Barskoon Waterfall — Attraction in Issyk-Kul Region

Barskoon Waterfall is one of the most famous waterfalls in Kyrgyzstan. Falling from a height of 24 metres, this is a spectacular waterfall. To reach the waterfall, require a short hike up hilly slopes. So please be prepared with the relevant outfit. There are also several other smaller waterfalls nearby, all of which require considerable hiking.

The road from Barskoon, which passes up the Barskoon Valley, used to be one of the routes of the Silk Road, passing over Bedel Pass (4,284m) into China. It is now the main road leading to the Kumtor Gold Mine, which means that it is well-maintained and has a lot of traffic, including trucks going to the mine and back.

There are two interesting monuments along the road in Barskoon: a Soviet truck mounted on a wide pedestal, and a bust of Yuri Gagarin, who vacationed on the south shore of Issyk-Kul after his historic first manned flight into space. To the southwest of the villages is a barrow, or burial mound, dating from between the 5th and 3rd centuries BC, and measuring 20m in diameter and 2m tall. There are also the remains of an ancient Silk Road settlement, which served travellers going on the road from Bedel Pass to China, dating from the 8th to...

Barskoon is a long valley with multiple attractions, but waterfalls are the first-ones you reach by comfortable dirt road (built and used for gold mine). There are multiple waterfalls at the beginning of the valley, and you may choose which part to visit based on your hiking experience. Hiking paths to waterfalls start at the parking lot, opposite to boulder with sculpture of Yurii Gagarin (soviet cosmonaut, who as others cosmonauts visited Issyk Kul resorts for rehabilitation). Slopes are quite steep and you should be careful when hiking to higher parts of the waterfall. You may visit the waterfalls at any season. They freeze...

There are multiple stages to the waterfall, with the most scenic at the very top. I recommend using maps.me app for trial insights, and do note, that unless you're very fit you will not make it to the top. The higher "trail" becomes vertical almost and hands have to be used to scramble. Also bring a raincoat as the weather changes rapidly towards the peaks. If you can avoid weekends, it's honestly best as the place is really busy. Weekdays, however, are quiet. I've visited twice, so this is from personal experience. There is no entrance fee and...