Home / Tours / Issyk-Kul Shore & Hot Springs - Day Trip
Issyk-Kul Shore & Hot Springs - Day Trip
The north shore of Issyk-Kul in one long day from Bishkek. We stop at Burana Tower, drive through Boom Gorge with a kattama and samovar tea break, then explore the open-air petroglyphs and the Ruh Ordo complex. Lunch by the lake, a boat ride from May to September and a soak in the hot springs near Cholpon-Ata before the drive home.
Why you'll love this tour
Good to know
- Activities: sightseeing - 1 day
- Departures from: Bishkek
- Best time to go: All year round
- Local certified English-speaking guide
- Private transport & airport transfers
- Small group or fully private
- 24/7 support team in Bishkek
What to pack
- Comfortable shoes with good grip for uneven ground
- A refillable water bottle
- Sun protection: a hat or cap, sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen
- A light jacket: the mountains are cooler than Bishkek even in summer
- Some cash in Kyrgyz som for small purchases where cards are not accepted
Full packing list and arrival tips: Easy from abroad: visas, arrival and logistics
Before you go
- Visa: most Western and East-Asian passports enter visa-free for up to 30 days within any 60-day period (the rule changed at the end of 2025), so check your own nationality on evisa.e-gov.kg
- Money: the local currency is the Kyrgyz som; carry cash for villages and camps, as card payments mostly work only in towns
- The gorges above Bishkek are higher and cooler than the city, so bring a layer and drink plenty of water
- Drinking water: stick to bottled or boiled water, and bring enough for stretches where none is available
Day-by-day itinerary
Tap any day to expand. Every itinerary can be tailored to your dates, pace and fitness.
Your guide picks you up at your hotel in Bishkek, and we head east towards Issyk-Kul. First stop is Burana Tower, on the site of the Silk Road town of Balasagun. You see petroglyphs, balbals and a small museum of 9th to 11th century coins, ceramics and jewellery. Climb the tower for a wide view of the Tien Shan.
The road then follows the river through Boom Gorge, between high rock walls. We pull over at a small place locals know well for kattama with sour cream and tea boiled in a samovar.
On the north shore we walk through the open-air petroglyphs, rock carvings left by early peoples. Then we visit Ruh Ordo, a quiet complex dedicated to different cultures and faiths. Lunch is at a local restaurant by the lake. From May to September you can take a boat out and, in warm weather, jump in from the deck with a life vest on.
Before heading home, you can relax in the mineral hot springs near Cholpon-Ata, with massages on offer if you want one. Then we drive back through the mountains and reach your hotel in Bishkek late in the evening.
Sights visited on this tour
Bishkek
Kyrgyzstan's leafy, Soviet-planned capital and the gateway to the mountains.
Issyk-Kul Lake
A vast, warm mountain lake that never freezes, framed by snowy peaks.Gallery
Common questions
It runs 1 day, starting and ending in Bishkek.
The season runs All year round. June to September brings the warmest days, and the high-pasture yurt camps are open.
It's moderately paced, with 1 days sightseeing. Good general fitness is enough, and there is no technical climbing.
From $200 per person. The exact price depends on group size and season, and we confirm it for your group within 24 hours.
Tell us about your trip
Tell us your dates and we'll confirm availability and a tailored price within 24 hours. Free to enquire, no prepayment.
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