They will provide every traveler with the opportunity to go on magnificent walks, improve their health, enjoy stunning scenery and swim in warm waters.
Features of thermal springs in Kyrgyzstan
The main health resort of Kyrgyzstan is considered to be where you can find healing mud (its deposit is located in the water area and coastal part of the lake), mineral and thermal (water temperature varies from +30 to +50 degrees) springs, hospitals and boarding houses. There they treat the heart, digestive organs, musculoskeletal and nervous systems, skin and ailments of the female genital area. Depending on the diagnosis, patients are prescribed thalassotherapy, physical therapy, Charcot's shower, mineral baths... Most health resorts are located in Bosteri, Chok-Tal (has a thermal well), Cholpon-Ata, Tamchy (there is a mineral springs with warm water, and in Tamchy itself there are hospitals and sanatoriums).
Those who decide to go on a health visit to Issyk-Kul will also be able to swim in the warm water of the lake, go diving and mountaineering, and enjoy hiking and horseback riding.
As for sanatoriums, in the Issyk-Kul region “Dzhergalan” deserves attention: the main healing factors are thermal +40-43 degree water (it has neither taste nor smell) and black silt mud, which has a bactericidal effect.
Altyn-Arashan
Altyn-Arashan hot springs are high-mountainous and are located at 2600 meters above sea level. Their waters have a temperature of +50 degrees and contain radon. Anyone who takes a Tradone bath will normalize blood pressure and improve cardiac activity. In addition, bathing in the springs will have a sedative and analgesic effect, and will help accelerate the processes of resorption and healing in muscles, skin, bone tissue and nerve fibers.
Romantic couples will be interested in the fact that there is a thermal spring here, which has been ennobled and lined with heart-shaped stones. It is worth noting that those who wish will also be able to plunge into the mountain cold river, thereby taking a contrasting natural shower.
Despite the fact that the springs are only 35 km away, getting here is not so easy - the journey can take about 3 hours in a four-wheel drive vehicle (travelers face steep climbs along mountain serpentines along a narrow canyon along the bank of the Arashan River).
And in the vicinity of the resort, in nature reserve, you will be able to meet wild boars, ermines, foxes, badgers, lynxes, doves, vultures, snow leopards, pheasants and other birds and animals.
Juuku
The thermal water in Juuku is enriched with radon and has a temperature of +34 degrees. Radon baths are placed under open air, so by swimming in them, you can not only spend time with health benefits, but also enjoy the view of the surrounding landscapes.
Chon-Oruktu
The water of the Chon-Oruktu hot springs is “warmed up” to 45 degrees (there are no “specific” components in it; it has a sodium-calcium-chloride composition and is suitable for drinking and bathing) and is used in the treatment of gastritis and cholecystitis, and is also prescribed for those with problems with skin and female genital organs, and those suffering from disorders of the nervous system, pancreas and gastrointestinal tract.
Vacationers have access to swimming pools, houses where they can stay for a couple of days, rooms where massage treatments are provided for everyone, and a cafe (where visitors are treated to dishes of Kyrgyz cuisine).
Tash-Suu
For the convenience of vacationers, there are swimming pools at this source (one of them is filled with ordinary cool water - it is intended for contrast swimming), filled with 43-48-degree water; dining room, gazebos, locker rooms; massage room.
The healing water of Tash-Suu is prescribed for the treatment and prevention of numerous diseases, in particular, it is suitable for people with disorders of the musculoskeletal system (osteochondrosis, arthritis, myositis). As for contraindications, heart patients, hypertensive and hypotensive patients should not swim in local waters.
It is worth noting that for a 1-hour swim in the bathhouse, guests will pay $4-5 (tip: after a 20-minute swim, you should take a 10-minute rest break, after which you can again plunge into the healing waters for 20 minutes).
Jalal-Abad
Jalal-Abad is famous for its alkaline hot springs, weakly and highly mineralized waters (temperature +38-39 degrees; they are hydrocarbonate-sulfate and calcium-sodium waters) which can treat nerves, liver, kidneys, rheumatism, skin, ailments in the field of urology and gynecology . You can undergo treatment at a local sanatorium, which can accommodate about 150 people in winter, and 450 people in summer. In addition to balneotherapy and mud therapy, they offer healing through acupuncture, climatic and electric light therapy, massage, physical therapy and nutrition.
