Kyrgyzstan’s 6 Most Hypnotic Places to Visit
An idyllic and mountainous Central Asian country, Kyrgyzstan features many interesting and exotic places to visit. This country, bordered by China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, has several varied landscapes that include both high mountains and low valleys. It’s in these regions that you’ll find some of the most hypnotic places to visit in Kyrgyzstan. As you embark on your travels through this country, make sure to add one of these scenic sites to your itinerary; you won’t regret it!
No. 1 Issyk Kul
Issyk Kul is Kyrgyzstan’s largest lake and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. The name Issyk Kul means hot lake and it is said to have therapeutic properties. The lake is surrounded by mountains and is a beautiful place to relax and enjoy the scenery. Visitors should take advantage of some hiking, horseback riding, fishing, boating, or biking opportunities. Although there are many hotels on the lake shore, they fill up quickly during peak season so book ahead!
For the best views, stay at Hotel Turan, where you can see all of Issyk Kul from your balcony.
A variety of boat trips will be available for guests depending on their interests- all can be booked at the hotel reception desk. Once night falls and you’ve had your fill of everything else, head over to Brandy House- a local restaurant known for its cuisine from different regions around Kyrgyzstan. It’s located next door to Hotel Turan (just down below). Don’t forget your swimsuit because their pool has an amazing view overlooking the whole town and plenty of lounge chairs for relaxation purposes!
No. 2 Karakol Lake
One of the most breathtaking sights in Kyrgyzstan is Karakol Lake. It’s a mountain lake located in the Tien Shan mountain range and it’s surrounded by natural beauty. The lake is a hikers paradise and it’s a great place to relax and enjoy the scenery. Natural beauty, mountain range, hikers paradise.
The natural beauty and mountain range make it a hikers paradise. The lake is also home to many different kinds of animals, making it a great place to visit for nature lovers. If you’re looking for an adventure that won’t leave you feeling exhausted afterwards, this is the perfect spot! There are so many trails that explore the area and take you right up to lakeside – there are no shortages of breathtaking views. Make sure to bring water, sunscreen, bug spray and food with you as well as some emergency supplies like a map or compass if possible (so you don’t get lost!). The elevation can be quite high at times, so make sure to pace yourself when hiking. It is best to go during summer months and early fall as snow will cover the ground during winter months. Be sure to stop by this mesmerizing place while you’re visiting Kyrgyzstan.
No. 3 Sary Toruu Canyon
Sary Toruu is a canyon located in the Naryn region of Kyrgyzstan. The canyon is about 3,000 meters deep and 4 kilometers wide. Sary Toruu is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Kyrgyzstan. The canyon offers stunning views of the mountains and valleys below. Visitors can also enjoy hiking, camping, and horseback riding in the canyon. The descent into the canyon is tricky as it involves trekking on steep slopes that are prone to landslides. It is advisable for visitors to bring along ropes, harnesses, and helmets for safety purposes. Trekkers may also want to make use of oxygen tanks while going down the canyon.
As soon as you start descending, you will notice how strikingly blue the water is at this point and how cold it is, so be sure to take a swim or two if you’re up for it! You’ll need to put your clothes back on before continuing the hike, but we would advise you not jump back into your clothes too quickly. Doing so will cause a terrible shock-freeze which will hurt more than being cold! Jumping back into your clothes slowly will allow you to adjust to the temperature.
Sary Toruu Canyon has been attracting tourists for decades because of its scenic beauty. There are many ways tourists can spend their time there, such as swimming in the nearby river, rock climbing, horseback riding, and taking photos from various vantage points with beautiful scenery around them. Be careful when planning your trip though – climbers have reported falling off their horses during some parts of the ascent up from the canyon floor.
It is best to visit in springtime when wildflowers bloom all over Kyrgyzstan’s countryside – including at Sary Toruu Canyon – adding another dimension of beauty to an already spectacular destination!
No. 4 Song Kol Lake
Song Kol Lake is one of the most picturesque places in Kyrgyzstan. It’s a high-altitude lake (3,016 m) nestled between two mountain ranges. The best time to visit is July and August when the weather is warm and the wildflowers are in bloom. You can hike around the lake or go horseback riding. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a snow leopard. Song Kol is also great for fishing, boating, and swimming – so bring your gear! The small village by the lake offers yurts for overnight stays. Bring your own food and cook it on an open fire with gas stove that they provide.
The lake is good for trout fishing, too. But don’t eat the fish raw like some people do. Make sure to fry them up with some salt and butter first! There’s a cool legend about how this lake was created: Once upon a time there was a Mongolian princess who ran away from her cruel father. Along the way she met three bears who changed her life forever: One gave her warmth, another taught her to dance, and the third showed her how to hunt for deer using bow and arrow. She learned all these things from these bears before finally escaping into Kyrgyzstan where she hid at this very spot near Song Kol Lake.
No. 5 Naryn Valley
The Naryn Valley is one of the most hypnotic places in Kyrgyzstan. It’s a land of contrasts, with towering mountains and verdant green pastures, rushing rivers and calm lakes. The valley is home to some of the country’s most remote villages, where life has changed little over the centuries. If you’re looking for an authentic experience, this is the place to go. There are still many Kyrgyz who live as nomads or semi-nomads, travelling with their herds from pasture to pasture on horseback. Traditional dress – which consists of long, colourful dresses or shirts and baggy trousers – is common here too.
There are two things that make the area so special: firstly, it provides habitat for all sorts of animals including bears, foxes and sables; secondly it contains 14 out of 16 species found in Kyrgyzstan.
If you visit at the right time of year (in September) then you’ll get to see the region’s famous Kok Saray sheep market which attracts more than 10 000 people every year . It’s not just sheep on offer though, traders sell horses, goats and other livestock too.
The village of Aksy is also worth visiting while you’re there – it has traditional mud houses with no electricity, indoor plumbing or running water. Although difficult to access during winter because of snowfall, these villages provide a glimpse into how life used to be before modernity took hold.
No. 6 Charyn Canyon
Kyrgyzstan’s Charyn Canyon is the popular place. The canyon is 150 kilometers long and has an average depth of 20 meters. The canyon walls are made up of red, yellow, and orange sedimentary rocks that have been eroded over time by the Charyn River. The canyon is home to a variety of plants and animals, including the endangered Tien Shan brown bear. Visitors can hike, camp, and horseback ride through the canyon. Those with a fear of heights might want to avoid looking down from the edges of the canyon walls!
For those not as scared of heights, you’ll be able to enjoy breathtaking views and watch large mammals such as deer grazing in this wide open space. You can also explore natural caves and archaeological sites for some adventure. One of the oldest archaeological sites at Charyn Canyon is called Dokuz Eylul which was inhabited during the Bronze Age (approximately 3000-1000 BC). It consists of several stone structures carved into rock. These stone structures were likely used for defense purposes against invaders or as meeting places for trade.
