Touristic objects in Kyrgyzstan

Bishkek

Bishkek is the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic and sits in the Tshien Shan mountain range in the Chui Valley. Founded in 1878 as the Russian fortress of Pishpek, between 1926 and t1991 it was known as Frunze, after the Bolshevik military leader Mikhail Frunze.Bishkek is situated at about 800 m altitude just off the northern fringe of the Ala-Too range, an extension of the Tien Shan mountain range, which rises up to 4,800 m and provides a spectacular backdrop to the city. Bishkek is a city of wide boulevards and marble-faced public buildings combined with numerous Soviet-style apartment blocks surrounding interior courtyards and, especially outside the city center, thousands of smaller privately built houses. It is laid out on a grid pattern, with most streets flanked on both sides by narrow irrigation channels that water the innumerable trees which provide shade in the hot summers.The city is famous being one of the greenest in the world, due to its countless parks and allees, which make the town a nice place to live also in the heat of the summer.

National Historical Museum

Historical Museum Bishkek is a perfect display of the Kyrgyz people and the history of the country of Kyrgyzstan. It is considered as one of the most impressive historical museums of the country as it displays the entire history of the Kyrgyz from their nomadic living to the 1940’s war. Exhibits include stones with petroglyphs from Saimaly-Tash; armor and everyday objects dating from the Bronze Age; discoveries from archaeological excavations such as early nomadic adornments dating from the 1^st to the 5^th centuries (AD) - including golden artifacts from the Chui Valley's Shamshyn tomb; a Turkic stone culture collection; Talas stones with runic lettering; ceramic, glass and metal articles; and numerous ancient coins.  The museum has rich ethnographic collections of objects from the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries which include articles made of felt, wool, chuy, leather and wood made by Kyrgyz artisans; and collections of traditional Kyrgyz embroidery, fleecy and non-fleecy weaving, national dress, original women's adornments, and highly artistic horse harnesses. Many visitors also find of great interest materials from the Soviet period such as the collections of documents, photographs, paintings, drawings, sculptures, and gifts presented to the Kyrgyz Republic by foreign governments.

Museum of Fine Arts

The present building was built in 1974 for improving the capital and features a yurt and a permanent exhibition of shyrdaks and other traditional crafts. The full collection numbers some 17,500 works of art: paintings, drawings, sculptures and examples of traditional decorative and applied arts. There are also several galleries of paintings from the Soviet period, a room of replicas of Egyptian, Greek and classical Western sculptures, and a collection of linocuts by Hertzen based on the Manas epic. The museum also houses temporary exihibits.

Mikhail Frunze Museum

The museum traces the life and career of Mikhail Frunze - and what is supposed to be the house in which he was born and brought up is preserved on the ground floor  - and there is an exhibition of the achievements of the city and Kyrgyz Republic during the Soviet period. Mikhail Frunze - a military hero in the first two decades of the twentieth century. The museum contains memorabilia of his life and times, and it is all well laid-out with interesting information boards that really  illuminate the period of Russian history. 

Ala-Archa canyon

One of the sights often quoted as a "must not miss" highlight of a visit to the Kyrgyz Republic is Ala Archa. Ala Archa is an alpine valley about an hours drive from the center of Bishkek.The wide beautiful valley of the Ala Archa river sweeps up to the highest peaks and largest glaciers of the Kyrgyz Alatau range. To protect its tremendous natural diversity  a national park Ala Archa  in 1976 was created. Snow-covered peaks, steep forested slopes, picturesque water meadows, noisy rivers make Ala-Archa gorge  a favorite place of  tourists, climbers, and citizens of Bishkek. The valleys steep wooded slopes, pristine water meadows and craggy cliffs provide habitats for over 170 animal species, including eagles, shy Marco Polo sheep, bear, lynx, wild boar, wolves and, in its upper reaches, rarely spotted snow leopards. Its also supports over 800 plant species a dream-come true in Spring for alpine flower enthusiasts. Very beautiful place to spend one or two days in the nature. The region has many climbing routes of high complexity, and peaks with altitudes from 4,000 m to 5,000 m above the sea level.

