Passes in the Naryn Region

Passes in Naryn

Tash-Rabat Pass (height 3968) is located in the Naryn region and stretches from Tash-Rabat to Torugart. Tash-Rabat, which translates to Stone Courtyard, is believed to have been a key point for crossing the Tian Shan, as it not only provided shelter for merchants but also served as a fortress against raiders. Trade caravans passed through Tash-Rabat on their way to the cities of the Fergana Valley. The ancient caravanserai on the cold three-kilometer pass is one of the most impressive places.

Beruailu Pass (height 3268) is located in the Naryn region and stretches from Bayetov to Tash-Rabat.

Ak-Bait Pass (height 3282) is located in the Naryn region and stretches from Naryn to Torugart.

Dolon Pass is located in the Naryn region and stretches from Kochkor to Naryn. It is situated about 70 kilometers northwest of the Kyrgyz city of Naryn and 100 kilometers southwest of the famous Issyk-Kul Lake, with a slope of 14%.

The height of Dolon Pass above sea level is 3038 meters. It represents a plateau worn by livestock, with gentle slopes of mountain peaks visible on both sides. An asphalt road runs through the gorge, connecting Bishkek and Torugart. The closest gorge to the pass is the Kara-Unkur gorge.

Dolon is quite a large and mighty mountain pass, as it offers magical views of the entire Tian Shan mountain range, along with its eternal snows and glaciers. On a pleasant sunny day, the glaciers sparkle and shimmer in what seems like all the colors of the rainbow. This view leaves divine, breathtaking impressions that will stay with you for a long time. Additionally, near this pass, not far from the main road, there was a high-altitude meteorological station. From this pass, the road winds through many slopes of the gorge called Kara-Unkur. A powerful river with the same name flows through the bottom of this gorge. As the road descends, it opens into a valley, delighting the eye with a multitude of colorful grasses, as if entering the best flower shop. The beautiful flowers here are astonishing.

Delicate multicolored buds possess unimaginable hues and subtle fragrances that can inspire the most reckless actions. They transform the world around, bringing the sky closer and making the sun shine brighter. Such a wealth of wonderful shades of flowers is rarely found in the mountains. The most admiration is evoked by edelweiss, which has a light charm and special nobility. And when aconite blooms in the rain-scented air, stunning in its magnificence and tenderness, the winds cease to blow, the streams stop running, and the world quiets in anticipation of a miracle.

Dolon Pass is one of the favorite gathering places for ethnologists from around the world for collecting entomological material, as its area contains minimally disturbed stations—areas of the environment that possess a set of conditions for the existence and habitation of certain species of animals and plants from both the northern and internal Tian Shan fauna and flora. The territories of Dolon and neighboring passes can be considered a paradise for camping.

Kyrk-Kyz Pass (height 3223) is located in the Naryn region and stretches from Kyzyl Oi to Toktogul.

Kyndy Pass (height 3102) is located in the Naryn region and stretches from Ak-Sai to Kara-Sai.

Kulak-Ashu Pass (height 3268) is located in the Naryn region and stretches from Bayetov to Tash-Rabat.

Kyzart Pass is located in the Naryn region and stretches from Kochkor to Chaek. It is at an altitude of 2664 m. The road through it leads from the Kochkor Valley to the Jumgal Valley in the Naryn region. It is open year-round. Immediately after the pass is a village of the same name. Usually, the pass serves as a starting point for hiking or horseback trips to the high-altitude Son-Kul Lake. The road is very scenic: you can admire the wonderful mountain landscapes and study the local flora and fauna.

In summer, you can see several yurt camps near this region. In winter, the pass is windy and covered with snow. This area is part of a semi-arid climate zone. The average annual temperature in the vicinity is 0°C. The warmest month is August, with an average temperature of 16°C, while the coldest is January at -18°C. The average precipitation is 467 millimeters. The rainiest month is June, with an average of 69 mm of precipitation, while the driest is January, with 17 mm of precipitation.

Kerurguntu Pass (height 3907) is located in the Naryn region and stretches from Ak-Sai to Kara-Sai.

Karakoil Pass (height 3485) is located in the Naryn region and stretches from Susamyr to Kochkor.

Karako Pass is located in the Naryn region and stretches from Ak-Talpa to Kazarman, on the right bank of the Naryn River, when traveling west from Naryn. It is located about 20-30 km from the bridge over the Naryn, near the village of Ak-Tal. This pass, at about 3907 meters, offers a view of the delta of the Naryn at such a distance that it is hard for an urban dweller to imagine. Surrounding the pass are the typical limestone cliffs of Naryn, with characteristic gray streaks.

At the pass, there are five or six points from which you can take interesting photographs. All shooting points are accessible from the road.

From the eastern side, a serpentine road leads to it, winding like a snake. From the western side (that is, if coming from Kazarman), the ascent to the pass is without serpentine, not very steep.

Kurtkal Pass (height 3660) is located in the Naryn region and stretches from Son-Kul to Ak-Taal.

Kara-Keche Pass (height 3384) is located in the Naryn region and stretches from Son-Kul to Chaek. Various tourist routes pass through this pass, among which one should highlight the route that leads you to the remarkable Son-Kul Lake, which, by the way, opens up a beautiful view after the pass. The mountains here are notable for their ruggedness, and in these places, you can find a small coniferous forest, as well as a river with the same name. At an altitude of 2800 meters deep in the gorge lies the Kara-Keche coal deposit. Coal is mined there by open-pit methods, and the seemingly foreign quarry fits quite well into the landscape.

Kalmak-Ashu Pass (height 3446) is located in the Naryn region and stretches from Sary-Bulak to Son-Kul. The road through the pass is open only from June to October, during the summer-autumn period. At other times, impassable snows reign here. Ironically, the name Kalmak-Ashu can be translated as "the path is open" or "open pass." The pass is famous for providing access to the northern shore of Son-Kul Lake. This lake is the second largest in Kyrgyzstan, surrounded by extremely picturesque places, and it is impossible to take your eyes off the water body. The Kalmak-Ashu pass is also extremely popular among cycling tourists, who come here from all corners of the world. They enthusiastically conquer the steep slopes and descents, returning to these places again and again.

At the beginning of the journey, the road rises sharply, making the ascent quite challenging. The surrounding view constantly changes in color and texture: from rocky dunes to green hills. Here you can encounter peacefully grazing mountain yaks, majestic animals that impress with their power. Also, on the endless meadows of the pass, mountain edelweiss grows. These beautiful flowers have become a true symbol of the mountains, inspiring lyrical works. From the highest point, there is a view of the surrounding mountain peaks and the valley.

Kyzyl Bel Pass (height 2484) is located in the Naryn region and stretches from Naryn to At-Bashi.

33 Parrots Pass is located in the Naryn region and stretches from Son-Kul to Naryn. It is one of the most famous and beautiful passes. It is named due to the same number of turns in the mountain serpentine, which seems to be more in fact. The topographic name of the pass is Teskey-Torpok, and its height is 3133 meters. By the way, here is another version of where the number 33 comes from.