Holidays in Kyrgyzstan - one of the most striking and unforgettable for tourists. The country is visited in order to breathe clean air, eat delicious national dishes, see many lakes, waterfalls and gorges.
Pride of Kyrgyzstan
The pride of Kyrgyzstan is Lake Issyk-Kul, located in the Tien Shan mountains at an altitude of more than 1600 m, which is one of the ten largest lakes in the world in terms of water reserves. The total volume of water in Issyk-Kul is 1738 km³, and the surface area is about 6250 km². The length of the reservoir is also impressive: from west to east it is 182 km, from north to south - 58 km, the total length of the coastline is about 700 km.
In depth, which reaches 700 m, Issyk-Kul takes 5th place in the world. An ancient legend says that the waters of the lake are the tears of young girls who mourned for their relatives who died after a strong earthquake. On the coast of Issyk-Kul, there is also a villa that previously belonged to the famous Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
Natural features of the lake
Any person who saw Issyk-Kul for the first time in his life will forever remember his greatness. Many kilometers of coastline strewn with soft golden sand, blue expanse of water merging with the horizon, a fresh invigorating breeze - all this attracts more and more tourists every year. The beaches of Issyk-Kul and other lakes of Kyrgyzstan are always underpopulated, so that every traveler will choose a convenient secluded place for swimming and relaxation. The healing properties of water and bottom mud are also of great interest, thanks to which several mud baths have been built on Issyk-Kul Lake, successfully hosting thousands of tourists and vacationers every year.
In summer, the air temperature in the area of Lake Issyk-Kul rarely exceeds 20 ºC, in the vicinity a humid, almost marine climate prevails. This place is ideal for romantics, relaxing with family and improving health away from megacities and the bustle of people. Here, among the mountains covered with snow, you can go on a trip, go for a yacht, boat or boat ride. The waters of the lake are inhabited by carp, carp, and trout, so avid fishermen will be able to fish in silence if they take care of the necessary fishing gear in advance.
When is the best time to plan your trip?
For those who like a traditional holiday by the sea, the most favorable time for a trip to Kyrgyzstan to the golden sands of Issyk-Kul is considered to be the period from mid-summer to September. For lovers of ski resorts and extreme descents on snowy ridges, the ideal time for relaxation is winter and spring until about mid-April.
Other sights of Kyrgyzstan
In Kyrgyzstan there are many unique places and natural areas that tourists enjoy visiting. These are the amazing mountains of the Pamir and Tien Shan with their bizarre caves, lakes, glaciers and mineral springs. One of the amazing places is the "Fairy Tale" gorge, on the colorful soil of which ancient castles rise, unusual compositions with the participation of various fairy-tale characters are created. Kyrgyzstan’s largest and most famous museum, the Ruh Ordo, will surprise visitors with grandiose displays of different eras and historical events.
The culture of the Kyrgyz people deserves attention for its originality and spectacular competitions held in accordance with national traditions. Belt wrestling, horseback riding, hunting, games, dances of nomads, dressed in bright Kyrgyz costumes, will not leave indifferent even the most demanding amateurs of attractions and shows.
The natural world of Kyrgyzstan is not too changed by man, his industry and mass buildings. Tourists can go climbing, horseback riding, eco-tourism, enjoy the life of the people of Kyrgyzstan, whose main territory is located in the mountains. According to numerous reviews, a vacation in Kyrgyzstan is one of the inexpensive, but impressive. All thanks to the beauty of nature and the exotic of leisure.
Pension "Golden Sands" on Issyk-Kul
You can have a wonderful vacation on the Issyk-Kul coast in the specialized Golden Sands boarding house. This resort is located in the village of Bosteri, 10 km from the city of Cholpon Ata. Currently, the boarding house is the most popular destination on the entire coast, especially among the young part of the population. Vacationers can have fun at the water park, dance all night in a nightclub, ride the Roller Coaster and Ferris Wheel rides, from the height of which you can see all the beauty of the lake coast and the mountain landscape.
Comfort classes and cost of living
Pension on the Issyk-Kul Lake "Golden Sands" is a complex of 4 multi-storey buildings. Room service and comfort are different because the buildings are owned by different owners. Buildings 1, 2, 3 have economy class accommodation.
The main 4th building - a 5-story building, which is the main center for the distribution and pastime of vacationers, provides rooms for 2 to 4 standard and junior suites. In junior suites, in contrast to the standards, there is a TV, a refrigerator, upholstered furniture and a separate bathroom. There are also comfortable cottages with 2-3 junior suites on the territory, where up to 10 people can live at a time.
In the boarding house "Golden Sands" on Issyk-Kul, prices have recently increased slightly and are in the range of 650 rubles. up to 1500 rub. per day for 1 person, excluding meals, depending on the comfort of rooms and season. It is cheaper to rest in June or September, while the flow of people at this time is significantly reduced, and weather conditions do not differ too much from the peak periods in July and August.
