Shamsi Gorge

Shamsi is a picturesque and not very well-known gorge just two hours’ drive from Bishkek. The gorge is notable for its patches of coniferous forest, which are quite rare in Kyrgyzstan. There is no single landmark or specific destination here, but if you simply want to spend time in a beautiful natural setting, Shamsi is a great choice. A dirt road stretches for many kilometers deep into the mountains along the Shamsi River and its left tributary, the Tuyuk River (not to be confused with the tributary of Issyk-Ata with the same name). There are also trails along other tributaries.

To get there, drive along the highway toward Issyk-Kul to the town of Tokmok, then turn south toward the villages of Koshoy and Shamshy. From Shamshy, the road into the gorge initially follows the right (orographic) bank of the river. At the fork, take the right branch. Soon the road crosses to the left bank and continues deeper into the mountains. Choose a parking spot according to your vehicle’s capabilities, as the road surface gradually deteriorates. One popular parking area is near another bridge over the Shamsi River, especially if you plan to walk not only along Shamsi but also along its right tributary, which joins the river slightly upstream from the bridge. It is relatively easy to reach the guesthouse located here, at the confluence of Shamsi and Tuyuk. Beyond this point, the road becomes worse, so please assess your vehicle and driving skills carefully.

In some places deeper in the gorge, the road crosses the Tuyuk by ford. If you reach this section, appropriate footwear for river crossing is useful. Otherwise, the route does not involve steep inclines or significant obstacles and is suitable for most fitness levels.

You can choose your destination and turnaround point depending on your wishes and abilities. You may simply stay by the river and enjoy a picnic with beautiful views. You can climb one of the hills on the left bank of the Shamsi (one option is marked on the map): the ascent takes about an hour and rewards you with magnificent views of the valley and surrounding mountains.

At the upper reaches of the Tuyuk there is a small lake (its water level strongly depends on the season), though reaching it may take several hours. From the mountain passes in the upper Tuyuk valley, it is possible to reach Lake Kol-Tor in the neighboring gorge, but this requires significant time and solid preparation, as the route crosses relatively high elevations (over 3,000 meters above sea level).

There are fragmentary reports of a waterfall on one of the tributaries of the Shamsi. If you have reliable information about its exact location, please let us know using the contacts at the bottom of the page.