Kyrgyz Republic South Tian Shan Mountain Range, Rajons At-Baschy

The area around Kel-Suu Lake is a hiking paradise that is still virtually undeveloped. A few yurt camps serve as base camps. From there, in addition to the a bit more frequented lake, you can also climb various mountains with or without horses. Often there are still no hiking trails here and you have to explore from scratch with good offline maps.

Bring your telephoto lens and spend a break at the top of the ridge of the mountain photographing the clouds passing through the mountains. Despite the mountains always remaining the same, each photo will be unique.

For the Kel-Suu area you need a border permit, as the area is close to the Chinese border. There are checkpoints along the route that you have to pass through. You can request and obtain the permit issued by the government via various tourist boards. We got this through Terra Montis Adventure. You will need a good 4x4 vehicle for the route itself, as the roads are not developed and are often muddy and slippery. In the area itself, the base camps offer you a good, safe starting point for exploring the area. Food is also provided there, which you can book in addition. Reservations were not necessary in advance in summer 2024.