Ysyk-Köl Oblasty, Kyrgyzstan

10 places in this region.

1. 

   1. Tuz-Kul (Salt Lake)

   Tuz-Kul is a salt lake (the name literally means 'salt lake' in Kyrgyz) located less than a kilometer from the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul.

2. 

   2. Barskoon Waterfall

   Located approximately 20km south of the village of Barskoon (pronounced bars-kone) on the southern shore of Kyrgyzstan's Lake Issyk Kul is the Barskoon Waterfall.

3. 

   3. Valley of the Flowers

   Located less then an hour outside of Karakol near the small village of Jeti Oguz is the Valley of the Flowers.

4. 

   4. Holy Trinity Cathedral

   In central Karakol sits the Holy Trinity Cathedral, a Russian Orthodox church built in 1895.

5. 

   5. Karakol Animal Bazaar

   Every Sunday morning from 5:00am to 10:00am, people from all over north-eastern Kyrgyzstan flock to Karakol with their livestock to participate in the Karakol Animal Bazaar.

6. 

   6. Altyn Arashan

   Altyn Arashan (Golden Spa in Kyrgyz) is a hot-springs hotel located in a high mountain valley above Karakol.

7. 

   7. Lake Issyk Kul

   If you look at a map of Kyrgyzstan, you cannot miss Lake Issyk Kul, the largest lake in the country, located in its northeastern quadrant.

8. 

   8. Karakoo

   Karakoo (pronounced kara-koh) is a small village of a few thousand, located a few miles from the southern shore of Kyrgyzstan’s Lake Issyk Kul.

9. 

   9. Countryside near Kara-Talaa

   Kyrgyzstan isn’t exactly a great place for finding convenient public toilets.

10. 

    10. The Sacred Spring

    Atop a mountain pass in Kyrgyzstan, between the village of Chong Kemin and the town of Balykchy, lies a sacred spring.