Skazka Canyon is located in the Issyk-Kul region of Kyrgyzstan. Journey along the south shore of Issyk Kul, and you will find it situated between the villages of Tosor and Kaji-Say.
It’s one of the most popular attractions in the area, but before you start thinking about crowds of tourists, being popular in Kyrgyzstan does not mean the same thing as being popular in the likes of England, France or Germany.
In a country that is still very much off the beaten-path, a tourist attraction equates to sharing a large space with a mere handful of visitors at a time.
I recommend anyone visiting Kyrgyzstan for the first time to stay around Issyk-Kul (it’s one of the world’s largest lakes), as there’s a lot to see and activities to enjoy, including a trip to Skazka Canyon.
I stayed in a secluded yurt on the southern shores of Issyk-Kul Lake nearby a village called Ak-Say. It’s called Feel Nomad Yurt Camp and I highly recommend staying there! By taxi it took me approximately 1-hour to get to Skazka.
If you’re staying in Karakol, the administrative capital of the Issyk-Kul region, it will take approximately 1h 30 min by car. Alternatively from Karakol, it’s possible to take a marshrutka (minibus) #315 or #310 from Southern Bus Station towards Bokonbayevo and tell the driver to drop you off at Skazka Canyon. It takes about 1,45 hours each way.
From the capital city, Bishkek, it is approximately a 4-hour drive.
For budget-conscious travellers, you’ll be pleased to know that taxis are very cheap in Kyrgyzstan. It’s how I travelled around the country.