Issyk Lake is not Issyk-Kul
The names confuse a lot of travelers. Issyk Lake is a small mountain lake in Kazakhstan, in the Issyk gorge east of Almaty. Issyk-Kul is a huge lake in Kyrgyzstan, several hours away across the border. The tours on this page go to Issyk Lake in Kazakhstan — no border crossing involved.
What the day looks like
The morning is spent at Issyk Lake: viewpoints, a walk along the shore and time for a picnic. The route then continues to the Turgen gorge for a forest walk to the Bear Waterfall. Both walks are short and gentle, which makes this one of the best choices for families, older travelers or a quiet day between longer trips.
Good to know
- Wear comfortable shoes — the waterfall path can be wet and uneven.
- Cafés along the route are limited; bring water and snacks.
- The gorges are at their greenest from late May to September.
