From the museum, the dirt road continues for another 10km to a car park of sorts. From here, a pleasant 2km walk, following the Yol Stream, leads to the ice-filled gorge and one or two lonely souvenir salesmen. Locals at the car park also rent horses (T10,000, plus the same again for the compulsory horse guide) for the return trip to the gorge.
In winter, the ice is up to 10m high and continues down the gorge for another 10km, although it has largely disappeared by the end of July. It’s possible to walk the length of the gorge – an experienced driver could pick you up on the other side (GPS: N 43°30.537’, E 104°06.616’), about 8km east of the car park.
The surrounding hills offer plenty of opportunities for some fine, if somewhat strenuous, day hikes . If you are lucky you might spot ibexes or argali sheep along the steep valley ridges.
