Jeti-Ögüz

The Jeti-Ögüz valley opens with two sets of red sandstone: the Broken Heart, a single mass split by a cleft, and just beyond it the Seven Bulls, a row of red fins standing above the spruce and pasture like a fossil ridge. Behind them the valley climbs into jailoo, the summer pastures where herders bring animals up from May and set yurts in the meadows, and the walk to the Kok-Jayik meadow and the waterfall beyond is one of the more accessible day hikes in the region. The valley also holds a Soviet-era spa complex built around hot springs, faded and still functioning. Horses are the traditional way to go further, and can be hired in the village.

History

Local people have known the thermal springs since antiquity, and they became known in Europe after Semenov-Tian-Shanskii visited in 1856; the resort has worked all year round since 1965 (Wikipedia, Jeti-Ögüz village).

What you'll find

• The Seven Bulls - the row of red sandstone fins above the spruce.
• The Broken Heart - the split rock mass at the valley mouth.
• Kok-Jayik meadow - the summer pasture with yurts and a waterfall beyond.
• The hot springs sanatorium - the Soviet-era spa still running in the valley.

When to go

June to September, when the jailoo are occupied and the high meadows are green. Herders move down in autumn and the valley empties. The red rock is best in early or late light.

What to expect

The valley entrance area is developed with stalls, horse touts and parked cars, and the postcard view is taken from beside a car park. Walking twenty minutes past it changes everything. Horse hire is negotiated on the spot and standards vary; check the saddle and the horse before agreeing. The sanatorium is faded Soviet infrastructure rather than a modern spa.

Nearby

Karakol and the Ala-Kul trek are east; Issyk-Kul's south shore runs west.