Sights of Kyrgyzstan
On the territory of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, which is considered one of the richest countries, there are a large number of monuments of ancient architecture, places with rock paintings, sites of primitive people, as well as nature reserves and famous museums.
The Burana Tower is located near Tokmok. This historical architectural monument was built in the 11th century and was considered one of the original buildings at the time.To date, nothing is known about the minaret, but archaeologists continue to excavate, and scientists continue to learn the history of the minaret.
Not far from the Burana Tower is the famous Ak-Beshim settlement. The original one was called Suyab. The settlement was erected in the 6th and 7th centuries and was the economic and cultural center of the valley. There are a large number of natural attractions in the Republic of Kyrgyzstan.
One of them is the "Grigoriev Gorge", which is located near Cholpon-Ata (30 km away). This place attracts thousands of tourists a year thanks to its beautiful terrain and clean air. The tract of Saimaly-Tash, translated means "Embroidered patterned stone".
This tract is located near the Fergana ridge. It is located at an altitude of 3000 m above sea level and is considered one of the most beautiful places in the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. Lake Issyk-Kul is considered the pearl of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan and is the most famous resort in the world. In Cholpon-Ata, you can get to the open-air museum.
Locals call this place the "Rock Garden." The large stone park has an area of 42 hectares. The museum has an interesting exposition that includes stone fences, petroglyphs, and tombstones. On our website, you can find out more information about the sights of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan.
In addition, the operators of the Orient Mice agency will help you make a plan for an interesting excursion, as well as help with visas and provide a professional guide and comfortable transport.
Sights
Burana Tower
Burana Tower is located near Tokmok, which is one of the historic towns in Kyrgyzstan (about 7 km from the city).
This historic and architectural monument was erected in the 9th century and was considered one of the first buildings of that time.
The original height of this sight was 45 meters. Unfortunately, only a part of the minaret was preserved until our days. Today, sight reaches only 24.5 meters high.
In the 15th century, a strong earthquake destroyed the top of the minaret.
Today, the minaret remains a mystery, but archaeologists continue excavation and scientists try to explore the history of this tourist attraction.
Burana Tower is a part of a historic tour of the cities of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan.
The State Historical Museum of Kyrgyzstan
The National History Museum is located in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek. It is one of the largest museums in Central Asia.
In December 1925, the museum opened, and now it has a large collection of exhibits that tell visitors about the history and development of the Kyrgyz people. In total, the State Historical Museum of Kyrgyzstan has more than 80 historic objects, about 40,000 of which are in the exhibition fund.
Archaeological and ethnographic exhibitions deserve special attention from tourists. It has scientific value and belongs to the world heritage.
For example, Saks's collection of objects made from bronze and gold, in the form of "animal style" armed elements and various housewares of the Bronze Age period, polychrome style decoration, "Treasures of Shamshin Queen" and many others.
Here are displayed national costumes and embroidery, precious metals, and articles for horse riding too.
Every month, in the exhibition hall, there are exhibitions of arts and crafts.
Our travel agency, "Orient Mice", will provide you with comfortable transport and professional guides who will tell you the history of the State Historical Museum of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan and show you all the exhibitions.
The Grigoriev Gorge
In the Kyrgyz Republic, there is a very wide variety of natural attractions that it is part of the natural excursion in Kyrgyzstan. One of them is the Grigoriev Gorge, which is close to Cholpon-Ata (about 30 km).
This place attracts thousands of visitors every year thanks to the beautiful countryside and clean air. The area of the gorge consists of high cliffs and green meadows with pristine streams and small waterfalls.
In the territory of the Grigoriev Gorge, in the warmest time of the year, nomads locate and arrange a kind of yurt village. Approximately half of the yurts are specially designed for tourists, and the second half are for nomads themselves.
Travelers who settle into yurts sleep in a warm blanket on the stele on the floor. There are no mobile phones or washbasins. If you decide to stay in the tent and spend some time in the valley, you will have a tremendous opportunity to touch the customs and traditions of the Kyrgyz people, as well as to feel like a nomad.