They are increasingly used in the treatment of a number of diseases. mountain resorts. Main therapeutic factors Here are crystal clear air and increased solar radiation. Charm mountain valleys, picturesque rocks, waterfalls, dark blue mountain sky has a beneficial effect on general state person. It is known that emotional influences, especially in nervous diseases, are often more favorable than other therapeutic factors.
Resort opportunities in Kyrgyzstan allow you to treat many diseases. Useful springs contain such an amount of minerals that their quality is equal to water North Caucasus or even surpass them. One liter of Chatyrkul water contains 3-4 grams of carbon dioxide, and in Kislovodsk Narzan - only 2 grams. The water of the Yassi spring combines the qualities of “Essentuki”, “Arzni” and “Borjomi”.
There are many useful sources in Kyrgyzstan. There are 15 types of mineral waters known on Lake Issyk-Kul alone. There are radon springs, yielding half a million liters per day, and nitrogen-siliceous springs, yielding over four million liters per day.
Lake Issyk-Kul is a unique place with a mountain-sea climate. Many resort factors are combined here - thermal mineral springs, long duration of sunshine (more than 2500 hours per year), etc. The annual arrival of solar radiation on a horizontal surface at clear sky is about 143 kcal/cm2.
Returning along the southern shore of Issyk-Kul from Przhevalsk, few people do not turn off at the twentieth kilometer. Here, in the picturesque Terskey-Alatau gorge, one of the best balneological resorts in Kyrgyzstan is located - Dzhetyoguz (translated from Kyrgyz as “Seven Bulls”). The huge red rocks surrounding the resort really do seem to resemble seven bulls. Dzhetyoguz is famous for its rare combination of high mountain climate, forest air and radioactive thermal springs with a water temperature of 38-44. Summer is cool ( average temperature July +17°), winter is mild. Here, at an altitude of 2300 meters above sea level, on the banks of a stormy mountain river, patients with non-tuberculous inflammation of the joints, stomach and liver diseases are treated. Patients come here from various parts of the Soviet Union.
However, it is necessary to take into account the fact that with increasing altitude the air becomes increasingly rarefied, and this has a strong effect on the body, leading to hypoxia - oxygen starvation. Hypoxia causes palpitations, shortness of breath, headaches, and mental disorders.
Interesting experiments conducted by Soviet scientists have shown that hypoxia can be used to restore and strengthen health. This is done through stepwise acclimatization. Patients are raised first to a small height, then higher. At the Dzhetyoguz resort it is easy to combine treatment with radon baths and stepwise acclimatization.
Far beyond the borders of Kyrgyzstan, the beaches of Cholpon-Ata and Dolinka are well-protected from the winds. Here is a well-known children's sanatorium in the republic, created during the Great Patriotic War. On the very shore of Lake Issyk-Kul rise the slender white buildings of the Blue Issyk-Kul sanatorium. Gentle sandy shores, abundance of sun, mild maritime climate and the beauty of the surrounding landscape attract vacationers and tourists from all over our vast Motherland. But when coming to these wonderful places, you must remember that sun treatment is not always beneficial for everyone. For cardiovascular diseases, active forms of tuberculosis and some other ailments, prolonged exposure to the sun is contraindicated. The sun of Issyk-Kul is generous, but one should not abuse its generosity. In these places, in the morning and evening hours, ultraviolet radiation exceeds all types of radiation.
In a deep picturesque gorge northern slope In the Kyrgyz ridge, 75 kilometers from the capital of the republic, at an altitude of 1775 meters above sea level, the cozy buildings of the Issyk-Ata resort are located. Thermal springs with water temperatures from +20 to +50°, mud and high mountain air provide good results in the treatment of brucellosis, some types of gastric, nervous and other diseases.
