Lake Issyk-Kul

Lake Issyk-Kul, cradled among the snow-capped Tian Shan mountains, is the jewel of Kyrgyzstan and one of the great lakes of the world, the second-largest alpine lake after Titicaca. Remarkably, despite its altitude and the surrounding peaks, its slightly saline waters never freeze, giving it its name, warm lake. Its northern shore is lined with beaches and Soviet-era and modern resorts, popular for summer swimming, while the wilder southern shore offers hot springs, ancient petroglyphs, canyons and the gateways to spectacular mountain treks.

What you actually see

• The lakeshore beaches - the northern resorts and swimming.
• The mountain backdrop - the snow-capped Tian Shan around the lake.
• The petroglyphs - the ancient rock carvings at Cholpon-Ata.
• The southern canyons - the Skazka fairytale canyon and hot springs.

When to go

June to September, the warm summer season, for swimming, beaches and access to the surrounding mountains and treks; the lake is a popular Central Asian summer holiday spot, busiest in July and August. The shoulder months are quieter, and the mountain scenery is spectacular year-round.

Honest expectations

The developed northern shore, with its Soviet-era and newer resorts, can feel dated, crowded and unremarkable in peak summer, so the wilder, more scenic southern shore, with its canyons, springs and trek trailheads, rewards those seeking nature over beach resorts. The lake is vast, so distances are long. Its extraordinary setting among snow peaks and its gateway role to the mountains, though, make it a Kyrgyz highlight.

Nearby

The Jeti-Oguz and Skazka canyons and the trekking hub of Karakol are close.