Yes, you will not have any of the modern amenities that you are so used to. However, you can ride a horse on the territory of the gorge, play the ancient game of the Kyrgyz people, as well as are acquainted with the craft and history of the Kirgiz.
Here, on the territory of the Grigoriev Gorge, are present burials (3-5 century BC) and hot springs where you can soak after a long walk on horseback.
Our travel agency, "Orient Mice", is happy to provide you with comfortable transportation and professional guides who will tell you about the Grigoriev Gorge.
Our guides will show you all the wonderful places, arrange horseback riding and provide an opportunity to capture the long memory of the most stunning landscapes of these beautiful wild places.
The ancient settlement of Ak-Beshin
Not far from the Burana tower, the famous Ak-Beshim settlement is located.
The original Ak-Beshim settlement was called Suyab. It was erected in the 6th and 7th centuries and was the economic and cultural center of the valley. The city consisted of a large-scale territory, which was divided into several parts. For example, 35 hectares of land were allocated for the citadel, and 60 hectares for the artisan suburb. In addition, in total, this is not the entire area of the ancient settlement.
The ancient settlement of Ak-Beshin was protected from invaders by a high fortress wall. Not only were mosques and churches located inside the city, but palace buildings with Buddhist temples and residential quarters were also erected.
Archaeologists suggest that the ancient Ak-Beshi settlement, which is the basis of Balasagun, which was still developing, "went" to the eastern side of the state.
Our travel agency, "Orient Mice," will be happy to provide you with transport and professional guides who will show you the ancient settlement.
Dungan mosque
In 1877, in the historic city of Karakol, were registered records about refugees who had opened a community.
In 1907, construction of the Dungan mosque started, which has lasted for 3 years.
The building of the famous mosque was painstakingly worked over by over 20 masters. They were able to build a unique Dungan mosque. It was unique because, despite the fact that it was built of wood, it had no nails.
The dimensions of the mosque are not so big, and its layout resembles a rectangle. There are several rows of columns with two parts of architectural buildings.
The western wall of the Dungan mosque was specially made without windows as the faces of worshipers turn on this side.
Decorators painted the mosque in bright colors. The yellow, blue, green, and red ranges are beautifully combined here. Original decorations of mythical figures are also present here: phoenixes, lions, and dragons.
Mythical animals are present in the story scenes and in some parts of the ornamentation. According to Chinese tradition, these animals protect us from evil spirits and all kinds of trouble.
The columns of the Dungan mosque are painted in red, the walls in purple, and the roof in green. These colors were chosen not by chance. According to mythology, even color has a certain value.
For example, yellow symbolizes greatness, red–ward, green—good luck and hope for prosperity. You can learn about it on a historic excursion.
Today, the Dungan mosque is considered one of the main samples of Chinese temple architecture of the 20th century.
Our travel agency «Orient Mice» will provide you with comfortable transportation as well as professional guides who will tell you about the history of Karakol and show you one of the major landmarks on the list of historical stages in the Republic of Kyrgyzstan: Dungan mosque.
Issyk-Kul State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve
Issyk-Kul State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve is located in the central part of the historic city named Cholpon-Ata.
This museum has a long history. During the reconstruction, nothing changed. The building of the museum has retained its appearance from the 80s.
Visitors to the museum will be able to be acquainted with stunning archaeological excavations, see a collection of objects related to the history and life of nomads, as well as learn more about the Issyk-Kul Lake and the flora and fauna of the region.
The exposition of the museum includes a collection of weapons, coinage, dishes, and souvenirs of Buddhist culture.
The collection of items that belong to the stone and bronze ages will also be interesting for tourists. There are Saka bronze pots, tools, ancient coins, and coinage referring to the reign of the Karakhanid dynasty.
In the Issyk-Kul State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve is a whole collection of Kyrgyz woolen carpets.
