Issyk-Kul Hot Springs and a Holiday for Your Health

People come to Issyk-Kul not only for the beach but also for their health. The mild mountain climate, clean air, the lake's lightly salted water and the famous thermal springs have long made this region a place to restore your strength. Here is where to go and how to rest with benefit for the body.

Thermal and radon springs

The best-known hot springs are concentrated on the southern shore and around Karakol. In the Jeti-Oguz gorge radon springs bubble up, traditionally visited to relax muscles and joints. In the village of Ak-Suu near Karakol there are thermal baths with warm mineral water. Soaking in an open-air hot spring amid the mountains is an unforgettable feeling.

The lake's healing climate

Issyk-Kul lies at about 1,600 metres above sea level. Here mountain and mild coastal climates meet: dry clean air, moderate sun and a light breeze. This microclimate makes it easier to breathe, sleep better and recover the nervous system after city bustle.

Simple health rituals

• a morning swim in the lake and barefoot walks on the sand;
• hiking through the gorges and breathing practice in the fresh air;
• fresh fruit, honey and local herbal teas;
• early nights to the sound of the waves and the silence of the mountains.

A calm stay with us

Our guest house is made for slow, restorative rest. A quiet paved courtyard full of roses, home cooking in our own dining room and the lakeshore a 10–15 minute walk away help you truly exhale; guests rate us 4.7 on 2GIS for the cleanliness, warmth and hospitality. We can explain how to reach the springs, arrange a trip and suggest peaceful routes for walks.

Kumys therapy and nature's gifts

A distinctly Kyrgyz wellness tradition is kumys therapy. Kumys, a drink of fermented mare's milk, is rich in vitamins and has long been valued for aiding digestion and restoring strength. In summer you can try it right in the yurts in the gorges. Add mountain honey, sea buckthorn and clean spring water, and you have a natural pharmacy under the open sky.

How to plan a wellness day

• morning — a swim in the lake and light exercise on the shore;
• daytime — a walk in a gorge or a trip to the springs;
• evening — herbal tea, an early dinner and quiet;
• more sleep, more water and fewer gadgets.

Come to reset: a few days on the shore of the bluest lake, with hot springs and mountain air, will give you more strength than a long holiday in a noisy city.