From Pamir to Tian Shan range

Lakes Tulpar Koel is a collection of several small lakes at the foot of Lenin Peak. Our eco-tourism partners set up their yurts during the summer and invite travelers to their home. This place offers several day trips on foot or on horseback. In winter, ski-touring expedition, horseriding and hiking are still possible to organize.

The Toktogul hydroelectric power station, built in 1975, is the largest and most important power station in the country, producing up to 40% of its electricity. In addition, the dam of its dam produces a volume of 19 billion cubic meters of water that flows through the largest Toktogul reservoir in Central Asia and governs the irrigation and energy regimes. Visits are prohibited to the public, and entrances are monitored by the military. Access to the dam is from the small town of Kara-Kël (or Karakul, Kara-Kul, Kara-Kol).

The Toktogul hydropower plant is rightly regarded as the flagship of Kyrgyzstan's hydropower industry. The station project was developed by the Central Asian branch of the "Hydroproject" Institute. S. Ya Zhuk with the participation of Soyuzgidroproekt, Gidrostalproekt, etc. The dam is a complex construction intended to regulate the flow of the Naryn River and the production of energy in the long term.

The location of the station was chosen in the mountains of the central Tien Shan, at the entrance of the Naryn river, in the Ketmen-Tyube valley, in a narrow gorge reaching a depth of 1500 m. The slope is 65 - 70 °. The configuration of the station facilities was determined by the topographical and geological characteristics of the construction site, mainly by the seismicity, which is 9-10 points.

The hydroelectric complex includes a reservoir, a dam, two deep weirs, a surface weir, 4 turbine water pipes.

The station's reservoir is the largest in Central Asia, located in the Ketmen-Tyube valley and has the following dimensions: 65 km long, 284.3 km2 in area, maximum depth of 120 m, for a total capacity of 195 billion m3, useful - 14 billion m3.

The Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Plant Dam design parameters are a unique concrete structure designed to operate under exceptionally high seismic conditions. Its height is 215 m, its length along the ridge is 292.5 m, and the total concrete volume of the dam is 3.2 million m3.

The construction of a hydroelectric power station with a two-row arrangement of four hydraulic units is directly adjacent to the dam from downstream. PO-170/505-B-535 radial-axial turbines with a power of 307 MW each were installed in the building of the hydroelectric power station.

The turbines are supplied with water by four pressure pipes 7.5 m in diameter located in the central part of the dam.

Technical and economic indicators of the station:

* installed capacity - 1200 MkW;
* guaranteed power - 260,000 kW;
* average annual electricity production - 4,400 million kW / h;
* water flow through the turbine - 245m3 / s;
* number of hydraulic units - 4.

The second highest peak of Kyrgyzstan, situated in the Pamir at the border with Tajikistan. It rises at the altitude of 7134m. Best period for the ascent is from July to August, some years till early September.

Osh, the second largest city of the Kyrgyz republic, is one of the oldest settlements of Central Asia. It is located in southwestern Kyrgyzstan near the Uzbekistan border in the eastern section of the Fergana Valley. This one of the Central Asia's most interesting cities because of its long history, dating back as least to the 5th century BC - its position as an important crossroads for Silk Road trade and its huge market. For centuries it was a major silk-production center, strategically situated on a trade route to India.

Sights are: the huge bazaar, Sulaimans Throne (a 200 m hill called Takht-i-Suleyman (Solomon's Throne), where the Prophet Muhammad is thought to have prayed and where Muslim pilgrims began visiting in the tenth century), Baburs House (at the top of Sulaimans Throne), several monuments (especially the one of Kurmanjan Datka –  Kyrgyz feminine ruler and engaged warrior against the Russian invasion), the Russian-orthodox church, the biggest mosque of the country (situated right beside the bazaar) and the Rabat Abdul Khan Mosque (16 th century).

The population of Osh is mostly Uzbek. Osh has two universities, a sanatorium, and an airport. Economic activity has been aided by beneficial reforms and consists of the Jayma bazaar; silk trade; mining of zinc, lead, and coal; food processing; and the production of silk, cotton, and wool.

A small village in the heart of the Kekemeren canyon, with red rocks landscape. A nice place to start a trek or horseback riding to Suusamyr valley.

Kochkor is a town of shepherds located in Naryn oblast 200 km from Bishkek. It is located at 1800m. alt. The city has 17,000 residents. Most of them are shepherds or farmers. With the Kyrgyz hospitality, tourism is an increasingly important for economy. It is a starting point to reach the sights as Lake Song Kul, Sarala-Saz pastures, Lake Koelykoek, the salt mine Chong Tuz, and also the crossroads between Issyk Kul lake and City Naryn. Places for visiting: the women cooperative "Kochkor Kutu" which develops Kyrgyz crafts. Opportunity to see a demonstration of the production of livestock market mouton. The cattle market held each Saturday is always a colorful and lively event,don't miss it.

The Issyk-Kul lake has a length of 182 km, a maximum width of 60 km and covers an area of ​​6,236 km². This makes it the second largest mountain lake in the world behind Lake Titicaca. Located at an altitude of 1,606 m, it reaches 668 m deep. 

About 118 rivers and streams flow into the lake. The largest are the Djyrgalan (Jergalan) and Tyup. It is fed by springs, including many hot springs and snowmelt, and it has no outlet. Its south side is dominated by the Tian Shan mountain range of wild beauty. The lake water is slightly saline and level down about 5 cm per year.

The Issyk-Kul lake is an important step on the Silk Road, a dirt road for travelers from the Far East to Europe. Many historians believe that the lake was the point of origin of the plague that hit Europe and Asia in the early and mid 14th. The status of the lake as a place of passage for travelers allowed the plague spread across the continents through the medieval merchants who unknowingly took away the vermin infested with them. Armenian monastery from the 14th century was found on the northeast coast of Lake retracing the steps of a medieval map used by Venetian merchants on the Silk Road.

Small village located 68 km from Kochkor on the road to Chaek. This is the starting point of several horse riding tours to Lake Song Kul or to Sarala Saz pastures. It lies between the mountains of Sandyk and Song Kul. Our partner of the eco-tourism association "Shepherd's Life" can lodge you for the night with the locals.

Bokonbaevo is the most important agglomeration on the southern shore of Issyk-Kul. This place is not only famous for its beauty, but it is also a center of eco-tourism. The village is located 160 km from Karakol and 280 km from Bishkek. Tourists come here to experience the nomadic life of the Kyrgyz people, the fresh and pure mountain air and for the splendor of Issyk-Kul lake.

The inhabitants of the village live from agriculture and crafts. Once a year, the “Salburun” festival takes place here. Hunters compete with golden eagles and hawks for small and large game, with bow and dogs. Horse races are organized in particular.

Before the Russians, the village was called Kok-Kytan. In 1912, the Russians gave the name Kolsovka. The village took the name of Bokonbaevo, in 1944, in honor of the Kyrgyz poet Joomart Bokonbaev.

A large waterfall is located north of the village. The waterfall is like a long tongue coming out of a crevice in the rock. This narrow stream of water rushes from a sheer cliff 80 meters high with a breathtaking roar - it truly is an impressive sight!

It is not that easy to access the waterfall, there are rather slippery embankments around the waterfall. The waterfall falls into a hollow. It's hard to see the whole waterfall.

But it is possible to access from the bottom and enter the rift and see yet another waterfall.