Mountains, Passes & Valleys in Kyrgyzstan
ALAMEDIN GORGE
The well known Alamedin Gorge is located 30 km from Bishkek, at an altitude of 1800-2000 meters above sea level. Juniper, birch, black currant, common cockle, rose hips, and sea buckthorn are just some examples of the area’s rich flora. The river that flows through the gorge is also called Alamedin. Going farrther up through the gorge, one can see steep cliffs that look like ruins of ancient fortresses. There are also the peaks Aitmatov (4650 meters) and Kyrgyzstan (4860 meters) which always attract tourists’ attention. The Alamedin Gorge is famous for its hot mineralized springs, of which there is a small spa resort based on.
KORONA PEAK
The Korona (‘crown’) Peak is one of the most beautiful peaks of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too ranges, popular among climbers from around the world. The peak is located at the top of the Ak-Sai glacier in the Ala-Archa gorge. The name of this 4860 meter high peak is no coincidence; six mountain towers resemble a majestic crown when viewed from a distance. The towers are so steep that the snow does not manage to stay on their tops and walls, which adds to the splendor of the landscape.
JETI OGUZ GORGE
The picturesque Jeti Oguz gorge is located 28 km southwest of the town of Karakol. Its name in Kyrgyz means ‘seven bulls,’ referring to the seven large red-brown cliffs, reminiscent of seven fierce bulls. The Jaralangan Jurok (Broken Heart Rock), located at the entrance to the gorge, is especially aesthetically romantic. The Jeti Oguz Health Resort, located in the gorge, is well known for its geothermal springs. Another must-visit destination is Kyzdyn Koz Jashy (Maidens’ Tears Waterfall), standing at 2500 meters high. Brooks running down along a 40 meter steep rock wall and forming hundreds of thousands of small streams and drops, truly captivating to the eye, resembles tears, giving the waterfall its name.
SUUSAMYR VALLEY
Suusamyr is one of the largest alpine valleys, located at an altitude of 2000-3200 meters between the Kyrgyz Ala Too, Suusamyr Too, and Djumgal Too ranges. It stretches more than 150 km from the west, starting from the Ala-Bel Pass, to the east, up to the Kokomeren River. The entire surface of the valley is covered with thick lush green meadows. Being the birthplace of Kodjomkul, the greatest kyrgyz wrestler of the 20th century, Suusamyr is one of those places in Kyrgyzstan which come to mind when one thinks of jailoo, koumiss, paragliding, skiing, and heli-skiing.
AIGUL TASH MOUNTAIN
The Aigul Tash mountain is located at the entrance of the Kara Bulak village. It is home to an amazingly beautiful flower which red and yellow petals endemic to the area, called aigul, that blooms in April. According to legend, a maiden named Aigul was unable to withstand the news that the man that she loved had died in battle, and threw herself off the cliff of this very mountain. When spring came, wonderful flowers started growing in the places where the maiden’s drops of blood had fallen. People named the flowers Aigul and the mountain Aigul-Tash, after the maiden. The flower is listed in the Red Book.
EKI NARYN VALLEY
The Eki Naryn Valley is located 45 km from the town of Naryn, sitting at an altitude of 2000 meters. Here, large and small tributaries of the Naryn River merge together, giving it the name that means ‘two Naryns.’ This area is characterized by meadows, pastures, and pine forests. Located within the territory of the Naryn State Reserve, it is also the habitat of bears, wild boars, mountain goats, and snow leopards.
CHONG AK SUU GORGE
The Chong Ak Suu Gorge (also called the Grigoriev Gorge) is located on the northern shore of the Issyk-Kul Lake, on the slopes of Kungei Ala-Too, covered with lush green grass and pine forests, 60 kilometers from the city of Cholpon-Ata. The gorge is one of the most popular tourist destinations of Issyk-Kul. Three beautiful moraine lakes are among the main attractions of the gorge.
BARSKOON GORGE
The Barskoon Gorge is located on the southern shore of the Issyk Kul Lake, above the Barskoon village, 90 km from Karakol. A river with the same name runs through it. The length of the gorge is about 10 km. It is famous for its beautiful waterfalls with unique names, such as ‘Tears of the Leopard,’ ‘White Beard,’ ‘Splashes of Champagne,’ and ‘The Bowl of Manas’. In 1965, the first astronaut Yuri Gagarin visited this place and enjoyed its beautiful landscape. Two monuments were later installed in his memory. The road that leads to the well-known Kumtor gold mine passes through the gorge. This road was once one of the branches of the Great Silk Road, which passed through the Barskhoon city, a thriving medieval city in the 8th -13th centuries on the site of today’s Barskoon village.
TOO-ASHU PASS
Too-Ashu is a high mountain pass 135 km from Bishkek, on the main highway, linking the northern and southern regions of Kyrgyzstan. The altitude of the pass is 3400 meters above sea level. The road is serpentine and views from it are truly breathtaking. The popular Too-Ashu Ski Resort is situated on the southern slope. The Suusamyr Valley is located just behind the pass.
KEL-TOR GORGE
The Kel-Tor Gorge is an offshoot of the Kegety Gorge, with a river of the same name and amazing landscape. It is located 90 km from Bishkek. At the end of the gorge, a small lake characterized by its turquoise color, is the main attraction. The gorge is rich in spruce forests, herbs (sage, St. John’s wort, thyme) and varieties of berries (mountain ash, honeysuckle, wild rose, barberry).
