Skazka (Fairy Tale) Canyon
Жомок капчыгайы
A colorful sandstone canyon on Issyk-Kul's south shore, eroded by wind and rain into castles, dragons and formations resembling the Great Wall, set against a deep blue lake and snowy peaks.
Skazka (Fairy Tale) Canyon (Russian: Skazka; Kyrgyz: Jomok) lies near Tosor village on Issyk-Kul's south shore, only about 2 km from the lake. Red, orange, yellow and purple sandstone and clay, shaped by wind and rain, form rows of rock pillars, walls and spires. Locals have given them names such as the 'Great Wall of China,' 'dragon,' 'castle' and 'Sleeping Beauty,' which is where the 'fairy tale' name comes from. The trails are not fixed, and you can freely climb the small ridges. From the heights, you can see the colorful rock, the distant Issyk-Kul and the snowy peaks of the Terskey Alatau. The site charges a small entrance fee (check on site), and there is a simple parking lot and a small shop at the entrance. Getting there: a hired car from Karakol or Cholpon-Ata takes about 2 to 3 hours, or you can take the south shore route from Bishkek. It is often combined in one day with Barskoon Gorge and a lakeside yurt camp. Visiting tips: allow 1.5 to 2 hours, as the afternoon light is best. Note: the rock is soft and crumbles easily, so do not climb steep pillars. Summer midday heat has no shade, so bring water and a hat.
Opening hours
Open all day (daytime)
Nearby sights
- Tamga-Tash
- Kaji-Say
- Manjyly-Ata
- Barskoon Gorge & Waterfalls
- Bokonbaevo Eagle Hunting
- Bosteri
- Rukh Ordo Cultural Center
- Cholpon-Ata Beach