We are in the eastern corner of Kyrgyzstan where the country narrows and the mountain ranges create a natural border with Kazakhstan and China. From entering the border (which took no more than 15 minutes,) we drove straight to Karakol: a large town that sits on the eastern edge of Lake Issik Kol. The town acts as a good base for people wanting to explore the mountains; indeed, the hotels, hostels and restaurants were filled with European hikers.
We spent the next four days driving along a few of the mountain valleys and camping out. We had had plans to join the hikers and get some exercise but wussed out: not least because the nights are getting rather chilly and Totty is just too comfortable (and valuable) to leave behind! The first valley, Jeti Oguz, started off as a gravel dirt road that weaved several times across the river on crude log bridges. It then opened up into a large beautiful green valley scattered with holiday yurts. We continued on as the road got muddier and rockier until we could go no further: which fortuitously coincided with an amazing view of the mountains.
View from our bed
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