How many kilometers from Bishkek to Issyk Kul. Lake Issyk-Kul Kyrgyzstan. Almaty - Issyk-Kul how to get there

Pages: 1

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

“If you travel, then do it to the fullest! If you take pictures, then stop and take pictures!” - these were the main mottos of our trip to Lake Issyk-Kul in 2014.

The journey lasted 5 days, from September 7 to 12, 2014. Route: Almaty - Bishkek - Ortotokoy reservoir - Lake Issyk-Kul - Almaty, distance: about 1000 km.

Having spent the whole weekend at home without vacation, we finally decided, under the last rays of the September sun, to go on vacation to the blue Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan. Hungry for landscape photographs, I prepared my camera and video camera.

On September 7 at five in the morning the whole family leaves Almaty towards the Kyrgyz border near Bishkek. Our cruise ship is a Toyota Matrix with a cargo box on the roof and, as always, not without CityGuide auto navigation. The video recorder played a role in capturing interesting views of the road. Our plan: to go to Bishkek, to visit my aunt, then to Issyk-Kul to the Rainbow recreation center near the village of Sary-Oy. The estimated distance, taking into account the arrival in Bishkek, is about 500 km.

Before dawn we drove onto the A-2 road "Almaty - Bishkek", leaving the city, we stopped at a Gazprom gas station, filled the tank full and drank tea. I really didn’t want to pay fines for speeding and I drove strictly according to the rules, the average speed was no more than 90 km/h. And I was not mistaken! My greed gave results, after 230 km to the Kyrgyz border, all of us who were driving according to the rules and who were overtaking arrived at the same time! Some drove and paid fines of at least 2,000 tenge two or even three times, others drove calmly and without risk. For information on the territory of Kazakhstan, the minimum fine for exceeding the speed limit by 10 km/h is officially a little more than 18,000 tenge, which is almost $100 US. It’s much cheaper to give a bribe, about 2000 tenge, that’s $10, but how lucky are you, what if they don’t take the bribe and issue a fine? The traffic cop's main tool for recording speed is a camouflaged, remote camera on a tripod a kilometer before the ambush.

Highway A-2 "Almaty - Bishkek" connects Almaty with Bishkek and Almaty with Shymkent via Taraz. The road is not bad in terms of road surface, in the 2000s it was completely reconstructed by the joint efforts of Kazakh and Turkish companies, the Kordai Pass was literally straightened, but there is one very big drawback, this two-lane road! Which is completely incompatible with the current driving style of the local population, “90” signs officially reduce speed instead of the permissible 110 km/h on all Kazakhstan roads. Having traveled almost 200 km from Almaty to Kurdai, I realized that I was driving like a turtle, i.e. 90 km/h. Still, they are not limited to a speed of 120-140 km/h, including buses, but trucks travel barely 70-80 km/h. Vehicles are very far from proper technical condition, the age of the cars exceeds 10-15, or even 20 years, no one passes technical inspection in the Republic of Kazakhstan, throw in 4000-5000 tenge ($20-30) once a year and off you go. Driving at night is at least dangerous, half of the cars do not have all the side lights at the rear and the headlights at the front, and some reckless drivers have even darkened front lights. Overtaking is easy and immediate; wedging in front of oncoming traffic and almost hitting a car with your bumper at a distance of half a meter is not a problem! And you think they don’t fight? They still fight, killing themselves and innocent people, which does not serve as a lesson to anyone from generation to generation.

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

Fields near the Trans-Ili Alatau. Kazakhstan, Almaty region.

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

Sheep at the foot of the Trans-Ili Alatau. Kazakhstan, Almaty region.

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

Wind farm on the Kordai Pass near the A-2 highway. Kazakhstan, Zhambyl region.

At sunrise, the freshly mown wheat fields shone golden, I stopped and photographed the field against the backdrop of the Trans-Ili Alatau. Then the road began as straight as a string for 40 km. Before entering the Kordai Pass, construction is underway of a transport interchange from the A-2 highway to the new concrete road "Western China - Western Europe" and to the village of Otar. Having climbed the Kordai pass, we saw the built wind power plants of an impressive size, about 20 meters high. Then we descend from the pass and the last village of Kordai before the border with Kyrgyzstan. We stopped at a currency exchange office and exchanged money, Kazakh tenge for Kyrgyz soms. Right there at the entrance, a rare “Chaika” GAZ-13 was being sold for an amount exceeding a little more than forty thousand US dollars.

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

GAZ-13 "Chaika" for sale in the village of Kordai. Kazakhstan, Zhambyl region.

There were relatively few cars at customs, with about five standing in line ahead of me. The bulk of people crossing this customs office strive to go to the Kyrgyz Dordoi market, mainly private entrepreneurs for the purpose of resale in Kazakhstan at flea markets. Most leave their cars in a spontaneous paid parking lot near the border and go on foot or by taxi to Dordoi, which is not far from the border. After it was my turn at customs, I dropped off my passengers, went through the customs of Kazakhstan, crossed the Chu River bridge and stopped at the Customs of Kyrgyzstan. I was surprised by one procedure for filling out a declaration for a car; in a separate room I was given a declaration form in the Kyrgyz language; according to logic, the text of the Kyrgyz language should have been duplicated in the customs document, at least in international English! But no, everything is in the best traditions of corruption, customs officers offered me to fill out this document for a fee. I asked for a sample and completed the Kyrgyz text myself. The border has been passed, we are in Kyrgyzstan!

