Begin your adventure with a visit to the Burana Tower, the remains of the city of Balasagun, the capital of the Karakhanid Empire in the 9th century. Discover the evidence of brick building foundations around the base of the tower, and learn about the ancient city that extended far beyond the tower, housing shops, bazaars, baths, and residential buildings.
See a small collection of stone idols - balbals. These small stone figures were created to honour the memory of the deceased and were sometimes placed at burial sites. These examples of stone carvings from the 6th century AD are complemented by petroglyphs from the 2nd century BC, which can be seen near the Burana Tower.
On the road to Lake Issyk-Kul in the Boom Gorge, admire the colourful canyons with unique topography - the Kok-Moinok. The mountainous landscape here is made up of reddish-yellow sandstone, testifying to thousands of years of erosion. Therefore, the winding passages, up to 2.5 km long, sometimes surprise with their figures and structures.
Continue to Lake Issyk-Kul, the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan. Issyk-Kul translates as “hot lake.” The water temperature here never drops below freezing, even in winter, so the lake never freezes. Situated at an altitude of 1,608 metres above sea level, it is the seventh deepest lake in the world.
Finish your tour with a visit to the hot springs in Issyk-Kul. The thermal mineral water comes from a well 1,515 metres deep. The water is clear, odorless, has a bitter-salty taste, and temperatures range from 37°C to 44°C.