Alamudun gorge

The Alamedin valley is one of the most striking features of the Kyrgyz Krebet. 25 kilimeters from Bishkek in a pictorial rock gorge a recreation-curative centreTeplye Kluchi is located.  There is an asphalt road, which leads to this complex.
Teplye Kluchi is installed on the base of the nature self-appearing thermal wellspring of mineral water, coming out from rock bowels in a temperature +54º C. The sanatorium was opened in 1984 by the Ministry of Power. The mineral water of this wellspring has wide scale of useful balneal qualities. Beyond the complex the vista opens out into a beautiful alpine valley – ideal for a day trip out from the city – and there is a trekking route over the mountains. There are waterfalls, glades with berries, mushrooms, juniper and birch forests and views of glaciers and the Usechenko peak (4650m), as well as a number of other canyons to the East.  

Nevakat and Krasnaya Rechka

30 kilometres east of Bishkek a village Krasnaya Rechka (Red River) is situated. To the north of this village between the main road from Bishkek to Issyk- Kyl the ruins of Nevakat settlement are situated. Nevakat was a major settlement on the Great Silk Road. At the height of its power it was about the same size as city of Rome at that time. Although there are no magnificent ruins to wander amongst, some idea of the size of the settlement can be gained from the man-made mound on which the upper part of the city, the citadel were built. 

Tokmak

Sixty kilometers to the east of Bishkek a city Tokmok is situated. It  was established as a northern military outpost of the  Khanate of Kokand ca. 1830. Thirty years later, it fell to the Russians who demolished the fort. The modern town was founded on 13 May 1864 by Colonel Mikhail Chernyayev. Currently, the city of Tokmok is a district-level administrative unit of Chyi province.

Burana Tower

Situated 10 km south of Tokmok, the Burana Tower is all that remains of the ancient city Balasagun, set at the foot of the Shamshy valley. It is an 11th century minaret, and one of the first buildings of such type in Central Asia. The original height of minaret was 45 meters. Today the tower is 24.6 meters high, the remaining part down during an earthquake in the 15th century. In the 10th to 12th centuries, Karakhanids khanate was a great feudal state of Central Asia and Kazakhstan. The founders, "karakhans", chigil tribes by birth, lived in the Tien-Shan and for a short time of the second half of the 10th cenntury they conquered a large territory. One of the capitals of this state was Balasagun. In Karakhanids' time new towns and settlements were developing, the centers of big cities were improved and Moslem religious buildings were built in the town of Balasagun. Burana tower, mausoleums and other buildings found after archeological excavations are the witnesses of that build up. The town's life declined slowly, people left it, the buildings fell apart and finally in the 15th century it ceased to exit. From the Tower, it is possible to head into the mountains to a picturesque valley to the Kegety or Shamshy gorges.

Horseback riding in Shamsi

Boom gorge

Traveling from Bishkek to Lake Issyk Kul, after 112km, the road enters "Boom Gorge", which lies at the eastern end of the Kyrgyz Range and provides the only corridor between Chyi and Issyk-Kyl regions.  Converging together through this narrow canyon are a highway, a railway, and the Chu River.  This gorge is quite different from the central part of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too Range, as it is a mysterious land of brightly colored red sandstone and Tertiary clay canyons with fancy, intricate forms. A number of roadside cafes have been established in the gorge to enable travellers to break their journey.  The Bishkek Balykchi railway also travels through the gorge – rising high above the road. Apparently built by German prisoners of war, the first train to travel along the 189km track to Balykchi was in 1948.The gorge offers plenty of opportunities for rafting, camping and trekking.

Balykchi

Balykchy city is the gateway to Issyk-Kul. It sits on the western bank of the lake. In 1871, there were only two clay-wall huts for travelers and an inspector's yurt. As time goes by, the village grew. In the mid 1980s, a retired soldier, M. Bachyn settled there and started fishing business. In 1907, there were already 100 families there and the village was renamed Bachino, and later – Rybachie ("fishing" in Russian). Rybachie has developed into a town in 1954 and in 1991 it was renamed Balykchy ("balyk" means "fish" in Kyrgyz). Now the population of the city is 42,000. It is interesting to note the micro-climates of the Issky Kul, especially around Balykchy as there is little green or snow at all times. The main road from Bishkek and the Chui Valley comes to Balykchy and splits into a Northern and Southern lake route in the city. There are numerous vendors on the main road selling smoked lake fish which is quite popular. In addition, there are also several stands selling the local honey.

