Sunny Bokonbaevo

Bokonbaevo is a village on the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, located in a paradise, against the backdrop of exciting mountain landscapes and blue-blue Issyk-Kul sparkling in the sun.

The village is located 160 km from Karakol and 280 km from Bishkek at an altitude of 1800 m above sea level. From here, treks along the Terskey Ala-Too Mountain range are offered, lasting from one day to two weeks through wild hot springs, the Chasha Manasa salt lake and the longest waterfall in Kyrgyzstan.

Livestock and horticultural farms are developing successfully. Historically, the ancestors of the inhabitants of the village of Bokonbaevo settled in a sedentary and nomadic way of life, as evidenced by the presence of archaeological sites and the heritage of nomadic culture, which has survived to this day.

The first official mention of the settlement dates back to 1912 with the appearance of settlement yards, which later became known as “Koltsovka” on behalf of the owner of a trade shop.

Before the settlement, the area was called “Kok Kytan” / Black Heron and looked like a typical steppe with dense tea and reed thickets and was a favourable habitat for migratory birds, mainly black heron, which is now the logo of the village of Bokonbaevo.

On the coast of Issyk-Kul and at the foot of the mountains there are guest houses and yurt camps where you can live the traditional life of the Kyrgyz. Every year, at the height of the tourist season, Bokonbaevo hosts the most famous Birds of Prey Festival in the country. Experienced berkutchi (eagle hunter), and there are about a dozen of them in the village, show how to hunt small and large game with golden eagles and falcons, their habits and characteristics, and can also organize real hunting for tourists.

In addition, having arrived in Bokonbaevo, you can see a variety of national equestrian competitions and games in which riders demonstrate their strength and dexterity, watch how carpets and felt souvenirs are made, take part in master classes on cooking national dishes and listen to performances by local musicians and dance groups.