For very curious visitors, at the center of the museum is a miniature yurt. If you look inside, you will be able to be acquainted with the traditional dwelling of Kyrgyz nomads.
The yurt is decorated in a traditional style. There are also warm-ala kiyiz and shirdak, which are made of felt, mattresses with pillows, mattresses, wrought iron chests, and even utensils.
Our travel agency, "Orient Mice", will provide you with comfortable transport and professional guides who will tell you the story of the Issyk-Kul State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve and show you the exhibit.
Caravanserai "Tash-Rabat"
Not far from the big city of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, is situated the famous caravanserai "Tash-Rabat". It is located at a height of about 3,500 meters above sea level.
The building, where the inn was, has been restored. Archaeologists are trying to establish the date of the occurrence of one of the inns on the Great Silk Road.
One legend is connected with this place; it tells about the origin of the caravanserai.
Father and son worked on the building of the caravanserai "Tash-Rabat". When construction was almost finished, it seemed like a large caravan consisting of many camels and merchants.
The son wanted to greet the caravan, but his father tried to stop him by offering to finish the dome. The son did not listen to his father and went to the caravan, where he saw a beautiful girl. He decided to drop everything and go with them. One of the domes has not been completed.
Travelers often pass by this unique place. However, our travel agency, "Orient Mice", can provide you with professional guides and comfortable transport so that you will be able to plunge into a fairy tale. You can wander through the inn, walk through the Kara Koyun gorge (it is just 15 km away from this place), sit on the bank of the Tash-Rabat River, and feel preserved from that period.
Historical Museum of Karakol
Karakol is considered one of the most popular resort towns in the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. It found its place among not only natural and architectural monuments, but also the world-famous ski resort of "Karakol".
The history of the city goes back more than 140 years. There were many interesting and important events during that time.
The city resembles a rectangular shape. From the start, green and pleasing to the locals, the shade of trees in the hot season, it was decided to plant shrubs and trees in front of each house, and who had an opportunity to plant the entire garden. It was made with the aim of making the city green and pleasing local people in the hot season.
In 1948, the Karakol Historical Museum was opened in Karakol, in a pre-revolutionary building.
The location of the museum was not chosen by chance. The house where the historical museum was opened is situated on a street called "Merchant Passage." This street was constructed in the style of the 19th century. Sidewalks and roads were lined with stone, and benches have the same look and feel as two centuries ago.
From 1948 to 1961, the Karakol historical museum was called the Issyk-Kul State Museum of Przewalski. Then, it became a branch of the Historical Museum of the City of Frunze. And only in the winter of 2001, the museum decided to be called the Karakol historical museum.
The museum tells visitors about the origin and development of the city. This includes the formation and development of industry, culture, and agriculture.
Visitors can see a collection of artifacts that date back to the Bronze and Stone Ages. These are: tools, fragments of rock paintings, weapons, and items for sacrifice.
In addition, there are present documents that tell us about the life of the nomads and the history of this region.
By 2000, the Karakol historical museum already had more than 10,000 different items. From 2003 to 2012, the fund of the museum received more than 300 pieces of new exhibits.
Every year, around 10,000 people come to learn about the history of this region.
All employees of the local history museum annually participate in international conferences and improve their skills.
Our travel agency, "Orient Mice", will provide you with comfortable transport and professional guides who will tell you the history of Karakol's local history museum and show you the exhibition.
Krasnorechensk settlement
Krasnorechensk settlement is located near the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Just 36 km from the city. Today, it is a very attractive place for tourists.
At the site of an ancient city, archaeologists found another ancient city—Navekat.
Navekat is a prosperous and famous city that is located on the route of the Great Silk Road. It was a kind of cultural and, simultaneously, commercial center of the ancient Turkic Kaganates.
During excavations and archaeological works in Krasnorechensk settlement, a considerable number of exhibits were found. It is preserved very well, is now stored in Kyrgyzstan’s museums, and tells visitors about the life and development of the ancient city.