From the border to the capital of Kyrgyzstan it is about 20 km; the asphalt, more or less not bad, ends at the entrance to the city of Bishkek. In Bishkek, only the central streets have good roads, the rest are like after the Battle of Stalingrad. Bishkek is a typical Soviet city, like all others in the Soviet Union, modern buildings are sometimes visible, but not in predominant numbers. On the streets, as well as in the country, the predominant number of Japanese-made cars with right-hand drive, Honda, a common brand in Kyrgyzstan. It’s not easy to buy a local GSM connection in the form of a SIM card in the city; we drove through the city center, quickly went shopping and couldn’t find it. We spent two hours visiting my aunt and drove with my cousin in two cars towards Issyk-Kul. From Bishkek we took the bypass road A-365 Bishkek - Naryn, Bishkek - Balykchy. The road goes from Lugovaya through Bishkek, then to the Boom Pass and to the outermost city of Balykchy of Lake Issyk-Kul, before Balykchy there is a branch to the border with China in Naryn. The road, unlike the Kazakhstan A-2, has four lanes and an excellent asphalt surface. This direction was reconstructed by builders from the PRC; a huge amount of work was done at the pass, where a two-lane road was turned into a four-lane one. Almost the entire distance to Issyk-Kul is limited to a permissible speed of 90 km/h. But not without reckless drivers, everything here is the same as on the A-2 and traffic cops with camouflaged video clips on tripods. On the way, we stopped at a local market by the road, the prices surprised me because they were almost the same as in Kazakhstan. The fact is that the average Kazakh salary is 500-800 US dollars, in Kyrgyzstan it is only 200-300. The price of gasoline stood out, in Kyrgyzstan it is more expensive, at 44.80 soms per liter of AI-92! In Kazakhstan, after raising prices, 128 tenge per liter of the same gasoline, which is generally 22% cheaper. But in Kyrgyzstan, AI-92 gasoline at Gazprom gas stations is of the best quality from Russian manufacturers, in Kazakhstan at the same Gazprom gas stations AI-92 is produced locally in Shymkent.

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

Chu River. Kyrgyzstan, Issyk-Kul region. Without noticing and without slowing down, we drive up to the Boom Pass, the considerable work of builders from China is noticeably noticeable, a four-lane road runs almost along the cliff, constantly twisting and going around steep slopes. In the cliff at the bottom of the gorge is the Chu River and we are driving through the Chui region. My brother suggested that I change the route a little and drive a few extra tens of kilometers towards Naryn for the purpose of beautiful photographs, I certainly agreed. A reconstructed two-lane road goes towards Naryn, leading to a decent pass. I was driving the car at 60 km/h at 3000-3200 rpm on the tachometer. Next there was a beautiful and winding descent to the Orto-Tokoy reservoir. We stopped at an interesting picturesque place near the road from where a gorgeous panorama of the reservoir opens up. The Chu River flows into and out of the reservoir. Unfortunately there was little water, which could have been due to the dry summer. Then we moved to another point for photographing, drove a little and decided to go down by car to the water to the former bottom. Local vacationers were pleased with the cleanliness of the tourist spots; with well-maintained dirt roads, there was virtually no discarded garbage after a picnic. The mountains, rivers and lakes in Kyrgyzstan are very photogenic, the fact is that here nature is very diverse in its colors, red rock, green oasis on the river and bright blue lakes. The Orto-Tokoy reservoir was built in 1960 for land reclamation needs.

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

Chu River and Orto-Tokoy Reservoir. Kyrgyzstan, Naryn region.

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

Orto-Tokoy Reservoir. Kyrgyzstan, Naryn region.

Then we drove along a road with a not very good asphalt surface, sometimes the speed was reduced to 60 km/h. Before descending to the city of Balykchy from the direction of Orto-Tokoy, the bright blue strip of Issyk-Kul opened up to us in the distance, in our minds we were already imagining a beach, a sun lounger and the Kyrgyz Sea with chebaks, but there was at least 100 km ahead! We have been on the road for 10-11 hours already, we have covered about 400-450 km. Our passengers are not ordinary, we have two children with us, 3.5 and 5 years old, we are traveling normally, which means that everyone has travel in their blood, which is passed on from generation to generation.

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

Highway Bishkek - Torugat - Balykchy "A-365". Kyrgyzstan, Issyk-Kul region.

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

Seasonal trade of fish and honey on the coast of Lake Issyk-Kul. Kyrgyzstan, Issyk-Kul region.

Fish: farmed trout, wild trout and peled. Chonkiminsky honey (mountain). In front of the city of Balykchy, which was formerly called Rybachye, the environmental post where they collected tolls for travel to Issyk-Kul was removed. The worst and most broken road I encountered during my entire trip was in this city; sometimes it was impossible to drive over 30 km/h. Next is the A-363 highway from Balykchy and around Issyk-Kul, along the way there are villages, on the right Issyk-Kul, on the left the mountains of the Kungey Alatau ridge, and on the other side of the lake, more precisely in the south, the Terskey Alatau ridge, in a word, beauty, we are traveling! The light has passed a day on the road and we are there, about 550 km have been covered. Traditionally, we stopped at the Rainbow recreation center near the village of Sary-Oy on the northern shore of Issyk-Kul. One of the best cottage towns for a holiday in Issyk-Kul, a well-groomed beach, green territory, Issyk-Kul climate complemented by planted pine trees and a million of gorgeous roses. The cottages in the town are divided into approximately half, some are privately owned, others are rented out to vacationers, and there are also buildings with budget options.

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

Recreation center "Rainbow". Kyrgyzstan, Issyk-Kul region.

But in "Rainbow" there is nothing for active recreation and we go by car to the city of Cholpon-Ata to ride a boat along Issyk-Kul. We drove 10 km from the village of Sary-Oy and here it is the same resort town of Cholpon-Ata with a population of ten thousand. If you are driving a car, then the first impression is that the roads are broken. Our car navigator showed the turn to the yacht club without error and here we are. Boats and motor ships inherited from the Soviet Union now take tourists around the lake for an inexpensive fee, for example, an hour-long walk around Issyk-Kul with swimming costs a tourist 300 soms, $6, but it’s worth it! Tourist walks around the lake take place at intervals of about an hour.

