Jashyl-Kol Lake

Lake Jashyl-Köl (which literally means “Green Lake”) is located in the valley of the Chong-Kemin River, a major right tributary of the Chu River. The Chong-Kemin Valley is very isolated and, beginning as a narrow gorge, gradually widens and stretches far to the northeast toward the border with Kazakhstan. The lake lies several dozen kilometers from the entrance to the valley, right next to the road running along the river, so it is accessible by car. However, the condition of the last 20–30 kilometers of the road leaves much to be desired. There are several other interesting places near Jashyl-Köl that you may want to visit — we describe them below.

Driving along the highway to Issyk-Kul, you need to reach the turn to Chong-Kemin (the junction is located just before the entrance to Boom Gorge) and turn left there. Then continue straight along the main M-027 road, without turning off, along the right (orographic) bank of the river. Up to the village of Tegirmenti the road is mostly poor asphalt with sections of gravel; after that, the condition deteriorates. It is possible to reach Jashyl-Köl in a city sedan, but the trip can be quite exhausting — a vehicle with higher ground clearance is recommended. The lake is located directly to the left of the road; it is impossible to miss. You can leave your car right after a small ascent, from which a view of Jashyl-Köl opens up.

The road from Tegirmenti to Lake Jashyl-Köl is truly tiring due to its uneven surface and large number of stones. Try to leave early to allow enough time for the return trip. Check your spare tire before departure. Mobile coverage in the area is poor, so it is advisable to travel with a second vehicle or have backup support in case of complications. As a last resort, try to stop a passing or oncoming car — in such situations, local residents are usually ready to help.

In addition to the lake itself (which you can reach by car), there are two more attractions in the same area that you may wish to visit. The first is an unnamed lake located above Jashyl-Köl on the same bank of the Chong-Kemin. The trail to this lake runs along the stream flowing into Jashyl-Köl (crossing it several times); the elevation gain is about 500 meters. The second attraction is the stunningly beautiful Lake Köl-Kogur. However, the difficulty is that this lake lies on the opposite bank of the fast-flowing Chong-Kemin, and there is no reliable crossing at this point. There are two ways to reach Köl-Kogur. The first is to cross a bridge downstream and then proceed upstream along the left bank. But the distance from the bridge is about 20–25 km one way, so you will need either horses or to split the trip into two days (with an overnight stay at Köl-Kogur). The second option is a suspended cable crossing a few kilometers beyond Jashyl-Köl (a small cabin on cables, something like a homemade funicular). We cannot assess the safety of this method and ask you to carefully evaluate the risks.