Kyrgyzstan road trip: Charyn Canyon to Valley of Forgotten
This 451.6 km road trip through Kyrgyzstan connects five dramatic landscapes: Charyn Canyon's towering rock formations, Ak-Suu Hot Springs' geothermal pools, Jeti-Ögüz Yurt Camp in mountain valleys, Fairytale Canyon's colorful sandstone sculptures, and Valley of Forgotten Rivers. The route showcases the country's diverse terrain from canyon floors to high-altitude plateaus.
- Distance
- 451.6 km
- Mode
- route
- Start
- Charyn Canyon
- End
- Valley of Forgotten Rivers
- Stops
- 5
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Charyn Canyon — Towering rock formations and dramatic canyon landscape in eastern Kazakhstan; first major stop of the road trip
- Ak-Suu Hot Springs — Natural geothermal pools tucked in the eastern mountains of Kyrgyzstan; first stop after crossing the border
- Jeti-Ögüz Yurt Camp — Traditional yurt accommodation in a mountain valley; overnight stay in remote Kyrgyzstan
- Fairytale Canyon — Sculpted cliffs and surreal red rock formations in western Kyrgyzstan
- Valley of Forgotten Rivers — Vast dried-up basin carved by ancient water flows; surreal and photogenic remote landscape in central Kyrgyzstan
Useful for your trip
- Transport
- Rent a car in Almaty to do a self-drive road trip through Kyrgyzstan; allow about 3 hours driving from Almaty to Charyn Canyon
- Where to stay
- Accommodation inside Charyn Canyon National Park is conveniently located near the main viewpoint and visitor center, about 5 minutes walk away
- Save money
- Pay for a Soviet-style pickup van to take you to the bottom of Charyn Canyon rather than walking, to save time and energy
- Tip
- Border crossing from Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan is straightforward; ensure you have all required documents ready before crossing
- Where to stay
- Ak-Suu Hot Springs has multiple pools with different temperatures; the hottest pool reaches around 45°C
- Where to stay
- Yurt camps in the valleys are surprisingly comfortable with log burners that provide substantial warmth; beds are comfortable
- Food
- Yurt camps offer home-cooked meals as part of the stay experience
- Timing
- Plan for approximately 3 hours of driving between major stops; sunset comes early at this time of year so arrive early to explore
- Timing
- Altitude around 2,300m may cause altitude sickness; the trip reaches up to 3,000m at higher alpine lakes
- Transport
- The off-road drive to Valley of Forgotten Rivers covers approximately 13km through dried riverbed, requiring a capable vehicle
- Where to stay
- Glamping-style pods are available as accommodation options in remote areas like near Valley of Forgotten Rivers
- Tip
- Fairytale Canyon features colorful layered sandstone formations carved by wind and rain; it's a maze of sculpted cliffs worth exploring
Video on this route
KYRGYZSTAN Travel Adventure 🇰🇬 A Road Trip Through Wild Landscapes