Issyk Kul Lake Round-About
Trail: [Bishkek - Balykchy - Cholpon Ata - Karakol - Altyn Arashan valley - Ak Suu valley - Lake Kara Kul - Balykchy - Bishkek]
DURATION OF THE TRIP: 10 days with beach layovers
TOTAL DISTANCE: ~ 440 km
RECOMMENDED SPEED: 20-25 km/h
TOTAL ELEVATION GAIN: ~ 1 000 m
SEASON: Year around
Biking gear and camping equipment is supplied for the travelers: bikes, helmets, racks, repair kits, emergency kit are provided for the trip. Travel/biking guides and vehicle support may be available upon request. During the summer month, it is recommended that the Bishkek-Balykchy strip be traveled by train. Trains depart daily at around 6:40 from Bishkek and return from Balykchy towards the evening.
“Normal heroes always go the round about way.” -Barmalei, Aibolit 66 movie directed by R. Bykov
This expedition combines easy rides along the beaches of lake Issyk Kul with tedious but short ways through the uninhabited terrain of the true Tien-Shan outback that tests for durability humans and equipment alike. This drastic change provides travelers with a unique perspective to nomadic life and rewards them with abundant emotions. The trail goes by lake Issyk-Kul's northern shore, glittering with resorts and entertainment; by Karakol -an old frontier town of the Tsarist Russian Empire. This town has become a base camp for mountaineering expeditions heading for ascents in the eastern Tien-Shan. Karakol’s surroundings boast picturesque mountain valleys that are worth visiting. These will reward bikers for pedaling uphill with thermal Altyn Arashan and Ak Suu mineral springs. Further, the trail goes along lake Issyk Kul’s southern shore. This area has only slightly been touched by human civilization. In winter it turns into a habitat of swans.
Suggested Itinerary:
Day 1: Touch and go thru Balykchy (town of winds and dried fish) by noon. The northern shore promises glittering resort life while the south represents the back-country of Issyk Kul. Recommended overnight camp: 68 km off Balykchy by highway sign (Kurskoe/Sary Oi village) to the right of the road by an old resort facility.
Day 2: Today bikers should cover 100 km in 5 hours. You may choose to extend the pleasure of pedaling by going into the museum of petroglyphs and making a stop in the Bohemian oasis of Cholpon Ata. Recommended overnight camp: Highway pole 168 km in a park of Druzhba resort.
Day 3: It would yet take 3 hours of pedaling to get to Karakol and have a chance to shower! Although you may choose in favor of pedaling on to the wild Altyn Arashan hot springs resort. It is only 21 km uphill from a junction with the Ak Suu gorge. There is a mountain lodge with a fireplace (overnight cost ~ $3.) Recommended overnight camp: To have a full treat it is advisable to go further up to the hot springs resort where an overnight costs $1 and is supplemented with a hot radon bath.
Day 4: Ride from the Altyn Arashan to Jety Oguz valley - about 80 km will heat up your V-brakes and blow your mind with views. The “Broken Heart” view of Jety Ogus is usually very characteristic of bikers’ emotions on this stretch of the way. Recommended overnight camp: Jety Oguz hot springs resort.
Day 5: A ride from Jety Oguz to Kadzhi Say should take 6-7 hours along a ditch-infested highway. In 64 km to the right of your way there is a small apricot orchard. It makes a good spot for lunch. In 7 km past Kadzhi Say there will be a few resorts for overnight rest. Recommended overnight camp: A resort facility across the highway sign - 107 km.
Day 6: On the Kadzhi Say - Kara Kul stretch there is a chance to take an off-road detour. Make a right turn to a dirt road between the villages of Bokombaevo and Tert Kul. The dirt road following the power grid will cross a river flowing towards Ton bay, where you would need to make another right turn - towards the lake. Following the shoreline you will eventually come by a salty lake called Kara Kul. The water here is so salty, it pushes swimmers back ashore. It is advisable for the support vehicle to skip this detour and arrive to the salty lake by highway. Recommended overnight camp: by lake Kara Kul.
Day 7: In the morning of day 7, bikers may head towards Balykchy, where it is advisable to board a train or a support vehicle and return to Bishkek with bikes as luggage.
Note: a good place to camp may be in people’s orchards with permission from the owners.
