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JUMP INTO THE LAKE and ENJOY OUR GREAT NATURE!
PLACE TO SEE
Cholpon-Ata is really small city. Most of the facilities are alongside of Sovetskaya St. and it is easy to find the way you want to go what you want to buy. Since it takes only a day (or less than that) to see whole city, most of the tourist come here to swim in the lake or take a rest at the beach.
The city transportation is one route of mini bus (marshurootka) and taxi. You can access sightseeing spot by them or on foot.
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Petro glyphs Museum
EXPLOR ANCIENT HISOTRY!
The open-air museum with ancient rock paintings (petro glyphs). It is the largest groups of rock paintings among the Issyk-Kul region and most petro glyphs were painted in the late Bronze age (middle 2nd millennium B.C. to 8th century B.C.) and Saka Usun period (8th century B.C. to 5th century A.D.) The drawing theme is mainly the image of animals such as goats, deer and wild bulls. Alongside of the petro glyphs, there are stone circles, toms and stone sculptures.
To see every part of museum, you need at least 1.5 hours, but at quick look, you just need 30min.
Open: 9:00~17:00
summer time is open until 18:00 or 19:00
Fee: 50com (winter is free)
Access: 15min by taxi from City center.
Ask taxi driver to drop off SAIMAL TASH. The cost is about 200com/car (you should negotiate!)
large rock of petroglyph
Biggest petroglyphs in museum
small peterogryphs
a deer
The exit
large rock of petroglyph
Biggest petroglyphs in museum
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Ruh-Ordo
Religious complex and Kyrgyz culture center!
Ruh Ordo means “spiritual center” named after famous Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov. There are 5 world major religious temples and chapels that show the unity of people's faith. Also, they exhibit Ancient and modern Kyrgyz culture such as and folk craft, musical interments and the masterpiece of the famous modern writers.
You can participate the tour in several languages (included English) and it takes about 1 hour.
Open: 9:00-18:00(everyday)
Fee: 400com
Access: 10min walk from City Hall. (see the map)
The entrance
The garden
exhibition of Chingiz aitmatov
The entrance
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3
Historical Museum
Displays HIstorical and Cultural heritages.
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Tomb of Oluya-Ata
Land mark of Cholpon-Ata!
This museum shows the unique natural and cultural heritages of the Issyk-Kul region from ancient times up to the present day.
The most valuable collections are traditional textiles, felt and musical instruments from 19th century to 20century. It takes 30mim to see whole museum.
This is the tomb of the Oluya Cholpon Ata, who is the legend and symbol of Cholpon-Ata.
It is situated on the shore of the Lake Issyk-Kul and this 21meter religious building is landmark of the city of Cholpon-Ata.
It opens 24 hours and free of charge. Ask the taki or mini bus driver to drop off "Gunboz Cholpon-Ata".
Open: 9:00-18:00 (everyday in summer)
Fee: 50com
Access: 3min walk from City Hall.
(next to the supermarket)
Open: 24huors
Fee: Free of charge
Access: 10min from city center by mini bus
(also you can walk 30min)
beach
BEACHES & CRUISING
Cholpon-Ata has 7 public beaches and 1 yacht club. 3 beaches out of them have marine activities such as parasailing and banana boat. There are many shops, which are selling beers, snacks and water pipe (Shisha), and also they rent beach umbrellas. Since their showers, changing rooms and toilet is not in good condition, I recommend you to change swimwear in your accommodations.
The gates of several beaches are closed during the off- season, but you should get through it without hesitation. Beaches in off-season is really clean and the sceneries from the beach are breathtaking!
Zoom MAP!
way to the Beach
Yacht club
Beach
Cafe(restaurant)area
Golboi beach
Goliky beach
Ala-Too beach
The gate
the end of June
August
The gate
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The gate
Do not hesitate to get through this.
The gate
Do not hesitate to get through this.
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Ala too beach
less people!
shops
in the Ala-too pansion
Ala too beach
less people!
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There are 2 ways to get to Golboi beach. 1st is pass through the main gate of Golboi sanatorium (20som /person) , and the other is located in the west side of the beach. This is the most popular beach in Cholpon-Ata.
2nd largest beach in Cholpon-Ata. During the way of beach, there are so many restaurants and small shops. You can buy flesh beer at those shops.
This beach is in next to the Ala-Too pension and a bit far from city center. Less people and cleaner than other beach.
Yacht Club
Other activities
curise
They offer Diving
signs on the road
curise
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10min ride by taxi from city center, and then you can get to the Yacht club "Cruise".
