Best photography spots in Kyrgyzstan — Niclas Glud Photography

Kyrgyzstan. A land of giants, endless valleys and endless rivers. A country of otherworldly landscapes, delicious food, friendly people and epic mountains. Kyrgyzstan is a dream destination for a photographer. I would compare it to kind of like a child entering a room with all it’s favorites toys in the world, in one place. The child is so excited that it doesn’t know where to start. That’s what Kyrgyzstan is to me. In this post I will talk about the best photography spots in Kyrgyzstan. It’s such an amazing country, and these places will only have scratched the surface.

Sary Jaz

Of course I have to start with my favorite part of the country. Sary Jaz. What an incredible place this is. I have visited many amazing places around the world, but this is one of the most unique ones. Endless mountain views, cattle walking around on the slope of hills. Rivers carving through the landscape. Sary Jaz is something special. The views are out of this world and I cant wait for my return to this special place. The only people you will meet are local shepherds. The road to get there is long and strenuous, but it will be filled with views on either side.

Peak Karakol

Upon my arrival I had heard stories of Peak Karakol. The view you get, when you pass the last hill. Honestly it sounded like something from a movie. How could a mountain that big be hidden from view for an entire hike?
As I made my way to the start of the route with the team, I was surprised I couldn't see it. Actually, I never saw it, until I past that last hill. Every effort I had to make to get there was worth it. I would easily have undertaken far more exhausting hikes in order to get there. The view we had once we got over the top of the last hill, was nothing short of incredible.

Peak Karakol was everything I wanted it to be. Absolutely massive, covered in snow, and perfectly formed. Peak Karakol was amazing, and I loved photographing it. Some of my favorite moments from the trip are from this place.

Peak Yeltsin

Peak Yeltsin is one of those places, one often sees from Kyrgyzstan. As with Peak Karakol, the peak of the mountain is shaped almost too perfectly, creating what resembles two bull horns. With perfect foregrounds, rivers leading up to the mountain, beautiful light during most of the day. Yeltsin is one of the most beautiful photography spots in Kyrgyzstan. There is lots of room to play around with composition, and use your creativity. From the ground you will be able to use the horses in your foreground. You can go down to the river, or even zoom into the peaks. From the air it is a completely different story and you will be able to create something unique.

Son Kul Lake

Think small yurts. Located at the side of the lake. With mountains as a backdrop. That’s what awaited me at Son Kul Lake, and when I arrived, I was so excited at the prospect of photographing this unique place in the golden light. However not only the landscapes made this place special. It was as much the local people living in our camp. They were extremely kind and happy, and always greeted you with a smile. In many cases, this is what makes traveling so special. The interaction with locals.

Valley of the forgotten rivers

There is no doubt, that this is the most unique landscape I have ever experienced. I mean, the textures, colors, formations all leading up to the massive mountains. This is best viewed from the air, however from the ground it is beautiful as well. Once I out my drown up in the air, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Surely this place couldn’t be real. Having previously seen the place in photos, I had my doubts whether or not it was photoshoped. As soon as I saw the view from the drone, I was lost for words. I can’t even find the right superlative for this place. However, it is absolutely one of the best photography spots in Kyrgyzstan.

Mars canyon

I believe that Mars canyon is one of those places that is best experienced during golden hour. The first light painting over the landscape is sure to be a beautiful sight here. I wasn’t able to photograph here during golden hour, but that took nothing away from the experience. Instead we were lucky enough to meet up with one of the remaining eagle hunters. Spending the morning with him, hearing his story and vision for the future was a special moment.

Animal market in Karakol

Safe to say I have never visited anything quite like it. As I was there, I didn’t quite know how to feel about the place. It was different than my normal travel experiences, that’s for sure. Also, I found the place to have lots of interesting characters, who were great subjects for portraits. However the most interesting part for me, was the view and the photos one could make of the mountains.

Bonus - The tree of wisdom

A destination that I’m certain my friend Martin would absolutely love to go back to. The tree of wisdom. A location discovered by Visit Karakol, and which caught their attention due to the interesting shape of the tree. Further more, the tree is perfectly located for sunset, which can give som quite interesting photos.

There are a few other places that I haven't yet been able to visit, that I would also like to mention. Peak Lenin is located near Osh, and seems to be an incredible destination for photography. It has got to be one of the best photography spots in Kyrgyzstan. The snow covered mountain seems absolutely beautiful and I can only imagine the photos one can capture there during sunrise or sunset. Lake Ala Kul seems stunning as well! A destination I was supposed to visit, but which wasn't possible due to the weather. The photos I have seen online, make me certain that I have to visit this place on my next visit.
The Arabel Plateau in the Jety Oguz area, seems to be absolutely incredible for photographers. Located at an altitude of more than 4000 meters, this highland destination offers beautiful photography opportunities of the mountains and lakes. Located close to the Arabel Plateau is Baskoon valley, which is another of the best photography spots in Kyrgyzstan. Here one will have amazing views of the mountains and rivers below.

That's it. I hope that you have find this post helpful, and would love to hear if you have other suggestions for the best photography spots in Kyrgyzstan.

The best photography spots in Kyrgyzstan