While we were waiting in the wings, we visited a museum right there in the yacht club with free entry for all visitors. The museum, which is one small room, told us about fragments of ancient clay jugs found at the bottom of Issyk-Kul, about ship instruments that we did not understand, and about the giant Issyk-Kul trout. As we were told, trout of normal size were artificially raised by fishermen in special nets immersed in the lake, but some “kind” person decided to give them life and released them by cutting the net. The trout destroyed the famous Issyk-Kul chebak, which was a small fish, very well remembered by all tourists for its unique taste, especially for beer.

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

Trout in the museum near the yacht club in Cholpon-Ata. Kyrgyzstan, Issyk-Kul region, the city of Cholpon-Ata. According to one version, a trout released into Lake Issyk-Kul destroyed the famous Issyk-Kul chebak.

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

In the museum near the yacht club in Cholpon-Ata. Kyrgyzstan, Issyk-Kul region, the city of Cholpon-Ata. We boarded the Karakol boat and went to the open sea. The children had so many emotions that it is impossible to describe, because this trip on the ship was their first time. The calling card of Issyk-Kul is clear water, the bottom is visible at 5-7 meters, where deeper there is a blue abyss. The lake is included in the list of the deepest lakes in the World, the greatest depth of Issyk-Kul is 700 meters! The height above sea level is 1609 meters, the dimensions of the lake are 180 x 60 km. The water is brackish and cold, but you can swim. For thrill-seekers who want to swim in the blue abyss of Issyk-Kul, the boat stops far from the shore at a depth of about a hundred meters. Those who want to swim wear life jackets, and those who do not want to swim at this time can enjoy the cleanest air of Issyk-Kul and admire the beautiful view of the lake. For your money, you can arrange a ride on the lake of any scale, and at your service there are boats, a steamship, and luxury yachts.

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

Boat IK-89 "Admiral", project 1427, Polarnik type.

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

Motor ship "Chingiz", project 1430, type Alexander Green.

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

Lake Issyk-Kul. Kyrgyzstan, Issyk-Kul region, Cholpon-Ata city.

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

Boat ride on Lake Issyk-Kul.

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

Lake Issyk-Kul and the Kungey Alatau mountain range.

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

Boat IK-56 "Cruise", project 376, Yaroslavets type.

Next we go to the former Cholpon-Ata airport. The terminal building and airport buildings have long been abandoned, and people use the runway as a road. We also did not miss this opportunity to drive a car on the takeoff. The runway itself is interesting in that it has a decent slope towards the lake, apparently for a short take-off run of aircraft and during landing for short braking. At one time, the airport received Yak-40 type aircraft from Bishkek and Almaty. In the summer season, there are flights from Almaty on Yak-40, Yak-42 aircraft to the new Tamchy airport near Issyk-Kul, which is 20 km from Cholpon-Ata. There is also another operating paramilitary-type airfield in the city of Karakol, the former city of Przhevalsk.

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

Lake Issyk-Kul and Cholpon-Ata Airport.

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

The terminal building of the airport in Cholpon-Ata.

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

Runway runway heading "16" at Cholpon-Ata Airport (UAFG).

The runway is 1740 m long and has a significant slope. The height of the airport is 1652 m at sea level.

Now about what you can see in Issyk-Kul for active tourists. For me, lying on the hotel beach just to sunbathe is a waste of time. If possible, it is better to use your own transport or excursions and explore the surrounding area ahead. In 2008, I traveled around Issyk-Kul with a paper map in my hands in my car and this is what I saw: Grigorievskoye Gorge on the northern shore, Rukh-Ordo Museum in Cholpon-Ata, Przhevalsky Museum, Jety-Oguz Gorge, Dead Lake, picturesque There is a highway around the entire lake and I’m sure that I missed a lot of things along the way.

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

Sunset over the Kungei Alatau ridge.

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

Clouds over the Kungei Alatau ridge. Kyrgyzstan, Issyk-Kul region. Well, here we are on the way home, we filled up the gas station with gasoline and slowly left Issyk-Kul through Balykchy. Well, what would we do without my favorite photographs of the railway? The railway here is especially beautiful! The line originates from the border station with Kazakhstan called Lugovaya, passes through the city of Bishkek, further along the Chui Valley and to the pass in the Boom Gorge, there are climbs, protection stones, and bridges, ending at the Rybachye station in the city of Balykchy. Old Soviet diesel locomotives lift small trains to Issyk-Kul; due to undemanded passenger traffic, there are few passenger trains. It's rare to see a train here, but I was lucky! First, we managed to photograph the train at the Kayamat-Kurkol station, and then a lonely diesel locomotive heading downhill on the stretch. The driver waved his hand at me in a friendly manner. This railway line was built a long time ago, it was marked on the maps of the famous Turksib, and that same Turksib from Siberia through Almaty to Lugovaya was built later. It was on this section of Kyrgyzstan from Lugovaya to Issyk-Kul that my grandfather worked, holding leadership positions in the field of track management. The pictures are taken, let's move on.

Driver of diesel locomotive 2TE10V-3522.

// zaleskiy.livejournal.com

Chu River. Kyrgyzstan, Chui region. When leaving the gorge, Boom took another picture of the Chu River from a high elevation on a rock, then the path along the Chui Valley along the Chu River to the border with Kazakhstan. Customs went through as usual, an evening drive to Almaty, an hour and a half traffic jam at the entrance to the city and we were home. Pleasant fatigue, a lot of unprocessed material in photo and video cameras, dried fish brought from Issyk-Kul, apricots, a light tan and most importantly - satisfaction from the trip.

zaleskiy
15/02/2017

Pages: 1

This lake does not freeze even in winter, so you can simply go here at any time of the year. The beauty of Issyk-Kul can be compared with Lake Baikal. I have traveled in this direction several times, so I’m sharing the details.

