course, for a fee.

Many rivers flow into the reservoir, but not a single river takes its waters out of it, so salts accumulate here in large enough quantities. Among the largest rivers flowing into it, one can distinguish Jergalan, Tyup and Chu.

Natural areas of the lake

Natural areas in this area are also quite rich and diverse. Steppes can be seen in the east, and desert in the west. In the east of the lake there are spruce forests, which are very dense. From the inside, the lake is also diverse, because 20 species of fish live here, including bream, osman, carp, chebak, trout and so on. The first one managed to explore the Russian traveler, who described Issyk-Kul in a rather peculiar way.

Some travelers literally fell in love with this region and asked to be buried on the shore of the lake. Some say that the lake is even more beautiful than Switzerland.

The reservoir currently attracts quite a lot of tourists from various countries, including Kazakhstan, Russia and other parts. On the coast there are resorts that operate all year round, and some work only during the swimming season. If you prefer a wild extreme vacation, then there is nothing better than camping, which will bring you a lot of unforgettable emotions and give you all the best. If you have decided to relax in paradise, then you can proceed, because here you will find beautiful nature and the best emotions.

1 min read

In anticipation of the start of the holiday season in Kyrgyzstan, the site lists ways to get from Bishkek to the main tourist area in the country - Lake Issyk-Kul.

The summer tourist season in Kyrgyzstan traditionally begins in July and lasts until mid-September. the site understands how you can get to the "pearl" of the country - Lake Issyk-Kul:

Airplane

Price: from 2800 to 4000 soms (Osh - Tamchy)
Flight time: 45 minutes

The fastest, but not the most common way to get to Issyk-Kul. The Kyrgyz authorities have completed this year the reconstruction of the runway in Tamchy, which will now be able to take large airliners - for example, "Boeing-737" or "Airbus A320".

According to the authorities, flights from Russian Novosibirsk, the capital of Uzbekistan - Tashkent, and from the southern capital of Kyrgyzstan - Osh will be launched from July.

The cost of foreign flights is still unknown. Passengers will be able to fly from Osh to Tamchy for 2,800 - 4,000 soms on Wednesdays.

In addition, the authorities of Kyrgyzstan are negotiating with the official Almaty, and are also considering the possibility of launching a flight from Bishkek.

Automobile

Price: from 480 to 1408 soms
Time: 2.5 to 5 hours

By private car from Bishkek to Cholpon-Ata - a resort town on the shores of Issyk-Kul - can be reached at an average speed of 80 km/h in 4 hours.

The average consumption of gasoline in a small car will be slightly more than 15 liters (from 480 to 660 soms), and in a car with an average engine size - up to 32 liters (from 1024 to 1408 soms).

If you do not have your own car, you can take a taxi - the cost of this trip will cost from 400 to 500 soms per person, depending on the type of car.

By taxi, the trip, according to the drivers, will take from 2.5 to 5 hours.

The driver, who introduced himself as Piotr, told the site that the taxi takes passengers to the entrance to the boarding house, and does not leave at stops.

“We serve clients from the bus station itself to the gate of the boarding house, if the client wants to go to another boarding house, then we will take him to any boarding house he wants. We will not abandon clients,” said Piotr.

Train

Price: 70 soms
Time: 4.5 hours

Issyk-Kul can also be reached by train. The flight from Bishkek to Balykchy departs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 6:40.

The relatively inexpensive cost of tickets, 70 soms, is reflected in the amenities -

From Bishkek to Balykchy, the train travels 4.5 hours.

Bike

Price: depends on the whim of the cyclist
Time: an average of 12 hours

One of the most difficult ways to get to Issyk-Kul is by bike. According to Iskender Aliyev, head of the Cycling Community of Kyrgyzstan, it is "almost impossible" to get from Bishkek to Cholpon-Ata without special training.

“Advice is being in good physical condition, eating and drinking well, knowing the basics about cycling and how to use it. If you leave without knowing, it will be detrimental to your health ..

According to him, the travel time to Issyk-Kul depends on the level of training of the cyclist. Aliyev said that for the trip it is desirable to have:

• bicycle repair kit;
• first aid kit;
• water;
• food that is quickly digested and gives energy;
• clothes for the season and for changing weather.

The costs, according to the cyclist, depend on the route of the trip. If you go only from Bishkek to Balykchy, then you will need money for water and food.

Aliyev himself advises cyclists to travel to Issyk-Kul by train.

“I traveled [to Issyk-Kul on a bicycle]. Impressions - “I did it!”. Pluses - moral satisfaction. Cons - fatigue, however, it passes, ”he said.

Minibus

Price: from 280 to 300 soms
Time: 5 o'clock

The most common way of traveling to Issyk-Kul among the Kyrgyz people is a fixed-route taxi. Payment for one person is from 280 to 300 soms.
Travel time - 5 hours.

You can take a minibus from Bishkek to Issyk-Kul at any time.

Bus

Price: from 165 to 330 soms
Time: 5 o'clock

You can get to Issyk-Kul by bus. From the western bus station, they depart only in the evening - from 21:00 to 23:00.

Flight route: Bishkek - Cholpon-Ata.

The duration of the trip is 5 hours. Tickets can be purchased immediately at the ticket office of the bus station, their cost is 330 soms. Children under 10 years old are given a 50 percent discount - 165 soms.