CHONG-KEMIN VALLEY
There is an amazingly beautiful valley called Chong-Kemin between Kungey Ala-Too and Ile Alatau ranges that stretches more than 100 km from east to west. The river in the valley is also called Chong Kemin and it flows into the Chu river where the Boom Gorge starts. It is a well known destination among white water rafting and kayaking enthusiasts. The valley covers the territory of the Chong-Kemin State Nature Park. The park is the habitat of animals such as alpine ibex, argalis, martens, ermines, rock partridges, snow leopards, deer, Turkestan lynxex, golden eagles, saker falcons, and bearded vultures. In the park, there is also the mausoleum of Shabdan Baatyr, a Kyrgyz historic figure who took active role in accession of Kyrgyz people to the Russian Empire in the 19th century.
ALAI VALLEY
Highland Alai Valley is located in the southernmost area of Kyrgyzstan. This tectonic depression is bounded on the north and south by Alai and Trans-Alai ranges, respectively. It is located 2240-3536 meters above sea level, the average height is 3000 meters. The valley stretches 174 km from west to east. The width varies between 3 to 40 km. The area is 8400 km2 . Despite its cold and dry climate, the valley is rich in succulent summer pastures. It is home to various wildlife, including rock partridge, ular, foxes, Alai red marmots, bears and mountain goats.
KARAVSHIN GORGE
The Karavshin Gorge is situated in the Turkestan Range. This marvelous piece of nature contains rocky mountains, fast flowing rivers, clean spring waters, and green meadows. It much resembles the South American Steppes, giving itself the nickname “The Asian Patagonia,” as deemed by lovers of the outdoors.
SULAIMAN TOO
The Sulaiman Too mountain is located in the center of Osh city. It is the first UNESCO World Heritage Site listed from Kyrgyzstan. Some historical and theological works, written sources, and ancient manuscripts mention that 366 of the 124 thousand prophets sent down by God in human history had visited this mountain. The mountain has has been considered a sacred place as evidenced by the paintings in the caves on the slopes of the mountain. Sulaiman Too is a historical and architectural complex at the top and on the slopes of the mountain, where many historical monuments of different eras – such as caves with ancient petroglyphs, the Takht-i Suleiman Mosque, Ravat Abdulla Mosque, the Asaf ibn Burhiya Mausoleum, and the historical museum with a rich collection of archaeological, ethnographic, and zoological exhibits – can be found. Almost every one of these places is a unique ritual object, surrounded by a veil of mystery and legend.
AK-SAI VALLEY
Ak-Sai is a broad alpine valley located in the border area between At Bashy and Torugart, situated at an altitude of 2900-3800 meters, in inner Tien Shan. Ak-Sai is surrounded by mountains, 3900-5000 meters high, covered with glaciers. Sub-alpine semi-deserts (up to 3100-3600 meters), alpine meadows, tundra in some areas (3600-3900 meters), and nival-glacial zones (above 3900 meters) are typical to the valley. The vegetation consists of short, thick grass that covers numerous swamps and lakes at moderate altitudes. Marco Polo sheep and alpine ibex are famous inhabitants of the valley.
AK-SUU GORGE
The Ak-Suu Gorge (also called the Semenov Gorge) is located 40 km from Cholpon-Ata. The length of the gorge is about 30 km. The river called Kichi Ak-Suu runs through the bottom of the gorge. The slopes of the gorge are covered with Tien Shan fir trees and fragrant mountain herbs. Waterfalls at the source of the Kichi Ak-Suu river, the Kyrchyn mountain pasture, where the cultural part of the I World Nomad Games took place, and the Süttüü-Bulak lake formed as a result of an earthquake, are among the main destinations of the Ak-Suu Gorge.
MANAS PEAK
The Manas Peak is the highest point of the Talas Ala-Too range located in its western part, reaching 4482 meters. Its slopes are so steep that no snow and ice ever cling to the mountainsides. Named after the great Kyrgyz hero Manas, this peak is the symbol of independence. Climbing to its top requires considerably strong skills and enormous efforts due to the steepness of the slopes.
ISSYK-ATA GORGE
The Issyk-Ata gorge is located on the northern slopes of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too Range, 77 km east of the city of Bishkek. The gorge is well known not only for its gorgeous climatic conditions, but also for its excellent balneotherapical resources. The Issyk-Ata Resort was built in the middle of the gorge, in 1928, on the basis of the more than fifty thermal and mineral springs found here. Healing properties of these waters have been known since ancient times, as evidenced by the picture of Buddha-the- Healer carved on a huge stone dating back to 8th century. Mountain slopes above 2800 meters are covered with juniper forests. Surrounded by high slopes and cliffs, the gorge has spectacular landscape.
BOOM GORGE
The Boom Gorge is located 112 km from Bishkek and is a natural gateway connecting the Issyk-Kul basin with Chui valley. The length of the gorge is 22 km. The sector of the Chu river in the Boom gorge has long been a very attractive destination for enthusiasts of rafting and kayaking.
KEGETY GORGE
The Kegety Gorge is located 75 km from the city of Bishkek on the northern slope of Kyrgyz Ala-Too, and has rich flora. Tall grasslands, barberry, rowan, wild rose, and fir forests largely contribute to the beauty of the gorge. The Kegety river, which flows through the gorge, has many tributaries. The largest of them is the the Kel-Tor river (the right tributary) which flows down through a smaller gorge with beautiful landscape. The main source of the Kel-Tor river flows through moraine passes under the ground and breaks out roaring at a certain point in a forested area. Natural and climatic features of the Kegety Gorge are favorable for hiking and trekking, as well as picnics.
