18 Best Storied & Beautiful Places To Visit in Kyrgyzstan
/There are some spaces that are roaring out our intentions to belong here and Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia is exactly that spot.
The yurts, the storied fables about the steppes and home to surrounding mountains and parks with freshwater makes it one of the best places to visit in Central Asia.
I spent close to a month in Kyrgyzstan and yet I could not get enough of the endless towns at the foot of the mountains and the seemingly unending glaciers, valleys and hospitality.
I even ditched my bicycle and replaced it with hiking and exploration in these places as I found myself wanting to pause or slow down time as much as possible.
I felt like at every corner I turned there was interesting history, myths and legends that belonged to the Silk Road era and accounts from nomadic herdsmen that made me want to revisit my history books again and again.
Here are some of the best storied and beautiful places to visit in Kyrgyzstan.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. I only provide unbiased and completely honest recommendations. Read more about the site’s privacy policy.
The Most Beautiful Places To Visit in Kyrgyzstan
1. Ala Archa National Park
Just a stone throw away from Bishkek lies one of the most beautiful places to visit in Kyrgyzstan. It is also a great introduction to the wilderness in Kyrgyzstan.
The park covers about 200 square kilometres, and its altitude ranges from about 1,500 meters at the entrance to a maximum of 4,895 meters at Peak Semenova Tian-Shanski, the highest peak in the Kyrgyz Ala-tau range of the Tian Shan.
It is the best place to explore multiple routes from day trips to multi-day hikes.
You could visit the Ak-Sai waterfall or even trek Mount Uchitel at 4,527m high after camping the night at Racek hut.
The views are gloriously stunning and the park has several tributaries such as the Ak-Sai, Top Karagai, Teke-Terre, Tuy-Suu Adygine and Jindi-Suu. The river flows through these areas surrounded by fir forests.
But if you prefer having everything taken care of you, I would recommend joining this hiking tour where it is customizable according to your needs plus you get an amazing lunch at a local spot!
Also read: A Day Trip Hike To Ala Archa National Park: Intro To Kyrgyzstan Wilderness
2. Tong District, South of Issyk Kul Lake
The Kyrgyz people love their beaches but over here it is in the form of a lake.
The Issyk Kul lake is not only one of the world's few remaining ancient lakes, but it is estimated to be an incredible 25 million years old.
I spent time in the Southern shores where it was often visited by locals and it remains near to Bokonbaevo, home to Kyrgyz Eagle Breeders who often demonstrate their craft with Falconry.
Staying close to Tong meant living with a local family at Bermet Guesthouse which was only 10 minutes walking distance to Isyk Kul Lake.
It was perfect to walk around the town and see what local life is for them in Tong! We spent the day chatting and bathing on the southern shores and exploring life in these towns.
If you prefer a private tour, some places even offer an excursion that takes you through Kyrgyzstan's most beautiful natural places, including Fairy Tale Canyon, Barksoon Gorge’s waterfalls and spruce forests, and Issyk-Kul Lake.
3. Barskoon Gorge
Just 66km away from Tong in Issyk Kul lies Barskoon Gorge, one of the most stunning waterfalls in Kyrgyzstan.
Hiking paths to the waterfall starts at the parking lot, opposite the boulder with a sculpture of Yurii Gagarin, a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut who became the first human to journey into outer space.
It might be a long valley with multiple attractions, but waterfalls are one of the first few features you’ll see on the dirt road which was once built and used for gold mining.
Heading further in and you’ll come across the Arabel Plateau, a stunning highland area, located at an altitude almost 4000 meters above sea level.
It almost looks like Iceland, slightly harsh with beautiful open lands. The Arabel Plateau is a high mountain tundra where you can find more than 50 lakes.
Some tours like these make it a complete adventure through a 5 day trip where you get to see everything at one go!
4. Jeti Orguz
If you love rock formations and the interesting history associated with these boulders, Jeti Orguz is worth a visit.
These rock formations signify “seven bulls” and a “broken heart”.
Old mythical legends state that the broken heart was a result of two suitors who killed each other fighting over a woman.
These two rock formations have become symbols of the Issyk-Kul region and are among the top spots to visit.
If you like to end your trek with more than a sight-seeing event, head deeper and trek around Kok Jayik Valley (The Valley of Flowers Trek), where you can stay at a yurt, horse trek in the surrounding meadows and relax at the hot spring sanatorium.
5. Karakol
After staying for a while in Bishkek and completing several treks, I wanted a change of pace and I found Karakol to be one of those cities that was characterised by a lot of interesting facets owing a lot of its history to Russia.
It was a military outpost founded in 1869, Karakol grew in the 19th century after explorers came to map the peaks and valleys separating Kyrgyzstan from China.
Most of the population surged with an influx of Dungans, Chinese Muslims fleeing warfare in China.
The fact that it happened during the Tsarist and Soviet era, you’ll find a lot of architectural gems and Russian homes.
