Chong Ak-Suu Valley

Issyk-Köl Oblast


Cut by a raging river, this 22-kilometre valley north of Grigorievka contains three small alpine lakes. It's quite popular with domestic tourists on day trips from Cholpon-Ata resorts, though, so it may not be the wild nature experience one hopes for. It’s possible to hike the whole way, though some people opt to hitch a lift or take their own vehicle.

Local boys will likely appear to offer horse treks (300som to 500som per hour), as might falconers charging you for the thrill of holding an eagle on your arm.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Issyk-Köl Oblast attractions

1. Ferris Wheel

16.7 MILES

Kyrgyzstan's largest Ferris wheel, where the sixteen-minute ride gives plenty of time to admire the lake- and mountainscapes surrounding the town of…

2. Hippodrome

18.83 MILES

The large open-air stadium east of the centre is host to occasional concerts and events, but really comes to life every two years as the base for sports…

3. Rukh Ordo

20.12 MILES

This curious museum-cum-theme-park depicts Kyrgyz legends, historical characters, and the interplay of five religions in a large and somewhat surreal…

4. Regional Museum

20.3 MILES

This typical, well-presented museum includes copies of locally found Scythian (Saka) gold jewellery and displays on ethnography, Kyrgyz bards, textiles…

5. Petroglyphs

21.22 MILES

North of the centre is an extensive field of glacial boulders, many with pictures scratched or picked into their surfaces. Some of these petroglyphs date…

7. Big Almaty Lake

25.18 MILES

This picturesque turquoise lake, 1.6km long, rests in a rocky bowl at 2500m altitude, reflecting the Tian Shan mountains and the giant fir trees in its…

8. Kosmostantsia

26.74 MILES

This is a group of mostly wrecked buildings belonging to scientific research institutes, used as a landmark by hikers.