From Bishkek to Issyk-Kul by car

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

• Balykchy;
• Chyrpykty;
• Tamchy.

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

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 the beginning of June to the end of August. The railway station is called "Rybachye". It is located in the city of Balykchy. The train departs from Bishkek early in the morning and the journey will take five hours. There is no schedule for this year yet.

Prices

Train tickets start from 700 soms (that’s about 660 rubles).

Buying tickets

You can purchase travel documents at the railway station ticket office. Also check the schedule on the official website. As for issuing travel documents electronically, this site does not provide such an opportunity.

From Bishkek to Issyk-Kul by bus

It all depends on where exactly you need to go, Issyk-Kul is big. For example, nine buses leave for Balykchy every day. 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 (that’s about 190 rubles). Actually, the cost depends on the specific destination; there are many different settlements on the lake.

Buying tickets

Travel documents are sold at bus station ticket offices.

conclusions

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

One of the most important attractions of Kyrgyzstan, as well as a place of pilgrimage for most foreign tourists, is Lake Issyk-Kul, nicknamed the “Pearl of Central Asia”. We can say that Issyk-Kul is the main calling card of Kyrgyzstan, which attracts like a magnet not only in the summer heat, but also in other seasons.

Kyrgyz pearl

The reason for this is that Lake Issyk-Kul gives its guests not only a great mood, a wonderful vacation, an unforgettable experience, but also strengthens their health with the help of clean air, healing mineralized water, various hot springs and unique sunlight.

Issyk-Kul gulls

Where is Lake Issyk-Kul located?

Lake Issyk-Kul is located on the territory of the mountain basin of the same name. In its turn, Issyk-Kul Basin lies between two mountain ranges, the so-called. And Teskey Alatoo(translated from the Kyrgyz language “ala” - “motley”, “too” - mountain, “alatoo” literally means “motley mountains”, “kungey” - “sunny side”, “teskey” - “shadow, facing away from the sun, side").

Issyk-Kul map

The Alatoo Mountains are part of the Northern Tien Shan. According to scientists, as a result of tectonic shifts and faults of the earth's surface, some of their sections rose up and formed the Kungei Alatoo and Teskey Alatoo mountain ranges, while other sections sank down and filled with water over time. This is how it was formed Lake Issyk-Kul.

Teskey Alatoo

The lake occupies most of the Issyk-Kul basin. Thus, the length of the basin in the east-west direction is approximately 240 kilometers, and its width is almost 75 km (somewhere in the middle, near the village of Tosor). The dimensions of Lake Issyk-Kul itself are: approx. 182 kilometers and wide (largest part) - 58 kilometers.

Mountains Kungei Alatoo. Grigorievskoye Gorge

The Alatoo mountains bordering the Issyk-Kul basin have a beneficial effect and protect the lake, while if Kungey Alatoo does not allow cold northern winds to reach Issyk-Kul, then Teskey Alatoo protects the lake from the hot, scorching breath of the Central Asian deserts. This has led to a mild, comfortable climate: there are no severe frosts here in winter (in January from -5 to +5 degrees Celsius), and in summer there are swelteringly hot days (the warmest month is July, the temperature is approximately 17-20 degrees).

How beautiful Lake Issyk-Kul is in the summer

How to get to Lake Issyk-Kul?

The Issyk-Kul Basin is connected to the rest of Kyrgyzstan through the Boom Gorge. The distance from the capital of the republic, Bishkek, to Lake Issyk-Kul is approximately 190 kilometers, with just under 25 km passing through the above. This highway is one of the strategic ones, and therefore its condition can be assessed as very good. Currently, this road is undergoing a major reconstruction (at the same time it is being significantly expanded), which, according to the assurances of those in charge, should be completed before 2015.

The distance from Bishkek to Lake Issyk-Kul is just under 200 km

A railway line runs parallel to the Bishkek-Issyk-Kul highway, which ends in the city of Balykchy.

Highway through the Boom Gorge

There are also two airports on the coast of Lake Issyk-Kul. One of them is located near the city of Cholpon-Ata, and the other is located near the village of Tamchi. Tamchyn International Airport began operating in the summer of 2003, and during Soviet times it was used as a military facility.

View of the Chui River in the Boom Gorge

When leaving the Boom Gorge towards Lake Issyk-Kul

Lake Issyk-Kul Kyrgyzstan – some interesting facts

Lake Issyk-Kul- among the 25 largest (by area) lakes in the world, while it ranks 7th in the list of the deepest lakes on Earth. If we take into account only the high-mountain lakes of the planet (which are located above 1200 meters above sea level), then Lake Issyk-Kul will be in second place in terms of area, second only to the South American Lake Titicaca, and in terms of depth and volume of water, Issyk-Kul is not will be equal. Here are some characteristics of the “Kyrgyz pearl”:

Lake Issyk-Kul is a unique body of water - about 80 different mountain rivers flow into the lake, but not a single one flows out. This determined the natural concentration of salts and minerals in the lake (chloride-sulfate-sodium-magnesium), which has no equal in its healing properties. In addition, the water in the lake is very transparent, which, coupled with the mineralization of the water and the brightest rays of the sun, makes the waters of Issyk-Kul chameleon-like - the color constantly changes from dark blue and dark greenish shades to soft blue tones).

Coast of Lake Issyk-Kul

Lake Issyk-Kul It is also unique in that the water level here changes cyclically (every few decades it either decreases or rises). At the same time, the length of the coastline and the depth of the lake change. According to the TSB (Great Soviet Encyclopedia), the level of Lake Issyk-Kul in the 90s of the 20th century fell by approximately 4 meters compared to 1886, although some other sources indicate this figure to 9 meters.

Coast Guard of Issyk-Kul

Due to the fact that Lake Issyk-Kul is deep-water and maintains a constant temperature well (due to mineralization, as well as protection on all sides by the Alatoo mountain ranges), even in the coldest winters, the water in the lake does not freeze. By the way, Issyk-Kul (Kyrgyz name is Ysyk-Kol) translated from Kyrgyz means “Hot Lake”.

