Jyrgalan – Our Favourite Place in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is already the next big thing in adventure tourism, and after our fourth visit there, we have finally found our favourite place in the entire country, Jyrgalan.

Jyrgalan Village Kyrgyzstan

We’ve been lucky enough to travel to a lot of countries in our lives. Few have ever made us fall completely in love with a place quite like Kyrgyzstan has though.

From our first visit we knew this country was special. Over the next few years we returned time and time again, with each moment further cementing Kyrgyzstan’s place in our hearts.

It’s not just one experience, or one destination, or one element, that has made this mountainous, Central Asian nation one of our absolute favourites.

It’s the entire collective emotions we feel whenever we walk through the streets of Bishkek, wander deep into the mountains or are welcomed into someone’s home.

Kyrgyzstan is paradise to us, and in that slice of paradise we have found our oasis.

Come visit Jyrgalan with us on our latest photography and adventure Kyrgyzstan tour!

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Hidden away in the far-eastern part of the country, close to the border of Kazakhstan and only an hour from Karakol, is the captivating Jyrgalan Valley.

Snowmelt rivers carve their way between jagged peaks and alpine lakes sit calmly amongst undulating pastures.

Nomadic shepherds tend to their cattle, setting up picturesque yurt camps in the valley for the entire summer. Despite the hardships that the remoteness brings, life is simple, and beautiful.

In the heart of it all lies a village of 1000 people. Brick and timber houses are scattered around, often with wooden barns between their neighbours.

Cows, horses and goats wander from paddock to paddock while young kids play carefree on the dirt roads around town.

People call you into their homes, feeding you cup after cup of fresh chai. If it’s after lunch the vodka or cognac will probably make an appearance, and before too long you’ll find yourself sitting on the floor singing along to Russian and Kyrgyz folk songs with your new best friends.

Jyrgalan village is the very definition of ‘bucolic’.

READ MORE: Here’s our brand new guide for travelling in Kyrgyzstan!

Timber Barn Jyrgalan Village Kyrgyzstan
An old timber barn, set against an impossibly beautiful backdrop of forested mountains.

The first time we arrived in Jyrgalan, back in 2016, there was only one small guesthouse run by the hospitable owners Emil and Gulmira, and there no set activities. It was really the wild west, in a country already off the beaten path.

We headed off into the mountains on a new trail called the Boz Uchuk Trek, and couldn’t believe the splendours that were waiting to be explored by intrepid travellers.

On our return in 2017 there are now 6 guesthouses, new hiking trails, horse treks and even mountain biking routes being developed.

The American international development agency USAID BGI had seen the potential for tourism in Jyrgalan, and had poured considerable funds into its growth and infrastructure.

We helped mark out the brand new Keskenkija Loop, visited new yurt stays, spent many more days with the locals, and marvelled at the improvements happening around Jyrgalan.

Today there are even more adventure activities you can do, from exploring fantastic day hikes from Jyrgalan, and even attacking the brand new Bulak Ashuu Lakes Trek.

From being an obscure village that didn’t even feature on Google Maps, to being the next up-and-coming adventure destination in the country, Jyrgalan is a town on the rise.

We have seen firsthand the benefits that sustainable tourism can bring to a small village.

When we lived in Phong Nha in Vietnam, home to the world’s biggest cave, we made friends with countless locals who had gone from living in one-room shacks to developing tour companies, guest houses, restaurants and bars. Tourism has allowed the local people to send their kids to school, build safer houses and provide for their families.

We see what is happening in Jyrgalan, and feel inspired by what tourism will do this small village tucked away in the mountains.

It’s the scenery that will first bring travellers to the Jyrgalan Valley, but it is the village and the people that live there that will make people fall in love with this charming oasis in the paradise of Kyrgyzstan.

But don’t take our word for it. When you next travel to Kyrgyzstan, make sure you set aside some time to visit Jyrgalan. We promise you’ll feel the same.

