About Skazka canyon
Skazka Canyon can be best described as an alien and desert-like canyon landscape peppered with numerous jagged rocks formations with dusty shades of rust and gold.
Created over several thousand years of erosion and earthquakes, these earthly formations look out of this world, like you’re just landed on a Martian planet devoid of human life (well, except for that one guy with an annoying and buzzing drone that keeps flying into your camera shot).
There are some giant rocks with a psychedelic rainbow palette. There are some rustic and grotesque natural sculptures, looking as though the Earth tried its best to sculpt something beautiful but failed successfully.
Spikey rock formations form numerous jagged walls, as if they are the backs of gargantuan sleeping dragons or reptiles just poking up from the ground, almost already to wake up from their long slumber.
Skazka Canyon is one of those places that are perfect to see the sunset cast its billowing golden glow onto the landscape. It would also be an idyllic place to camp and gaze at the nightly stars and marvel at the cosmic beauty of the universe.
Skazka canyon is still a hidden gem and a wonderful one-day trip to spend a few hours walking around and admiring this unique landscape.
During out of season, like in winter, there is often no one at the entrance booth to collect entrance fees so you can potentially go into Skazka Canyon for free!
Other things to see or do at Skazka Canyon
Hike to a view point overlooking the canyon
On Maps.me, there’s a POI interestingly named “Lousy view, not worth the climb.” Contrary to the name, I thought the views were pretty good! It’s not a demanding trek up and it’s good to see the canyon from a different side and elevation. The path is easy to find and follow.
I suggest you go and judge for yourself whether or not it’s a “lousy view”.
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Visit Issyk-Kul
The lake is literally less than 100m from the road you would be dropped off at. The views are fantastic where you will see beautiful crystal blue waters and snowy mountains in the distance.
It’s a great opportunity to relax or have lunch here after exploring Skazka Canyon.
Always let friends and family (and accommodation provider or fellow travellers) know where you are going and when you are due back, especially if you’re going to a rather remote place in the countryside. This is for personal safety reasons so if anything happens (especially if people haven’t heard from you by a certain time or day), people can raise the alarm with the appropriate authorities.
Things to take with you and important information for a one-day trip
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Always dress to the season and forecasted weather.
Essentials:
- Phone with the following apps installed:
Maps.me (Have the Kyrgyzstan map downloaded)
2GIS
Google Translate (have the Russian language pack installed) - Bottle(s) of water. Bring at least two litres with you. It can get scorching hot, especially in summer
- Lunch
- Comfortable shoes
- Passport (photocopy)
- Money (cash)
Recommended:
- Sunglasses
- Jacket
- Hat
- Hand sanitiser
- Tissues
The following facilities are available at the location:
- Basic toilet
Entrance cost:
- 50 som per person. (As of 2019; to be used as reference. Subject to yearly changes)
If it has been raining in Skazka Canyon, rocks will be slippery and treacherous so it’s best to go when it’s dry. Always check the weather forecast for the day you want to go to Skazka Canyon.
How to get to Skazka Canyon
Mashrutka (Minibus)
Recommended departed time: 08:30.
Note: Mashrutkas don’t follow a set schedule and will depart when there the bus is full or near-full.
Go to South Bus Station and board mashrutka 310 (you can actually take a number of different buses as long as they pass Skazka Canyon).
Tell the driver you want to stop at Skazka Canyon.
Your stop for Skazka Canyon is here
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How to ask the bus driver to stop (in Russian):
Say:
“Ostanovíte, pozhaluysta!” (останови́те, пожалуйста) = “Stop, please!”
Go to Google Translate for audio translation
Cost:
~150 som (as of 2019; to be used as reference. Subject to yearly changes)
Journey time:
~Two hours. (try and sit on right side to get some nice views of Issyk-Kul)
By taxi
If you want to splurge, you want get a private tax directly to the canyon.
Journey time:
~Two hours (try and sit on right side to get some nice views of Issyk-Kul).
Cost:
~2,100 som per journey (as of 2019; to be used as reference. Subject to yearly changes).
By private vehicle
You can drive into the actual canyon area by car, but you will need a solid 4×4 vehicle as regular 2-wheel drive vehicles can get easily stuck in the loose sand.
How to get back to Karakol
By mashrutka
Head out of Skazka Canyon entrance and stand on the main highway where the traffic is going towards Karakol, as if you were a hitchhiker.
Flag down a driving towards Karakol and get onboard and pay. There are always a lot of mashrutkas going to Karakol so don’t worry about getting stranded.
You can also try your luck hitchhiking back to Karakol as well.
Journey time:
~Two hours
Cost:
~150 som. (as of 2019; to be used as reference. Subject to yearly changes)
Summary
Skazka Canyon is one of the more unique and memorable natural attractions in Kyrgyzstan. It’s an easy, fun and affordable day out, especially on a sunny but mild day. It might be a bit of a lengthy journey in getting there but it’s worth your time.
Have you been to Skazka “Fairytale” Canyon? What did you think of your day out there?
Comment below to let other travellers and myself know!
Know someone who is planning to go Karakol for a few days, or is already there and could be interested in going to Skazka Canyon?
Share this post to get them amongst stunning nature in Kyrgyzstan.