Lake Issyk-Kul is the best place to relax

The sun loves Lake Issyk-Kul very much(there are more than 300 sunny days per year, or 2700-2900 hours of sunshine). For comparison, on the Black Sea this figure ranges from 1900 to 2400 hours, and in Moscow – 1500-1600 hours.

White steamer

Kyrgyz Lake Issyk-Kul: historical facts

For the first time, Chinese chroniclers wrote about Lake Issyk-Kul at the end of the 2nd century BC. Where the lake was named Zhe-Hai(translated from Chinese means “Warm Sea”).

Beauty, located between snow-white mountain peaks

There were routes around Lake Issyk-Kul Great Silk Road, in connection with which both large cities and minor trading settlements and caravanserais were formed here. The most famous of them are the cities of Chigu and Barskhan (Barskoon).

Issyk-Kul water is the purest and most transparent

The lake is also associated with many legends and myths: about Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, the Great Tamerlane, about the legendary and fabulous city of Kitezh, countless riches, etc.

A view from space at Lake Issyk-Kul

A full-fledged scientific study of the lake was begun in the 19th century by scientists of the Russian Empire, one of whom was N.M. Przhevalsky. In Soviet times, the center of the Issyk-Kul region of the Kirghiz SSR (now the city of Karakol) was named after him.

The only things better than mountains are mountains,
Where is the beautiful Issyk-Kul nearby?

The latest comprehensive international archaeological expeditions in the waters and coast of Lake Issyk-Kul have confirmed the previously existing guesses of scientists that a fairly developed human civilization lived in these territories approximately 2,500 years ago, which was not inferior in its development to the well-known civilizations of the Mediterranean coast.

Issyk-Kul morning

Transparent waters of Issyk-Kul

In June 2012, my wife and I visited Kyrgyzstan. The decision to go to Central Asia arose spontaneously. We wanted mountains, delicious food and a mountain lake. I knew nothing about Kyrgyzstan before this trip. My friend, a teacher, who every summer takes her children on vacation to Issyk-Kul, told me about all the beauty of nature. The Silk Road and the traces of Tamerlane beckoned us to such an unfamiliar Asia. The decision has been 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 started preparing 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 won’t go into details now, but it’s better to fly there by plane. The train is very exhausting, 4 borders, smugglers sneaking around the cars, dirty toilets, sanitary areas, 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 station. It's 1 o'clock in the morning. We are greeted by a smiling Kyrgyz man in an old Mercedes. The first thing we do is stop at the nearest exchange office. The exchange rate at that time was approximately 1 ruble = 1.5 soms. We decided to exchange 10 thousand for the first time. It was necessary to change more)))) And now we are driving into the night through the gorge to Cholpon-Ata. We chat with the driver all the way, he talks 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 of sleep and we go to the lake! Beauty!

In close proximity to us is the pearl of Kyrgyzstan, the Blue Issyk-Kul sanatorium. The prices there are ridiculous, an average procedure such as mud or swimming in a mineral pool costs about 30 soms. But we are healthy, we are not interested in this, we are interested in the lake! The beach also belongs to the sanatorium. 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, China beyond the mountains!

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

In the middle of the lake, the ship drops anchor and those who wish can swim! I didn’t deny myself this pleasure either!

The thunderstorm is no longer there....

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

And another Kyrgyz woman.

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

We got there on foot through the local airfield, thorns, sand and stones. Along the way we came across some construction materials :)

The museum displays prehistoric monumental images: cromlechs, funerary monuments, 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 this kind in Central Asia.

A lot of goats.

Has everyone seen a beautiful deer here?

Walking under the scorching sun, we got very burnt, even though we were smeared with the strongest sunscreen.
Therefore, the best time to visit the museum is early morning or late evening.

Not far from the petroglyphs there is a very interesting local history museum. Few people know about it; we came across it completely by accident.

National vessel for kymyz made of leather.

National felt carpet.

A smaller copy of a Kyrgyz yurt. I will talk about yurts separately in other posts about gorges and mountains.....

National musical instruments.

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

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

And this chair is made from walnut tree root....

In a word, it’s a Resort City, everything for tourists. A few parting tips. If you are going on vacation to 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 fisherman's cafe. Best place in town, trout, all types of lagman other national chow. Delicious Arpa beer, very polite waiters. If you're going to the mountains, go and ask the price. He called a lot for tours to the mountains and gorges. There are comrades who offer very interesting forays not along the main routes. They have the appropriate Delica type equipment.
In the next post I will tell you about the Semenovskoye Gorge.

• Last minute tours to Kyrgyzstan

It's cheaper and faster to get there by plane. Bishkek Airport receives flights from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk and a number of other cities. Several dozen planes depart from the capital's airports every day: Ural Airlines, Aeroflot, Es Seven, Turkish Airlines and others fly. There are many direct flights on the schedule; the flight takes 4-4.5 hours.

Tickets for flights with connections in Novosibirsk or Istanbul will cost more.

Residents of St. Petersburg will have to fly with a transfer in Moscow. There are few flights, only Aeroflot operates them, the journey takes from 6.5 to 26 hours.

Muscovites have another option - a direct train to Bishkek. Departs 2 times a week from Kazansky railway station. A one-way trip will cost 219 USD, and you will have to listen to the sound of wheels for at least 3 days. There is no direct bus connection with Bishkek, and getting there with transfers is long, expensive and irrational. Prices on the page are for October 2018.