Lake Issyk-Kul

Lake Issyk-Kul is one of the major attractions of Kyrgystan.  It holds the title as one of the largest alpine lakes in the world. At an altitude of 1,609 meters above sea level it is exceeded only by Lake Titicaca in Bolivia as highest of the large mountain lakes. It is also  famous for its magnificent scenery and unique scientific interest. It has length of 113 miles (182 kilometers), a width of up to 38 miles, and a surface area of 2,445 square miles (6,332 square kilometers). It reaches 2,303 feet (800 m) and its name, which derives from a word for "hot lake", alludes to the fact that it does not freeze over during the winter.  More than 50 rivers can be counted in the basin. The Issyk-Kul shores open out gently, with coves on the eastern and southeastern sides. Known locally as the “Pearl of the Tian Shan” it is ringed by mountains. The water temperature in July on the surface is a comfortable 68° to 73° F (20° to 23° C), and in January it is 36° to 37° F (2° to 3° C). The water of the Issyk-Kul is clear blue in color with a visibility of up to 60 feet (20 m). Unsuitable for drinking and irrigation because of its high mineral content, it is used at times without freshening for watering cattle. More than 20 kinds of fish live in Lake Issyk-Kul. The basic commercial fish are the naked "soman", the "chebak", the common carp and the "marinka". By the early 1970's, some 300,000 people were residing in the Issyk-Kul Basin. Kyrgyz and Russians predominate; but there are also many Ukrainians, Tatars, Uzbeks, and Dungans. The shores of the Lake Issyk-Kul are noted for their health resorts, and sanatoriums and holiday houses abound. The northern shore is the main health resort area with center in town of Cholpon-Ata, but in mid-1970 the entire lake region began to develop as a vacationland for visitors mainly from Central Asia and Russia. Lake Issyk Kul was a stopover on the Silk Road  a land route for travelers from the Far East to Europe. So as you see  that Issyk - Kul keeps lots of secrets and who knows may be you are the next one to find out another secret of this great Lake.

Cholpon Ata

Cholpon Ata is the largest town on the Northern shore of the lake. It is about 250 km from Bishkek, with a year-round population of about 12,000. It is the administrative center of the  Issyk-Kul district. The town is famous for its sanatoriums and resorts with crystal clean water and golden beaches. It is the best place for those who want to spend their vocations in a calm condition. The view of the imposing alpine ranges of the  Tian-Shan across the lake is impressive. There is a good local museum and an open-air site with petroglyphs dating from 1500BC to 1000AD. There is a small market for everyday necessities, a yacht club, (it is possible to take boat trips on the lake), a hippodrome and a major stud farm. There is also a good historical museum in the city. The museum presents a well-arranged walk through the history of Kyrgyzstan. It displays arhaelogical finds from around the lake and the Chui valley, musical instruments, traditional craftwork, exhibitions devoted to the manas Epic and the kyrgyz  author Chingiz Aitmatov.

Find out more about tour Walk and culture

Petroglyphs

There is an Open Air Museum , sometimes referred as a Stone Garden , which covers some 42 hectares and contains a number of prehistoric monumental structures (stone circles, tombs, the remains of a boundary stone wall, balbals) and Petroglyphs, dating from the II millennium BC upto the Middle Ages.  It is thought that the site was once a gigantic open-air temple, where ancient people worshipped heavenly bodies – especially the sun – and perhaps other gods. The stones vary in size from about 30 cm to 3 meters . Many of the drawings are examples of the Saka-Skythian animal style of art. There are figures of hunters and what appear to be tame snow leopards during a hunt. One appears to depict hunting leopards in motion and is the only one of this kind in Central Asia . Most of the stones face Southwest and Southeast and it is thought that they are connected to sun worship. It is thought that one of the purposes behind the stone circles was to sarve as astronomical instruments.  The Sun (solar) sign, often accompanied by chariots, are drawn on rocks along with images of animals and people, (such as hunters).There are several routes marked with arrows around the “stone garden”.The shortest route in the Stone Garden takes 20-30 minutes. But there is a longer route to the upper side of the museum, which enables visitors to explore a collection of stone balbals, stone inscriptions, stone circles and … a spectacular panorama of the Cholpon-Ata bay of Lake Issyk-Kul.

Ananjevo

The old Cossack settlement of Ananjevo, 50 km. east of Cholpon Ata and 90 km. from Karakol, is a good place to relax and to enjoy the mountains and the  lake beauty away from the sanatoria.It was founded in the 1890s as a Cossack settlement and there is still a significant Russian population. There are a church and a mosque in the village. St. Matthew's burial site is reputedly on the shore of Issyk Kul near Anan'yevo.  

