Turgen Ak-Suu

Nestled among the jagged peaks of the Tian Shan, the Turgen Ak-Suu valley stretches like a forgotten path of the gods, a secret passage where time seems to stand still. Here, nature reigns supreme, sculpting landscapes with the seasons and the eternal winds blowing from the high snows of the Turgen Ak-Suu glacier. 

In the heart of this valley, the impetuous and shimmering Turgen Ak-Suu river dances among the rocks before merging with the Jyrgalan river, like a whispered promise to the mountains. At its feet, the villages of Ak-Bulung and Ak-Bulak rest peacefully at an altitude of 1,850 meters, silent guardians of these nomadic lands where livestock shares the vast pastures with the shadows of eagles soaring above the forests.

The road that traverses this valley is an epic in itself. From Karakol, it winds southward, defying the elements, climbing inexorably to the Chong Ashuu pass at 3,822 meters, where the air becomes rarer and the sky even vaster. At 2,800 meters, the old meteorological station of Kokkya, a relic of the Soviet era, still watches over these heights, an immobile witness to the passing seasons and caravans. Dominating the valley, the "110 Years of Kalashnikova" summit unfolds its imposing silhouette, watching over its spiral glacier, a marvel sculpted by time that stretches for more than six kilometers, like a sleeping creature under a mantle of ice.

In summer, the valley is adorned with life. Kyrgyz nomads set up their yurts, punctuating the vast pastures with white and colorful spots. Herds of horses, yaks, and sheep scatter across the verdant hills, while the blaze of sunsets ignites the snow-capped peaks. Turgen Ak-Suu is not just a valley. It is a passage to the unknown, a refuge for souls in love with freedom, a land where nature and traditions blend in eternal harmony.