The south shores of Issyk Kul Lake - Jeti Oguz to Kochkor

Jeti Oguz, translates as ‘Seven Bulls’, the name comes from the large red-rock cliffs that resemble, you guessed it, seven bulls. Jeti Oguz is around 30km from Karakol,

The south eastern edge of Issyk Kul Lake - Karakol city

Karakol is a major city on the south eastern edge of Issyk-Kul Lake and the fourth largest city in Kyrgyzstan.

Dungan Mosque

The Dungan mosque with distinctive Chinese influence was built by the Dungan community, the Chinese Muslim refugees who fled persecution in their home country in the late 1800s. 

Scenic drive in Karkyra Valley and onwards to Ak Suu

We left the shores of Issyk-Kul Lake for a day at Kuturga and drove along the A363 towards Tyup village. At Tyup, instead of continuing on the A363 to the southern shores of Issyk-Kul Lake, we decided to turn left onto A362 and drive east along Karkyra Valley. 

It's cold this morning. Temperature about 20°C.

Issyk-Kul Lake and snow capped Tien Shan mountain range in the distance.

The northern shores of Issyk-Kul Lake - Cholpon Ata

Cholpon Ata was once a caravan stop along the old Silk Road. Apart from the beach, one of the main attractions here is the Petroglyph.

Cholpon Ata Petroglyphs 

Cholpon Ata Pretoglyphs, one of the easily accessible petroglyphs site in Kyrgyzstan, is in an open field less than 2km off the A363. 

Hunting long horn ibex with tame snow leopards (8th century BC - 5th century AD)

Balykchy Town on Issyk-Kul Lake

Local vendors in yurts peddling their wares along the A365.
We are about 14km west of Balykchy town.