• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

ZigZagonEarth

Plan unforgettable road trips!

  • FRANCE
    • CORSICA
    • NORMANDY
    • PARIS
  • EUROPE
    • ANDALUCIA
    • CANARY ISLANDS
    • CRETE
    • ICELAND
    • ICELAND WINTER
    • MADEIRA
    • MALLORCA
    • PORTUGAL
    • SANTORINI
    • SCOTLAND
    • SLOVENIA
  • REST OF WORLD
    • NEW ZEALAND
    • OMAN
  • TIPS
  • EBOOKS
  • SHOP
  • ABOUT

The Seven Bulls of Jeti-Oguz, Kyrgyzstan

Last updated on February 17, 2016 by Claire / this article contains affiliate links (Info)

One of the most famous valleys around Issyk Kul Lake is the magnificient Jeti-Oguz. Its fame comes from the 'Seven bulls' red sandstone formation, but the gorge has actually much more to offer. Let me show you around...

Jeti Oguz valley Kyrgyzstan : seven bulls

Navigate back to the complete Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide


INFO & PLANNING TIPS - Jeti-Oguz

Jeti-Oguz is the name of a famous sandstone formation South east of the Issyk Kul lake and parrallel to the Karakol valley. However it is also the name of its river and of the valley it stands in.

It is one of my favorite destinations in Kyrgyzstan.​

TIPS FOR TRAVEL PLANNING ADDICTS - Jeti-Oguz

Getting to Jeti-Oguz

  • SouthWest of Karakol town, take the road circling the lake, the valley is clearly indicated towards the South. Half an hour drive
  • From main road 5 km to the Jeti-Oguz village and 12 km to the rock formation. road in good condition​
  • Taxi option: 600 to 800SOM (as of 2015)

Visiting Jeti-Oguz

  • Stop at the Broken heart on the way in and then turn around for the Seven bulls - 15 min to 30 min
  • I recommend walking up the path accross the main road for unobstructed views of the Seven Bulls and to discover the Dragon gorge - 45min to 2 hours
  • There is also a sanatorium where you can enjoy a hot bath. However I have not been and cannot find a good website to point you to. Sorry.
  • Light for the Seven bulls is better in the late afternoon but for the Broken heart is would be better early morning. It would also be a very nice place to be for sunset as the rocks get redder.

The Broken Heart

On the way to the end of the Jeti-Oguz valley, the red sandtone will start appearing here and there on each side of the road. And at one point you will notice this huge rock in front of you that kind of ressemble a heart that has splintered down. I am not totally convinced but it is still nice (although the sun was not as a good place when I visited to take a good shot).

Of course different legends surrond the Broken Heart, all involving a beautiful girl and 2 men desiring her. Why are those legends never about a handsome man and 2 women pursuing him?

Broken Heart, Jeti-Oguz, Kyrgyzstan

In summer, the places attracts sme nomads with their yurts and bees:

Bees near Broken Heart, Jeti-Oguz, Kyrgyzstan
Yurt near Broken Heart, Jeti-Oguz, Kyrgyzstan

Then the road continues on the side of the sandsone formation. We stopped because it is quite nice to get a closer look at the rock and the work of erosion:

Sandstone of Jeti-Oguz, Kyrgyzstan
Side view of Jeti-Oguz, Kyrgyzstan

The 7 Bulls

I thought we had to drive further to see the Seven Bulls and I was getting excited because I love weird geological formations and red is my favorite color. But we stopped at the few shops nearby and there my guide Masha said 'turn around'. Yeahhhhh!!!!!

There was the incredible 7 bulls ​formation where erosion created more than 7 bluffs. Some say 8 others 10. Does it matter? It is relly stunning and unexpected.

To get a better view I recommend climbing the path that starts between the shops next to the public 'toilets' accross from the rock formation​. See the photo on the right, there is the car track and a smaller trail both leading you to the top with some extraordinary views.

Village and Jeti-Oguz, Kyrgyzstan
road leading to Jeti-Oguz, Kyrgyzstan

Walking extremely slow and taking lots of pictures, it took me 25 minutes to reach the top which was a soft climb. Before I show what I discovered on the other side (and you could not imagine from the valley), here are 2 pictures of the Jeti-Oguz from the top of the hill:

panorama 1 Jeti-Oguz, Kyrgyzstan
panorama 2 Jeti-Oguz, Kyrgyzstan

Dragon Gorge

This is where the car tracks arrive:

path to Dragon Gorge, Jeti-Oguz, Kyrgyzstan

And there it is, I reach the top and when WOW WOW WOW:

panorama 1 Dragon Gorge, Jeti-Oguz, Kyrgyzstan
panorama 2 Dragon Gorge, Jeti-Oguz, Kyrgyzstan

When I had planned my trip (in a lot of details, as usual), Jeti-Oguz had made it on the top of the my list of the things that I was the most excited about. But nowhere in my research had I discovered there was much more to it. The Bradt Guide to Kyrgyzstan does mention the Dragon gorge but very briefly and without any pictures.

