Sary-Jaz Valley

Sary-Jaz is a remote high valley in the far east of Kyrgyzstan, running from the foot of Khan-Tengri towards the Chinese border — wild canyons, glaciers, hot springs and some of the emptiest mountain country in Central Asia.

The Sary-Jaz river, fed by the glaciers of the highest massif of the Tien Shan, flows for about 200 km through Kyrgyzstan with milky green-white water before cutting through the Kokshaal-Too range into China. Its valley lies between about 2,700 and 3,600 m, framed by peaks over 5,000 m, including Semenov peak (5,816 m) on the Sary-Jaz range. Alpine meadows and patches of spruce and juniper give way higher up to high-altitude desert and stony tundra. Ibex, argali and snow leopards live here; the Sarychat-Ertash nature reserve protects part of the basin.

What to see

• The Sary-Jaz canyon near the confluence with the Ak-Shyirak river.
• Hot springs of about 60 °C near the colourful marble rock Kara-Ala-Tash in the upper valley.
• Ak-Chunkur cave (about 3,150 m), high in a limestone cliff above the river, where Stone Age people left ochre paintings — sadly now mostly blackened by the smoke of fires.
• Petroglyphs near the old mining village of Enilchek, and wooden nomad mausoleums (gumbez) in hidden side valleys.
• The approach to the Inylchek glacier and the base camps of Khan-Tengri.

A road of about 140 km leads from Karakol over the Chong-Ashuu pass (about 3,800 m) into the valley; you need a 4×4 and an experienced driver. The whole area is a border zone.

• Start: Karakol, about 5–6 hours by 4×4
• Altitude: 2,700–3,600 m
• Best time: July to September
• Permit: border zone permit required — we arrange it with your passport details about a month in advance