Karakol

Karakol is situated near the eastern end of Issyk-Kul lake on the altitude of 1,770m.It is a very small but beautiful town with thousands of poplars. The town was named Karakol until 1888, when the Russian explorer Przhevalsky died here preparing for an expedition to Tibet. It is the administrative centre for Issyk- Kul oblast and boasts three bazaars, a small one to serve the town, a regional one the outskirts and animal bazaar every Sunday-a sight not be missed. The town still has its frontier feel but also a gentle, cosy air, maybe emphasized by the rigors of the mountains beyond. Watered by rain blown west by the prevailing winds, it is a fertile garden town, famous for the sweetness of its apples. Its gardens overflow with plums, pears, cherries, peaches and apricots. The streets are shaded with unusually high poplar trees, and Tien Shan spruce, tall and magnificent, stand with dainty Russian birch in Pushkin Park. Horsedrawn carts are common and herds of sheep are everywhere, flowing around the traffic like a river of wool. But it's the mountains that make Karakol really special. Just outside the town the mountains offer mountain biking, climbing, riding, skiing and more hiking than there are days in a lifetime. Also it would be interesting to see the Russian Orthodox Church, Muslim mosque, which is sometimes call Dungan, because it was built in pagoda style without any nail. There's also a museum in town, parks and an oriental bazaar, and the biggest Animal Market in Karakol, which starts very early in the morning and works only on Sundays and Thursdays and local nomad people can bring a part their cattle to sell.

Our special tour People of Asia

Prezhevalski Museum

State Memorial Museum of the great russian traveller anld scientist Nikolay Mikhailovich Prezhvalski is  located 12 km from Karakol, on the shore of Issyk-Kul lake. It includes beautiful monument, travelers grave, chapel and indoor museum that contains a number of documents, deeds and diplomas of Przhevalsky, collection of stuffed birds and animals and personal belongings of the scientist.

The Russian Orthodox Cathedral

The yellow domes of this handsome cathedral have risen from the rubble of Bolshevism at the corner of Lenina and Gagarin. Karakol's first church services were held in a yurt on this site after the town was founded. A later stone church fell down in an earthquake in 1890. A fine wooden cathedral was completed in 1895 but the Bolsheviks destroyed its five onion-domes and turned it into a club in the 1930s. Serious reconstruction only began in 1961.Services are again held here, since its formal reconsecration in 1991 and again in 1997.

Dungan Mosque

One of the most beautiful Karakol’s architecture! It was built in 1910 by the local Dungan community that escaped Chinese oppression as a house of worship. Completely of wood without nails, it is painted in numerous colors. It was closed by the Bolsheviks from 1933 to 1943, but since then has again become a place of worship,  tourists are gladly welcomed.

Sunday (livestock) Bazaar

Very exciting place! A must visit place is a Sunday animal market.  This is no match for Kashgar's Sunday Market, but is still one of the best Animal Markets in Central Asia. Locals like to load their Lardas with livestock - quite a spectacle if the beast in question refuses to be pushed into the back seat. The market is divided into two compounds, one for sheep and goats; the other, for horses, cattle and the occasional camel.

Djety-Oguz gorge. The land of the "Red rocks"

The Alpine health resort Djety-Oguz lies near the river at the altitude of 2200m.Situated in a picturesque canyon on the Northern slope of the Terskey Ala-Too range about 25 km South West of Karakol. It is a lovely place for one day walk and at the same time for many day treks, starting from easy form and up to the hardest. It impresses travellers with colorfull rocks, woods, flowers, rushing river and yurts. It is the place where you can see the real life of Kyrgyz people.

Altyn Arashan

This is probably the most visited place and is known for its beauty. The Altyn Arashan "Golden Spa"  is about 20km from Karakol. It passes through pine forests, passing many hidden springs. There is a small museum with stuffed animals. The area includes the Arashan State Nature Reserve, which is the special botanical research preserve.The road is not an easy one, very steep in places, and requires special heavy-duty 4WD vehicles.  From Altyn Arashan there are a number of trekking routes, including one across the Karakol, (via the Ala Kul Lake) and Djety Orguz valleys.

Trekking Around Karakol

Karakol is  best known these days as a center for trekking. There is  a large number of well established routes in the valleys nearby. Near the city are Djety Orguz health resort and "Seven Bulls" rock formation, and the Valley of Flowers. Many trekkers visit the Ak-Suu (Tepliyekluchenki), Altyn Arashan and Karakol valleys. Karakol is also the last city on the way to the mountains Khan Tengry and Peak Pobeda. Several treks cross these ridges, parallel to the lake, at two levels.  The higher involves some glacier walking, reaches 4,200 metres and passes  the great walls of the peaks. A lower one reaches 3,860 metres and it passes Lake Ala Kul. It is a lovely place for one day walk and at the same time for many day treks, starting from easy form and up to the hardest.

