Guide to visiting Seven Bulls and Jeti Oguz
If you’re planning your Kyrgyzstan itinerary, Jeti Oguz and its extraordinary Seven Bulls should definitely be on your list. This place is famous for its vibrant red earth cliffs, which are part of the Ala-Too mountain range and are easily accessible from Jeti Oguz village.
But Jeti Oguz offers more than just dramatic cliffs – you’ll also find beautiful hikes, chances to connect with local culture, and peaceful mountain views that make this area well worth a visit.
Let’s dive into everything you need to know about Jeti Oguz and its surroundings.
What Is Jeti Oguz?
A small village in eastern Kyrgyzstan, located about one hour from Karakol by marshrutka (or just 30 minutes by car). Its biggest attraction is a series of striking red sandstone cliffs, the most famous of which are known as the Seven Bulls and the Broken Heart.
Is Jeti Oguz Worth Visiting?
If you’re planning to explore the southern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake and Jeti Oguz happens to be on your route, then yes – it’s definitely worth a stop. That’s exactly how it was for us. It was a half-day stop on our itinerary, but if you have more time, there are plenty of opportunities for hiking, relaxing in nature, or even spending the night in a yurt camp.
The view of the Seven Bulls cliffs is absolutely breathtaking, and we can definitely recommend adding it to your Kyrgyzstan travel plans.
How to Get to Jeti Oguz from Karakol
We traveled from Karakol to Jeti Oguz by marshrutka from the Bazaar Bus Station. The marshrutka departs every 30 minutes, costs around 40 KGS (~0.50 USD), and the ride takes about one hour. You can also go by local taxi, or try taxi apps like Yandex Go (the cheapest option) or inDrive.
If you’ve rented a car in Kyrgyzstan, the road to Jeti Oguz and the Seven Bulls is in good condition, so driving there is also an easy and flexible option.
Once you arrive in Jeti Oguz village by marshrutka, the driver will drop you off at the last stop. From there, it’s about 12 kilometers to the main attractions like the Seven Bulls and Broken Heart cliffs. You can check the exact route on the map below:
You have three options to reach the Seven Bulls cliffs:
Walk – The surroundings are nice, and the terrain is fine, but since you’ll be walking along a road, expect some traffic.
Hitchhike – This is the option we chose. As soon as we got off the marshrutka, we started hitchhiking and within a few minutes, we got a ride straight to the Seven Bulls. Hitchhiking is common in Kyrgyzstan, even among locals, but sometimes drivers ask for a small fee. If you are asking for more information about hitchhiking in Kyrgyzstan, let’s check our previous post about it. To avoid misunderstandings, we recommend asking politely in advance whether it’s free. In our case, we didn’t pay anything – neither on the way there nor back.
Take a taxi – You can find local taxis in Jeti Oguz that will take you to Seven Bulls. The price is usually around 800 KGS (~10 USD) one way, but it can vary depending on the season and your bargaining skills.
How to get to Jeti Oguz with a Tour
If you’d rather not plan everything yourself, joining an organized tour is a great way to explore Jeti Oguz and the surrounding region without any hassle. Many multi-day tours around Issyk-Kul Lake include a stop in the Jeti Oguz Gorge – a dramatic red-rock valley famous for its rock formations like the Seven Bulls and Broken Heart cliffs. These tours often combine nature, culture, and comfort, making them ideal for travelers who want to experience Kyrgyzstan in a deeper, yet more convenient way along with cultural experiences like eagle hunting demonstrations, horseback riding, and overnight stays in traditional yurts.
Here are some top-rated tours that include Jeti Oguz:
3-Days Tour Around Issyk Kul Lake, Canyons & Stay in Valleys
This tour takes you on a scenic journey through the heart of Kyrgyzstan’s natural beauty. You’ll visit Jeti Oguz Gorge, the colorful Skazka (Fairy Tale) Canyon, and other breathtaking valleys and riversides. Along the way, you’ll sleep in authentic yurt camps, experience the nomadic lifestyle, and have the opportunity to go horseback riding through open landscapes and alpine meadows.
