– Region: Issyk-Kul Oblast — Barskoon Gorge (2,500m — waterfall gorge + Gagarin memorial on south shore)

 – Elevation: 2500

 – GPS Coordinates: 42.170° N, 77.553° E

 – Access Difficulty: T2 — On south shore Issyk-Kul road | 3hr from Bishkek | Easy day trip from Karakol (1.5hr) 

 – Opening Season: May–Oct

 – Winter Room: – Number of Beds: 30  – Showers: Yes — basic at CBT

 – Drinking Water: Yes — piped in village + stream (treat) – Meals & food: CBT guesthouse meals + local cafes

– Mobile Signal: Yes — Beeline 4G in village – Payment Methods: CBT guesthouse: USD 12–15 B+D | Entry gorge: free | Taxi from south shore road: 30min

 – Short Description: BARSKOON GORGE (2,500m): beautiful canyon gorge with 4 waterfalls visible from the road. The gorge road leads toward KUMTOR GOLD MINE (one of Central Asia’s largest gold mines at 4,000m+ — not accessible to tourists). YURI GAGARIN MEMORIAL: the Soviet cosmonaut (first human in space) rested here before his journey to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in 1961. A small monument marks the spot. BARSKOON FALLS: the main waterfall is easily visible from a viewpoint 2km up the gorge road.