How to get from the airport to the lake

There are buses (No. 153) and minibuses from the airport to the Western Bus Station of Bishkek. The fare is 40 KGS, the journey takes 30-40 minutes. At night you will have to use a taxi, the fixed rate is 600 KGS (you can order a car at the Taxi Manas office on the 1st floor of the airport terminal (west wing)). Next, you need to transfer to a bus or minibus to one of the settlements on the shore of Issyk-Kul. It is better to find out the exact bus schedule at the ticket office; minibuses run from 7:30 and depart when full. Tickets will cost 300 KGS, travel time is about 4 hours.

Search for flights to Issyk-Kul

Main resorts of Issyk-Kul

There are a dozen resort towns and villages scattered along the northern and southern coasts of Issyk-Kul. Balykchy, which is located on the western shore, is the first to meet vacationers on the way from Bishkek airport to the lake. That is why people called it the western gate of Issyk-Kul. This is far from the most popular resort of the “Kyrgyz Baikal”, but many choose it because of its good transport accessibility. There are many hotels and family pensions in the city and surrounding areas. Beach holidays are common, and the only attractions are the ancient settlement in neighboring Toru-Aigyr.

Most of the region's hotels and guest houses are concentrated on the northern coast. The price range is decent - from 1100 KGS for a double room to 40,000 KGS for a cottage for 10 people.

One of the most popular resorts in Issyk-Kul is the city of Cholpon-Ata. It is located on the northern coast, 80 km from Balykchy. The recreational opportunities of this place can satisfy the most demanding tourist - healing mountain air and mineral springs for those who want to improve their health, water sports, mountaineering, diving, snorkeling, trekking, horse tourism and much more. For those who prefer to relax on vacation, there are clean beaches and 5 lifts to comfortably climb to the top and admire the mountain lake from there.

In the southeast of Issyk-Kul is the popular ski resort Karakol. Skiers come here from all over Kyrgyzstan and the CIS countries. There is a full-fledged sports base with everything necessary for active recreation.

5 km from Cholpon-Ata there is a small resort village of Bosteri. This is a great place to relax with children - a wide sandy beach, extreme rides and a water park. In addition, tourists are attracted by the largest selection of water activities in Issyk-Kul - boats, motorcycles, bananas, paragliders and parachutes. One of the largest hospitals is located here.

Tamchi is a small village on the northern coast, 45 km from Balykchy. Hotels and boarding houses are located almost in the coastal zone. In the immediate vicinity there are many mineral springs with warm and soft water, and in the village itself there are sanatoriums and hospitals. The main attraction is the Petroglyphs of Tamchy, which date back to 1 thousand BC. e.

The village of Chok-Tal, just 7 km from Tamchy, also has its own thermal well and several boarding houses specializing in treatment with mineral waters. For lovers of active recreation - windsurfing, sailing yachts and boats. Not far from the shore, the remains of a sunken settlement can be seen in the water. And after swimming to your heart’s content, you can go on an excursion to the ancient mounds.

Transport

The main transport of Issyk-Kul is buses. True, they go rarely, some - 2-3 times a day. Their main task is to connect Bishkek with the resorts of Karakol, Bosteri, Cholpon-Ata, Jeti-Oguz, Balykchy and others (the fare is 200-250 KGS), but you can also get from one settlement to another. Minibus taxis run a little more often and usually depart when they are full. The fare depends on the distance; a minibus will cost a little more (270-350 KGS), but the journey will also take less time.

Railway communication is poorly developed. The final stop of the only line is in the city of Balykchy (Rybachye), closest to the capital. The road to the lake takes about 5 hours, travel costs 69 KGS for adults and 34 KGS for children from 5 to 10 years old. This train runs only in the summer season.

Boats, yachts and even motor ships sail on the lake. The main piers are located in Balykchy, Karakol and Pokrovka. There are no scheduled connections between cities and towns; the only option for boat trips is to rent transport from local shipowners.

The most interesting tourist routes of Issyk-Kul lie where even the most versatile SUV cannot pass. There are hiking trails into the mountains, but it’s faster to travel on horseback, especially since horse tourism is well developed in the region. Many boarding houses offer their guests to go on excursions to the mountains on horseback.

Rent a Car

The highway encircles the entire lake in a circle and passes through the main resort towns and villages. If you plan to visit several settlements, then a car is the best way to travel in the vicinity of Issyk-Kul. It’s worth taking care of this in advance, since you can only rent a car in Bishkek and large cities.

The roads are very rough in some places, so it is better to choose a reliable car with good cross-country ability. In addition, it is easier to get to the sites of ancient man and other historical and natural attractions in an SUV than in a small passenger car. In some areas the latter will be completely useless.

There are few rental companies in the capital, there are local ones (Bishkek car rental, Russian Troika, Autotour) and international ones (Advantour). The rental price is relatively low - from 1500 KGS per day. The price usually includes insurance, and for an additional fee you can take child car seats.

Beaches of Issyk-Kul

The best places for a beach holiday are concentrated in the resort town of Cholpon-Ata and the town of Bosteri. One of the most comfortable and well-equipped beaches belongs to the Blue Issyk-Kul sanatorium, located on the outskirts of Cholpon-Ata. The entrance to the water is gentle, the coast and bottom of the lake are sandy. Sun loungers, umbrellas and sports equipment can be rented. Entertainment includes banana boat rides, catamarans and pleasure boats; admission is free.

The city beach of Cholpon-Ata attracts vacationers with clear water and a gentle entrance to the water; the bottom and shore are covered with clean, fine sand. There are rentals of catamarans, umbrellas and sun loungers. You can use the changing cabin and take shelter in the shade of the canopy for free.

For a quiet, secluded getaway, go to Laguna Beach in the suburbs of Cholpon-Ata. There are significantly fewer tourists here, as well as infrastructure - rare umbrellas, catamaran rentals and changing rooms. But right from the shore, crucian carp bites well, which attracts local and visiting fishermen here.