It’s a great all-round tour if you’re looking to combine adventure and local culture, with just the right amount of comfort. The small-group format means you’ll get personal attention while still enjoying the social side of traveling.
3-Day Issyk-Kul Lake Experience with Yurt Stay and Eagle Show
This itinerary focuses more on cultural immersion and wildlife traditions. In addition to visiting Jeti Oguz Gorge, this tour includes a captivating eagle hunting demonstration – one of the most iconic elements of Kyrgyz heritage. You’ll also stay overnight in cozy yurts, taste home-cooked local dishes, and learn more about the semi-nomadic way of life.
It’s perfect if you’re looking for a slower-paced, culturally focused journey with opportunities for authentic interaction and storytelling.
Our Honest Experience
As I mentioned earlier in the article, the most impressive sights in Jeti Oguz are definitely the red cliffs known as the Seven Bulls and the Broken Heart, located about 12 kilometers from the village of Jeti Oguz.
When we arrived at the spot, we decided to go for a short walk, mainly because the day before we had finished a three-day trek from Ala-Kul, and our legs were still sore. 😄
Here’s the route we took – you can see it on the map:
On the way to the Seven Bulls, we had to climb a bit uphill, and once we got higher, we discovered even more colorful cliffs around. The surroundings were really beautiful – and a lovely surprise was seeing some wild horses along the way, which added to the experience.
After a while, it started to rain – and then it got heavier and heavier. So we ran up to the viewpoint, which also happened to be a small café. A few other people were already hiding there too, but the rain didn’t ruin the view at all. The Seven Bulls were absolutely stunning, and the view from this exact spot above the village was the best we got.
The café felt a bit touristy, but the view made it totally worth it – and some travelers we met there said the coffee was actually good.
Once the rain passed, we finished our short walk and then hitchhiked back to the village of Jeti Oguz, where we continued our adventure toward Skazka Canyon.
Where to stay in Jeti Oguz
In case you’d like to stay in Jeti Oguz and explore the surrounding area a bit more, it’s definitely worth it – especially if you have some extra time for short treks and walks in the nearby nature.
If you’re looking for an authentic experience, you can stay in a traditional yurt with all the basics covered:
Kolomto Yurt Camp
The yurts have comfortable beds, breakfast included, and you’ll wake up to a beautiful mountain view all around. A peaceful and simple stay, just how it should be.
If you prefer a bit more comfort or want a private room instead of a yurt, this option might suit you better:
Emir Camp
This place offers both homestay-style rooms and yurts, so you can choose what fits your style. A local atmosphere, hot shower, toilet, and a great breakfast are all included.
Check our interactive map with accommodation options near Jeti Oguz:
Other things you can do in the area
Even though most people come here just to see the Seven Bulls and the Broken Heart, we found out that there’s actually a bit more to explore if you slow down and stay a little longer.
If you walk up the road behind the yurt cafés, there’s a small path that leads deeper into the gorge. The views open up and you suddenly find yourself surrounded by pine trees, cliffs and open meadows. It is possible to follow the trail for a while and end up at a spot that locals call “Maiden Braids Waterfall” – it’s a small waterfall tucked away at the end of the trail. The walk is easy, about an hour there and back.
You can also spot people riding horses around the valley. If you’re up for it, someone will probably offer you a ride – we didn’t try it ourselves here because we were still a bit sore after Ala-Kul 😅, but it looked like a really fun and calm way to see more of the area without too much effort. If you are asking for some big horseback trip, maybe you will be interested in 3 Days Horse Trek to Song Kol.
When the weather gets cloudy or rainy (which happened to us too), there’s a cozy little yurt café near the main viewpoint as I wrote where you can hide, drink tea and warm up. On the picture bellow you can see the “main view point” as a bench 😀 However the view was pretty cool.
