Around Lake Issyk-Kul
Driving the full circle around Lake Issyk-Kul packs more variety into one trip than any other road in Kyrgyzstan: north-shore beaches and petroglyphs, the spruce gorges of the Kungey Ala-Too, Karakol with its Dungan food scene, then the red canyons and waterfalls of the south shore. The places below follow the clockwise driving order: Cholpon-Ata, Grigorievka and Semyonovka gorges, Karakol, and along the south shore Jeti-Oguz, Barskoon and Skazka Canyon. The loop itself is normal-car territory — the main lakeside road is sealed (Bishkek to Karakol is roughly 400 km and 6–7 hours), and gravel only starts on the side roads into the gorges: the Barskoon waterfall road is unpaved, and road works continue around Grigorievka in 2025–2026. Timing note: July and August bring the biggest crowds and highest prices to the north shore; the easy season runs from mid-June into September.
Cholpon-Ata
The main resort hub on Issyk-Kul's north shore: beaches, hotels, Rukh Ordo, the petroglyph museum and a useful base for the Kungey Ala-Too gorges.
- City
Grigorievka Gorge (Chon-Ak-Suu)
A forested north-shore Issyk-Kul gorge with the Ak-Suu river, three small mountain lakes, summer yurt stops and an easy pairing with neighbouring Kyrchyn/Semenov Gorge.
- Gorge
- 4×4
Semyonovka Gorge
A north-shore Issyk-Kul gorge with paved access, spruce-covered slopes and the wide Kyrchyn valley known from the World Nomad Games.
- Gorge
Karakol
The main base for eastern Issyk-Kul: a mountain town where travellers stage treks, ski days, hot-spring trips, Dungan food experiences and slow walks through Karakol's historic streets.
- City
Jeti-Oguz
A red-rock gorge southwest of Karakol, known for the Seven Bulls and Broken Heart formations, a mineral-springs resort and hikes toward waterfalls.
- Gorge
Barskoon Gorge
A south-shore Issyk-Kul gorge with spruce slopes, a chain of waterfalls and a road climbing through the Terskey Ala-Too toward the high plateau.
- Gorge
- 4×4
Skazka (Fairy Tale) Canyon
A compact red-orange canyon on Issyk-Kul's south shore, good for a 1-2 hour wander among eroded ridges, lake views and a vivid road-trip stop.
- Canyon