Issyk-Kul
One of the largest mountain lakes in the world, ringed by snow-capped ranges. Its water stays ice-free in winter, and its shores have beaches, small resorts and villages popular for relaxed summer holidays.
Issyk-Kul Lake (Cholpon-Ata)
Snowy peaks surround this huge mountain lake, which does not freeze and has beach towns such as Cholpon-Ata.
Attractive locations
Rukh Ordo Cultural Centre
Cultural complex in Cholpon-Ata built to present the heritage of the Kyrgyz people and other world faiths. It has small replica buildings, exhibition halls and landscaped grounds.
Cholpon-Ata Petroglyph Open-Air Museum
Field of large boulders on the lakeshore plain covered with ancient rock carvings of animals and hunting scenes. The site gives a sense of the people who lived around the lake thousands of years ago.
Kungoy Ala-Too
Mountain range forming the northern wall of the lake, with alpine meadows, forests and glacial valleys. Day walks and horse rides start from villages along the shore and lead up into the high pastures.
Chong-Kemin National Park
Protected mountain area in the Kemin district north-west of the lake, with wooded valleys, rivers and open pastures. It suits visitors who want hiking or horse riding away from the lakeside resorts.
Fairy Tale Canyon (Skazka)
Eroded red and orange clay cliffs on the lake's southern shore, carved by wind and rain into walls, towers and gullies. Visitors walk among the formations, which glow at sunset.
Barskoon Waterfall
A waterfall in a wooded mountain gorge near the village of Barskoon on the lake's southern shore. It is a popular stop for visitors exploring the valley on day trips from the lakeside towns.
Airports
Issyk-Kul International Airport IKU
It is about 32 km in a straight line from Issyk-Kul Lake (Cholpon-Ata).
Karakol International Airport IKG
It is about 110 km in a straight line from Issyk-Kul Lake (Cholpon-Ata).
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Kyrgyzstan page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan-11.2 °C16 mm
- Feb-7.5 °C21 mm
- Mar0.9 °C33 mm
- Apr6.5 °C56 mm
- May10.8 °C53 mm
- Jun15.0 °C45 mm
- Jul17.6 °C33 mm
- Aug17.3 °C28 mm
- Sep12.6 °C22 mm
- Oct5.9 °C29 mm
- Nov-1.9 °C28 mm
- Dec-9.6 °C20 mm
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Dec. Wettest months: Apr, May, Jun.
Costs
Prices here are about 33% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
nature
Issyk-Kul summer season
This mountain lake has its beach season.
Who can help
Emergency
112. Police 102. Ambulance 103. Fire 101.
local government
Ministry of Emergency Situations (unified dispatch service 112)
Helps with: Kyrgyzstan's emergency ministry. Its website lists 112 as the unified dispatch service and gives contact phones, an address in Bishkek and an email.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Kyrgyzstan who needs emergency help or wants to report an emergency.
Phone: 112
Email: [email protected]
Address: Manas Avenue 101/1, Bishkek
local government
Department of Tourism (Kyrgyz Republic)
Helps with: Kyrgyzstan's state body for developing and supporting the tourism industry. Its contact page lists a reception phone, an email and an office address in Bishkek.
Who qualifies: Anyone with a tourism enquiry about Kyrgyzstan.
Phone: +996312621861
Email: [email protected]
Address: 96a Kievskaya Street, Bishkek
ngo
Red Crescent Society of Kyrgyzstan
Helps with: Kyrgyzstan's national Red Crescent society. Its website lists disaster risk reduction, first aid, restoring family links, blood donation and support for vulnerable people.
Who qualifies: People in Kyrgyzstan who need its first aid, disaster, family links or social support services.
Phone: +996312300190
Email: [email protected]
Address: 10 Erkindik Boulevard, Bishkek
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Kyrgyzstan
Helps with: The UN migration agency, present in Kyrgyzstan since 1997. Its work covers migration management, crisis response, and humanitarian help for migrants, returnees and host communities.
Who qualifies: Migrants, returnees and host communities. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +996 312 988011
Email: [email protected]
Address: 103 Ibraimov Street, Business Center Victory, left wing, 6th floor, Bishkek 720021