The Other Issyk
Written: Oct 28 '09
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Many sites to see, good lake, picnics area, and hiking trails.
Cons: Few if any ammenities or facilities.
The Bottom Line: 45 minutes from Almaty, great place to enjoy a picnic, hiking and a glacier fed lake.
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| LRai's Full Review: Issyk Lake Kazakhstan |
One of the most beautiful places I went to visit while living in Almaty was Lake Issyk. Don't confuse this place with Issyk Kul in Kyrgyzstan they are very different lakes. Issyk Kul has it's own beauty and is worth seeing at least once, however Lake Issyk just outside of Almaty is a place that's worth seeing many times over.
It's about a 45 minute drive south of the city of Almaty to get to the area known as Issyk. There are many sights to see in this part of the greater Almaty area from a local trout farm to the famed burial site of the Kazakh Gold Man and of course the lake for which the town is named Issyk.
As you travel along just follow the signs out of town past the city of Talgar and finally you arrive in Issyk. Now it doesn't look like much but turn off the highway and the first stop is a local trout farm. Fishing here isn't much of a challenge as the fish nearly jump out of the water into your bucket, but it's a fun place to take kids for the day.
The day we went was rather hot and my only concern was no one bothered to bring ice to put our newly caught trout on, instead they par-cooked in large black plastic bags. I'm told the trout are very good eats but considering how they were mistreated I didn't choose to partake.
One word of caution, while trout fishing is fun, it's not cheap. The trout are sold by the 1/2 kilo and can run as much as $15 per 1/2 kilo, that's pricey fish. However poles are cheap to rent as is the bait, and if you so desire there are nice picnic areas where you can cook up your catch on the spot.
Close to the trout farm is the famous burial mound that was discovered in 1970. The burial mound is from around the 4th century BC and is from the Scythian-Sacae Period. When it was discovered the main chamber had been looted but a side chamber contained the find of the century, an intact golden armour plated body. The Gold Man as he became known is thought to be the ruler of the Kushan Empire and was dressed in an arrow shaped headdress. He wore chain mail armour of pure gold made of 4,000 individual pieces each decorated with an assortment of animals. The armour alone is priceless and is now on display in the Kazakhstan Museum of History in Astana. While it's said that the remains are that of Gold Man, some have speculated that the remains are really a woman.
While the remains have been moved you can still explore the burial mound and the surrounding site. A replica of the Gold Man resides in the Museum of History in Almaty. Gold Man is also found on the tenge the official currency of Kazakhstan and a statue of the Gold Man is located in New Square in the city of Almaty, it's one of the city landmarks.
Finally, head further down the road and then up and you'll discover the real reason for coming to Issyk, the lake. The lake lies at the bottom of Issyk gorge which is 5,774 feet deep, carved from glacier ice from the last ice age. The lake is located 6,234 feet above sea level and continues to be fed from melting glaciers high up in the mountains that surround the lake.
Driving to the lake is fairly easy and the road was actually pretty good. You still need to be careful of falling rocks and I wouldn't recommend coming to the lake in winter. Summer is fairly warm at the lake but as you get close to the waters edge the temperature cools way down. The lake isn't a place you'll want to swim for long as the waters are icy cold but rather it's just a peaceful place to relax and dip your feet.
There's plenty of good hiking but be forewarned that there are few to none amenities. You'll be hard pressed to find a portable toilet here, but the locals will be more than happy to point you to the nearest tree.
My trips to Issyk have been in late spring and early summer. I enjoyed my time at the lake and would return again in an instant. The mountain scenery, the greenish blue water (on a clear day), the cascading white water and small falls make this a great place to take photos, have a picnic, and just chill out.
It's very common to share what you bring with whoever sets up nearby, so don't be surprised if your neighbors off you some of their BBQ or ask to borrow a knife, picnics Kazakh style are very friendly.
Just a few more items of note...booze flows freely here so be prepared for that too and that can also mean some rather loud neighbors after a while. The best time to enjoy Issyk if you want peace and quiet is NOT on a weekend in the summer, but if you are a party animal this place rocks out on weekends. Also, there aren't many shade trees near the water's edge so if you want one you need to come early. You can drive to the water but it's suggested you have a 4 wheel drive vehicle to do that.
If you are planning an extended stay in Almaty then be sure to add Issyk Lake to your agenda, you won't be disappointed.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Friends
Best Time to Travel Here: Mar - May
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Epinions.com ID:
LRai
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Member: L Rai
Reviews written: 190
Trusted by: 14 members
About Me:
Business consultant, Business Instructor and English teacher working abroad China and Kazakhstan.
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