We continue our journey and move to the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. The first location here is the Jeti-Oguz Gorge, located about 20 km west of Karakol. At the beginning of the gorge, you will see the red rocks of the Seven Bulls and the Broken Heart. If you take a short walk, you can see the beautiful waterfall called "Daughter's Braids." I do not recommend driving further up the gorge considering the limited time; the views are beautiful but similar to the previous locations.
On the same day, you can also visit the Joku Gorge; it is better to go right into the gorge. The division into right and left will occur further up past the village, with a red rock featuring a small cave on the left side of the road. Try to drive as far up the gorge as possible; the views will be very beautiful and grand. After descending from the mountains, I recommend spending the night in the village of Tamga, where there are many guesthouses and hostels. You can find contact information online and on Booking.
Continuing our trip along the southern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake, today I recommend visiting the Barskoon Gorge, where you can see waterfalls. The most accessible one is the Chasha Manas waterfall, which is no more than a 20-30 minute walk from the car. The paths to the other waterfalls will take significantly more time, and the ascent along the narrow steep trail can be quite exhausting; it’s up to you to decide how interested you are in this.
In this gorge, there are several other beautiful spots that can be reached by car. The road will ascend, and after a while, it will lead you to a serpentine that will take you to an altitude of 3,408 meters, where there is a signpost. Opposite this sign, on the left side, there is a small plateau that offers a stunning view of the steep mountains and sheer cliffs. I recommend stopping here for a photo session, but remember that if it was warm by the lake, it will be cold and windy at this altitude, so bring warm clothes.
However, this road continues its winding ascent along steep serpentine paths. After driving a little further, you will see a large glacier on the right side of the road; it’s an epic sight, with ice chunks hanging above you. At the highest point, you will reach an altitude of 3,800 meters, and before you will be the Arabel Plateau. It is covered with small lakes, and if the weather is sunny, the views will be breathtaking. With the program for this location completed, you can start descending. You will have to drive about 50 km to reach the main road since you have climbed very high into the mountains. Another pleasant aspect is that the road in this gorge is unpaved but very good; it is constantly being repaired and updated because it leads to the high-altitude Kumtor factory. Be careful and don’t speed too much, as the steep serpentine roads hold many dangers.
Let me tell you another interesting feature of this place. When you turn off the main road and start climbing into the mountains, you will see high rocky mountains covered with snow, and at that moment, it’s hard to imagine that in a couple of hours you will be looking down at these snowy peaks from your car. Remember this when you reach the Arabel Plateau and look back at the seemingly impregnable summits.
On this day, you will also have time to visit another interesting and very beautiful location—the Skazka Canyon, which is located 20 km west of the turnoff to Barskoon, and there is a sign for this place on the highway. The distance from the highway to the canyon is about 3-4 km, and the road goes through hills and cliffs made of red clay. At the beginning of the path, there is a barrier where they charge 50 soms per person for entry into the canyon. There’s no point in describing the canyon itself; it’s better to see it for yourself, and there are many photos and videos of this popular spot online. I will just say that to get great photos, it’s best to arrive at sunset, and wandering around these places in the evening is much more comfortable, as it’s not as hot.
Today, I recommend spending the night in a yurt by the shores of Issyk-Kul Lake. There are several yurt camps in the villages of Tosor, Ton, and Bokombaevo, and you can easily find their contact information online. One of them is called Beltam, located right by the water in the village of Ton. I think it would be amazing to sleep in a nomad's dwelling and listen to the gentle sound of the waves, and in the morning, take a swim in the clear waters of the lake and relax on the wild sandy beach.
The most interesting and beautiful places have been visited, and it’s time to return to Bishkek. The drive from the village of Ton to Bishkek will take no less than 5 hours. In 2021, road repairs began on the highway along the southern shore of the lake, and the section from the village of Kadzhisay to Balakchi is currently under active renovation, so you won't be able to speed much here. This segment will take more than 2 hours. After the town of Balakchi, the road improves significantly.
I recommend making a stop in Boom Gorge to have lunch at one of the cafes. Cafes like Fut Zone, Ular Too, or Ak Jol will work, as the food in the others is not very good.
If you arrive in Bishkek before 4 PM, I suggest visiting the Osh Bazaar. It is a real eastern market where you can buy souvenirs, fruits, spices, nuts, and sweets.
If you want to explore Bishkek in more detail, plan a whole day for it, and I recommend contacting the Adygine company at +996999388333; they organize great tours in Bishkek.
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.