The Issyk Kul oblast lies to the north of the country and shares borders with Kazakhstan and China, as well as the Kyrgyz oblasts of Chui and Naryn. Climate: Due to its height, and the moderating influence of the lake itself, the climate is milder than in the neighboring Chui oblast. The average temperature in Chalpon Ata is around 17CQ in June and about -3CQ in January. In Karakol, the figures are 17CQ and -6CQ. Even in the summer when the days are 20Cs and above, the evenings can be cool. The average rainfall is about 248 mm in Chalpon Ata and 475 mm in Karakol. Landscapes: The region consists of the Issyk Kul basin, containing the "pearl of the Tien Shan", Lake Issyk Kul, which never freezes (hence the name which means 'warm lake') and is set into a beautiful mountain landscape. To the north are the Kungey Ala Too mountains, and to the south lies the Teskei Ala Too range. To the east are the massive eastern Tien-Shan with a number of seven thousand meter peaks including Khan Tengri and Peak Pobeda with the Enchilek glacier stretching out at their feet and the remarkable, mysterious, Merchbasser Lakes. From Karakol there are a number of local valleys including the picturesque Altyn Arashan and Djety Orguz with the red sandstone formations known as Seven Bulls in Djety Oguz. To the south of the lake is Barskoon valley and several mountain passes over to Ece Naryn. Near the Chinese border, Sary Jaz offers even the most experienced trekkers a 'testing ground'. Reserves: Issyk Kul Biosphere Reserve is one of some 338 such reserves around the world, acknowledged by the UNESCO "Man and the Biosphere" program. The concept of a Biosphere Reserve is of a model region of sustainable land use. To ensure the simultaneous conservation of natural resources, environmentally sound and sustainable land use, and the improvement of standards of living the territory of the reserve is divided into four zones: core, buffer, transitional, and 'rehabilitation', each governed by rules about what sort of activities are permitted, (or prohibited). The territory of the Issyk-Kul biosphere reserve occupies 43,100 km2 or 22% of the total area of the republic, and it is home to several species of flora and fauna that are included in the list of endangered species. The biosphere includes the Issyk-Kul state preserve which was the first protected territory in the Kyrgyz Republic, founded in 1948 with the aim of preserving the habitat of waterfowl which winter in the region around Lake Issyk-Kul.

It has an international importance, and occupies some 19,000 hectares. The Karakol Natural Park was founded in 1997, with a total area of 38,256 hectares including 4,767 hectares of forests. The Sarychat-Ertash reserve in the Issyk Kul oblast contains some 72,000 hectares of high altitude mountain habitats. Main Towns: Karakol, Chalpon Ata and Balykchi Places to visit: Apart from the lake shores, (the northern shore has many sandy beaches and numerous sanatoria and holiday centers) there is also the town of Karakol with its Russian Orthodox cathedral and Dungan Mosque, Museum and the nearby Prezhevalsk monument and museum; the petroglyphs and other antiquities found in the Chalpon Ata open air museum; the beauty of the Grigorievka and Semyenovka valleys in the Kungei Ala Too, or Altyn Arashan, Karakol and Djety Oguz valleys near Karakol, or the Barskoon valley in the Terskey Ala Too range.