The all-Union resort of Jalal-Abad occupies a prominent place among the balneological resorts of Central Asia. Its hot alkaline springs have valuable medicinal properties. Treatment of rheumatism, liver and nervous system diseases, and skin diseases gives remarkable results here. But the resort is especially famous for the treatment of kidney diseases. In this regard, doctors compare Jalal-Abad with the world-famous Cairo resort. From the outskirts of the vast park of the Jalal-Abad resort there is a wonderful view of the river valley. Kugart.
The resort resources of mountainous Kyrgyzstan are still far from being fully utilized. The construction of resorts is growing from year to year. In the coming years, holiday homes, sanatoriums and resorts in Kyrgyzstan will be able to accommodate more than 60 thousand vacationers. In the near future, Kyrgyzstan will become the country's third all-Union health resort.
For beauty alpine meadows and the snowy peaks of the Tien Shan and Pamirs, Kyrgyzstan was nicknamed “Asian Switzerland” and the country of “Heavenly Mountains”. A trip there will cost much less than to Europe, but you will definitely get no less impressions. By the way, tourists from Europe are found in Kyrgyzstan almost more often than Russians. We'll tell you why it's worth going there, what to see and try.
1. Bishkek
The country's capital contains remnants of the Soviet past, modern architecture and Asian flavor. Bars and coffee shops give way to traditional teahouses, shops with kumis and ayran, and among fashionable young people old men in national headdresses - caps embroidered with oriental patterns - stroll leisurely.
Behind a large number of parks and gardens Bishkek is called a “green” city. In the center of the capital there is a long and wide Erkindik Boulevard with old tall oak trees and a year-round outdoor art gallery where you can buy paintings by local artists. Nearby is Oak Park - the central and most old park in the city. Some trees here are over a hundred years old. In the park there is St. Nicholas Church - a monument architecture of the 19th century century, and an open-air sculpture museum with statues made of concrete, wood and metal.
You can see the panorama of the city against the backdrop of the Tien Shan peaks from Mount Boz-Peldek, which is accessible by public transport. At its foot there is a curious landmark - the ancient Kyrgyz cemetery “Khan’s Graves”, where one of the rulers of the valley, Baytyk Khan, is buried. A stone mausoleum in the form of a domed tower was erected over his grave.
To immerse yourself in oriental life, go to the Osh bazaar. Here you can buy felt hats with patterns, bright carpets, stock up on cheap dried fruits and nuts, spices, take fresh flatbreads with a variety of patterns and try popular dishes from every counter. National dish- kurut. The Kyrgyz take these dry, salted, fermented milk balls with them for long periods of grazing in the mountains. A nutritious and long-lasting snack. Follow their example and take a kurut for your upcoming trips to the mountains, which cover almost 90% of the country.
2. Ala-Archa National Park
National Park Ala-Archa is located in the mountain gorge of the same name, just 40 kilometers from Bishkek. You can stay in the national park itself at the Ala-Archa hotel or in the houses of the mountaineering camp. The most popular route is the trail to the Ak-Sai waterfall, the glacier of the same name and the Ratsek hut, named after the Soviet climber Vladimir Ratsek, the organizer of expeditions and ascents in this region. You can walk the route lightly in one day - the round trip is 12.8 kilometers and, taking into account the ascent, will take 8-10 hours. A faster and easier option is to walk along the same path to the Ak-Sai waterfall - it is 8 kilometers and about 4-5 hours round trip. On the way they meet observation decks, from which breathtaking views open.
If you decide to go to the end of the route, then you can stay overnight in the Racek hut - a two-story stone house, or in a tent next to it (you will be given a sleeping bag for a fee) so that the next day you can make a simple ascent to the Teacher's Peak at 4,500 meters high above sea level. To do this, you only need good hiking shoes, trekking poles and the desire to reach the top. Don't be scared when you meet a herd of agile mountain goats - they are harmless and more afraid than you. From the top of the mountain there is a view of the steppes on one side and the Tien Shan mountain range- with another. Along with the descent, the ascent will take 5-6 hours.
3. Lake Issyk-Kul
Issyk-Kul is the second largest salt Lake in the world, surrounded by the snow-capped peaks of Ala-Too. The lake never freezes, which is why tourists come here all year round. In winter, many hot thermal springs are available for bathing.