For example, a well-preserved statue of Buddha in a "nirvana" pose was discovered. This statue reaches a height of over 11 meters, as well as other pieces of Buddhist sculpture and painting.
During conservation work, archaeologists discovered ruins of Zoroastrian and Manichean temples, palace buildings, and public and residential buildings.
Today, excavations in the ancient settlement of Krasnorechensk continue, but that does not interfere with getting there.
Our travel agency, "Orient Mice", will provide you with comfortable transport and professional guides who will tell you the history of the city and show you all the architectural and historical monuments within the city and beyond.
The lake of Issyk-Kul
The Issyk-Kul Lake is considered the pearl of the Kyrgyzstan Republic. It is the most famous resort in the world. It is located on the northeastern side of the country in the foothills of the Tien Shan.
The Issyk-Kul Lake is located at 1609 meters above sea level. It is the biggest lake in the Kyrgyz Republic.
Many interesting and beautiful legends are associated with this lake.
For example, one of the legends says that many years ago, in the place of a beautiful lake was built a less beautiful city. There were happy people in the town who did not need anything. However, one day, all the residents were caught in great trouble.
A strong earthquake struck the white stonewalls of the city. The depression that formed in the center of the city was filled with groundwater, thus forming a large lake.
When the earthquake happened, some girls came out of the city. They went on their business, and when they returned, they saw a large lake instead of the beautiful city. Every day they came to the bank of the lake to mourn their lovers and relatives.
Therefore, many tears were shed, and the lake of freshwater turned into salt. The sadness of those three girls was reflected in the lake's name. The word "Issyk" translates to "tears" in Kyrgyz.And "Kul" is the lake.
The water in the lake does not have time to warm up well because of the depth, and even in the summer, it is cool.
The average water temperature in winter drops to -4, and in a warm period it can increase to 23 degrees Celsius.
More than 80 small and large rivers flow into the lake, and no rivers flow out of the lake—it stays salty.
The nature around the lake is very picturesque. Green meadows with peaks of snowy mountains and dense pine and spruce forests have always impressed tourists and locals.
Visiting Lake Issyk-Kul, you will be able to sunbathe on a sandy beach, take a dip in its cool waters, as well as arrange a horse ride along the beach or a drive along the narrow trails in the mountains...
There are approximately 50 different species of mammals and over 200 different species of birds in the Issyk-Kul region. Also, there are a wide variety of fish and amphibians.
Resting near the lake in the evening, you will be able to shoot on camera the flight of cranes and storks, ducks and loons.
Around the lake are numerous spa and wellness areas. Here, you can relax and get well.
Issyk-Kul Lake is a wonderful place for a great family vacation!
The lake of Sary Chelek
The name of the Sary Chelek Lake is translated as "Yellow Bucket." It is located just 500 kilometers from the Kyrgyz capital, at the heart of the Sary-Chelek Biosphere Reserve.
The Sary-Chelek Biosphere Reserve was opened in 1959.
Here, lovers of flora and fauna will be able to find and see more than 1,000 species of plants, over 20 species of birds and shoot on camera more than 34 rare animal species. Today, all of them are on the verge of extinction. These are snow leopards and brown bears, deer, porcupines, wolves, foxes, lynx, and many other species.
The preserved area includes a river and a park, the famous glacier and several mountain lakes.
Lake Sary Chelek is situated at 1873 m above sea level. It stretches for some 7.5 kilometers in width and has a maximum reach of 1500 m.
The deepest point of the Sary Chelek Lake is considered 234 meters. This lake is the second largest in the Kyrgyz Republic by depth.
The lake originated over 2,000 years ago. The water changes its color from dark blue to emerald.
You can get to the lake Sary Chelek only with two routes. One by Talas, and the other by an ancient village called Arkit.