Interesting places to visit include the Dungan mosque, the Holy Trinity Cathedral, the animal bazaar among other interesting finds. You’ll also note that a lot of trekkers do come here to explore the most notable trek, the Ala Kul and Altyn Aarashan trek.
I also found a lot of hidden gems and a booming cafe scene such as Karakol lighthouse, Meeting Point and Fat Cat Karakol.
6. Ala Kul Trek & Altyn Arashan
Jagged peaks, gnarly rocks and a blue alpine lake are among the key reasons to hike the Ala Kul peak standing at 3,500m.
It is almost everyone’s highlight whenever they come to Kyrgyzstan. You get to experience the stunning mountains in the Tien Shan range that are as long as 2450 kilometers.
It’s not just that but the key highlights are the valleys, panoramic views and a taste of the nomadic life led by the Kyrgyz people.
The ending is often the best part of the trek where you can relax at the hot springs at Altyn Arashan. If you want everything taken care of you including porters and a complete 4 day adventure, consider booking this tour.
7. Jyrgalan
Jyrgalan Valley is located 60 km east of Karakol — it was once a Soviet mining village and the sudden burst in tourism has changed the character of this place making it a great place to experience community-based tourism and a different kind of rural setting in Kyrgyzstan.
There was a documentary of how this valley has regained its lost splendour and is on the verge of opening up itself to tourism and adventure activities such as mountain biking and skiing.
8. Kochkor, Naryn
Known to be the centre of jailoo (summer pastures) tourism, Kochkor is a village in the Naryn region that stands at the crossroads of the Great Silk Road from the ancient times.
It is often a stopping point for those who want to explore Song Kul Lake, Kol-Ukok lake to see the grazing animals and traditional yurts.
Beyond it being a base for excursions or known for its “sleepy little town” description, exploring Kochkor requires a curious mindset.
There’s a lot of remnants of the past in the architecture lending relation to its Soviet legacy.
For a region that has been inhabited by nomadic populations for a long time, you’ll find monuments that are of significant importance including a vast number of medieval objects.
There are memorial fences with statues, inscriptions and burial mounds as well.
Some of the best things to do in Kochkor is walking around town after a tough hike and explore their markets, stop at the cemetery, visit their central park to view the monuments and get yourself beautiful shyrdaks (distinctive wool rugs).
9. Tash Rabat
It is the silk road caravanserais that hold importance to the Silk Road routes during ancient times.
Tash Rabat is a unique architectural monument of the early Middle Ages and one of the main archaeological sights of Kyrgyzstan.
Tash Rabat literally means ‘stone yard’ in Kyrgyz — the 15th century inn was meant to serve as a Silk Road station between Chatyr Kul and the mountains towards China.
Since it is located in the Naryn region, it is worth a stop just for its sheer remoteness and understanding of its place before heading to China’s Torugart Pass.
10. Song Kul Lake
The most famous and known lake in Kyrgyzstan is Song Kul lake situated at an altitude of 3,061m. It is known that Kyrgyz people know how to ride a horse before they learned to walk.
It is no surprise to see them guarding their horses and commanding the horses to listen to them with occassional “choo, choo, choo.”
Situated at 3,061 meters high, Song Kul is the second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan and one of the main touristic attractions in the country.
If you start from the small village of Kyzart, reaching the lake on foot takes about two to three days depending on how fast you walk.
Alternatively, you could book a 3-day tour that takes you on an epic horseriding trek to Song Kul lake covering the passes as well!
Also Read: Living With The Nomads At Song-Kul Lake, Kyrgyzstan: A Travel Guide
11. Kol Tor Lake
Just 90km out of Bishkek (approximately 1.5 hours) to Kegety Gorge, lies a 7.5km trekking trail with an elevation of 900m that takes you to part of the Kygyz Ala too Mountain range, considered one of Kyrgyzstan most beautiful places with green meadows, and coniferous trees whistling in the wind.
Kol Tor Lake is an underrated hike — the alpine blue lake and stunning mountain streams with wild grazing horses are quintessentially what describes the wildness of Kyrgyzstan.
You can hitch a ride to the last 10km of the road like what we did or join the Trekking Union of Kyrgyzstan on a day hike for 400 som per person or alternatively go for a hiking tour with a guide.
Also read: Kol Tor Lake Trek: A Cold Blue Day Hike From Bishkek
12. Balykchy
If abandoned places pique your interests and you're all for exploring desolate towns that once belong to the Silk Road era, Balykchy might be that town.
The main road from Bishkek to China, a part of the ancient Great Silk Road, passes through Balykchy before it starts its long and arduous way across the alpine ranges of Naryn Province in central Kyrgyzstan to the Chinese border at Torugart Pass.
Balykchy was once the centre of the lake's fishing fleet, but has suffered a major decline since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
It is now only on the path to the tourist sites of the lake, but largely overlooked.
You could take an old Soviet train from Bishkek for less than 2 USD and hop on a daily slow train from Bishkek that goes through a very beautiful mountain pass to an underused station to the south of the city.