A huge number of resort towns, villages and sanatoriums stretch along the coast. One of the most popular resorts- the city of Cholpon-Ata with sandy beaches, mineral springs, the opportunity to go diving, snorkeling, trekking to nearby peaks.
For solitude, go to South coast. The infrastructure here is less developed than in the north, but there are empty, quiet beaches and untouched nature.
City residents in national costumes
4. Karakol
The city is located 12 kilometers from the coast of Lake Issyk-Kul, at the foot of the Terskey-Ala-Too ridge. It attracts travelers not only with its picturesque mountain views, but also with historical sights. Russian traveler and naturalist, Asian explorer Nikolai Przhevalsky, who died on the way to Karakol during his fifth expedition to Karakol, was buried in 1888. Central Asia. Next to the grave there is a Przhevalsky Museum, where you can learn about the life and travels of the geographer, and see exhibits that he brought from his expeditions.
Another attraction of Karakol is the Dungan mosque. The Dungans are a people who migrated to Central Asia from China in the 1880s. The Chinese-style mosque, more like a Buddhist temple, was built more than a hundred years ago. To complete your cultural journey through Karakol, visit the wooden Holy Trinity Cathedral late XIX centuries, richly decorated with carvings.
Among amateurs active rest Karakol is famous for its ski resort of the same name. The mild climate - in winter the temperature rarely drops below minus 5 degrees - and a large amount of snow make skiing on the slopes of the Tien Shan comfortable and popular among tourists. From a height of 3,040 meters above sea level, where the lift goes, views of Issyk-Kul and the nearest five-thousanders open up.
5. Canyon "Fairy Tale"
Skazka Canyon is located on south coast Issyk-Kul, 4 kilometers from the village of Tosor. The rocks were formed by the wind stone labyrinths, walls and towers, and some took the forms of animals and mythical creatures. The bright orange, and at sunset the fiery red color of the rocks is reminiscent of the famous Grand Canyon in the USA.
6. Radon and hydrogen sulfide thermal springs in the Altyn-Arashan gorge
“Altyn Arashan” is translated from Kyrgyz as “Golden Source”. Radon and hydrogen sulfide thermal springs in the gorge are famous for their healing properties and are especially popular among foreign tourists.
It is better to go here for a few days. The easiest way to get to the Arashan resort in the upper reaches of the river of the same name is by purchasing a ready-made tour in Karakol. You can get to the resort yourself either by public transport to the village of Ak-Suu, and from there it’s a 4-5 hour walk. The long journey will be rewarded with hot baths at an altitude of 2,600 meters, surrounded by mountain scenery. In addition to paid swimming pools, there is a small free bath with hot water almost in the river itself, as well as free natural baths right in the rocks.
Fans of active recreation can go from Arashan to high mountain lake Ala-Kol or small nearby lakes are a couple of hours' walk away. There are many beautiful waterfalls near the resort.
7. Petroglyph Museum
The open-air museum is a “garden of rocks” that were once chaotically brought by a glacier to the foot of the Tien Shan foothills. Many boulders contain ancient rock paintings of animals and hunting scenes dating back to the second millennium BC. Historians associate these paintings with religious rituals. In 2002, with the assistance of specialists from Germany, the petroglyphs were restored. In addition to rock carvings, the museum displays Turkic stone sculptures - balbals, and relics of ancient stone walls.
It is believed that it is better to go to the museum early in the morning or late in the evening, when the outlines of ancient drawings are clearly visible in the rays of the rising and setting sun.
8. Caravanserai Tash Rabat
The mystical and unique medieval monument Tash-Rabat is located at an altitude of 3,000 thousand meters above sea level in the Kara-Koyun gorge. The entire structure - even the roof - is made of stone and lime. Inside there is a labyrinth connecting 31 rooms. Moreover, most of them do not have a single window. Many passages and secret exits have been preserved under the fortress. According to one version, the building served as a Nestorian monastery, lost in a mountain gorge far from the Gentiles. Another version is that Tash Rabat served as an inn, a hotel for merchants and travelers along the roads of the Great Silk Road.
