Jeti-Ögüz Rocks
Жети-Өгүз
Red sandstone cliffs southwest of Karakol, with seven side-by-side rock peaks known as the 'Seven Bulls' and a split rock nearby called the 'Broken Heart'.
Jeti-Ögüz Rocks lie at the entrance to the Jeti-Ögüz valley, about 25 km southwest of Karakol. A line of red sandstone cliffs stands out sharply against the green meadows and spruce forest. 'Jeti-Ögüz' means 'seven bulls', and legend says they were seven bulls slaughtered by a king competing for a beautiful woman, then transformed into stone. Nearby is a massive rock split down the middle, called the 'Broken Heart', which also carries a sad story about lovers. Deeper into the valley you will reach Soviet-era sanatoriums and hot springs, and an open meadow known as the Valley of Flowers. It is full of wildflowers in summer, and herders set up yurts there. You can ride a horse or hike for about 1–2 hours to viewpoints. Climbing the small hill at the edge of the village for about 20 minutes gives a full view of the Seven Bulls. Admission is free. A taxi from Karakol takes about 40 minutes, and minibuses run to the Jeti-Ögüz sanatorium. Weather in the valley changes quickly, so bring a jacket. When riding horses, choose a reputable owner and confirm the price beforehand.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Kok-Jaiyk Valley (Valley of Flowers)
- Chon-Kyzyl-Suu Valley
- Karakol Regional Museum
- Dungan Family Dinner & Ashlyan-fu
- Karakol Russian Colonial Quarter
- Holy Trinity Cathedral, Karakol
- Karakol Dungan Mosque
- Karakol Ski Base