Kysyl-Suu - Saruu - Tong

The campsite right on Issyk-Kul lake has impressed us very much and since the weather is simply stunning the next day, we enjoy our private beach with our two dogs after breakfast - we swim, splash, and frolic - the water is crystal clear and the scenery looks even more picturesque when you swim a little further out.

Owner Nadia gives us tips for interesting detours on our way to the yurt camp, which will be our home for the next two days. And so we decide to leave early in the afternoon and drive towards the mountains in Saruu - there is supposed to be a waterfall here. We cover about 12 km with our car, then continue on foot along the river and the mountains. We're not sure if we're in the right place, but the nature is breathtaking and we enjoy the hike. Eventually, we find a small waterfall - we're not sure if we were looking for it. But the hike is great, the kids enjoy jumping across the river and hopping from stone to stone.

When we reach the car again, it's already quite late and we have to admit - there's no time for more stops, like the one in Skaska - where colorful rocks would have been waiting for us!

The roads on the south side of Issyk-Kul lake are quite good, so our journey continues along the shore towards Tong - here we have booked two nights in the yurt camp. It is likely to be quite touristy - the operators are Russian-German and the camp hasn't been around for long. Of course, we get lost just before, the road that leads to the camp once again doesn't exist in Google Maps. One phone call later, we know where to go, we even get picked up and reach Camp Almaluu around 7:00 pm.

It is beautifully designed, located between the lake and the mountains. The yurts are numbered, Eugen explains to us that they currently have Germans in the camp who bought a lamb and it will be slaughtered, gutted, and prepared here today. The kids run off immediately, there are dogs, cats, horses, but also many children. We meet people from America who work here in Kyrgyzstan and wanted to experience staying in yurts.

There is the long-awaited dinner late in the evening - the preparation took a long time.

Now the lamb is being eaten - the children are torn between disgust and fascination - there is a lively atmosphere in the dining yurt - who eats what? The beautifully braided stuffed intestine, the butt, or just the boring ribs? We are brave, we try almost everything, and in the end, there is even brain - even the children taste it - crazy!

But everything tastes excellent, there is still Besparmak and delicious salads. Stuffed and round, we roll towards the yurts - we have already planned a horseback ride and a mobile Banja on the beach tomorrow. But more on that in the next blog!

One more thing to mention: The starry sky above the camp is indescribable!