The territory of the boarding house
The boarding house itself is located in a green area surrounded by coniferous plantings. The area is well-groomed, decorated with flower and shrub plantings, regularly and conscientiously cleaned. Pure fragrant air is created by numerous pine and spruce, giving the landscape a fabulous forest atmosphere. The boarding house is decorated with bizarre junipers and bright flower beds with flowers and ferns. In the forest belts, in addition to conifers, you can find silver poplar, sea buckthorn, apple and plum trees, rosehip bushes and myricaria.
The pension and the beach have numerous shops, cafes and eateries. A special decoration of the complex is its original fountains, which in the heat create a pleasant coolness and delight the eye with life-giving flowing streams.
Beach
A beach for lovers to lie in the sun is the main criterion when choosing a place to relax. Pension "Golden Sands" has a beautiful private sandy beach with a length of about a kilometer, located just 100 meters from the housing.
Sand is a special pride of a boarding house. It has a clean, fine silky texture and a colorful golden hue. On the beach, where you can take sunbeds for free, there is a pier, a water park, fun slides and many attractions. Jet skis, catamarans, scooters, boats and boats are available for rent. Fans of heights and extreme sports will appreciate hang gliding and parachuting, lake surfing and kiting. Golden Sands Beach is one of the most comfortable and popular on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul.
Wellness treatments
Medical and wellness treatments are carried out in the main building of the boarding house. According to the recommendations of specialists, you can take mud therapy courses, therapeutic baths, use the services of manual therapy, massage, take a circular shower or visit the sauna with a swimming pool.
The institutions are equipped with modern equipment, carry out various medical and medical procedures. Unique methods in combination with climatic conditions help to cure childhood allergies, upper respiratory tract diseases, scoliosis, digestive problems and many other diseases.
Food and national cuisine
The food in the boarding house is well organized - both in the dining room, where a three-time full menu is offered, and in cafes and restaurants working on the territory of the recreation complex. Many institutions specialize in dishes of national cuisine of Kyrgyzstan, which is characterized by an abundance of meat, offal and herbs.
Cold lamb sausages, boiled to a brown crust, stuffed with greens and chopped horse meat, look very delicious, lamb stuffed with liver and heart with rice. All dishes are richly decorated with spices, herbs and pickled onions. Jerk is considered to be a meat delicacy - specially boiled beef or mutton tongue, cut into thin slices, susamyr - tender lamb liver in cream sauce, and zhashtyk - small poultry stomachs baked with cheese and spices.
And, of course, in any Kyrgyz restaurant they will offer hearty beshbarmak, juicy manti and fragrant pilaf, which can be prepared in 20 versions - from lamb meat, as well as quails, pheasant, partridges. Kyrgyz suzma, koumiss and ayran - drinks from fermented mare and cow's milk - perfectly quench your thirst and improve digestion after fatty meat dishes, and sweet sorbet and honey-walnut pancakes will cheer you up.
Leisure in a boarding house
On the shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, the Golden Sands recreation area provides its visitors with a varied and interesting vacation: discos until the morning, various entertainments on the water, water park, surfing, boating, jet skiing, a tennis court, and a volleyball court. You can enjoy the beautiful panorama by taking a ride on the Ferris wheel. For lovers of a more relaxing type of relaxation - billiards, a cinema, slot machines, computer clubs and an Internet cafe. Guests are offered various excursion tours to the historical places of Kyrgyzstan and the most beautiful corners of nature in Central Asia.
How to get and spend your holidays in Issyk-Kul
You can get to this wonderful place by direct flight to the Issyk-Kul International Airport, located 35 km from the city of Cholpon-Ata on the lake. Flights are operated from Novosibirsk (Russia), Alma-Ata (Kazakhstan), Tashkent (Uzbekistan) and Osh (Kyrgyzstan). Also by plane, train and bus, you can get to Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) or to Alma-Ata (Kazakhstan).
Buses and minibuses regularly run from Alma-Ata to Bishkek and further to Lake Issyk-Kul. The latter are sent without any schedule, as the vehicle is full. The total length of the route Alma-Ata - Cholpon-Ata is about 500 km, from Bishkek to Cholpon-Ata - 260 km. You can take a taxi in the direction of Cholpon-Ata, from 06:00 to 21:00 hours. The duration of the trip is 4-6 hours.
If you need to get from Alma-Ata to the southeastern coast of the lake, it will be more convenient to take the direction not west to Bishkek, but east, through the settlement of Kegen to the city of Karakol, where regular buses also go.
Tourists having visited these places fall in love not only with the country, but also with the wonderful nature and the magical lake surrounded by golden sands. The cuisine of Kyrgyzstan is famous for its unique taste and variety, the aroma of spices and herbs. Many tourists note that here is the most delicious ice cream. Locals are very hospitable and will please with a warm welcome and cordiality. All a wonderful vacation in Issyk-Kul and in sunny Kyrgyzstan!