Highlight

Not far away from the Fairy Tale Valley (Skazka Valley) you will find a special, but mysterious place. Driving past the various and decaying yurts made of concrete, you will come across a golden gate by the side of the road. The golden gate encloses a large complex of abandoned yurts and peeling murals next to Lake Issyk Kul: Aalam Ordo

Freeriding for advanced skiers. If you want to fully experience the atmosphere of freeriding, then Ak Bulak Skiing Area is at the right place for you! Steep descents, an abundance of snow, pine forests, narrow passages and wide snowfields. Ak Bulak has it all. And then we haven't even mentioned the many couloirs and drops - too many to take them all.

Want to relax? Just go to the hot springs of Ak Suu. Kyrgyzstan has a serious hot water tradition. Both locals and tourists bathe in the naturally warm water to wash away their aches and pains. And all of that in the great outdoors. What a wonderful country.

The Charyn Canyon is often compared to the Grand Canyon in the United States. The beautiful colours from deep red to light brown and the different rock formations ensure that this Kazakh landmark can be seen as the little brother of the Grand Canyon.

With 20,000 inhabitants is Chundzha a large village that is already used to tourism on bigger scale. If you want to breathe in clean air, get healthier at an affordable price and enjoy the local Kazakh cuisine, Chundzha is definitely the place to be for you!

There are many hidden gems on the south shore of Lake Issyk Kul. Not far away from the town of Tosor you will find the Skazka or Fairy Tale Canyon. Years and years of erosion have carved the mountain landscape here into a rocky valley with views over the snowcapped mountains on one side, and the mighty Issyk Kul lake on the other side.

The Issyk Kul lake is a great place to stay a bit longer. Young and old, Kyrgyz and tourists, paddlers and party animals, adventurers, it all comes here to relax. That is almost inevitable, because an area as large as Denmark has something for everyone

Jeti Oguz is a village about 15 kilometers from Karakol. It is known for its special rock formations and vast valleys. The river Jeti Oguz flows from the highlands to the Issyk Kul lake. At the 'Seven Bulls' the river meanders past the seven red bulls' heads, a bright red rock formation that you can turn into bulls by using a little imagination.

Coal has been mined in the valley since 1932. The town of Jyrgalan was founded to provide the miners with a warm home, especially in the winter months. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the industry disappeared, leaving the miners without work. Difficult years for Jyrgalan, considering the fact that the village is cut off from the rest of the world. Many went to seek their fortune elsewhere and moved (back) to Karakol. Only the field full of snow were left behind.

The wide sandy beaches that you will find in Kapchagay, combined with the long hot summers of Kazakhstan, allowed the city to become the popular holiday resort it is today.

With the skiing area being the highest, with the most kilometers and is also not the most expensive, we can safely say that the Karakol skiing area is the best area for winter sports in Central-Asia. There is something in it for everyone!

At about a four-hour walk from Ayu Tor Ryce Camp, lies the mountain lake Ala Kul at an altitude of 3560m. Talking about a hidden gem. There is blue water, glacier foothills and rugged mountain peaks. You can have all if you are in for a long hike.