Swimming in the lake is strictly prohibited after the accident that occurred in 1983. However, it does not stop travelers from relaxing on the beach, fishing, and enjoying the beautiful mountain scenery and clean air.
Our travel agency, "Orient Mice", will be happy to provide you with comfortable transport and professional guides who will tell you the most interesting legends associated with the lake Sary Chelek.
The Son-Kul Lake
Lake Son-Kul is an alpine lake that is located in the foothills of the Tien Shan. "Son Kul" is a name translated from Kyrgyz, meaning "Last Lake."
Son-Kul Lake is the second largest lake in the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. It is located at an altitude of 3016 m above sea level. The lake's maximum length is 29 km and it is 18 km wide. The depth of the lake is equal to 13.2 meters.
Son-Kul Lake is covered with ice and snow for 200 days per year. In winter, it is impossible to get here, and in summer, you can take a dip. The water temperature does not rise above 10 degrees Celsius.
During the summer, you can observe many yurts of nomads who lead their cattle in the green meadows that surround the lake.
You can get to the Son-Kul Lake through four roads. One road leads through the serpentine road, the second through the Sary-Bulak, the third through the Kara-Keche coalmines, and the fourth through the Ak-Tal.
This place attracts tourists and photographers for its beautiful landscapes at any time of the year, as well as its rich flora and rare species of animals that live here.
Our travel agency, "Orient Mice", will provide you with comfortable transport and professional guides who will tell you the history and legends associated with the lake Son-Kul, show you all the beautiful places in the surrounding area, and can help arrange fishing, so you can enjoy a quiet and relaxing family vacation in nature.
Petroglyphs in Cholpon-Ata
In Cholpon-Ata, travelers can get to the real museum, which is located in the open air. Local people call it the "Garden of Stones."
The large stonepark has an area of 42 hectares. It is a popular open-air museum, which is also called the Stone Garden.
The open-air museum has an interesting exhibition that includes stalls, petroglyphs, and tombstones that date back to 2000 BC to the 4th century AD. Some of the stones reach up to 3 meters.
The date of its creation is even carved into some stones. These inscriptions on stone tombs have survived to the present day.
You have a choice of several ways to walk around the territory of the Stone Garden. There are shorter (for those who do not have enough time)-it will take a maximum of 20 minutes. The other one is longer. In the second part of the route-included tour to the museum, you have the opportunity to more carefully explore the collection of the museum, but also enjoy stunning views of the Cholponatinsk bay.
If you do decide to visit the petroglyphs in Cholpon-Ata, the best time to visit is early morning or evening.
Some of the petroglyphs are executed in a classical style. In petroglyphs, they depicted images of animals (deer and jaguars), hunting scenes, images of the sun and moon with the stars, and ritual dances.
It is believed that in ancient times, these unusual stones served as tools for traditional religious ceremonies. Scientists came to this conclusion because some stones turned in a certain direction and at a certain angle.
Our travel agency, «Orient Mice», will provide you with comfortable transport and professional guides who will tell you about the open-air museum in Cholpon-Ata, called "Garden of Stones". Guides will show you all the wonderful places, arrange horseback riding, and provide an opportunity to remember the most stunning landscapes of this beautiful wild place.
Kyrgyzstan’s Caves
Across the territory of the Kyrgyz Republic are many caves, which are associated with local mysteries and legends. Today, all over the country, there are more than 300 small and large caves.
You can find ancient tombs in some of them and a hidden underground lake with clean and healthy water in others. On the walls of some caves are placed ancient inscriptions and rock carvings in the form of animals and scenes of hunting. On the walls of others: ritual dances of nomads and people from the Stone Age.
Each tour gives an opportunity for new discoveries. And who knows what you'll encounter at this time?!Maybe it will be dishes from the Stone Age and maybe jewelry from the Bronze Age.
Caves can open for you discoveries and archeological findings, but here you can also heal.
Popular among tourists are such caves as The Surprise and The Big Barite, Jubilee and Victorious, Kara Unkur and Fersman. They attract fans of extreme tours.
