The Chu River
Turquoise water below.
Vilya Shoni — CC BY 4.0 · Nikolai Bulykin — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Vilya Shoni — CC BY 4.0 · Nikolai Bulykin — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Thomas Depenbusch (Depi) from Cologne, Germany — CC BY 2.0
Boom Gorge is a long pass cut by the Chu River between the Kyrgyz Ala-Too and Kungey Ala-Too ranges, linking the Chuy Valley with Lake Issyk-Kul. Guides call it the only corridor between Bishkek and the lake, so most visitors to the country travel through it. It is no traditional attraction, but its scenery deserves a stop rather than just a passing glance. The gorge runs for about 30 km, with the Chu River flowing north until it opens onto the broad Chuy Valley. The narrow corridor carries both a highway and the Bishkek to Balykchy railway, which runs high above the road in places. The road is among the best in the country and has protection against landslides. The mountains here shift between red, brown and green, with a band of trees along the turquoise river below. Especially red rocks show around the middle, and parts of the road are protected by concrete galleries against snow and rockfall. At the Red Bridge near the midpoint a road branches off towards the Konorchek valley. It is about 106 km in a straight line from Bishkek, and guides give about 112 km by road. There is no gate, so stop only in safe places off the road, as traffic moves fast and there are many buses, and do not park below slopes that may shed rock. The river is known for summer rafting, and the road sometimes closes because of rockfall, so check conditions.
Turquoise water below.
Colour around the midpoint.
A line high above the road.
Bishkek to Issyk-Kul road, Chu River, Chuy Region
No. The road from Bishkek to Issyk-Kul runs through it, so stop on the way.
Yes. Rafting is a known summer activity, and a road branches off to the Konorchek valley.