Fairytale Canyon, on the south coast of lake Issyk Kul, is without a doubt a top place you can visit in Kyrgyzstan. Our travel guide shows you how to get there independently without your own car, what to expect, how much it costs and where the best viewpoints are. The canyon was formed through thousands of years of wind, water and ice erosions, creating the desert landscape so uncharacteristic of Kyrgyzstan. Red and orange rock formation makes you feel like you are walking in a fairytale land. And as the name Skazka suggest, it literally translates from Russian as a fairytale, and yes, it lives up to its name. The canyon is linked with many stories and legends, but as our article promises, we will keep it short and go straight to the point.
Skazka Canyon – Know before you go
Location
Skazka Canyon is easily reached independently, located on the South coast of lake Issyk Kul, between Tosor (7 km) and Bokonbaevo (30 km), on the main road leading from Karakol – Bokonbaevo.
Water
Bring enough water with you as there are no places nearby to buy or refill water. Don’t forget the hat; the canyon has dry air, and it gets very hot.
Food
Same as water, you need to bring everything with you. There are no stores nearby.
Entry fee
The entrance gate is located 100 m from the main road. It is easy to see, as a big sign by the main road points in the canyon’s entrance direction. The entry fee is 50 som per person.
Distance from the entrance to the canyon
Two km long dirt road leads from the entrance to the canyon. It is slightly uphill but still very easy and convenient to walk. When we visited, we were offered a ride by a kind couple from Kazakhstan which made it very easy. Don’t hesitate to hitchhike this part, as many people will gladly take you. Or walk, it won’t take you more than 30-40 minutes, and it gets already scenic here.
Read more: The most epic hike in Kyrgyzstan: Ala Kul Lake Hike
How much time do you need to explore
If you came from Kazakhstan and visited the famous Charyn Canyon, Skazka Canyon is nothing like that. It is much smaller, and you don’t need much time to explore it. We would say 1 hour is enough to get to the beautiful viewpoints, but you can easily spend 2 or 3 hours exploring all the hidden corners.
Our trip was 6 hours total, including waiting for a lift from Tosor, exploring the canyon, a 2 km hike back to the main road and hitchhiking back to Tosor.
Note: Skazka Canyon is located in the middle of nowhere. In short, it is a 2 km walk from the main road to reach the canyon. The nearest village is Tosor, which is located 7 km away. Read below how to get to and from villages around.
How to get to Skazka Canyon
The entrance to the canyon is conveniently located on the main road between Karakol and Bokonbaevo. If you don’t feel like going independently, you can organise a taxi with CBT in Karakol or Bokonbaevo. This is obviously a more expensive option, but you can try to find fellow travellers and share the cost.
In our eyes, it is super easy to reach the canyon independently by public transport or hitchhiking, and we also recommend you travel around South Issyk Kul Lake. The scenery is breathtaking, and the villages still live a very traditional life. Tosor has one of the best beaches around Issyk Kul Lake and is the perfect base to visit Skazka Canyon.
TIP: Bear in mind that hitchhiking in Kyrgyzstan is not hitchhiking in real terms, as locals are used to standing on the side of the road and waving down the cars. Drivers usually stop and give you the ride, expecting little money.
From Tosor
We travelled the South coast of Issyk Kul Lake and visited the canyon from the nearby village of Tosor. It is only 7 km to reach the Canyon entrance. Just stand by the main road in the direction of Bokonbaevo and wave down the cars; sooner or later, somebody will stop and give you a ride. Tell them you are going to Skazka. Everyone knows the place.
If nobody stops, don’t worry. Marshrutkas are going between Karakol and Bokonbaevo/Bishkek. In our experience, these marshrutkas go roughly every 20 minutes. Expect to pay KZS 30-50 per person.
We hitchhiked on the way back, and good 20 minutes, no one stopped. Then suddenly, the local guy stopped and took us to Tosor for free.
From Karakol
Marshrutkas #315 (to Bokonbaevo) or #310 (to Balykchy) frequently run daily from Southern Bus Terminal in Karakol. Ask the driver to drop you off at Skazka Canyon. The ride takes around 1.5 hours (100 km) each way, costing 150 som. If you want to return to Karakol, the last marshrutkas are around 4-5pm, so plan your time accordingly. Otherwise, you need to hitchhike. We also saw different marshrutkas numbers that go from Bishkek and might also take you. Again, we saw marshrutkas roughly every 20 minutes.
From Bokonbaevo
Bokonbaevo is another good starting point, only 30 minutes from the canyon. Either arrange a taxi through CBT or follow the same plan as if you go from Tosor. Go to the main road and wave at cars. Somebody will stop and take you. If not, wait for marshrutka, or go to the Bokonbaevo bus station close to the CBT office. Find marshrutka toward Karakol and ask to be dropped off by Skazka Canyon.
From Bishkek
Take marshrutka that goes to Bokonbaevo from Bishkek Western bus station. There is no bus schedule, and they leave once they are full. It will take around 5 hours as it is 270 km. From Bokonbaevo to Skazka Canyon, follow the description above. Or, you could find the marshrutka that goes from Bishkek to Karakol along the south coast, then ask the driver to drop you off by the Skazka Canyon entrance.
Travel insurance for kyrgyzstan
Travelling in Kyrgyzstan is a very adventurous one. You hike in high altitudes, ride horses, hike in canyons and have other adventures where accidents might occur. It is better to be prepared than sorry; travel insurance is an absolute must for these purposes. We recommend IATI Travel Insurance as they cover a wide range of activities, even hiking in higher altitudes, that in Kyrgyzstan is normal. As a reader of Broken Navigation, you get a special 5% discount that you can claim using the following link. Enjoy!
Get your 5% discount for travel insurance with IATI here!
Skazka Canyon – the best viewpoints
Walk 2 km from the main entrance until you reach a car park in the canyon. You will see two tents. One in front of you and one on your left with souvenirs and some traditional clothes for photoshoots. The toilets are on your right, by the way.
There are two fantastic viewpoints. One in on your left side, hike through the path along the steep red cliff on your right; it takes you up from where in our opinion, is the best view of a whole canyon.
The second great viewpoint is on your right (from the car park). It is literally behind the photoshoot place. Hike up through something that seems like an open tunnel of rock formations. You get a view of the most photogenic rock on your left side.
There are more places with beautiful views. Take your time and explore all the hidden corners!
Where to stay before visiting Skazka Canyon
Tosor I Yurt Camp Tosor – an epic yurt camp located right on the beach. The sunset watching from here is epic, and as a bonus, you get to stay on one of the most beautiful beaches in Issyk Kul.
Bokonbaevo I Guest House Emily – perfect base in Bokonbaevo village. Homestay with breakfast included. You can choose from standard rooms or yurts, and they also help you organise the best trips around – Eagle hunters and others. From their garden, you have a beautiful view of the mountains.
Karakol I Snow Leopard – our favourite place in Karakol. Family-run guesthouse with kitchen, sauna, private bathrooms and garden. Perfect base to visit places around Karakol or hike to the Ala Kul Lake, which is the best thing to do from Karakol.
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Travel insurance
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For Europeans Truetraveller offers perfect travel insurance for the best price.
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