Lake Issyk Kul meaning "warm lake" is the second largest mountain lake in the world after Lake Titicaca in South America. Measuring 182km long by 58km wide, the lake is heated from below by volcanic activity and never freezes even in the depths of winter. In the summer the water temperature reaches 25-28 degrees centigrade (warmer than the air) and you can swim in the clear blue waters enclosed on all sides by the snowy peaks of the Tien Shan Mountains.

Most of the resorts are on the north shore of the lake and the area between here and Almaty in Kazakhstan is excellent trekking territory.