Speleologists have discovered a unique cave in the Moldo-Too mountain range. Here, a mummy was found.
For a very long time, the Kuyul-Duyurek cave has frightened locals with its sounds. When speleologists explored it, they found that the roar that resembled a waterfall so much was caused by wind. Besides animal bones and broken pottery, is there anything more interesting to find?
Caves, as mentioned above, are shrouded in mystery and beautiful legends. For example, it is said about Divayram cave that once upon a time in a village, a missing girl whose traces led to this cave. But none of the residents dared go down into the cave, as it is considered to be very deep and dangerous.
Every spring, a brook with clear water appears. It is believed that it tears the same girl who no one saved.
In the Manas caves, a famous Kyrgyz hero of great epic sheltered his horse in bad weather.
Caving in Kyrgyzstan is just getting started, and our travel agency, «Orient Mice», is happy to provide you with transportation and professional guides who will organize amazing excursions to the Kyrgyz Republic's caves.
Ala-Too Square
The main square, with an interesting name, "Ala-Too," is located in the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic. The name is translated from Kyrgyz as "motley mountains".
The square is a major symbol of the mountainous area and is considered one of the most popular places among the citizens and guests of Kyrgyzstan. Various festivals, concert programs, the lighting of the main tree for the winter holidays, and even demonstrations are held.
The State Museum of History of Kyrgyzstan and "Oak Park" are located along the perimeter of the square in the historical city of Kyrgyzstan.
In December 1925, the museum was opened and today has a large collection of exhibits that tell visitors about the history and development of the Kyrgyz people.
In total, the State Historical Museum of Kyrgyzstan has more than 80 historic objects, about 40,000 of which are in the exhibition fund.
In the park, visitors can visit the St. Nicholas church and admire the exposition of the Museum of Sculpture. Here is a monument to friendship between peoples.
In the central part of the Ala-Too square was built a high (10-meter) bronze monument, dedicated to the hero of the national epos, Manas.
Many monuments in Ala-Too Square are dedicated to famous and great people from the country.For example, a monument in memory of the riots in 2002-2010 and a monument to Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov.
Under the square is situated an underground bunker that was built in Soviet times. Sometimes, this space hosts various exhibitions and events.
In 2009, the Ala-Too square was reconstructed and new trees were planted. Here was the first musical fountain in town.
Our travel agency, "Orient Mice", will provide you with comfortable transport and professional guides who will tell you the history of the Ala-Too Square and organize an exciting tour.
Semenov gorge
In the north, not far from the famous Lake Issyk-Kul, is a very beautiful gorge named Semenov. The territory of the gorge is over 30 kilometers long.
A track to the gorge is an extreme way along the mountains. The trip itself can take a whole day. This time is quite enough to ride along the gorge and stay in the shade of a tree to take a picture of the beautiful landscape.
There is a special possibility for visitors to the Semenov Gorge to spend the night in special guest yurts and be acquainted with nomadic life.
The Semenov gorge got its name in honor of the geographer who, one of the first decided to explore this place.
The slopes of the gorge are covered with green, centuries-old pine trees. Plants such as honeysuckle, wild rose, currants, and sea buckthorn are also growing.
The gorge is very beautiful all year round. These places are filled with the scents of flowers and herbs in the spring, while the mountain peaks are veiled by thick snow cover in the winter.
Any traveler will find something of interest on the Saymaly Tash trail. Those who love taking pictures will be rewarded with beautiful sunsets and sunrises.
People who are interested in wildlife can see wild and rare animals that can only be seen in this area.
In addition, this place stands out for its unique species of plants, some of which you will never find in any other corner of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan.
Our travel agency, "Orient Mice," will provide you with comfortable transport and professional guides who will tell you about the history and legends associated with the Semenov Gorge, as well as show you beautiful places.
