Issyk-Kul is the world’s second largest alpine lake. Surrounded by mountains, Issyk-Kul never freezes. The region is famous for its treks, hikes, beaches, and spa services. There are many resorts around Issyk-Kul, including in the major cities of Cholpon-Ata and Karakol.
Things to Do and Sightseeing Tours in Issyk-Kul 1. History 2. What to do 3. Entertainment and shopping 4. Food 5. Transport 6. How to get to Issyk-Kul 7. Spoken languages in Issyk-Kul 8. Currency 9. Safety The pearl of the Tien Shan - Issyk-Kul is the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan. Issyk-Kul translates as "hot lake". The water temperature here does not drop to minus even in winter, so the lake never freezes. It is located at an altitude of 1,608 meters above sea level and ranks seventh in the list of the deepest lakes in the world. Issyk-Kul is a favorite holiday destination for Kyrgyzstanis. Also, the coast is visited annually by thousands of tourists from the CIS and other countries of the world. The hottest tourist season in Issyk-Kul lasts from mid-June to the end of August. In summer, the northern shore of the lake is the most attractive for tourists. The most popular tourist places of Issyk-Kul are the city of Cholpon-Ata, the village of Bosteri, Bulan-Sogottu, Chok-Tal, Sary-Oi and Chon-Sary-Oi. Also in summer you can go to Karakol (Przhevalsk). In winter, thousands of skiers and snowboarders go to the ski resort in Karakol. The main feature of Issyk-Kul is its mountainous and maritime climate. There are many sanatoriums and wellness centers where you can take treatment courses. It should also be borne in mind that even in summer the weather on Issyk-Kul is quite capricious. During the day, it can change several times: sun, rain, sun again and rain again. Therefore, it is necessary to take warmer clothes with you. Lovers of active recreation prefer traveling through the gorges Grigoryevskoye, Semenovskoye, Jety-Oguz and Barskoon. The Issyk-Kul coast holds many secrets and legends. There is also a lot of entertainment and delicious food. Since 2014, the World Nomad Games have been held in Issyk-Kul. This includes various competitions in ethnic sports. For example, kok-boru (goat-picking), alysh (belt wrestling) and alchiki (a game using cattle bones). Nomad games attract players and tourists from all over the world. History of Issyk-Kul The lake is located between the ridges of the Northern Tien Shan - Terskei Ala–Too and Kyungei Ala-Too. There are two legends about Issyk-Kul. According to the first, due to a strong earthquake, one city completely sank underground, and the depression was filled with water. The girls who returned from gathering firewood found that their city was no more. They came to the lake every day and cried for their departed loved ones. There were so many tears that the lake became bitterly salty. According to the second version, one ruler fell in love with a beautiful girl and forcibly brought her to the palace. She could not accept the separation from her beloved shepherd and threw herself out of the window. At the same time, streams of water descended from the mountains, flooded the palace, and a lake was formed there. According to historical information, Issyk-Kul was first mentioned in the Chinese chronicles of the II century BC under the name of the Zhe-Hai (warm sea). The study of the lake began only in the XIX century. And in 2006, as part of archaeological research under the leadership of Vice-President of the Academy of Sciences of Kyrgyzstan Vladimir Ploskikh, an ancient civilization that is at least 2.5 thousand years old was found at the bottom of Issyk-Kul. The ruins of an ancient Armenian monastery were also found in the waters of Issyk-Kul. According to legend, it is there that the relics of the apostle Matthew, a disciple of Christ, are located. Issyk-Kul stretches from west to east for 182 km, and from north to south for 58 km. The average depth is 278 meters, the largest reaches almost 700 meters. The water in the lake is blue and brackish. Issyk-Kul is a transparent lake. In winter you can see fish swimming at a depth of 47 meters, and in summer this figure is about 20 meters. The length of the coastline is 688 kilometers. The lake has several bays and coves, for example, Tyupsky, Pokrovsky, Rybachy and Dzhergalansky (Przhevalsky). There are many settlements on the coast of Issyk-Kul, each of which is worth to visit. What to Do in Issyk-Kul Attractions of Issyk-Kul The attractions of Issyk-Kul are located all along the coast. Perhaps the main attraction of Issyk-Kul is the lake itself. To come here and never swim in the lake is just a crime. Depending on the area and time of day, the waters of Issyk-Kul can be both very warm and quite cool. That is why the tourist season, which lasts from mid-June to August, is considered the most comfortable for swimming. The Rukh Ordo Cultural Center, which is located in Cholpon-Ata, attracts hundreds of guests daily. Despite the fact that in fact it is a museum complex consisting of several small museums, Rukh Ordo is one of the main attractions of Issyk-Kul. Therefore, it is impossible to consider the complex only as a museum. There are five chapels of world religions in the open air: Orthodox, Catholic, Muslim, Jewish and Bu...