Juuka and Juukuchak gorges
The excursion to the gorges of Juuka and Juukuchak starts from Tamga village. Within one day you can make a wonderful trip to the headwaters of the Juukuchak gorge to the waterfall and take a bath in hot springs.
The way to Djuuka gorge begins in of 35 km from the Tamga village in Saru village. Juuka gorge is more than 50 km and it flows into the slopes of Terskey Ala-Too. For 30 km the slopes of the gorge are covered with forest of Tien-Shan firs.
At the confluence of the rivers Juuka and Juukuchak you will see beautiful red sandstones. Fifty-meter-high rocks form bizarre outlines. In 6 km from the confluence of rivers in the Juukuchak gorge there is a small village resort with hot springs.
You can make a 1-2-day journey in the Juuka gorge. A tent camp that is usually established at the confluence of the rivers Kashka-Suu and the river Juuka is a good place for hiking around. From this place, you can clearly see the summit of It-Tish (4808m) its huge cliffs and glaciers. There are beautiful fir forests and crystal water in the Juuka river.
At the upper reaches of the Kashka-Suu gorge and the Dzhuka gorge there are plenty of mountain lakes and the largest of them is Lake Chokaly-Köl - 3km long and 400m wide at an altitude of 3750m.
In the Juuka Valley at an altitude of 3800m there is an upper lake (600m long, at an altitude of 3300m - an average lake (800m long) and at an altitude of 3200m - a lower lake (600m long). This is the land of transcendental lakes.
The most amazing lake is in the gorge Kashka-Suu (800 m long and 200 m wide) it is located at an altitude of 3600 m. The water from this lake flows down both towards Issyk-Kul and towards the Arabel valley. The color of the water in these lakes is magnificent and diverse - dark green, light green, turquoise, yellow-green, bluish-green and in all this magnificence of lakes beautiful snow tops are reflected.
Clothing and Equipment
Sunscreen (at least 20SPF)
Chapstik or equivalent lip balm
Sunglasses with UV protection
Telescopic trekking sticks poles (optional)
Fleece jacket or pullover
Fleece Wind-Stopper jacket (optional)
Down vest and/or jacket (optional)
Waterproof jacket (Gore-Tex) with hood
Waterproof pants (Gore-Tex)
Warm fleece hat or light balaclava
Trekking/Hiking boots with spare laces