Cholpon-Ata is a resort town in Kyrgyzstan, attracting thousands of tourists every year. It is located on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul, known for its comfortable beaches and clear waters.
The attractions of Cholpon-Ata are not only the beautiful nature but also unique petroglyphs, ancient burial mounds, and cultural-historical centers. In our list, we cover the most interesting places in the town and its surroundings.
Lake Issyk-Kul
The main tourist attraction of the resort is Issyk-Kul. This unique endorheic lake is one of the largest and deepest in the world. The swimming season at Issyk-Kul begins in May and lasts until September-October.
Why visit:
There are several resort centers along Lake Issyk-Kul, but Cholpon-Ata is the main one. Here, you can find a large number of sanatoriums, boarding houses, and recreation houses with various price ranges and levels of comfort.
Tourists can not only swim in the lake but also relax on the beaches, ride catamarans, take yacht excursions, engage in underwater swimming or surfing. Wellness tourism is also developing on the lake, utilizing the mineral spring water from Issyk-Kul.
GPS coordinates: 42.441248, 77.267044
Estimated visit duration: over 1 hour.
Rukh Ordo Museum
"Rukh Ordo" is a large open-air museum complex located on the shores of Issyk-Kul. The park-museum named after writer Ch. Aitmatov is dedicated to the religions and cultures of the world's peoples.
Why visit:
The museum features several interesting objects:
- 5 stone temples symbolizing Islam, Buddhism, Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and Judaism. Inside, there are artifacts related to these religions.
- A museum exhibition showcasing artistic items, musical instruments, and other exhibits.
- Sculptures depicting renowned cultural figures.
- A reconstructed traditional Kyrgyz yurt village, where you can learn about the history of the indigenous people of the country.
The museum is located in a scenic area, offering excellent views of Issyk-Kul. There is a concert venue with good acoustics for hosting large events.
GPS coordinates: 42.64813243307757, 77.09515779598843
Estimated visit duration: 1-2 hours.
Petroglyph Museum (Stone Garden)
When deciding what to see in Cholpon-Ata, don't miss the most famous local museum dedicated to petroglyphs. Spanning 42 hectares, it features stones with drawings made thousands of years ago. There are so many that locals often refer to the museum as the Stone Garden.
Why visit:
The petroglyphs of Cholpon-Ata depict figures of people and animals participating in rituals, hunting, and everyday scenes. Scholars believe that the oldest drawings were created about 4,000 years ago, while the latest date back to the 7th century CE. Some images are made in unusual techniques and feature relief details.
The museum complex also preserves other archaeological attractions. You can see several burial mounds and the remains of a long-destroyed settlement.
GPS coordinates: 42.65787, 77.05679
Estimated visit duration: 1-2 hours.
Cholpon-Ata Historical and Cultural Museum (Issyk-Kul Nature Reserve)
Near the Rukh Ordo center, at 69 Sovetskaya Street, is the Issyk-Kul Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve. It was established in the 1980s as a local history museum. Today, it houses a large exhibition dedicated to the history and culture of the peoples of Kyrgyzstan.
Why visit:
At the museum, you can see:
- An exhibition detailing the flora and fauna of Issyk-Kul and the surrounding areas;
- Tools of primitive people and other archaeological finds;
- Weapons, coins, and other artifacts from local nomadic cultures;
- Artifacts related to Buddhism and other prevalent religions in the region;
- Exhibits showcasing the Kyrgyz heroic epic "Manas";
- Carpets and pillows made by local artisans.
Visitors can request a guided tour or explore the collections independently. There is also a souvenir shop at the museum.
GPS coordinates: 42.650434785753674, 77.08759577622031
Golden Sands Boarding House Beach
"Golden Sands" is a popular boarding house located on the shores of Issyk-Kul, approximately 10 km from Cholpon-Ata. It offers good infrastructure for recreation that is available to both guests and other tourists. The boarding house's beach is especially popular.
Why visit:
Anyone can enjoy the beach at "Golden Sands." The shore in this area is covered in clean, light sand suitable for sunbathing. The beach also has attractions, an aqua park, catamaran rentals, and cafes.
GPS coordinates: 42.648035245293265, 77.18661829598842
City Park
Cholpon-Ata has several city parks where you can stroll and relax. The most popular of these is Central Park, located near the main street.
Why visit:
The Central Park is well-lit, features children's attractions that operate during the tourist season, and has benches for relaxation and walking paths. In the summer, when there are many tourists in the city, food stalls and additional attractions open in the park.
Address: City Park 48 Sovetskaya St., Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan.
Tash Suu Thermal Mineral Spring
About 50 km from the resort is a popular mineral spring - Tash Suu. Tourists come year-round attracted by its healing thermal waters. The main focus of the spring is the treatment of musculoskeletal system diseases.
Why visit:
Near the spring, there is infrastructure for health treatments. Visitors can use pools with healing water (temperature - 43-48 degrees), a massage room, and there is a cafeteria with several accommodation options for different budgets in the vicinity of Tash Suu.