13. Burana Tower
Known as one of the oldest constructions in Central Asia, Burana Tower is done on a side trip from Bishkek to visit the works of a 11th-century Soviet restoration.
This minaret is one of the last remaining buildings of the ancient city of Balasagun.
What’s fascinating is its collection of Balbals near the tower. They are weirdly shaped and feature some unique carvings. These gravestones belong to some of the best artisans during those times.
Near the tower, there’s a museum with an interesting collection of archived photos, 11th-century Christian carvings, religious remains and Chinese coins
14. Sary Mogul & Lenin Peak Base Camp
Mountains are definitely the reason to visit Sary Mogul if you’re heading towards Lenin Peak Base Camp. In a town of 3,000 people, Sary Mogul is a scenic little village near the border with Tajikistan, situated on a wide plateau at 3 km above sea level.
Sary Mogul is often a starting point for avid trekkers to seek out alternative landscapes of the Alay mountains.
From here you can begin your way towards Lenin Peak Base Camp. Lenin Peak is located in the Trans-Alay Range of the Pamir Mountains between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Most ascent routes are on the Kyrgyz side as the access is easier and making it one of world's easiest 7,000m summit but getting to base camp is relatively easy and a flat walk compared to other treks in Kyrgyzstan.
Considering how unexplored the Alay mountains are, here are some alternative adventures with tours that have been well-rated:
5 Day Horse Riding Trek towards Osh: You go over two high passes: Airy Bell and Ak Tor
8 Days Trekking in Kyrgyzstan: Alay Mountains Adventure: This is not too intense and a perfect mix of hiking with a lot of stops to soak it in!
Also Read: Lenin Peak Base Camp Trek: With Yurts, Mountains and Marmots
15. Osh
With Osh being so far away from the main town in Bishkek, it makes an interesting visit as it is known to be the cultural capital of Central Asia and a chance to visit the Alay mountains.
I saw plenty of different races from neighbouring towns — Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and other countries in the Stans who resided in Osh.
The town has an interesting vibe and character with the skyline dominated by the Sulaiman-Too Mountain (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).
The city is an amalgamation of Soviet architecture with Kyrgyz buildings with tree-lined paths, that looks similar to Uzbekistan’s Fergana Valley.
You can also visit Central Asia’s second largest Lenin statue and familiarised yourself with their amusement park in Soviet fashion, the Navoi Park.
16. Sary Chelek, Jalal-abad
This was one of those treks that were raved about by every traveller — Sary-Chelek is a mountain lake located in Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve in Jalal-Abad Province in Western Kyrgyzstan.
Sary Chelek is a bio reserve that is known for 1,000 different plants and rare mammals such as bears and lynx.
Around the main area of Sary Chelek consists of a number of smaller lakes making it the perfect trek to explore off endless green meadows and valleys far away from the usual path in Kyrgyzstan.
17. Arslanbob
Located in the Babash-ata mountains with a scenic backdrop of Kyrgyzstan’s snow-capped peaks, Arslanbob sits at 1,400m above sea level.
With most of their residents, about 16,000 being Uzbek, it is easy to see why this is a conservative town.
Next to the village is the world's largest walnut forest which in total spans around 60,000 hectares of up to 1,000 year old trees.
During the month of September, the locals will leave their homes and head up into a expanse of the mountains to harvest.
Also Read: Community Based Tourism in Arslanbob, Kyrgyzstan: What To Do In Walnut Haven
18. Chatyr Kul
There’s no shortage of beauty in Kyrgyzstan, but Chatyr Kul is a fascinating place to visit for all its storied legends and opportunities to visit migratory birds from Siberia.
A 7-day trek may be the best way to admire the changing appearances of the lake and its unique biodiversity.
The trek mainly follows traditional Silk Trade route and the path of many ethnic Kyrgyz who travelled the same spots while making their way into China during periods of Russian oppression.
It is not an easy place to get permits though due to its close proximity to the Chinese border which may require multiple trips in Naryn to secure a permit.
What’s the best itinerary in Kyrgyzstan?
It may seem like an impossible task to visit all these places in Kyrgyzstan. If you have one month or just 2 weeks, I would break it down according to these spots so it’s easier to visit.
Week 1: Bishkek & surrounding areas (Ala Archa National Park, Kol Tor Lake and Burana Tower)
Week 2: Tong District Isyk Kul Lake & surrounding areas (Jeti Orguz, Barksoon Gorge, Jeti Orguz)
Week 3: Naryn & Kochkor (Song Kul Lake, Tash Rabat)
Week 4: Karakol & Jyrgalan (Ala Kul Trek & Altyn Arashan)
Week 5: Osh & Alay Mountains (Lenin Peak, Arslanbob, Sary Chelek)
I was there for one month and I could barely visit all these places but pick and choose the best one that works for you.
Read my other articles on Central Asia
Trekking in Kyrgyzstan: 10 Surreal Hikes In The Tien Shan Mountains
Cycling in Kyrgyzstan: Bicycle Touring The Silk Road in Central Asia
Like this story? PIN It!