So here you have it. The sandstone cliffs actually continue on the other side. And it gets really surpriseing with the red rocks on one side and the snow capped mountains on the other:

panorama 3 Dragon Gorge, Jeti-Oguz, Kyrgyzstan

Plus on that side you can get really close to the edge of the cliff and admire the work of erosion. These big red walls are very impressive!

Close to the cliffs Dragon Gorge, Jeti-Oguz, Kyrgyzstan
Dragon Gorge, Jeti-Oguz, Kyrgyzstan
Red Rocks of Dragon Gorge, Jeti-Oguz, Kyrgyzstan
Red Rocks of Dragon Gorge, Jeti-Oguz, Kyrgyzstan 2

I walked further on the path and took this funny shot of more than 180 degrees (which shows you the path twice, I find it funny).

180 panorama Dragon Gorge, Jeti-Oguz, Kyrgyzstan

At the top, I also found a beautiful horse enjoying its surroundings:

 horse at Jeti-Oguz, Kyrgyzstan
 horse at Dragon gorge and Jeti-Oguz, Kyrgyzstan

Unplanned adventures always lead you to incredible moments. I am so happy that I climbed that path!


Jeti-Oguz valley of flowers

So it is with a smile on my face that I climbed back on board the minibus and we drove futher into the valley, which widens into a beautiful alpine landscape called the valley of Flowers. There I experienced my first night in a yurt! But that is for another post...


Want to see more of Kyrgyzstan's beauty?

Discover more planning information, things to do and places to see in my online Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide.

PREVIOUS ARTICLE: 

KARAKOL AND ANIMAL MARKET

NEXT ARTICLE: 

VALLEY OF FLOWERS

Travel Guide: Make the most of your time in Kyrgyzstan

Do you sometimes wander in the paths around famous landmarks?

Tell me about it in the coments!

  

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. vanja says

    August 20, 2016 at 8:43 AM

    Thank you for the description of the Jeti Oguz visit and useful tips.
    You mentioned when is a good time for photography, but what time do you actually recommend to leave Karakol for J.O. and to do a tour you did (i mean because of the photography).
    Thank you.

    Reply
    • Claire Robinson says

      August 20, 2016 at 1:03 PM

      Hi Vanja
      Well, it depends when you go…
      You have to check sunset time in Karakol for the day you are there (easy to find on the Internet). Plan to be there at least 1h30 before that time and plan 30min drive to get there from Karakol.
      Have a great trip!

      Reply
      • vanja says

        August 20, 2016 at 5:27 PM

        Clair, thank you very much for the quick replay. Great.
        Thanks again.

        Reply
  2. Thierry says

    October 3, 2021 at 11:39 AM

    Bonjour Claire,
    Your paper is amazing, thank you so much for sharing. As I am myself also a rock climbing geek, that extraordinary red cliff appealed me big time. Do you have any idea whether this has been climbed or would you have any idea of a contact with whom I could entertain a discussion on the topic?
    Thanks in anticipation!
    Best,

    Thierry

    Reply
    • Claire, the Travel Planning Geek says

      October 4, 2021 at 6:58 PM

      Sorry, I have no information about climbing.
      I wish you a wonderful trip!
      Claire

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search my ZigZags

Hi! I’m Claire

ZigZag On Earth photo

I am the Travel Planning Geek behind the ZigZag Travel Guides. My goal is to provide you with clear and practical information to help you plan unforgettable trips! Read more

Footer

CONTACT ME

Search

Follow ZigZag on Facebook

Follow ZigZag on Pinterest

Website in French: ZigZagvoyages.fr

Website in German: ZigZagreisen.de

Website in Spanish: ZigZagviajes.com

And discover the French regions:

Normandielovers.fr

LoireLovers.fr

CorsicaLovers.fr

 

Privacy / Terms of Use / Disclosure Policies / Refund policy

Become an affiliate for the ZigZag road trip guides

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. ZigZagOnEarth.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Amazon.uk and Amazon.ca

Copyright © 2023 ZigZag On Earth · Log in

If you continue browsing this site you agree with the use of cookies in this website.OkRead more