Highlights of Issyk-Kul region

Lake Issyk-Kul, in the Tian Shan mountain range in eastern Kyrgyzstan, is the second largest alpine lake in the world, after South America's Lake Titicaca. Despite the mountain location and intense Central Asian winters, the lake never freezes, which is where the name Issyk-Kul, or 'hot lake', comes from. The lake has a number of sandy beaches, and there are great opportunities for hiking or yurt stays in the surrounding mountains. This is Kyrgyzstan’s most accessible region, and most first-time visitors will spend their time looping around Issyk-Kul, an easy route which offers a fantastic introduction to everything Kyrgyzstan has to offer.