Issyk Kul and the Tian Shan

The shimmering Lake Issyk-Kul and the towering Tian Shan Mountains are two of the biggest draws for travelers in Kyrgyzstan, and they dominate the eastern portion of the country. Regions Cities Balykchy — the gateway to Issyk Kul, Balykchy is a former fishing town with a train service from Bishkek through a beautiful pass Cholpon-Ata — an upscale summer resort surrounded by mountains Kadji Sai — a small lakeside picturesque town where you can have a radioactive bath (literally!) Karakol — one of the gems of Issyk Kul, this was originally a Slavic settlement with a wealth of outdoor sports available Kochkor — a small village with a park containing various Soviet structures, and a local animal bazaar, as well as an entry of point for Song Kul Naryn — city bisected by Narin River, flowing through a beautiful gorge Tamchy — mainly a beach resort, overnight yurt stays and horseback riding trips can be arranged here, too Tamga — town with a red sand beach; named after the nearby petroglyphs Other destinations Lake Chatyr Kul — a scenic alpine lake with a high level of biodiversity Lake Issyk Kul — surrounded by the massive snowcapped Tian Shan, this is the main attraction of the region (and the country, for that matter) with a touristy north shore and a rugged south shore Lake Song Kul — a beautiful yet rather inaccessible alpine lake, trips there are only feasible during summer months Tash Rabat — an ancient caravanserai on the Silk Road, close to Torugart Pass Understand Talk Get in Get around See Itineraries Do Eat Drink Stay safe Get out This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!