Saymaly-Tash tract
Saymaly-Tash tract, translated from Kyrgyz as "embroidered patterned stone." This tract is located near the Fergana Range. The Saymaly-Tash tract is located at an altitude of 3000 m above sea level and is considered one of the most beautiful places in the Republic of Kyrgyzstan.
If you have already decided to visit this place and walk through the nature reserve, the best season to do it is summer! At other times of the year, strong winds blow and the Saymaly-Tash tract is covered in a thick layer of snow, and you do not get it.
This place attracts tourists with beautiful scenery and ancient rock paintings in the form of animals, hunting scenes, and ritual dances of the ancient tribes, including the mythical winged horses, wolves, and deer.
The most interesting fact is that all these figures were made in one place but refer to different centuries. However, all of them combine styles and image motifs.
Some images of figures have not been recognized yet. On the one hand, the figures resemble lions with tigers, but on the other hand, they resemble bulls and goats with long horns and a thick trunk.
People who are interested in wildlife can see wild and rare animals that can only be seen in this area.
In addition, this place stands out for its unique species of plants, some of which you will never find in any other corner of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan.
Our travel agency, "Orient Mice," will provide you with comfortable transport and professional guides who will tell you the history and legends associated with the Saymaly-Tash tract, as well as show you beautiful places.
The Altyn-Arashan gorge
"Altyn-Arashan" from Kyrgyz translates as "Golden healing keys." This valley got such a name due to the fact that on its territory are sources with different water temperatures and compositions of the water.
In one source, the water temperature can reach + 41 degrees Celsius, while in the second; it can reach +320 degrees Celsius. The water has a healing composition, and it is perfect for the treatment of liver, heart, digestive, kidney, and joint diseases.
The Altyn-Arashan gorge is close to the same river that runs 10 kilometers from the capital city of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, Karakol.
The gorge of Altyn-Arashan is considered a very picturesque place and attracts crowds of tourists. Here, you will find beautiful green meadows and dense spruce forests. All this beauty is located at an altitude of 2,600 meters above sea level.
On the territory of the gorge is located a resort area of the same name, which was opened in 1963 and still works.
The resort has a small area. On the banks of the Arashan River, wooden houses have been constructed. The place is very beautiful and romantic. Many couples come here to make a marriage proposal.
It offers beautiful views of the "Aksu wall." This is a large-scale snow peak, and its height reaches 5,000 meters.
The resort and the Altyn-Arashan gorge are located in the territory of a reserve, which includes over 30,000 hectares of land. It is not only meadows, rivers, and forests, but also great, beautiful, steep cliffs.
From afar, tourists can watch the wonderful rare animals of the Kyrgyz Republic. There are foxes and snow leopards, marmots and ermine, martens and deer, bears and wild boars.
You can also watch the flight of vultures and stopcocks, and take pictures of pheasants and partridges.
From the sights of the Arashan gorge, you can find not only healing springs and the Aksu wall, but also access a few other gorges. For example, the Tash Tektir gorge. Also, travelers will have an opportunity to stroll along the banks of the Marin-glacial lakes Kashka-Suu and Ala-Kol, to capture the amazing beauty of the Sharkyratma Archaly Tor waterfalls.
Our travel agency "Orient Mice" will provide you with comfortable transport and professional guides who will tell you stories about the Altyn-Arashan gorge, show you all the wonderful places, arrange horseback riding and provide an opportunity to capture the most stunning landscapes of this beautiful wild space.
Barskaun gorge
Barskaun gorge is close to the touristic city of Kyrgyzstan, Karakol (90 km from the city). It is located near the village of the same name and it stretches for 30 km.
A motorway was built through the gorge (for more comfortable travel).
When you first get into the gorge, in front of you appears a breathtaking view of dense spruce forest, which smoothly changes into thickets of juniper groves.
