With more than 40,000 mountain rivers, Kyrgyzstan is a land of waterfalls — from short walks near Bishkek to remote cascades hundreds of metres high. Heights below are approximate and the altitude is given at the foot of the falls.
Near Bishkek (Chui region)
Waterfall Height Getting there Chon-Kurchak — Pigeon’s Waterfall 40 m 30 km south of Bishkek; short walk, beautiful in winter too Ak-Sai (Ala-Archa) 25–30 m 42 km from Bishkek; walk from the Ala-Archa alpine camp Sharkyratma (Ala-Archa) 8 + 25 + 6 m cascade About 40 minutes from the alpine camp towards Ak-Sai Teke-Tor (Ala-Archa) 15 m 1.5 hours from the Ala-Archa camp Kegeti 30 m 85 km from Bishkek, right by the road; a second 40 m fall 15 km higher Issyk-Ata up to 40 m (cascade) 75 km from Bishkek, a 30-minute walk from the resort Sokuluk (Belogorka) 60 m 80 km south-west of Bishkek; 1–1.5 hours’ walk Alamedin 10–15 m About 5 km above the warm springs of the Alamedin gorge Kashka-Suu 15 m 35 km from Bishkek Tuura-Kaiyn (Shamshy) 100–150 m Cascades in the Shamshy gorge
Issyk-Kul region
Waterfall Height Getting there Barskoon — 1st waterfall 18–20 m 17 km up the gorge, 15 minutes from the road Barskoon — Bowl of Manas 15 m 20–25 minutes’ walk; legend says Manas drank here from a rock bowl Barskoon — Leopard’s Tears cascade of 3 falls 30–40 minutes’ walk Barskoon — Splashes of Champagne — 1.5 hours’ walk Jeti-Oguz — Maiden’s Braids 15–20 m 26 km from the Balykchy–Karakol road, 40–50 minutes’ walk Juukuchak 15–17 m 3 km from the hot spring in the Juukuchak gorge Chon-Kyzyl-Suu 80–90 m One of five falls in the Chon-Kyzyl-Suu gorge
Naryn region
Waterfall Height Getting there Shaar (Bash-Kaindy) about 300 m At-Bashy valley; visible from 45 km away — on our Kel-Suu expedition Song-Kol 30 m Below the Teskey-Torpok pass on the way down from Song-Kol Kyzyl-Bel 10–12 m 13 km from Naryn on the Torugart road, 5 minutes’ walk Sarala-Saz ‘Find Me’ — 55 km north-west of Kochkor; 1.5–2 hours on horseback. You hear it before you see it
Jalal-Abad and Osh regions
Waterfall Height Getting there Arslanbob — Big waterfall 80 m About 8 km above Arslanbob village Arslanbob — Small waterfall 23 m On the edge of the village, opposite the Cave of Forty Angels Shuruly 20–30 m Above the Chychkan gorge; may dry up from July Abshir-Sai 12–15 m 80 km from Osh; water bursts from holes in a 100 m rock wall — a place of pilgrimage
Many of these waterfalls lie on our tours and day trips — ask us to add one to your route.
