Kyrgyzstan road trip: Bishkek to Issyk-Kul and Naryn

The 552 km long route in Kyrgyzstan connects the capital Bishkek, the sacred Lake Issyk-Kul and the city of Naryn in the highlands. The route includes a trip through the mountain plateaus of the Naryn region and Lake Kel-Suu, covering a variety of landscapes from cities to hard-to-reach high-altitude areas.

Mode
Places
Start
Bishkek
End
Kelsu Lake (Kel-Suu)
Stops
5
Video author
travmap
Updated

Stops on this route

  1. Bishkek — Capital city; narrator arrived and met his friend Amantur
  2. Issyk-Kul Lake — Huge mountain lake surrounded by snowy peaks; journey started here
  3. Naryn
  4. Naryn Region highlands — Highest mountain region of Kyrgyzstan with thin air; 180 km journey through the region toward Chinese border
  5. Kelsu Lake (Kel-Suu) — One of the most beautiful and inaccessible lakes in Kyrgyzstan, located only 20 km from Chinese border, name means 'coming water' as water periodically disappears into rock;…

Useful for your trip

Transport
Russians can enter Kyrgyzstan with an internal passport without a foreign passport. The flight from Moscow to Bishkek takes 4 hours.
Where to stay
For an overnight stay in an authentic Kyrgyz yurt in the city of Naryn, contact Izat: +996700548254 WhatsApp. The yurt is completely natural - wood, felt, grass.
Tip
To visit the border zone to China, you need to issue a pass in advance. Contact: Izat +996700548254 WhatsApp. Do not forget to arrange it in advance.
Food
In Naryn, try a traditional breakfast: clarified butter, chug (leftovers from a cauldron) and BW (a dish made from the remains of clarified butter), prepared by local hands.
Transport
From Issyk-Kul to the target route in the Naryn region, you need to drive about 180 km, most of the road is dirt. The road is spectacular and requires time for sightseeing.
Timing
The Naryn region is a high-altitude region. In winter, records are set here for negative temperatures, there is a lot of snow. Plan your visit during the warmer months.
Tip
The best souvenir shop in Kyrgyzstan is Travel Kyrgyz UZ. Address in Yandex Maps. Contact: Izat +996700548254 WhatsApp.
Tip
Lake Issyk-Kul is perceived by the locals as a sacred spring. The water does not freeze in winter, but in June it is cool for swimming.
Tip
On the route through the Naryn region, you will meet yaks - they calmly graze at altitudes up to 5 km due to their thick coat and unpretentiousness in nutrition.
Tip
When passing the route to Lake Kel-Suu, be prepared to cross on foot after the end of the road. Take the necessary equipment.

Video on this route

Rapid Kyrgyzstan. Do you have time for everything over the weekend?

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