You can only get here by car, so it’s better to purchase organized tour. You won’t have to spend the night in a “medieval hotel” - several guest yurts have been built nearby especially for tourists.
9. Jety-Oguz Gorge
The main attraction of the gorge, located on the southern shore of Issyk-Kul, is the Rocks of the Seven Bulls. Large brick-colored rocks, lined up in a long chain, really resemble bulls lying on the ground. There is a sad story connected with them - the evil khan sacrificed seven bulls at the wake of his beloved, whom he himself killed so that she would not go to another. The blood she shed stained the bodies of the animals, and they turned into majestic rocks. In addition to this legend, the first thing travelers encounter in the gorge is the huge rock “Broken Heart” - also red.
From the gorge you can walk or take a horseback excursion to the Maiden's Hair waterfall. Another popular local attraction is the resort of the same name, famous for its thermal springs and healing mud. IN Soviet time Astronauts underwent rehabilitation here after flights, and now the resort is open to everyone.
10. High mountain pastures “jailoo”
From Kyrgyz “jailoo” is translated as “mountain pasture”. Relatively recently, a new and now fashionable direction among wealthy tourists has developed in Kyrgyzstan - “jailoo tourism.” You are taken to a high-mountain pasture, where you spend the night in a real shepherd's yurt, wash in an icy mountain river, roast a sheep on the fire, which the owners will slaughter especially for you, drink kumiss - in general, live the traditional life of the Kyrgyz nomads. Not everyone will decide to undertake such an experiment, but whoever does must be prepared to pay a decent amount for it. The cost of such a tour often depends on the number of people in the group - the more people there are, the cheaper. The average price per person in a group of two or three participants for several days starts from about 35 thousand rubles (including transfer to jailoo). The most popular jailoos in Kyrgyzstan, where tourists are taken, are in the Semenovsky gorge, on Lake Son-kul, jailoo Sarala-Saz, Zhaman Echki, Kilemche.
And we also have
Water is the main wealth of Kyrgyzstan. River water is known for its strength, lake water for its beauty, drinking water for its taste, and mineral water for its medicinal properties. If beach holiday and walks around picturesque mountains and the valleys of the country are not enough to accumulate health and vigor for a year, then thermal springs will help with this. You don’t have to wait until midsummer to visit them. On mineral waters, the holiday season is all year round.
At the beginning of summer it is still cool in Issyk-Kul - plus 20 during the day, the water temperature in the lake is still about 16 degrees. Moreover, the day turned out to be cloudy. So Nina goes to the hottest of the outdoor pools. Nature itself heated this water to almost 44 degrees. A few minutes in hot water, then, for contrast, into a pool with cold water. So - up to 5 times. In conclusion health treatment Nina soaks for 15 minutes in water at 35 degrees.
The Kyrgyzstani woman is not afraid of the cool air. For the first time, a resident of the capital region, Nina Egorova, came to this source 3.5 years ago on January 3rd.
“Polyarthritis tortured me. My joints hurt. Especially the knees. Three years ago I almost couldn’t walk, I lived on pills. We were advised to go here for mineral waters. It was in winter. Met New Year and we went straight away - we didn’t have the strength to wait until the summer. That’s when I realized that my native Issyk-Kul is good all year round. He’s just different,” says Nina Egorova.
The 63-year-old woman no longer takes medications for arthritis. After one day of taking mineral baths, he doesn’t remember about his knees for up to two weeks. Then - again to the source. But this is more likely just a healthy habit and a favorite way to take a break from household chores. He comes with his husband, and sometimes with his grandchildren.
The water tastes very salty. But it doesn't sting the skin. But it allows you to feel lightness in your body - it keeps you afloat and relaxes.
“Transparent, fresh, does not smell of anything, and just warms right through. On the advice of local doctors, we come to the pools in any weather with a terry towel and blanket. We took a bath, got dressed, covered ourselves with a blanket and kept warm. No showering or swimming in the lake for several hours after water procedures. Contact of minerals with the skin must continue. If you do everything correctly, you will feel the warmth and power of this water inside for another three days,” says Nina.