Central Tien Shan

The Tien Shan mountains are the most distant, unknown and captivating, there are  a boundless expanse of peaks, many of which have never been explored. The immense fertile and virtually unknown valleys are populated only by flocks of sheep and shepherds on horseback. The ranges of the Tien Shan culminate at what is  known to locals as Muztag"Ice Mountain", and to geographers as the central Tien Shan. Of the Tian Shan’s thousands of glaciers, the grandest is 60km-long Inylchek (Engilchek), rumbling westward from both sides of Khan Tengri, embracing an entire rampart of giant peaks and tributary glaciers. Across the glacier’s northern arm, where it joins the southern arm, a huge, iceberg-filled lake – Merzbacher Lake – forms at 3300m every summer. Some time in early August, the lake bursts its ice-banks and explodes into the Inylchek River below.  It is a mighty citadel of Ice, fortified by impressive chains including the Kokshal-Tau, in the shadow of Peak Pobeda (7,439). Khan Tengry is the favorite pin-up, its perfect pyramid summit of marble and fluted ridges burn in the sunset with the colors of a hot coal, earning itself the local nickname Kan Tau, or blood mountain. Peak Pobeda by contrast is vast and bulky. The total area of the Tien Shans glaciers is around 6,240 squire kilometers.

Our tour In the heart of Tien Shan

Barskoon. Tamga

Barskoon and Tamga are twin Kyrgyz and Russian villages at the mouth of the Barskoon valley that are situated on the 2000m high. There are several  impressive waterfalls and  it is a perfect center for trekking and horse riding. The Barskoon gorge is the splendid place with flowering meadows and Tian-Shian fir trees, very good place to take wonderful pictures. Well worth seeking out is Tamga Tash, an ancient rock carved with Tibetan Buddhist inscriptions, four miles up the Tamga river gorge. Perched high above the water almost out of sight, nobody knows exactly when the carvings were made. The inscription on the rocks northern face is still legible and reads Om Mani Padme Hum. Difficult to translate, this 1500 years old mantra expresses the desire for all to reach enlightenment. The essence of its meaning is sometimes expressed as Behold! The jewel in the lotus! It is still chanted by Tibetan Buddhist and can be seen in carvings and on flags all over Tibet.

Horseback riding in Tamga

Skazka Valley

Just off the pretty, but seemingly unremarkable stretch of road between Tamga and Kaji Say is a hidden valley of startlingly vivid rock formations. Known as Skazka, these sandstone cliffs have been shaped by centuries of wind and melting snow into an ensemble of columns, canyons and crags, ranging in color from deep red to bright orange. Traveling west, take the second turning left after the village of Tosor, and fork right immediately. Skazka is two kilometers from the main road.

Bokonbaeva

The one-horse town of Bokonbaeva is about half Baliktchy and Karakol. It has fallen on hard times, having gone from full employment in Soviet days to 70 per cent unemployment today. Though people are returning to traditional farming livelihoods, confusion over decollectivisation and a lack of capital and training restricting success. Bokonbaeva is the entry point to the Kongur Olon valley and is well worth a stop to visit the innovative handicrafts co-operative, Altyn Ormok (Golden thimble). It was set up as a community development project and receives funding from the Central Asian Handicraft Association, which promotes the production of local handicrafts throughout the region. There is a felt making workshop and a sales area selling good quality handicrafts. The small Bokonbaeva Museum , next to the war memorial in the town centre, has a collection of paintings by local artists depicting manaschi, eagle hunters and other local scenes.

Kochkor

Kochkor is a small town (village) which lays just on the way to Naryn and is about 260 km from Bishkek. The town is best known for its handy craft masters, who are making the best national souvenirs and carpets (Shyrdaks) in whole Kyrgyzstan.

