City: Issyk Kul Province
Top Things to do in Issyk Kul Province
Top Restaurants in Issyk Kul Province
What to do and see in Issyk Kul Province, Kyrgyzstan: The Best Things to do Good for a Rainy Day
Issyk-Kul Region (Kyrgyz: Ысык-Көл облусу, Isıq-Köl oblusu, ىسىق-كۅل وبلاستى; Russian: Иссык-Кульская область, Issyk-Kuljskaja oblastj) is one of the regions of Kyrgyzstan. Its capital is Karakol. It is surrounded by Almaty Region, Kazakhstan (north), Chuy Region (west), Naryn Region (southwest) and Xinjiang, China (southeast). It takes its name from Lake Issyk-Kul ("warm lake"), the second largest saline lake in the world, which never freezes despite its altitude in the Tian Shan mountains.
Restaurants in Issyk Kul Province
1. Destination Karakol
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 31 reviews
Destination Karakol is a registered non-profit organization. Some of the ways that it maintains financial sustainability and independence is by organizing and guiding local tours, earning commission from travel bookings, and selling postcards, maps, and other useful travel information at its Visitor Center. Operating as “Destination Karakol,” the DMO has enjoyed a number of remarkable successes. During its first year of operations, it created and launched a range of travel experience offerings which have shifted the city’s image with international tourists and press. Whereas travelers once viewed and interacted with Karakol only as a jumping-off-point for outdoor activities and treks in the Lake Issyk-Kul region, the newly available tours and services have successfully positioned Karakol as a multi-dimensional destination where culture, cuisine, history, and nature together find expression in each of the experiences available to visitors.
2. Issyk Kul Brand Shop
3. Nikolai Przhevalsky Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 134 reviews
Reviewed By JGDynamo - Canada, null
We visited the Nikolai Przhevalsky Museum in Karakol last summer while in the city and it is a great museum dedicated to the life and explorations of the Russian explorer. His writings, books, musings, maps, and all of his discoveries of the flora and fauna are a wonder to see. Definitely a good spot to visit in Karakol, I really enjoyed it and would have liked to have spent more time here.
4. Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathederal
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 210 reviews
Reviewed By OneAddictedTraveler - Lake Elmo, United States
This historic Russian Orthodox Cathedral is set in gardens. It is a stunning bit of architecture and is well worth stopping to see.
5. Historical Museum
6. Karakol Historical Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 40 reviews
Reviewed By Bakbouk
Yes, go here. It is a small but very interesting museum. The staff is extremely knowledgeable, but you'll need a translator. They are very welcoming, and explained that they are saving up to update the displays, which would be a good thing as many display cases are in need of lighting. At the time I was there, there was a display of Ella Maillart's photos, which was equally fascinating. She was a Swiss photographer who traveled in Central Asia in the 1930s. Don't miss this little gem.
