Although we originally only booked one night at the hostel in Karakol, we ended up staying for three nights because there was so much to discover here.
On Tuesday morning, we continued our journey to the south shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. Our destination was the small village of Kaji-Sai, as there was a hotel here. However, when we saw it, we completely lost the desire to spend a night in this gray and more than dilapidated building. We were even happier when we discovered a new building behind it that now functioned as a hotel. We probably don't even need to mention that we were the only guests here :D.
The hotel in Kaji-Sai From there, our day trip took us to the Fairytale Canyon. Once again, untouched and beautiful nature awaited us as we climbed and hiked over the hills to enjoy the view: on one side, the mountains with the striking dark red-brownish Fairytale Canyon and on the other side, the vastness of the deep blue mountain lake. Our trip to the Fairytale Canyon On Wednesday, the journey continued along the lakeshore to the Bel-Tam Yurt Camp.Yurts are the typical white tents of Kyrgyzstan. And besides the horse riding tour, spending a night in a yurt camp was one of the things we definitely wanted to experience in Kyrgyzstan! When else would we have the chance? The Bel-Tam Yurt Camp This "pattern" is also depicted on the Kyrgyz flag, as yurts are typical of Kyrgyzstan The lakeshore at the Yurt Camp The three other backpackers we met at the hostel in Karakol also booked a night there, and after a traditional dinner prepared by the host, the five of us spent the night in the yurt.Despite having a stove, a heater, and numerous mattresses and woolen blankets, it was a bit chilly in the yurt, but a special experience!
