Things to see and do Bokonbaevo

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.

The local agency can arrange accommodation in town or nearby, and suggest excursions on foot or horseback in the area. Immersion programs from 2 to 7 days in the Terskey Ala-Too range, adaptable according to demand. Rinat, CBT's local coordinator, obviously knows all there is to know about falcon hunting and the various events organized or improvised throughout the year. Apart from the classic winter hunts, you can attend the eagle hunting festival held in summer.

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.