One of the most famous beaches of Bosteri, “Golden Sands”, belongs to the boarding house of the same name. A large selection of entertainment for all ages and tastes brings together young people and families with children. The bottom and shore are sandy, entry into the water is smooth, making it convenient to bathe children. There is a large Ferris wheel and other attractions on the shore. Lots of water slides, some of which lead directly into the lake. Entrance to the beach is free.

Treatment in Issyk-Kul

Health tourism is one of the main directions of the region. Issyk-Kul is a national health resort of Kyrgyzstan, which every year attracts more and more tourists from Russia, the CIS and Europe. The reason for this is the large number of mineral springs and thermal wells, boarding houses and hospitals.

For those who want to relax on a budget, a trip to a sanatorium is not the best option. You can save on food and accommodation by choosing one of the accommodation options in the private sector near the boarding house where you plan to undergo medical procedures.

The range of diseases for which treatment is offered by Issyk-Kul sanatoriums is very wide: these are diseases of the heart and digestive organs, musculoskeletal and nervous systems, skin and gynecological diseases. Depending on the specific diagnosis, specialists select the necessary procedures: Charcot showers, mineral baths, physical therapy, thalassotherapy and much more. Most of the hospitals are located on the northern coast of the lake, in the area of ​​​​the popular resorts of Cholpon-Ata, Bosteri, Tamchi and Chok-Tal.

Health tourism on Lake Issyk-Kul is not limited to sanatorium treatment. Healing mountain air, a climate close to the sea and ample opportunities for active recreation contribute to the overall health of the body. Swimming in warm lake water, hiking and horseback riding, diving and mountaineering will strengthen the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems, and mineral water will cleanse the body of toxins and tone it up.

Diving

Diving in Issyk-Kul is different from diving in the sea - you are unlikely to see bright corals and schools of colored fish. However, there is something to see here too; the most interesting area is wreck diving. At the bottom of the lake, ancient settlements and other settlements are preserved, the age of which exceeds 2,500 years. Of course, it is often difficult to discern almost completely destroyed buildings in silhouettes covered with silt, but you can find household items and even items made of gold and silver.

The cost of services is relatively low. For certified athletes it starts from 1700 KGS per dive, for beginners - from 2000 KGS. The price includes guide services, equipment rental and video filming.

Divers should choose Cholpon-Ata or Bosteri for their vacation - the summer bases of Bishkek diving clubs are located there. They usually operate from mid-June to the end of August, when the water temperature allows diving to a depth of 17 m. Training is provided for beginners, the first swim is only accompanied by an instructor.

Hotels in Issyk-Kul

Hotels, inns and other accommodation options are scattered along the entire coast of Issyk-Kul, but the largest number of them are concentrated on the northern shore. Since health tourism is widespread in the region, it is worth highlighting sanatoriums that, in addition to accommodation and meals, offer their guests medical procedures. The range of prices per night in a double room is large - from 3,000 to 10,000 KGS.

For those who just came to relax, Issyk-Kul has hotels, apartments and guest houses of different price categories. Prices for a room in Cholpon-Ata mini-hotels start from 1000 KGS. Many of them include breakfast in this price.

There are a couple of 2 and 3* hotels in Bosteri and Cholpon-Ata. A night in a double room will cost 4000-5000 KGS. In addition, there is the option to rent a holiday house or apartment for 4-10 people. In some cases, this is more profitable than taking several double rooms in a hotel, and for a cheerful company or a large family it is an ideal option. The asking price is from 6,500 KGS (for 4 people) to 40,000 KGS (for 10 guests).

What to bring

The top souvenirs from Issyk-Kul are crowned with delicious and healthy delicacies - honey and jam. You can also take with you mushrooms, fresh berries, fruits and local fish, Issyk-Kul chebachek. In dried and dried form, it will definitely not leave foam lovers indifferent.

For honey and jam at the Bishkek airport, you need to fill out a phytosanitary certificate so that there are no problems with transportation across the border.

Among inedible souvenirs, felt products are in demand. As a gift for the older generation, take warm and comfortable slippers; young girls will love jewelry and accessories (bags, wallets and cosmetic bags), and children will love funny animals and dolls. The most popular felt souvenir is the national Kyrgyz headdress ak-kalpak. Also, miniature yurts, folding out like our nesting dolls, and dolls in national costumes convey local flavor. In addition, souvenir shops are full of T-shirts, mugs and magnets with symbols of Kyrgyzstan.

What to try

The national culinary traditions of Kyrgyzstan are close to the cuisine of Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries. A special place is occupied by meat dishes, one of the most famous is “beshbarmak”. And although this is a festive dish, for the preparation of which a sheep is traditionally slaughtered to treat the most dear guests, you can try it in many restaurants in Issyk-Kul. Other lamb dishes typical of these places are pilaf, shish kebab and lagman.

As for dairy products, be sure to try kumis (mare’s milk) and “kurut” (white balls that taste like our kefir). Two more rather specific fermented milk delicacies are ayran and suzmo.

For lovers of baking, Issyk-Kul prepares flatbreads (necessarily in the tandoor or “kattama” with filling), samsa, “hoshan” (pies) and much more. Local manti are very tasty; you definitely won’t find these in Russia.

Among alcoholic drinks, Kyrgyz cognacs and balms are in demand; they are even taken home as souvenirs. Many tourists prefer the “Kyrgyzstan” variety due to the optimal combination of price and quality. Those who prefer elite drinks should pay attention to “Manas” and “Enesai”, the cost of which is close to French cognacs.

Entertainment and attractions

In addition to the mild climate, mountain air and healing bright blue water, which have already been mentioned, Issyk-Kul attracts with its golden beaches, hot mineral springs and healing mud: the lake is essentially a large health resort. But in addition to the health benefits of relaxing here, there are also a lot of impressions, because Issyk-Kul has a lot of entertainment and places that you can’t help but visit. So you are definitely not in danger of a boring sanatorium holiday! You can go trekking, mountaineering, go rafting on the Chu River or take a yacht ride on the lake. The Kyrgyz also managed to organize educational tourism well.

