Issyk-Kul · Kyrgyzstan
Barskoon
Barskoon is a village on the south shore of Issyk-Kul and the gorge that rises behind it into the Terskey Ala-Too. A gravel road, the supply route to the Kumtor gold mine, follows the river through spruce forest to a group of waterfalls at about 2,500 m; the best known is the Tears of the Snow Leopard. A monument to Yuri Gagarin, who rested here after his space flight, stands by the road. There is no entry fee. Most visitors come on a day trip from Karakol.
- Region
- Issyk-Kul
- Altitude
- 2,500 m
- Roads
- Any car
Barskoon is a village on the southern shore of Issyk-Kul and, more to the point for visitors, the gorge that climbs behind it into the Terskey Ala-Too. A gravel road follows the river up through spruce forest and meadows to a group of waterfalls at around 2,500 m, the best known of them called the Tears of the Snow Leopard. That road is the supply route to the Kumtor gold mine high above, which is why a mountain gorge has a well-graded surface and a steady traffic of heavy trucks.
What there is to do
- Walk up to the falls from the road. They come in a series rather than one drop, and the paths between them are short and steep in places.
- Stop at the bust of Yuri Gagarin standing by the road, which marks the valley where he rested after his space flight.
- Ride: local herders bring horses to the meadows near the falls in summer and take visitors as far as the second waterfall, arranged on the spot.
- Picnic in the spruce forest, with the lake visible far below on the way back down.
When to go
June to mid-September is the reliable season for the gorge, when the road is clear and the meadows are in use. Outside that window the upper gorge depends entirely on the weather: snow and ice on the gravel can stop an ordinary car, and there is no reason to count on getting to the falls between late autumn and spring.
Getting there
From Karakol it is about 100 km and roughly 2 hours 30 minutes: 80 to 90 km of tarmac west along the shore, then about 20 km up the mine road to the falls and the monument. From Jeti-Oguz the distance is about 99 km, again roughly 2 hours 30 minutes. Tamga is much closer, 22 km and about 35 minutes. Minibuses from Karakol reach Barskoon village but stop well below the waterfalls, leaving some 15 km of the gorge road to cover on foot or by arranged car. The gravel is in good condition and an ordinary car gets up it, but the mine trucks move fast, so keep right and expect dust.
Permits, beds and practical notes
There is no entry fee for the gorge, and no permit is needed for the waterfalls. Higher up, where the road climbs on towards the Arabel plateau, there is a border zone checkpoint, and going beyond it requires a permit arranged well in advance rather than on the day. Most people come for the day from Karakol or from the villages along the shore, where family guesthouses and yurt camps take travellers; there is nothing to sleep in at the falls. At about 2,500 m the gorge is noticeably cooler than the lake, so carry a layer even on a hot day at the shore.
Good to know
Questions travellers ask
- Do you need a permit for the Barskoon waterfalls?
- No. The waterfalls sit below the restricted area and there is no entry fee for the gorge. The border zone begins higher up, where the mine road carries on towards the Arabel plateau, and a checkpoint stands on it. A permit for that upper section takes days to weeks to arrange, so it is not something to sort out on the day.
- How do you get to Barskoon from Karakol?
- It is about 100 km and roughly 2 hours 30 minutes by car: 80 to 90 km of tarmac west along the southern shore, then about 20 km up the gorge on the mine road to the falls and the Gagarin monument. Minibuses from Karakol only reach Barskoon village, which leaves some 15 km of the gorge road still to cover.
- When can you visit the Barskoon gorge?
- June to mid-September is the dependable season, with the road clear and herders in the meadows. In winter access to the upper gorge is a matter of weather: snow and ice on the gravel can turn back an ordinary car, and there is no guarantee of reaching the waterfalls between late autumn and spring.
- Do you need a 4x4 for Barskoon?
- Not in summer. Because the road serves the Kumtor mine it is graded and kept in good condition, and an ordinary car reaches the waterfalls without difficulty. The traffic is the real issue: mine trucks move quickly on the gravel, so keep right, drive with your lights on and allow for dust. Winter conditions are a different matter.
- What is the Gagarin monument at Barskoon?
- A bust of Yuri Gagarin stands beside the gorge road, marking the valley where the cosmonaut rested after his space flight. It is a short stop rather than a site in itself, but it is on the way to the waterfalls and almost everyone driving up the gorge pulls in at it for a few minutes.
- Can you ride horses in the Barskoon gorge?
- In summer, yes. Local herders bring horses down to the meadows near the falls and take visitors as far as the second waterfall. It is arranged on the spot rather than booked ahead, and it is worth carrying cash in som for it. Outside the summer months there is no one up there to ask.
Kyrgyzstan
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