Naryn

Naryn is a long, thin town that straddles the fast flowing Naryn River and is set between high, steep cliffs. It is 350km from Bishkek. Naryn is known mainly as a stopping point for travelers on the way to/from Kashgar. There're several places of interest to visit in this area like Salkyntor State Park and Naryn State Reserve. About 45, 000 live in the town itself. Naryn looks pretty grim at first glance but it gets better as you head further in and becomes a much more attractive town of broad leafy avenues. At about 2, 000 metres above sea level, Naryn is known as the coldest town in Kyrgyzstan. Temperatures can plummet to minus 40°C and the average annual temperature is minus 6°C, even the swift-flowing Naryn freezes in places in winter and people ski on the slopes above the town. In summer, however, it can be very hot and dusty. The modern town began life as a Russian garrison in 1868 and still houses an army base. More than 70 per cent of Naryn oblast is mountainous and virtually all of it over 1,500 metres above sea level. The highest sizeable lake in the republic, 3,500 metre high Chatyr Kul, is located in Naryn oblast.

Mountain bike tour to Naryn-Tash-Rabat

Tansfer to Torugart pass

Lake Song Kul

Lake Son Kul is Kyrgyzstan's second largest lake (After Issyk-Kul), and is located 90 km northwest of Naryn. One translation of the name is "The Last Lake".It lies in high mountain area within a valley that stretches 60 km in length and 30 km in width. The valley is surrounded by mountains, with the rocky Son Kul Range that is over 4,000m a.s.l from its northern part, the slopes of Tian Shan covered with fir to the northeast, and the Moldo Too Range to the south.The lake lies at the altitude of 3016 m, the total area is 275 sq.km and 15 m deep.Unlike Issyk Kul it does freeze in winter time, and the thickness of ice sometimes is about 1.5m and there're snowfalls almost 200 days a year. Winter comes to this place in September and ends in June. The lake is situated in a treeless, mountainous plateau and is surrounded by the mountain meadows (jailoos). These meadows are used by local people as the pasture. Shepherds come to the lake with their family and flocks and live during summer time. There are some funny and live important stories about their way of life there. Some shepherds come to this place even with their domestic rabbits and let them go, but for some reasons they do not go far from the camp and make their holes close to people. Of course they provide themselves with posterity and their hostess sometimes when they need organize a kind of hunting on a rabbit. The other way they get food is fishing, fish here as some people say North fish very delicious. Son Kul got only two types Pelyad and Syg and old people tell stories about a man who brought some species of fish to this lake and also to Issik Kul, and only these two has survived in this uneasy climate of the Son Kul Lake.So if someone wants to try Son Kul lake's fish they always glad to see guests.It is also possible to trek or ride on horseback and feel the nomadic way of life.

Soft trekking tour at Son Kul Lake

At Bashi

At Bashi-a town, that stands on the site of settlements dating from the 8th to 14th centuries. It lies just in the middle between Naryn and Torugart. The small village has many interesting legends telling the origin of the name At Bashi( The head of a horse). And there're also some ruins of old burials that as it is said connects with the main Kyrgyz epic hero Manas. It is a neat little town of white-washed houses and friendly people, with a lively animal market on Sundays.

Tash Rabat-caravanserai

Tash Rabat, a stone fortress, with the altitude of about 3500 m above sea-level. Tash Rabat is located 80km from Torugart and 90km from Naryn. It is a carefully restored stone building that once housed an inn on the Great Silk Road. This caravanserai was occupied in the 10th century. The origins of the caravanserai, which underwent some restoration work in the 1980s, are not clear. Today the caravanserai is a square, rather squat-looking building that is much bigger than it appears from the outside because it digs deep into the hillside behind. Inside there is a domed central chamber leading to the remains of 30 dank cold rooms including, opposite the entrance, the khans own quarters. One chamber contains two underground dungeons, one of which has been filled in and another, which is apparently 10 meters deep. There is also a well and supposedly an old tunnel, possibly leading to a look-out point. The chambers on either side of the entrance each have a broad, raised ledge, which is said to be a communal bed used by the caravanserais soldiers, who were garrisoned here to protect against bandits. There are plenty camping spots and yurt camps.

Chatyr Kul Lake

At its south-western end, next to the Torugart pass, lurks the deep blue Lake Chatyr Kul. It is not only the third largest lake, it is also the highest lake in the republic. The Lake, whose name means Lake on the roof in Kyrgyz, is just that at an alttitude of 3,530 metres above sea level. Its 175 square kilometers provide breeding and resting areas for numerous migrating bird species, including the Indian bar – headed goose. The Lake is a zoological reserve.

Torugart

Torugart is a remote mountain border crossing between Kyrgyzstan and China. It is about 610km from Bishkek and 215km from Naryn. Its altitude is about 3600m above sea level. Torugart is the crossing point for those who are traveling along Silk Road.

