Kegeti Gorge

Kegeti runs south into the Kyrgyz Ala-Too from the Chuy valley, a green gorge of spruce and meadow with a waterfall around twenty metres high a short walk from the road, which is what most visitors come for. Beyond it the track deteriorates and climbs to the Kegeti pass at about 3,800 metres, a rough four-wheel-drive and mountain-bike route that crosses into the Kochkor valley on the far side and is open only for a few months a year. Shepherd camps occupy the upper meadows in summer and yurts sometimes take guests. The lower gorge has picnic sites and is busy with Bishkek day-trippers at weekends. The valley is also the approach for the walk to Kol-Tor, the turquoise lake above it.

The landscape

• The waterfall - a twenty-metre fall close to the road.
• Spruce gorge - forested slopes along the river.
• The Kegeti pass - a rough track over the range at 3,800 metres.
• Summer pastures - shepherd camps in the upper valley.

When to go

June to September; the pass is snow-free only from about July to September and can close at any time. The waterfall is strongest in early summer. Weekends are crowded in the lower gorge.

Practical notes

The pass road is genuinely rough and requires a capable vehicle and a driver who knows it; breakdowns here are serious. The lower gorge gets litter and picnic crowds. Facilities are minimal beyond a few cafes at the entrance.

Nearby

Kol-Tor lake is reached from this valley; Tokmok lies north.