About
Issyk-Kul is a vast mountain lake at 1,608 metres above sea level, 182 kilometres long and 60 kilometres wide. Its name means "warm lake" in Kyrgyz: the salty, deep waters never freeze even in the coldest winter months. Thanks to this, the lake region can be visited all year round.
Lively resort towns such as Cholpon-Ata and Bosteri line the northern shore, while quiet villages and yurt camps dot the southern coast. You can swim on the beaches, join boat trips, or ride horses along the lakeshore. The Terskey Ala-Too and Kungey Ala-Too ranges around the lake offer countless hiking routes. Issyk-Kul is one of Kyrgyzstan's greatest natural wonders and an unmissable stop on any tour programme.
