Megan also visited the picturesque Issyk Lake a bit north of Almaty. It’s nestled in the mountains, is also part of the Ile-Alatau National Park and is fed by the Issyk River. The lake is often confused with Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan, which is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world.
The lake was created by an ancient natural landslide damming the valley and then was covered up by another natural landslide destroying it in 1963. Eventually, man stepped in and created the lake again. The mountain views, pristine nature, and Soviet relics in the area make this lake a can’t miss in Kazakhstan.
Issyk Lake can be reached by taking a bus from Almaty to Esik and catching a taxi from there into the mountains or by private vehicle. If you have an off-roading vehicle, you can drive around the lake to the river on the backside of it and there are some cozy picnic spots and views. It takes about 2 hours to reach the lake.