They offer an hour boat trip for the Lake Issyk-Kul and diving. They only have 4 boat trips in a day, but you can go on board at the Bosteri villages when you miss it. The price is below.
Since Cholpon-Ata is surrounded by the great nature, tourist can enjoy some activities other than swimming in the Lake Issyk-Kul.
Below is the popular activities.
*Horse riding
(Hippodrome, where is in the next village of Cholpon-Ata, 5min by mini bus)
*Hiking in Grigolyevka Gorge /Semenovka
(30min by taxi or mini bus to the Grigolyevka and Semenovka village. It cost around 50com. From village to gate of Gorge, 50min on foot or 10min by taxi. It cost around 100com)
*One day/half day trip around Issyk-Kul
Ask CBT Bishkek/Karakol or tourism agency, who is standing along the street. You can go around Issyk-Kul less then 3,000com/person.
Detail of Cruising
1 hour boat trip
Adult: 300com
Child: 150com
Time schedule:
11:00 12:30 15:00 17:00
Contact :
+996-555-271366(Boat trip) -RU only
+996-772-009775(Diving)-RU only
Price list for the activities
Parasailing: 1,000com/person
Banana boat & others:
400com/person
Beach umbrella:
100com/hour
Shopping
Even Cholpon-Ata is small city, there are tons of Grocery stores. If you want to buy food or drinks, then walk through the city center ( Sovetsukaya.St) or just go to the Super market(Narodony) or Jetigen Grocory stores area.
When it comes to buy souvenior, situation become a bit different. Cholpon-Ata has several shopping spot but not enough souvenior shops and the quality is not so good. If you want to buy good quality ones, I reccomend you to go to Karakol or Bishkek. There are some good shops( Issyk Kul brand shop, Tumar) and Tsum department.
Cholpon-Ata bazaar
City center area
Only 5min ride by taxi or marshurootska (mini bus) from city center, you can get to the Cholpon-Ata bazaar. There are so many foods, daily necessities, souvenirs and clothes even swimwear. As many local said that all products are much more expensive than other area of Kyrgyzstan :( But don't worry! Even it is said "expensive", most of the products are cheap enough for foreign tourists. Shop sellers are friendly and do not get ripped off. Enjoy your shopping with them!
City center is the busiest shopping area. Many shops are open throughout the year along the Sovetskaya St. One of the cheapest grocery shops area called JETIGEN (Жетиген) are just next to the supermarket (НАРОДНЫЙ:Narodony)
If you want to buy lots of beers and groceries at one time, go there and enjoy your shopping! (They do not sell beers in the fridge! Be careful!)
You can buy souvenirs at the city center. Get into shops that have "сувенир" signs.
shopping
WHAT IS KYRGYZ SOUVENIR?
SOUVENIR
FELT souvenirs
Kyrgyzstan is famous for their traditional nomad life and livestock plays a big role even nowadays. As sheep is one of the most popular livestock in Kyrgyzstan, we cannot talk about Kyrgyz life without sheep.
People use every part of sheep. Meat and born are for cooking, leather is for clothes and wool is for yarn and felt.
Felt products are popular souvenir among tourists. Such as hat, scarf, dolls and many kinds of cases. But...you should be careful! Not every souvenir are from Kyrgyzstan. Some of cheap ones are from other country and their qualities are really bad. Please check before you buy and get great Kyrgyz souvenirs!
I recommend you a nice souvenir shop called “Issyk-Kul Brand shop”. The shop is run by local developing NGO “OVOP Issyk-Kul”. They produce every product from local material by local people’ s hand. As their sales return to local people, it has the good economical impact for Issyk-Kul region.
The shop’s detail is here → OVOP ISSYK KUL fan site
(Their shops are in Krakol and Bishkek.)
HONEY and JAM
If you eat bread every morning, why don't you buy Kyrgyz natural jams and honey as souvenir?
At the foot of mountains and the shore of lakes, tons of wild berries are harvested in summer in all over the Kyrgyzstan. You can eat them as flesh but cook them into jam is the best choice! They are really sweet and juicy even it turns to be Jams!
As the “White Honey” is remarkable in the world, Kyrgyz honey got 1st place in world honey award in 2013! Its scent and soft taste is popular among the tourists and it must be good souvenir for your family or friends. The best honey is made in Naryn region, especially ADBASH. Price is really reasonable like 350com/kg.
Natural soaps and skin care goods are also popular. See this site!
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