The most beautiful natural sites to discover Region Du Lac Issyk Kul

Little-visited by travellers, this valley seems to be framed by sandy cliffs, raised and sculpted by erosion and then frozen by the operation of the Holy Spirit. High, red-hued needles with inspired shapes point skywards, forming canyons that are ideal for hiking. The site's rugged relief and the shapes and silhouettes of the rocks have earned it the nickname Valley of Legends. Take an hour or two stroll along the dry riverbed and let your imagination run wild.

The primary reason for the city's success. The sandy beach runs for several kilometres on either side of Cholpon-Ata, enjoying beautiful views of the mountains set back from the south shore. An enchanting place, populated by hundreds of holidaymakers in the summer and cows the rest of the year. From the beginning of June to the beginning of September, you can rent pedal boats, jet skis, water ski and indulge in all possible and imaginable water sports here. Or stay calmly at the water's edge, for those who prefer tanning above all else.

Behind the runway of the old airport of Cholpon-Ata is a huge site of petroglyphs, made between the Bronze Age and the Middle Ages.

More than 900 rocks form a veritable open-air museum in which you can walk around discovering drawings of sheep, horses, camels, hunting scenes... Most of the paintings date from the pre-Kyrgyz period, from the 8th century BC to the 1st century AD. It seems that the local priests used the site as a place for sacrifices and rituals dedicated to the sun. The engravings that can be seen are more recent, and date from the Turkish period from the ^5th to the 10th century. The walks are rather done in the morning or late afternoon to have a low light. At the entrance to the site, a large sign gives a few warnings about what to do to preserve the site. Take the time to go around this sign: you will discover the signposted routes to the petroglyphs that will save you from wasting time wearing out your eyes on virgin pebbles. Take a picture of it on your mobile phone to find the directions that you have not memorized, because the signposting on the site is unfortunately not the most effective. And despite their large number, not all petroglyphs are obvious. Some are hidden by moss or worn out by erosion, while others had been painted white by the Soviets, to stand out better, and remained more easily spotted.

The beach is obviously the main point of interest in Tamchy, whose main street runs parallel to the lake, less than 500 m to the south. The beach is attractive, even if cows, sheep and donkeys are sometimes as numerous as summer visitors. As soon as the sun starts to shine, umbrella rental companies, soft drink (and alcoholic beverage...) vendors, pool tables, refreshment stands, shooting galleries... take possession of the first few meters of sand. During the summer months, every house opens its doors to offer rooms for rent to Kyrgyz holidaymakers.

About 40 kilometres west of Bokonbaevo is this small lake, separated from the Issyk Kul by a rise in land elevation and where evaporation has led to a rise in salinity. Kyrgyz people will tell you that it is perfectly possible to read your newspaper like on a sofa without even getting the bottom of the leaves wet! Joking aside, the floating feeling is real and anyway, the shores of this "dead lake" are worth a short walk for the beautiful views of the mountain ranges on one side and Lake Issyk Kul on the other.

This hunt, reserved for the nomadic elite, is carried out on horseback with a golden eagle or sparrowhawk. The falconer, always from one of the "noble" clans, raises and trains his eagle from an early age. The bird of prey is released onto birds, rabbits or foxes. When the eagle grows old, its master gives it back its freedom. These hunters can be found in other regions of Kyrgyzstan, including the Tian-Shan and At-Bashi valleys. Hunting takes place in winter. Local tour operators can organize demonstrations.

This 1,500-year-old stone block is engraved with Tibetan Buddhist inscriptions. Certainly engraved by monks or pilgrims following the path of propagation of religions between Afghanistan and China. It has become the pretext for nice hikes at a very easy level. The stone is not really in the middle of the path, and if you go alone you will have trouble finding it. Ask a guide to accompany you or, if you are in season and you meet people on the road, ask for the direction of "Tamga tash".