Bokonbayevo: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

Bokonbaevo combines impressive nature experiences with a lively Kyrgyz tradition of festivals and crafts. Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Bokonbaevo can then continue their search for accommodation.

Nature

Bokonbaevo offers 2–10-day eco-treks into the nearby Terskey Ala-Too. These include wild hot springs, the small salt lake Chasha Manasa and Kyrgyzstan’s longest waterfall. CBT also operates four yurt camps extending from the lakeshore to the mountain foothills, offering swimming, fishing, horse riding and stays for relaxation. Trekking and horse-riding tours from Bokonbaevo lead to the slopes of the Terskey Ala-Too.

In the vicinity of Bokonbaevo, Boz Salkyn encompasses alpine meadows and mixed fir forests on the slopes of the Terskei-Ala-Too. The salt lake Tuz Kol is located near the village and close to the shore of Issyk-Kul. The gorges of Skazka, with red sandstone formations shaped into distinctive natural forms, are also nearby. Shatyly is described as a one-day trekking or horse-riding excursion with views across the waters of Issyk-Kul.

Culture

The Salbuurun Festival in Bokonbaevo combines eagle hunting, archery, taigan coursing and traditional games. Visitors can see birds of prey, Taigan and Alabai dogs, Kyrgyz horse breeds, Arashan sheep, hunting equipment and stonework there. The Salbuurun Festival programme also includes music, throat singing and folk performances.

Bokonbaevo holds an annual birds-of-prey festival featuring Berkutchi demonstrations of eagle and falcon hunting. The bird festival includes a local felt exhibition as well as workshops on shyrdak, chiy, ormok, komuz and arrows. There are also opportunities to observe the production of felt carpets and souvenirs. The folk ensemble from Bokonbaevo performs with komuz, uz-komuz and other traditional instruments. National horse competitions and games, as well as performances by local musicians and dance groups, are also among the offerings for visitors described.

Accommodation and Food

Bokonbaevo offers guesthouses, homestays, hostels and yurt stays near the mountain slopes, on the lakeshore and in guesthouse gardens. Family guesthouses serve lake fish, lagman and seasonal fruit. Local cafés, bistros and grocery shops can be found in the village centre. Workshops on preparing traditional Kyrgyz dishes are also offered.

Bokonbaevo can be reached from Bishkek by marshrutka or minibus. Transport options on the southern shore are also available from Karakol and Balykchy.

Other places: Balykchy, Ananyevo, Grigorievka, Chong-Sary-Oy, Dolinka, Barskoon, Kuturga, Tamga

To the higher-level travel overview: Yssykköl Region.