Lake Issyk-Kul, located in the northeast of Kyrgyzstan, is nestled between the towering Ala-Too mountain ranges, part of the Tian Shan mountains. This beautiful lake is the second largest alpine lake in the world and, thanks to thermal activity and its depth, it never freezes.
We’ve encountered many stunning lakes during our travels. On this journey alone, we’ve added several more to our list of the world’s most beautiful lakes. Lake Baikal in Russia took our breath away, Tsagaan Nuur in Mongolia was a perfect relaxation spot, Big Almaty Lake in Kazakhstan offered a refreshing experience, and now we were on our way to Cholpon-Ata, a popular vacation destination for Kazakhs, Kyrgyzs, and Russians.
We were visiting during the shoulder season, so we expected fewer tourists. Our trip from Bishkek to Cholpon-Ata involved a four-hour ride in a marshutka (mini-bus). Midway through the ride, I started experiencing painful stomach cramps. The sharp pains would strike for about 10 minutes, ease off, and then return shortly after—classic symptoms of food poisoning. Traveling with food poisoning is a nightmare; I knew I needed a bathroom urgently.
Upon our arrival in Cholpon-Ata, we headed straight to the first guesthouse we spotted, hoping to use the toilet. Disappointingly, the Russian woman there sternly refused. While Nick set off to find our booked guesthouse, I desperately searched for any usable facility and was relieved to find a kind woman who let me in just in time.
Our guesthouse, formerly known as Angelina’s Guesthouse but now called Galina’s Guesthouse, was wonderful. For $13 a night, we had a double room with a private bathroom. The courtyard was beautifully surrounded by apple, plum, and apricot trees, along with vibrant flowers.
I tried exploring the town and beach with Nick, but the stomach cramps sent me back to our guesthouse. Nick returned with photos of the crystal-clear lake, jet-skiers, parasailers, beachgoers in swimwear, and people enjoying beers under the sun. It looked more like a beach in Russia than Central Asia!
Though I missed the initial beach excursion due to my food poisoning, Nick became ill that night, and the next day we reversed roles. Eventually, we both enjoyed the beach, swimming in the clear waters, and tasting the local food, though separately.
After two nights of recovery, we felt completely better and decided to head further east along the lake to the city of Karakol, swapping our bathing suits for trekking gear.