Kolduk Lakes

Kyrgyzstan


Above a hilly jailoo ringed by yurts, the larger Kolduk lake is backed by a craggy mountain gorge. Families that take residence here from May to September are insistent in their offers of fresh dairy products from the livestock that roam these hills – it's impolite to not at least take a small piece of bread dipped in kaimak (sweet cream).

For the smaller second lake, head 1½km along a rough track to the north from where the road descends to the main lake. Both are around 11km off the highway at a signed turn around 43km south of Gulcha, just north of the village of Kolduk (Колдык).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Kyrgyzstan attractions

1. Kurmanjan Datka Museum

23.89 MILES

Dedicated to Kyrgyzstan's very own 'Queen of the Alay', Gulcha's ethnography and history museum is most notable for exhibits on the local female chieftain…

2. Victory Park

24 MILES

Gulcha's small Victory Park features a central WWII-era tank on a plinth overlooking the names of native sons who never returned from the war, and a…