Salkyntor

Salkyntor is the State Park with the small, comfortable sanatorium in it. This place is situated 15 km from Naryn. It is the wonderful place to wake up in the morning, to explore the surroundings. A small river with clean, cold water and fresh air with the smell of real nomadic life makes you feel like you are in Heavens.

Suusamyr

The Suusamyr valley is high steppe plateau – 2200 meters a.s.l.-that is some 160km from Bishkek. This valley is considered to be the coldest in Kyrgyzstan. The lowest temperature in winter time was - 60 C. There are many natural pastures in this area, it is a good place to take photos and feel the smell of fresh grass and breathe fresh alpine air.

Kojomkul

This large village of about 150 houses, about 18 kilometeres south-east of Suusamyr, sprawls nonchalantly in a large bowl and is a good base for hikes into the surrounding mountains. It is named after a giant of man, 2.3 metres tall, who became a national hero because of his ability to hoist enormous stones, and even his horse, onto his shoulders simply for fun. There is a museum dedicated to Kojomkul in the middle of village, you'll find it by the small plague on the door and the three huge stones outside, two of which were lifted by Kojomkul and one by his father. On the Road to Kyzyl Oi, another example of Kojomkuls superhuman strength may be seen at an elaborate, but broken down, yurt-shaped grave of a local dignitary. The large stone next to it, which according to its plague weighs 690 kilograms, was carried there by Kojomkul in honour of the dead man.

Kyzyl Oi

Shortly after leaving Kojomkul, the valley narrows and the road begins to wind through mountains rising steeply on either side. Smooth lush pastures alternate with huge rock falls and screen, and the distant mountains lie in folds like a carelessly discarded cloth of sumptuous green velvet. Here the Suusamyr and the western Karakol rivers join to become the mighty Kekemeren, which tumbles over giant boulders and swirls angrily in mini whirlpools in the its rush east.About 20 kilometres from Kojomkul the narrow gorge suddenly widens into the lovely tree-lined valley of Kyzyl Oi. This is probably the best place in the Suusamyr valley for mountain hikes on foot or horseback, especially if you can afford a few days. In the hills around the village you may be able to see local wildlife, including the elusive and rare Marco Polo sheep.

Chaek

Chaek is an unappealing little town, 40 kilometers from Kyzyl Oi, but it does offer the basics if you have to stay there. The distant mountains are painted in the most delicate of hues-palest pinks, warm oranges, misty purples-but closer to hand the terrain becomes increasingly arid. Tough grasses cling to the stone bleached soil and vegetation is sparse, apart from the fertile strip along the river.

Kyzart

A few kilometers outside Chaek, on the way to Jumgal, the road forks right, off the main road, for the village of Kyzart, nestled against the base of a mountain amid fields of pink and yellow flowers. The road from Kyzart to Kotchkor runs through prime pasture land and after the isolation of Suusamyers western heights seems almost crowded. Yurts appear every few kilometers or so – we saw one with a Bmw parked outside it- and flocks of sheep, goats and horses graze contentedly in the sunshine. Roadside stalls piled high with blue plastic bottles advertise koumus, reputed to be among the best in Kyrgyzstan.

Osh

Osh is the southern capital of Kyrgyzstan and one of the oldest cities in Central Asia. Osh is as old as Rome – 3000 years, and this great anniversary was celebrated in 2002. The population of 300,000, predominantly Uzbek, is a fabulous mix of peoples. The rich history of the oasis, much of it unknown, lies hidden beneath the avenues of socialism and little remains to be seen. Histories cultures, religions and wars have disappeared from memory. The founding of the city is variously attributed to Alexander the Great, the Prophet Suleiman and even Biblical Adam. Osh was an important crossroad on the Silk Routes, rewarding camel caravans who survived the journey over the high passes of the Pamir Alay to the south and of the Central Tien Shan to the east.The centerpiece of the city of Osh, itself, is the Suleiman Mountain which rises majestically to watch over the metropolis. In the caves of Suleiman Mountain one may visit the History Museum .The Osh bazaar remains one of the largest bazaars of Central Asia, and offers an abundance of fruits, vegetables, and oriental colors that are rarely seen elsewhere.

Our tour Silk Road Round Trip

Our tour Transfer to Irkishtam

Uzgen

Uzgen, which is situated on the right bank of the mountain river Kara – Darja (60km from Osh), was founded during the 8th and 9th centuries in the Turkic Kaganat on the Great Silk Road.Uzgen is another ancient settlement, is home to some archeological monuments – a tower – the Minaret of the 10th – 12th centuries (twin of Burana), built near Muslim Mosque. Uzgen Mausoleum of the 11th century, the Northern, Middle and the South, were built in Shakhristan (the center) of the city on one axis.

