Boom Gorge

Boom is the dramatic gorge of the Chu river between Bishkek and Issyk-Kul — the gateway to the lake, a rafting river and the start of the Konorchek canyons.

Here the Chu breaks through the mountains between the Kyrgyz Ala-Too and the Kungei Ala-Too. The main road and the railway squeeze along the river between steep red and grey cliffs for about 30 km. The strong west wind of Issyk-Kul, Ulan, rushes out of this gorge — see the legend of Cholpon and the two winds.

Since the 2000s the Chu in the Boom gorge has become the most popular rafting river near Bishkek, with an easy-to-moderate run of about 15 km. Nearby, the red sandstone Konorchek canyons make a superb hike.

• Location: on the Bishkek – Balykchy road, about 1.5–2 hours from Bishkek
• Best time: rafting May to September; canyons in spring and autumn
• Good for: rafting, canyon hikes, a stop on the way to Issyk-Kul