Kyrgyzstan off-road route: lakes and passes from Toktogul
The 2076 km off-road route through Kyrgyzstan connects lakes and mountain passes: from the Toktogul reservoir through Sary-Chelek and Sonkol to Issyk-Kul, then through Barskoon, Jety-Oguz and Altyn-Arashan to Manas airport near Bishkek. The route includes high-altitude plateaus, glaciers and protected lakes at altitudes over 2000 meters.
- Distance
- 2076.0 km
- Mode
- route
- Start
- Нарын облусу, Кыргызстан
- End
- Sary Chechelek Biosphere Reserve
- Stops
- 21
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Нарын облусу, Кыргызстан — Route through mountain passes with panoramic views of the green valleys and snow-capped peaks of the Kyrgyz Range.
- Toktogul Reservoir — Large reservoir encountered along journey southwest.
- Kara Suu Lake — Alpine lake at an altitude with crystal clear waters, surrounded by mountain slopes and pristine nature.
- Sary-Chelek is a nature reserve with lakes — A protected nature reserve with a cascade of mountain lakes, glaciers and rare flora in the Chatkal gorge.
- Нарын облусу, Кыргызстан — A high-altitude lake on a plateau where tourists stay in traditional Kyrgyz yurts among nomadic shepherds.
- Road to the huge deserted lake Chatyr-Kol — A difficult off-road route to one of the most remote and wild lakes in Central Asia on a high-altitude plateau.
- Ысык-Көл облусу, Кыргызстан — The second largest mountain lake in the world with resorts on the shore where you can swim, fish and explore local monuments.
- Barskoon Gorge - waterfalls and Gagarin — A picturesque gorge with a powerful waterfall associated with the history of the flight of the first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.
- Plato Arabel'. Glaciers and lakes — Alpine plateau at an altitude of over 3500 meters with glaciers, mountain lakes and endless panoramas of peaks.
- Jety-Oguz (Jeti Oguz). Unusual rocks and waterfall — The gorge is famous for its red rock formations and a picturesque waterfall among the coniferous forest on the banks of the river.
- Эңилчек, Кыргызстан — An abandoned Soviet geological city on the edge of the Enilchek glacier in the Pamirs, accessible only to experienced travelers.
- Алтын, Кыргызстан — A resort valley with hot mineral springs, a mountain lake and hotels at a height in a pine forest.
- Бишкек шаары, Кыргызстан — A flight from the capital with aerial views of the huge lake, a faster but less atmospheric alternative to the railway.
- Manas International Airport (Бешке) — Entry point via 4-hour flight. Airport serving capital region.
- Sky Bridge — First destination; bridge over gorge with scenic views.
- Pigeon Waterfall — Waterfall visible from Sky Bridge area.
- Chunkurchak — Popular recreation area in same direction as previous sites.
- Kara-Suu Lake — Mountain lake hidden between peaks; 1.5 hours into journey.
- Tashkumyr — Town on route southwest along main river valley.
- Buranatash Canyon — Scenic but lesser-known canyon along Kara-Suu River near national park.
- Sary Chechelek Biosphere Reserve — UNESCO biosphere reserve with alpine lake at its heart.
Useful for your trip
- Transport
- It is better to rent a car for traveling in Kyrgyzstan in advance, since a week before the trip the choice of cars is significantly limited.
- Save money
- For two, a trip for 2 weeks costs about $1000 (car rental ~$1000, flight ~$350, gasoline $200-300, other expenses $200-$300). If you go with four people, the cost of rent and gasoline is distributed cheaper.
- Transport
- From Manas Airport to the center of Bishkek can be reached by bus 153 for less than $2 or by taxi for about $8.
- Save money
- It is better to buy a SIM card in Kyrgyzstan at the exit from the airport, and not at the exit from the gate, where prices are higher.
- Tip
- When traveling to Kyrgyzstan, take Visa cards with you, as Mastercard does not work in many places, and old-style dollars are not accepted.
- Tip
- To travel to the border zones of Kyrgyzstan, you need to obtain a permit to stay in a travel agency in advance (costs 35 dollars).
- Food
- Monty is a national dish of Kyrgyzstan, larger than dumplings (the size of a palm), steamed in a special montovarka, can be with meat or vegetables.
- Transport
- Gasoline in Kyrgyzstan is relatively cheap - about 90 cents per liter.
- Tip
- It is recommended to bring a burner with you to prepare food and coffee in beautiful places while traveling around the country.
- Food
- Lagman is a dish of noodles, meat, and vegetables that is served as a thick soup or stir-fry depending on the type of preparation.
- Food
- Shurpa is a rich aromatic broth of meat with vegetables and herbs, a hearty national dish of Kyrgyzstan.
- Timing
- In summer, people swim, fish and have picnics on the Toktogul reservoir, but in autumn there is almost no one there, although the water is warm and clean.