From Jyrgalan to Cholpon-Ata

After visiting the Eki-Chat Yurt Camp in the morning, we set off after lunch to drive to the 500 km remote Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. This article describes our journey from Jyrgalan to Cholpon-Ata, our first stop at the north coast of Issyk-Kul.

So the route leads us back to Mikhaylovka, where we turn north. In Tyup, at the easternmost tip of Issyk-Kul, we reach the northern coastal road of the lake towards the west.

Not really the lucky day of our driver is Sergej. If he had to drive the rattling way to the yurt camp already in the morning, he now has a distance of 500 km ahead of him. At first, the street is similar to a secondary road. But, you have to watch out for cattle and sheep herds.

From Tyup, the road resembles our federal highway. But it leads through many villages and is over long distances a construction site because it is expanded here.

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Besides the police stopped us 4 times. The first time the policemen want to take a look into the trunk and at our luggage. Presumably, they are looking for smuggled goods. The second time Sergej is cautioned for driving too fast, after checking his papers. The third time he has to pay for exceeding the speed limit and the fourth time he is cautioned because he has not switched on the lights yet at dusk.

The north side of the lake is more populated than the south side. Here the climate seems to be a bit milder and the location is unique. In the distance, the 7000 m high mountains of the Tian Shan Mountains rise behind the lake, and in the north the mountains of the Trans-Ili Alatau. In the south, you have the more beautiful nature for hiking and trekking tours.

At the entrance to Cholpon-Ata, we pass a huge modern building. It turns out to be the entrance area and the grandstand of the stadium of the World Nomad Games. This is where the opening ceremonies of the first three games took place. The games take place every two years, the next ones 2020 in Turkey.

Some competitions took place in the Kyrchyn Valley, near Semënovka. Besides to archery, horse wrestling, and Kok Boru (Dead Goat Polo) competitions, one shows a lot of Kyrgyz cultures. Craftsmanship, fashion, singing, and dancing characterize the surroundings. Another highlight in 2018 was the performance of the German pop group Dschinghis Khan.

Long before Cholpon-Ata, many holiday resorts line the shore of Issyk-Kul. Tourists come mostly from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. This is now leading to an increase in population but also to increased investor activity in the region.

Please read on > Cholpon-Ata inclusing a Bird’s eye view

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Disclosure: Our trip was organized in cooperation with Discover Kyrgyzstan, and made possible by the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). All opinions are our own.

Text, photos and video: Copyright © myVideoMedia

Soundtrack in video:

• Taken by angels by Bluemillenium (c) copyright 2018
  Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/Bluemillenium/58583
• Alice In the City by TheDICE (c) copyright 2013
  Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/TheDICE/43591 Ft: Orrisroot

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