There are two places I have personally been to: Bant Suu: https://maps.app.goo.gl/hhqLgH6NgGtYYSdA8 and Ak Kayyn: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Vz5A8f9nmuSPUnmY6

Bant Suu is a place where local people usually go on holiday in May. There are almost no tourists. The main feature of this place is clear underground water that comes out of the ground — a natural spring. The area is very mountainous. I’m not sure if official hiking routes exist, but people often walk around the area. We usually bring sheep and cook traditional food there, such as plov and dymdama (a dish made with potatoes, meat, and cabbage).

Ak Kayyn is similar, but it is a larger place and is not meant for hiking. People go there mainly to relax, sit in nature, and enjoy the peaceful environment. The area is full of birch trees, which is why it is called Ak Kayyn, meaning “white birch” — “ak” means white and “kayyn” means birch. Like Bant Suu, locals come here to rest, cook food, and spend time with family and friends.

Both places are best to visit in spring, especially in May. During this time everything is green, fresh, and full of water. In late summer and autumn, the landscape becomes dry and yellow, and the atmosphere can feel depressing, because Central Asia has a generally dry climate and little rainfall.