Kurmenty: The Best Off-the-Beaten-Path Stop on Lake Issyk-Kul

The East Shore’s Most Sheltered Bay

Kurmenty is a small village on the northeastern shore of Issyk-Kul in the Tyup District, sitting squarely between the lake and the Kungey Ala-Too mountains. Its position on the northern side of Tyup Bay gives it a naturally protected harbor. This is the kind of place that rewards travelers who slow down and look beyond the east shore resort strip.

Where the Kungey Ala-Too Meets Tyup Bay

The village takes its name from the Kurmenty River, a glacial-snow-fed waterway flowing down from the Kungey Ala-Too. It lies on the northern shore of Tyup Bay, one of the large bays at the lake’s northeastern end. The setting is dramatic – mountains rise behind while open water stretches south. You are about 360 km from Bishkek, 100 km from Cholpon-Ata, and 40 km west of Karakol. That makes it a logical waypoint for anyone driving the full loop around Issyk-Kul rather than rushing to the busy north shore hubs.

Kurmenty is split into two parts. The lower lakeside area faces the water, while an upper section called Ak-Bulak hosts a cement plant. The village has a cargo port and pier, a clear sign of its working relationship with the lake. This is not a resort. The economy runs on agriculture, livestock husbandry, and small grocery shops. You will see far fewer beach clubs and souvenir stands here than in Cholpon-Ata, Bosteri, or Kuturgu. The character is quiet, agricultural, and residential. It serves best as a geographical base for exploring the northeastern end of the lake and the mountains behind Tyup, not a conventional holiday spot.

A Village With Ancient Stories

The land around Kurmenty has drawn people for centuries. An archaeological site of a medieval settlement sits on Shirokaya Bay in the northern part of Tyup Bay. Nearby, you can find catacombs dug by Armenian monks in the 4th to 5th centuries. The Ak-Bulun or Svetly Mys area holds ancient Christian monastic remains and legends that still ripple through local conversation.

The most haunting tale involves a sunken Armenian monastery beneath Kurmenty Bay. Local legend says it holds the relics of Saint Matthew. While no full structure has been raised, ongoing underwater archaeological research continues in the bay. The water keeps its secrets, but the possibility grips the imagination of anyone who stands on that quiet shore.

Into the Kungey Ala-Too

Kurmenty Gorge cuts into the Kungey Ala-Too mountains, offering hiking and multi-day treks to high-altitude lakes like Kel-Say. Horse trekking itineraries run from the village toward Kel-Say and Sary-Bulak, following old trails through the range. This is not a place where you rock up and find a guide in five minutes. Arrange guides and horses in advance before you arrive. The effort opens up a roadless alpine world that most visitors to Issyk-Kul never see.