GPS coordinates: 42.72710029117036, 77.88355532623142
Grigoryevsky Gorge
Cholpon-Ata is situated in a mountainous area with several beautiful gorges. Among them is Grigoryevsky Gorge or Chon Ak-Suu, located approximately 60 km from the city.
Why visit:
A walk through Grigoryevsky Gorge is suitable for those who want to admire the mountain slopes and learn more about the local culture. If you visit in season, you can see blooming red poppies contrasting with the rugged firs. The gorge also hosts beautiful mountain lakes - Lower, Middle, and Upper.
A visit can be enhanced by experiencing the national Kyrgyz yurts, where you can try kumis and traditional dishes. Tourists are also offered horseback rides, allowing them to enjoy the gorge's landscapes at a comfortable pace.
GPS coordinates: 42.82824, 77.44633
Estimated visit duration: over 3 hours.
Semenov Gorge
Another beautiful gorge near the city is Semenov Gorge. It lies in the Kungoy Ala-Too mountains and stretches approximately 30 km. A glacial river, Ak-Suu, flows through the gorge with clean, clear water.
Why visit:
In summer, high-altitude grasses bloom in Semenov Gorge, filling the air with vibrant fragrances. In season, yurts are also set up here, where Kyrgyz dishes are served and workshops on local culture are offered to tourists.
You can explore Semenov Gorge on foot or horseback. Riding services are available for tourists right on-site. You can choose a short or longer route to admire the local mountain firs, seabuckthorn thickets, and the flow of the clear Ak-Suu river.
GPS coordinates: 42.799873507180585, 77.5290772177078
Ak-Bermet Hot Springs
The Ak-Bermet thermal springs are located within the territory of the same boarding house in the village of Kara-Oy. It is situated just 3 km from the center of Cholpon-Ata, allowing tourists to quickly move between resorts.
Why visit:
The Ak-Bermet springs provide chloride-sodium mineral water used for treating metabolic disorders. A modern SPA complex has been built for tourists, which includes several pools with mineral and lake water at various temperatures (up to 44 degrees), a steam room, a massage room, and relaxation rooms.
Thanks to a new filtration system, the water in the pools always retains its healing properties. Visitors to the complex can use convenient changing rooms and showers, and there is a medical center at the boarding house.
GPS coordinates: 42.62709025923178, 77.04492342482253
Upper Lake
Upper Lake is one of the mountain lakes in Grigoryevsky Gorge. It is located about 30 km from Cholpon-Ata, making it a common excursion destination for tourists staying in nearby recreation houses and hotels. Upper Lake sits at an altitude of about 3200 meters above sea level.
Why visit:
Although all lakes in Grigoryevsky Gorge are picturesque and worth visiting, Upper Lake is considered the most popular. It is larger than the neighboring lakes and is surrounded by beautiful forests and alpine meadows. You can reach the water by foot - a hiking route follows the gorge. Horseback rides are also available, with stops near the lake.
GPS coordinates: 42.8394564659111, 77.39193815706079
Holy Mountain Lake
Near Semenov Gorge lies another beautiful mountain lake - Holy Lake. This body of water is located not far from the border with Kazakhstan, in the Kungoy Ala-Too mountains.
Why visit:
Visitors come to the lake to admire the mountain scenery surrounding the water and to breathe in the purest air. In summer, many tourists gather at Holy Lake, where yurts are set up to prepare Kyrgyz dishes. You can try authentic kumis, beshbarmak, chalop, and other national delicacies. Local guides also come to the lake, offering excursions around the area.
GPS coordinates: 42.83714, 77.36241
Maiden Tears Waterfall
In the mountainous area near Issyk-Kul, there are several beautiful waterfalls. One of them is located in the Jety-Oguz Gorge and is called Maiden Tears. Despite its name, locals believe it brings happiness - if a girl washes her face in its waters, she will soon marry.
Why visit:
The waterfall is about 2400 m above sea level, and tourists without climbing gear or special training can reach it. However, caution is necessary in rainy weather: the path to the attraction goes along narrow trails where it is easy to slip.
If the weather is good, you can see many beautiful mountain views along the way. At the endpoint of the route, tourists are greeted by a clear water stream cascading down from a height of 50 meters.
GPS coordinates: 43.08206, 76.90761
Boom Gorge
Nearby Cholpon-Ata is the picturesque Boom Gorge, hidden in the mountains. The Bishkek-Balykchy railway line runs through it, so some tourists may enjoy the gorge even on the way to Issyk-Kul.
Why visit:
A trip or walk through Boom Gorge is a great way to see the region's nature. Coniferous trees grow on the mountain slopes, and a beautiful river, Chuy, flows nearby, making it suitable for rafting.
An underground source at the entrance to the gorge is also a notable attraction. Since this area is frequently visited by tourists, there are several cafes where you can stop along the way.
GPS coordinates: 42.58048, 75.80467
Estimated visit duration: over 3 hours.