As long as you drive to the gorge, before you gradually open up the magnificent scenery of the rare species of plants and snowy peaks, high waterfalls, and abrupt cliffs,
Here is a waterfall, which is considered a state monument to nature in Kyrgyzstan. It is also called the gorge itself. That is "Barskaun". The height of the waterfall reaches 100 meters. This highest and most beautiful waterfall of all is in the area of the gorge of Barskoon.
A very sad legend is connected with it. Once upon a time, a female leopard gave birth to three leopards. On one of the darkest nights, she left the kids in the den and she went hunting.
When she returned from her long and arduous hunt, she discovered her kittens had fallen and died on mountain cliffs. She began to cry, and her tears turned into a roaring waterfall.
Also, there are other well-known waterfalls such as: "Champagne Bubbles," Aksakal’s beard," and "Manas’ Bowl," etc.
Some shallow rivers that flow into the main river Barskaun are considered auriferous. If you look closely into the water in good sunny weather, you can see the gold sparkles and shimmers in the sunlight.
On the territory of the gorge, there is another monument, which is a unique archaeological finding in Kyrgyzstan. It is a castle, which refers to the XV-XIX century. Unfortunately, only a few towers and shaft particles have been preserved to this day.
Our travel agency, "Orient Mice", will provide you with comfortable transport and professional guides who will tell you all about the Barskaun gorge. And also, they will show you all the wonderful places, arrange horseback riding and provide an opportunity to capture on camera the most stunning landscapes of these beautiful wild places.
Karavshin gorge
Karavshin Gorge is located in the southern part of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan.
This gorge is considered a kind of paradise for mountain lovers and everything connected with it! If you enjoy different kinds of climbing on the wild mountain paths or you like alpinism, then you must visit the Karavshin Gorge!
Do not forget that these wild places are not a place for beginners. Many of the trails are dangerous, and the rocks are deadly to untrained athletes.
The Karavshin tract attracts travelers not only with its high cliffs, but also with clear mountain air and the clear waters of streams and rivers that flow here.
The average height of rock walls is 2000 meters above sea level. They consist of different rocks that combine granite with sandstone and limestone with the monolith.
The famous peaks that surround the Karavshin gorge are Slesova peak, Asan, 1000 Years of the Baptism of Russia and Usan. There are no less famous peaks such as Kotova Peak, Pyramid Peak, or Yellow Wall.
In the middle of the gorge, Karavshin, in the dense thickets of gardens, is another gorge called Laylak. This gorge has another, no less interesting name: Aksu.
Here, professional climbers are presented with a diverse choice of peaks to climb.
These are Iskander Peak, Aksu Peak, Petrogradets Peak, Admiralteyets Peak, Aktyubek Peak, and even peaks named after Blok and Dostoyevskiy.
Beautiful mountain scenery, lush pine forests, and harsh landscapes create the perfect conditions for beautiful photos and professional training.
Our travel agency, "Orient Mice", will provide you with comfortable transport and professional guides who will tell you the history and legends associated with the Karavshin Gorge and will show you all the beautiful places in this area.
Chon-Kemin gorge
Chon-Kemin gorge is a very beautiful area that is located on the territory of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, not far from the river Chon-Kemin and Kyrgyzstan's capital.
The total length of the Chon-Kemin River is 116 km. It begins in the foothills of Ili Ala-Too and Kungei Ala-Too. Its swimming pool is over six lakes.
The Chon-Kemin valley has an area of 6 km in width and 12 km in length. It is a popular place among tourists.
Here, in the valley, is the National Natural Park, which covers an area of 500 hectares. The park is under the protection of the country. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the rising sun, as well as capture on camera rare species of plants, animals and birds.
The Chon-Kemin gorge is famous for its green pine forests, which are intertwined with the snow-capped mountains and glaciers.
Every traveler, being in the territory of the National Nature Reserve, can find something interesting and unique.
Our travel agency, "Orient Mice", will provide you with comfortable transport and professional guides who will tell you the history and legends associated with the National Reserve and the Chon-Kemin Gorge and show you all the beautiful places.
