Gretchen Stuppy Carlson
Kyrgystan is an incredible and diverse country with towering mountains and stunning red rock canyons. After days of exploring alpine lakes and hiking in the mountains, we weren’t expecting the incredible view of red sandstone in this small canyon directly off the main road south of Issyk-Kul.
We’d already done a trip to Song Kul Lake and spent a night on the shores of Issyk Kul and by the time we got to Skazka Canyon, and honestly I wasn’t expecting much from a “canyon” squeezed between beach towns on the south shore of Issyk-Kul. Even the turn off the main road is unimpressive, but after just a short drive up into the canyon, we quickly realized just how stunning this canyon is – make sure you stop!
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Quick Facts: Skazka Canyon
- Location: South shore of Issyk-Kul, between Tosor and Kaji-Say (near Barskoon)
- Also known as: Fairytale Canyon (“skazka” means “fairy tale” in Russian)
- Entrance fee: Around 50 KGS per person (roughly $0.60) You need to pay this in cash!
- Time needed: 1.5–3 hours, depending on how far you wander
- Difficulty: Easy: no technical hiking, but uneven, sandy, rocky terrain
- Best time to visit: May through October
- Facilities: Basic toilets, a small parking area, occasional stalls in peak season: nothing else
How to Get There
One of the best things about Skazka Canyon is that is is right off the main road that runs along the Southern part of Issyk Kul. This makes it an easy stop if you are driving from Bishkek to Karakol and is right along the way between many of Kyrgystan’s most popular places to visit.
That said, I believe this canyon is worth driving out of the way to visit even in you aren’t already on this route – it’s that impressive.
If you’re coming from Karakol, it’s about a 1.5-hour drive along the southern shore road. From Bokonbayevo it’s closer to 30 minutes, and if you’re already staying near Tosor, it’s practically next door.
We spent the night at Feel Nomad Yurt Camp and stopped at Fairytale Canyon on our way to Karakol and the start of our trek to Ala-Kul Lake.
To get to the parking lot, turn off A363 (this is well marked on both Google maps and Yandex Maps. Watch for a large sign right on the main road between Tosor and Bokonbayevo pointing toward “Skazka” it can be easy to miss this. You can also look for a yurt camp called Royal Gate Yurt just before the turn
You can drive yourself to the canyon, take a taxi or if you’re on a marshrutka (bus #310 or #315), tell the driver you want “Skazka Canyon” specifically they’ll drop you at the turnoff, not the entrance itself.
Getting to the Parking Lot
From the main road, it’s a gravel/dirt track roughly 2–2.2 km to the actual canyon entrance. If you’re on foot (no car or taxi), budget 35–45 minutes for that stretch: flat but not scenic, so it’s a good spot to hitch or wave down a passing car if you don’t want to walk it twice.
There’s a toll booth/barrier at the start of the access road where you pay the ~50 KGS entrance fee: not at the canyon itself. The road to the canyon is dirt but was in good shape when we visited and is mostly flat with a slight incline so you can easily drive up in most cars. The parking lot isn’t huge, but there was plenty of space when we visited.
What to Expect Once You’re There
Skazka isn’t a canyon in the traditional sense, there’s no single carved gorge with a river running through it. It’s more like a maze of eroded sandstone gullies, spires, and ridgelines that locals have nicknamed the “Great Wall.”
This makes it easy to explore. There is a sign right at the entrance that shows a series of hiking trails and view points. The longest hike goes up to the overlook over the canyon, although based on several recomendations we were told this wasn’t the beset view.
We did a loop through the canyon for about 45 minutes. The trails are not marked so you mostly can just wander. Use caution as there are many drop offs and people clambering around of the fragile rock.
We really enjoyed climbing up the rock fins that run through the area.
What to Bring
You don’t need to pack a lot since you are never too far from your car. You should bring water and good shoes!
- Water: There is not shade here so pack water. There is a small shop at the parking lot where you can get water if needed.
- Sun protection: hats and sunscreen matter here; the canyon reflects heat and there’s little shade
- Shoes with grip: sandstone gets slippery on the steeper sections, sneakers are fine but flip-flops are a bad idea
- Don’t forget your camera!
Combine It With
Skazka works best as one stop on a longer south-shore day rather than a destination on its own. A lot of people pair this stop with a visit to Barskoon Waterfall or an eagle hunting demonstration in Bokonbayevo, Jeti-Oguz.
You can also stop at Konorchek Canyons on the west side of the lake.
Is It Worth It?
I absolutely think this stop is worth it, especially if you are already driving along this stretch of road.