This is how water from a local source affects the body due to temperature and strong saturation with salts. The level of its mineralization is high even for Issyk-Kul. The lake never freezes: it is surrounded like veins by many underground hot springs. The sanatorium is proud of its. This hidden hot river is the highlight of a holiday here. But she might not have existed. They refused to develop a local thermal water deposit even in Soviet times - it was expensive.
The holiday home in the village of Kara-Oy, Issyk-Kul region, has been operating since 1965. In Soviet times it was called “Pearl”. Modern complex has almost the same name - “Ak Bermet” is translated from Kyrgyz into Russian as “white pearl”. The thermal water deposit on the territory of the sanatorium was explored by 1975. At this time, the hydromineral resources of Issyk-Kul were discovered and developed most actively. At the same time, in the 70s, a well was drilled. The water lies at a depth of 1515 meters. We got to it, but didn’t start mining it. The well was sealed. The rest home continued to operate without a source. Even then, hot waters came out of the ground in health resorts in the neighborhood.
Akzholtoy Nasridinov has been running the sanatorium since the mid-80s. He remembers that after the collapse of the Union there were no funds to extract water from underground. The holiday home survived. But they knew and remembered about the explored deposit. When free money appeared - already in the 2000s - Akzholtoy Nasridinov decided to invest it in health tourism. I went to Bishkek - to the State Geological Agency and the Institute of Balneology - to find out what kind of source was under the sanatorium. When I found out, there was no doubt about the need to raise water to the surface of the earth.
“The water is sodium chloride, the same type as the well-known Mirgorod water. Mineralization – strong: 15 grams per cubic decimeter. We also say the salt saturation is 19%. For comparison: this figure for the water of most sources in Issyk-Kul is 12-13%, for the water in the lake - 2-3%. But it is also useful,” explains Akzholtoy Nasridinov.
Drilling the well again turned out to be only half the battle. The mineral water lying at a depth of one and a half kilometers is heavy, mixed with silt, and it is difficult to bring it to the surface. Purification using a special system that does not destroy the structure of the water made it possible to bring it to a depth of about 50 meters. To lift from there, pumps were installed. Hot spring cost the sanatorium several tens of thousands of dollars. Water appeared on the surface in 2012.
Every day, water from the source is sent from seven pools. They differ in volume - the smaller the bowl, the hotter the water in it. This way everyone will find water at their own temperature.
“They come from other regions of Kyrgyzstan. But more - from abroad. The Russians fell in love with the source, and so did the Kazakhs. They come from China, Korea, Europe. Both in winter and in summer. They usually come from far away for several weeks. Simultaneously on mineral water“We have about 150 people resting and improving their health,” says Akzholtoy Nasridinov.
Doctors have no doubt - the mineral springs of Issyk-Kul help treat many diseases. Due to the chemical composition of water, under its influence, cellular metabolism and metabolism are accelerated, the production of collagen and elastin is stimulated. Sodium chloride baths normalize the functioning of the autonomic nervous system, strengthen the walls of blood vessels, and increase immunity. Diseases of the heart, bones, joints, spine, and reproductive system recede, digestion improves, nervous disorders, inflammation and skin rashes disappear. Baths help in the fight against excess weight. 
There are few contraindications for taking mineral baths in Issyk-Kul. The family of Almaty resident Irina chose a spring in the village of Kara-Oy several years ago. Since then he has not changed. Irina knows that the spring’s properties are close to the waters famous resorts in Russia and the Baltic states.
« The air in Issyk-Kul is simply wonderful, the climate is wonderful! I come here with my grandson. The teachers at school are surprised - not a single absence due to a cold in a year. This is his health now!” Irina rejoices.
The Kazakh woman speaks as she walks. She and her grandson, hot after the mineral baths, rush to dinner. The appetite after water treatments at the mountain lake is excellent. In the morning - leave. And Irina still wants to draw water from the source to take with her to the city. He loves to wash his face with it - it tones and softens the skin, and if you rinse your mouth with Issyk-Kul mineral water, the dentist will praise you for the condition of your gums.