Photos of Jyrgalan Village

We have put together a few of our favourite photos from Jyrgalan Village to give you an idea of just how quaint, picturesque, simple and gorgeous life is in our favourite place in Kyrgyzstan.

Old Man Walking Jyrgalan Village Kyrgyzstan
A man walks through downtown Jyrgalan on a typical weekday. There’s no traffic to worry about here.
Gulmira Emil Jyrgalan Village Kyrgyzstan
Emil and Gulmira, the owners of Ala-Kul Guesthouse, have been the cornerstone of growth and development in Jyrgalan.
Boy Horse Jyrgalan Village Kyrgyzstan
Horses are still the primary mode of transport for the locals to get into the mountains. Life would not be the same without them, and they are treated like family. Here a young boy stops to pose for a photo for us while he walking by.
Old Truck Jyrgalan Village Kyrgyzstan
An old cattle truck parked up in the village. You can see these Soviet trucks all over Kyrgyzstan.
Old Barn Jyrgalan Village Kyrgyzstan
Wandering through Jyrgalan is like stepping back to a simpler time.
Old Couple Jyrgalan Village Kyrgyzstan
One of the beautiful couples in Jyrgalan, who have just opened a new guesthouse. This village will be booming in the next few years and it’s exciting to see how tourism is directly benefiting the local people.
Yurt Jyrgalan Village Kyrgyzstan
One of the most popular things to do in Kyrgyzstan is to stay in a yurt, and in Jyrgalan there are a few options where you can do just that! As of 2017 the Eki Chat Yurt Stay opened up in one of the nearby valleys, allowing people to stay with a real nomadic family in the jailoo.
Young Girl Jyrgalan Village Kyrgyzstan
A young girl wipes her eyes at Alakol Guesthouse. The kids of Jyrgalan are absolutely adorable, and love practicing their English with tourists.
Cows Jyrgalan Village Kyrgyzstan
One thing you’ll see a lot of in Jyrgalan are cows. They are literally everywhere, and often walk into people’s yards.
Blue House Jyrgalan Village Kyrgyzstan
A typical style of house that you can find in Jyrgalan.
Wizard Jyrgalan Village Kyrgyzstan
The Wizard of Jyrgalan! This sweet old man is a bit of an icon in the village. You’ll find him walking the streets, checking on livestock and chatting to anyone who stops to listen.
Horse Jyrgalan Village Kyrgyzstan
Along with cows, you’ll find horses casually hanging out in all kinds of places.
Man Waving Jyrgalan Village Kyrgyzstan
“Photo, photo!” We were walking through the village when we heard this man call out from the roof where he was working on some renovations with his friend. We snapped his picture, and then he jumped down, ran over and asked, “email?” We offered to take another, proper, portrait shot of him and sent both of them to him when we got back to Bishkek. His name is Edilbek.
Goats Jyrgalan Village Kyrgyzstan
This is the only kind of traffic jam you’ll experience in this village – locals herding their sheep and cows.
Mosque Jyrgalan Village Kyrgyzstan
With Kyrgyzstan being a predominantly Muslim country (although far from strict), you will see mosques in every town or village.
Ladies Cooking Jyrgalan Village Kyrgyzstan
The ladies of Alakol Guesthouse preparing another delicious meal for their visitors.
Cemetery Jyrgalan Village Kyrgyzstan
The cemetery of Jyrgalan Village. While it is disrespectful to walk through the grounds, it is fine to take photos, and it offers an fascinating insight into the Islamic culture.
Town Jyrgalan Village Kyrgyzstan
The location of Jyrgalan means hikes, horse treks and mountain bike trails are all accessible straight from downtown.
Cow Kid Jyrgalan Village Kyrgyzstan
Kids play on roofs while farm animals trek around town. Growing up in Jyrgalan is a simple, yet beautiful, affair.
Home Jyrgalan Village Kyrgyzstan
Jyrgalan – our favourite place in Kyrgyzstan!

