Teshik-Kul Lake

Teshik-Kul Lake (also Teshik-Köl) is a remote high mountain lake, located at an altitude of 3,500 meters on the southern side of the Terskey Ala-Too Range in the Issyk-Kul Region.
Teshik-Kul is a typical mountain lake, divided into two parts, which are located at different heights and are connected by a waterfall. The water of the lake is milky-blue and opaque.
The area around the lake is very picturesque. To the east of it there is a magnificent view of the mountain glacier, which does not melt even in summer. To the west stretches a small mountain plain that runs right at the foot of the glaciers that feed this lake. The lake has an underground drain and therefore the river flowing out of it escapes right out of the ground just below the lake itself. It does not have direct drainage.
The lake is in a remote place. The route to the lake begins in the Giluu-Suu River Valley, next to the same name hot springs, just before the ascent from the south to the Ton Pass. The hiking route to the lake is not difficult: 5 kilometers with a slight height difference.

How to get to Teshik-Kul Lake

Lake Teshik-Kul is located in the Issyk-Kul region, on the southern side of the Terskey-Ala-Too Range. The nearest settlement to the lake is the village of Bokonbaevo, located 40 kilometers away. However, such a small distance is deceptive – the terrain in which the lake is located is very difficult to access.
It is possible to get to the lake by car in several ways: through the Bolgart River Valley, through the Jalpak-Bel Pass or the Kichi-Naryn Valley (from the Bishkek-Torugart road near the town of Naryn or the village of Sary-Bulak), as well as through the Tosor Pass on the southern shore of Issyk-Kul (a very difficult but interesting route by car). In all of the routes, a car should be well prepared for off-road. It is also possible to get to the lake through the pedestrian Ton Pass, near the village of Bokonbaevo.

Lake Teshik-Kul on the map