Aral

Aral is a small village close to the Kazakh border, at the end of a small valley nestled between the Western end of the Kyrgyz range to the North and the narrow Erchkili Too range to the South.

There is a way to be accommodated in the village in yurts and homestays. There is also a way to organize trek tours ranging from 1 day trips to a 15 day trip into the jailoos into the the mountains to the North.

The village was the birthplace of the akyn Usenbayev and there is a small museum dedicated to him.

There are claims that the Erchkili Too range is the location of the actual burial place of Manas – and that the Manas Gumbez, located just outside Talas, was really just a ruse by Kanakei and Bakai designed to decisive the many enemies of Manas who might want to desecrate his final resting place.

Nearby are some interesting rock formations formed by natural elements into the shape of many animals – including a cobra’s head, and many petroglyphs. 

There are also a number of attractive waterfalls, and it is possible to go swimming, boating or fishing in the local reservoir. 

Aral represents an unspoiled and little known region of Kyrgyzstan. It would fit in well with a trip to the valley visiting Kuporu Bazar, Talas, Aral and Sheker.