Skazka Valley
Excursion to the Skazka gorge starts in Tamga village. This is an amazing place where the sandy red formations take get a variety of fabulous shapes.
Walking along the gorge Skazka during the rest on Issyk-Kul gives not only aesthetic pleasure, but also unity with nature.
Skazka Valley is situated in 15 km from the Tamga village. The canyon got its name for a quaint landscape, which for many years has been turned by wind and water into fairy-tale statues and sculptural ensembles.
Coming to the canyon on different days you can see completely different landscapes. Its appearance changes with every rain and the shades of colors on the slopes of the canyon can change dramatically and with strong gusts of wind. Moreover staying in the Skazka with complete calm and clear sky from morning till night every hour will discover new details of the landscape. They will be differently illuminated by the movement of the sun in the sky and the movement of shadows on the ground.
Views of Skazka canyon impress the imagination and you feel desire to make them alive give them a greater substance. People find some similarity with animals and buildings and give the names. For example the mountain wall in the canyon was called the "Chinese Wall" for its similarity with the monument of Chinese architecture. Here you can also see the statues of a hippopotamus, a snake, a sleeping giant, a dragon and whole castles.
After the excursion you can swim in Issyk-Kul lake, at the turn to this magical corner there is a wonderful place for rest and bathing, where you can relax on your way back, wash off road dust.
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
