From Bishkek: Issyk-Kul, Red Canyons, & Hot Springs Day Trip｜Kyrgyzstan

Begin your day trip with a visit to the Burana Tower, the last standing piece of Balasagun, an 11th-century Karakhanid capital on the Silk Road. Climb the steep, narrow stairs inside the tower to enjoy panoramic views over the Chuy Valley. Around the base, see stone balbals (grave markers carved by nomadic tribes) standing where archaeologists found them.

Next, head to the Kok-Moinok canyons, a red-rock system carved by wind and water into narrow, winding corridors. Walk about 1 km into the canyon and climb to a panoramic viewpoint. The trail is easy, but sturdy shoes make the loose gravel sections easier.

Continue to Issyk-Kul's shore for free time on the beach. After the dry canyon country, the lake's open water and the mountains behind it are a hard contrast to miss.

End your day with a visit to natural hot springs on the lakeshore (entrance fee separate, paid on site), followed by a roadside stop for kattama, a layered flatbread fried on-site, traditionally the first thing travelers eat on entering the Issyk-Kul region, served hot with tea.