From Bishkek: Issyk-Kul Lake & Skazka Canyon 2-Day Tour with Yurt Stay

Drive through Boom Gorge
to Issyk-Kul Lake

Start with hotel pickup in Bishkek and follow the Chu River through the dramatic Boom Gorge, with mountain views on both sides. Stop briefly along the way for coffee and snacks.

Enjoy a traditional Kyrgyz lunch (included) at a local restaurant near Balykchy, then continue along the southern shore of Issyk-Kul, known as the second-largest alpine lake in the world.

Hike up to the Ak-Sai Canyon viewpoint

Take a short, easy hike to a hilltop viewpoint. On one side lies the colorful Ak-Sai Canyon and on the other the blue Issyk-Kul Lake, a great spot for photos.

In the lakeside village of Bokonbaevo, enjoy free time to swim or walk along the shore, depending on the season.

Watch an eagle hunting demonstration
and stay overnight in a yurt

A local berkutchi (eagle hunter) demonstrates the ancient nomadic art of hunting with a golden eagle and explains the special bond between hunter and bird. Take photos with the eagle and try traditional archery.

Have dinner by the lake and spend the night in a traditional felt yurt.

Walk Skazka Canyon and Barskoon Waterfall

After breakfast at the yurt camp, take a guided walk through Skazka (Fairy Tale) Canyon, where wind and water have carved red and orange sandstone into shapes resembling castles, animals and dragons.

Continue to Barskoon Gorge, known for its alpine forests and clear mountain rivers, for a short, easy hike to a waterfall. Lunch is a traditional meal served in a yurt or local café depending on the season. On the way back, stop at a viewpoint over the Orto-Tokoy Reservoir before returning to your Bishkek hotel in the evening.

※ The order of the itinerary may change due to weather or local conditions.
※ Swimming in the lake is possible from about June to September, depending on weather conditions.