Another route I'd like to tell you about is the road to the south of Kyrgyzstan towards the Fergana Valley.
The journey starts from the city of Bishkek. You need to head west and after about 75 km, the road will turn into the mountains and lead you to the village of Sosnovka. In Sosnovka, the ascent to one of the most beautiful passes in Kyrgyzstan begins — this is the Tuyashu Pass. The road will wind for a long time with sharp turns and take you to an altitude of 3170 meters. Afterward, you will have to go through a 3 km tunnel, and you will find yourself in the Suusamyr Valley. After descending from the pass, the road will run along the Suusamyr Valley and subtly lead you to the Alabel Pass. Most likely, there will be snow at the very top; dress warmly to have the opportunity to take a little walk.
After the Alabel Pass, you will enter the Chichkan Gorge — this is a very beautiful place. It is advisable to stop here and spend the night. There are 3-4 guesthouses in the gorge. The most decent among them are the Oson Hotel and the Chichkan Hotel; their contact information can be found online. There are many places for walks in this gorge, so ask the hotel staff, and they will suggest the best spots for a stroll.
On the second day, you need to drive to the Kok Bel Hotel, which is located on the shores of Lake Toktogul. It takes 2-3 hours to travel this distance from the Chichkan Gorge, so there's no need to rush your departure. Why do I recommend staying at this hotel? Because the choice is not vast, and it is the best option available in this area. Today, take your time and enjoy the views! You can also go swimming in Lake Toktogul; the water is very warm in the summer, reaching up to 28 degrees Celsius — a paradox, as it is surrounded by mountains but feels like a valley heat.
On the Third Day of the Trip
On the third day of the trip, I will tell you about Lake Karasu. You need to leave your hotel and continue towards the city of Osh. The climb will begin immediately, and the road will lead you to the Kok Bel Pass. Start your descent from the pass, and at the end of the descent, you will need to turn left onto a dirt road. To help you with navigation, it is exactly 15 km from the Kok Bel Hotel to the turnoff for the lake. After that, you will follow a dirt road that will take you to the lake in 35 km. This 35 km will take you about 2 hours; however, the views that will unfold along the way and at the lake itself make the trip very interesting. The lake is quite large, and there are paths all around it where you can stroll and see many interesting and beautiful sights. But don't forget that you will need to return, and it takes 3 hours to reach your next hotel. If you have a tent, you can spend the night right by the lake. Ultimately, the decision is yours; just make sure to prepare in advance for this and rent a tent and other necessary equipment. You can order everything needed for hiking life at this phone number: +996773489841.
If you decide to leave the lake, you need to reach the town of Karakol that same day. When you reach the asphalt road, turn left, and after 20 km, you will arrive in the town. There are 3-4 hotels there, and you can find their contact details online. At the exit from the town of Karakol, there is a café on the left; I don’t remember its name, but it is always open until about 11 PM, which is important because other eateries close at 8 PM, and guesthouses don't serve dinner. Be sure to take care of booking the rooms in advance, as the hotels here are not large, and there are many visitors.
The next location I want to talk about is Sary-Chelek Lake. It is 200 km from the town of Karakol to Sary-Chelek Lake. The road is mostly paved, but plan for at least 4 hours for this journey.
It won't be faster, believe my experience. Along the way, you'll encounter many beautiful locations, so make stops and take pictures; the terrain and mountains here are very unusual.
I also want to mention that you should plan about 3-4 hours for the lake Sary Chelek itself, as there are many sights to see and places to walk. Camping at Sary Chelek is prohibited, so you will have to descend to the village and spend the night there. You can find guesthouses in the area that offer accommodation online. I also recommend that you stock up on food in the town of Karakul, as there are no cafes at Sary Chelek, and not all guesthouses can prepare something for dinner.
Next, you have a choice on how to return. You can go back the same way and spend the night in Karakul or at Kok Bel, or you can travel further toward the Fergana Valley, reach the city of Jalal-Abad, and then go through the Sary-Kyr pass to the town of Kazarma. From there, you can get to Bishkek via a completely different and very beautiful road, but this will require an additional 3 days.
I hope my recommendations will be helpful in planning your trip. If you have any questions, feel free to message me on WhatsApp at +996553131532, and I will share useful information with you.