4 things to do in Issyk-Kul:

1. Take to the skies on a hang glider, see the lake from a bird's eye view and make sure that it is amazingly blue and transparent: you can even see the bottom!
2. Visit the Santash Pass, about which there is a legend: Tamerlane tried many times to conquer the tribes living on the shores of the lake, on one of his campaigns he ordered his soldiers to take stones in their hands and build a mountain out of them, on the way back the survivors did the same, the mountain turned out to be half the size. These mounds were called Santash, which means counting.
3. Get a telescope and at night admire the stars that hang at arm's length in Cholpan-Ata. Although, you can do without a telescope! In the metropolis there is definitely no such luxury due to the eternal smog.
4. Dive into the depths of Issyk-Kul in equipment and see with your own eyes the ruins of ancient settlements found at the bottom of the lake.

Cholpon-Ata

The resort center of the northern coast of Issyk-Kul, Cholpon-Ata, is famous for its health resorts. There are many thermal springs, hydrogen sulfide and silt mud. The largest water park and attractions in Kyrgyzstan operate on the beach.

Be sure to take a ride on the Ferris wheel: it’s definitely worth seeing Issyk-Kul from a 70-meter height!

For extreme sports enthusiasts, surfing, spearfishing and towed parachute flights, trips to caves and mountain gorges are available. One of the popular routes is the Kungey Ala-Too ridge, from which you can see the mountain gorges of Chon-Koi-Suu and Cholpon-Ata with their famous petroglyphs and burial mounds. Here, alpine meadows coexist with eternal glaciers and waterfalls.

You can go fishing with the whole family or go to the hippodrome to see the breed of Kyrgyz horses bred at a local stud farm.

If you are in Cholpon-Ata, go to the Stone Garden. The open-air museum stretches over 42 hectares - the ruins of the city from the Great Silk Road era are preserved here. And in the Rukh-Ordo cultural center there are 5 white chapels, each dedicated to a different religion.

Pearl of Kyrgyzstan

Dead Lake

Just 200 m from Issyk-Kul, although this proximity is only apparent on the scale of the lake itself, there is another interesting attraction - Kara-Kol or Dead Salt Lake. In search of this natural miracle, it is better to focus on the city of Balykchy: from it to Kara-Kol is a little more than 70 km. The lake is notable for the fact that it is impossible to drown in it - such a concentration of salt! It is often compared to the Israeli Dead Sea; people come here to treat skin diseases. The silt mud of Kara-Kola - black, blue and green - is credited with an even wider range of healing properties.

Barskoon

Travelers who choose the wild southern coast of Issyk-Kul should visit Barskaun. The locals call it in their own way - Barskoon. This is a gorge in the Terskey-Alata mountains, its length is 10 km. This is where the Great Silk Road to China ran. But Barskoon is famous primarily for its waterfalls, each with its own unusual name. For example, Tears of a Leopard falling from a 100-meter height, or Splashes of Champagne. Local guides will tell you an incredible legend about each waterfall.

Hot spring Altyn-Arashan

There are many healing thermal springs in Issyk-Kul, but the Kyrgyz themselves consider Arashan the best, for which they call it golden. It is located 10 km from the city of Karakol, near the village of Ak-Suu. The main magic of this place is that here springs of different temperature and composition of water flow out of the ground: in the Juuku spring the water temperature is +34 °C, in Jilisu - +40 °C, in Arashan - +50 °C. The first two are hydrogen sulfide, the last is radon. It is believed that spring water helps with diseases of the digestive system, heart, liver and joints.

You can swim in the springs of Arashan all year round!

Tanga Tash

Even if you are not a Buddhist, Tanga Tash is worth a visit. The local shrine, which is of global value, is a chain of three giant stones located approximately 1 km from each other. Often, of course, travelers only get to one. On the stones there are engravings with Tibetan rock writings that have a sacred meaning. This place, as those who have been here assure, charges with energy.

Jety-Oguz Gorge

In the mountain valley of Jety-Oguz there is a famous resort, and it is known for being located at an altitude of 2200 m above sea level and built on hot hydrogen sulfide springs. The resort is surrounded by rocks with eloquent names: Broken Heart, Seven Bulls - the Kyrgyz have a clear order when describing their native beauties. In Jety-Oguz there was once an ancient settlement where the headquarters of the Usun ruler was located. The Jety-Oguz gorge stretches for 37 km and is literally strewn with dark green spruce trees.

Hiking the Arabel Wind

Horses are sacred animals for the Kyrgyz; they have always lived next to people. That’s why equestrian tourism is thriving here. You can go on horseback for an hour-long ride, or you can go on a 15-day hike through passes and high-mountain glaciers under the wonderful name “Beyond the Arabel Wind.” The instructors will explain to you what kind of wind you have to look for and what Arabel syrts are, if you dare. Tourists on this trip cook their own food over a fire, using what they shoot or fish, and take care of the horses - in general, it’s good for the office plankton, and they’ll have something to brag about to their colleagues.

Before you go on a multi-day horseback riding trip, make sure you have the strength and health to do it. This tour is contraindicated for people suffering from vascular diseases.

Weather in Issyk-Kul

The climate of Issyk-Kul is temperate continental and, despite the distance from the seas and oceans, is somewhat reminiscent of the sea. In summer the weather is mild and comfortable; in winter there is no severe cold. Humidity is very different in the east and west. In the Balykchy area, precipitation falls several times more often than in Karakol.

Beach lovers should plan their vacation for the period from May to September. At this time, the air and water temperatures allow swimming and sunbathing. But since this is not the only tourist destination in the region, the flow of vacationers does not dry out all year round. In winter, the ski resort in Karakol is especially popular. And for those who come to improve their health in sanatoriums, the time of year does not matter much at all.