Jalal-Abad

Jalal-Abad lies at the foot of the Ayub-Tau mountains, near the confluence of the kok Art and Kara Darya rivers, and is the capital of its eponymous oblast. The town has a long history of attracting travelers. As well as traders passing trough on the Silk Routes, sick people and pilgrims have long sought hope and healing from the curative springs of the holy Ayub-Tau mountains. Jalal-Abad was later linked to the so-called cotton railway between the Fergana valley and Russia, and developed into an agro-industrial centre producing cotton, wheat, tobacco, walnuts, fruit, vegetables, maize and silk worms. In Soviet times Jalal-Abad was a resort town and people flocked to bathe in the nearby mineral and mud springs.

Arslanbob

The mountain village of Arslanbob, which lies at over 1,700 m. , up the south-western slopes of the Fergana range, about 90 km. from Jalal-Abad, is almost exclusively Uzbek. Other reasons to include Arslanbob on your itinary are its superb setting. Jalal-Abad oblasts greatest natural treasure is its ancient forest of wild walnut and other fruit and nut trees, which the biggest (11,000 Hectares ) is located around Arslanbob. The route to the village is a mouth-watering vista of walnut, apple, almond, plum and pistachio and other trees.

Saimaluu–Tash

Tucked away and hidden at an altitude above 3000m way back in the Ferghana range, about 100 km northwest of Jalalabad lies the plateau of Saimaluu – Tash. Literally translated as "Patterned stones", the name makes reference to the gallery of thousands of stone paintings – petroglyphs which are scattered over two moraine slopes.

Sary-Chelek Lake

The unique Biosphere Nature Reserve Sary - Chelek is a geo - botanical museum offering a rare combination of unique ancient walnut and wild fruit - tree forests. In the heart of the reserve there is the Sary - Chelek Lake. It is one of the most beautiful lakes of the country (1873 m a.s.l.; 7km long; 1km wide and 2334m deep) with rocky slopes rising from the water. This blue lake in the necklace of the snowy mountains is the largest among the seven lakes of the nature reserve.

Our tour to Sary-Chelek Lake

Kazarman

Kazarman has a reputation for being a rough town, probably partly due to its isolation and partly because of the nearby gold mine and ore processing plant. Certainly it has a bit of a Wild West feel about it, its people seem a little more reserved towards strangers than elsewhere in Kyrgyzstan. In a low, flat plain about 1,230 metres above sea level, approximately half way between Naryn and Osh, Kazarman gets the worst of both their climates, with temperatures almost as low as Naryns in Winter and almost as high as Oshs in Summer. The dusty town has no restaurants and only teahouse.

Irkeshtam Pass

Despite persistent rumours that the Kyrygz - Chinese border at Irkeshtam will be upgraded to Classs I and opened to international traffic imminently, most observers consider this unlikely. The border post is presently only open to local commercial trade during the last ten days of each month. The Road to Irkeshtam is currently being upgraded as part of an important Uzbek-Kyrgyz-China project to restore the traditional and natural trade routes between Xinjiang and the Fergana valley. However, resolving anxieties over border security is likely to take far longer than construction of the road. This modern Silk Road would make an ideal Kyrgyzstan to China route for travelers. Even now, though, the landscape of Pamir grassland and Arizona-like rock landscapes and canyons on route to the Irkeshtam Pass makes it worth a side trip from Sary Tash. There is no public transport along this road so the only option the 180-kilometre round trip is to hire a four-wheel drive vehicle in Sary Tash.

Siymaliytash

The magnificent 5,000-years-old petroglyphs of Siymaliytash Must rank as the archaeological highlight of any visit to Kyrgyzstan. The site, which means Embroidered Stones in Kyrgyz, consists of 10,000 rock carvings and drawings strewn haphazardly over a mountain called Sulaiman, deep in the Fergana range.

Talas

The Talas valley, in the north-west of Kyrgyzstan, near the Kazak border, is considered by the Kyrgyz to be the depository of their spiritual treasures. Every mountain, river and pasture here has a tale to tell of Manas, the great Kyrgyz hero. The valleys other hero is the 20th century writer, Chingiz Aitmatov, who wrote compelling fiction, showing how Soviet life deprived people of their individuality.Talas was an insignificant village when the Russians stormed it in 1864. The town wears a leafier and more attractive face today.