How to Get to Jyrgalan Village

The village of Jyrgalan is located about 60km to the east of Karakol, the large town near the shores of Issyk Kul.

A mix of paved and dirt roads run from Karakol all the way to the village, and two-wheel-drive vehicles will have no problem in reaching there.

You have two options when researching how to get to Jyrgalan village – you can either hire a private car from Bishkek or Karakol or take a marshrutka from Karakol.

Marshrutkas are the large, Soviet-era vans you see bouncing around the country that act as public transport. As large buses aren’t common outside of Bishkek or Osh, this is your best way to get around.

They leave from the intersection of Derbishev and Aldashev at the Ak-Tilek Market, departing at 8.30 AM, 11.30 AM and 4.30 PM, and the cost is 80KGS (USD$1.15) per person.  If you want to take a taxi you can organise it through Salam taxi (+996 3922 52222), and it will cost 1300KGS (USD$19) for up to 4 people.

We recommend stopping by the Destination Karakol office, next door to Fat Cat Cafe, to get more information. They can confirm details on the marshrutkas, or they can organise transport, accommodation and trekking options from right there in town.

Once you’re in Jyrgalan make sure you drop by the Destination Jyrgalan DMO (located at Alakol Guesthouse, run by Emil and Gulmira), to find out what amazing activities and attractions are newly developed.

If you want to email the tourism office before your visit, this is the contact: destination.jyrgalan@gmail.com

Alesha and Jarryd

Alesha and Jarryd

Hey! We are Alesha and Jarryd, the award-winning writers and professional photographers behind this blog. We have been travelling the world together since 2008, with a passion for adventure travel and sustainable tourism. Through our stories and images we promote exciting off-the-beaten-path destinations and fascinating cultures as we go. As one of the world's leading travel journalists, our content and adventures have been featured by National Geographic, Lonely Planet, CNN, BBC, Forbes, Business Insider, Washington Post, Yahoo!, BuzzFeed, Channel 7, Channel 10, ABC, The Guardian, and plenty other publications. Follow our journey in real time on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

Hi, We’re Alesha and Jarryd!

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9 thoughts on “Jyrgalan – Our Favourite Place in Kyrgyzstan”

  1. Hi all, I would really think twice about visiting Jyrgalan if visiting. I am here based on the recommendations in this blog, after spending a week visiting villages and destinations such as Song Kul, Baskooon and Dherty Oguz. I know people are into different things, but honestly, Jyrgalan is just a small farming town with heaps of erosion and ok mountain views. The other places I have been were far more impressive from a scenery/nature perspective. It honestly made me think the author had been paid to give this place the big thumbs up.

  2. Thank you for sharing so nice small village, Jyrgalan instead of metropols. ıt attracts me. the nature , animals and people seems real. I mean I feel the livings there. Wish you nice and enjoyable trips.

    • Thank you so much. The nature here is stunning

  3. Hi, thank you for sharing your travelling story and from those above photos, I’m sure that Jyrgalan is one of my must-to-go places. I believe that I will get a peaceful mind once I’ve been there.

  4. This is truly an interesting place with abundant natural beauty. Had you have also been Alaa-Too square in Bishkek. I would definitely make my mind to visit Bishkek! I loved each picture of Krygstan, it,s amazing and truly beautiful place.

  5. We have decided to visit Jyrgalan at least for a day, thanks to your blog. The place looks right out of a classic English cartoon! Thank you!

    • That’s amazing guys! So happy you’re deciding to head there. We’re sure you’ll absolutely love it. It’s so picturesque and charming there. Let us know what you think of it 🙂

  6. I can’t express how much I appreciate your blog. I was really stressed out planning this trip, but after reading your blog, I feel like it’s much more manageable. I will definitely have to spend a couple days in Jyrgalan when I am there. Thank you guys so much again!

    • Thanks so much Junior! Glad you are finding some inspiration from our blog. You’ll absolutely love Kyrgyzstan. Please make sure you head out to Jyrgalan! It really is such an amazing place. All the best and happy travels 🙂

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