The Ötmäk Pass (3326 m above sea level) is one of the most impressive places in the Talas region and an essential mountain artery connecting the closed Talas Basin with the expansive Suusamyr Valley and the strategic Bishkek-Osh highway. This is the main route to Talas, Kara-Buru, and further on to the border with Kazakhstan, and the road itself transforms into a true journey through the heart of Kyrgyz highlands.

The path to the pass begins right after the famous viewpoint with the monument to Manas and the enormous state flag of Kyrgyzstan (197th km of the Bishkek–Osh highway). From here, the road gently but persistently ascends in wide arcs along the slopes of the Suusamyr-Tuu ridge. There are almost no switchbacks, but the ascent lasts for dozens of kilometers, gaining altitude gradually yet noticeably.

Between 2020 and 2023, the highway underwent significant reconstruction: the roadway was widened, new asphalt was laid, slopes were reinforced, and drainage systems were installed. The most dangerous sections have become more reliable; however, in winter and during the off-season, the pass is still closed to passenger transport—buses and sprinters—due to avalanche danger, blizzards, and icy conditions.

After reaching the 3000-meter mark, nature changes rapidly: classic jailoo—summer pastures—emerge, where from July to September, the yurts of shepherds stand, herds of horses graze, and flocks of sheep roam. The air here is remarkably clean, filled with the scent of dry high-altitude grasses.

The higher you climb, the more you feel the breath of true alpine highlands—the sharp wind, the transparent blue of the sky, and the sensation that the mountains are literally within arm's reach. The upper part of the pass is a wide plateau with small lakes and panoramic views, where semi-wild yaks graze, captivating the eye. On particularly clear days, visibility reaches 100-150 kilometers.

The descent from the pass towards Talas is steeper but fully paved. After 25-30 kilometers, the road leads into the valley of the Talas River, where it immediately becomes warmer: high-altitude meadows give way to steppe expanses, and the landscape quickly changes character.

For many travelers, the Ötmäk Pass is one of the most beautiful places in Kyrgyzstan. Here, it is a must to stop and: breathe in the icy, ozone-rich air, photograph the yurts against the backdrop of white peaks, stroll through the alpine meadows, drink kumys with the shepherds, and feel like you are on the roof of Central Asia. The landscapes here change with the seasons: in summer—green carpets of jailoo, in autumn—yellow shades of grass, in winter—crisp silver expanses of snow and winds.

The best time to visit is from June to September, when the pass is definitely open, the pastures are thriving, and the weather is stable. But the golden autumn also offers incredible beauty, when the gorges and slopes are painted in red and amber tones. This is a path where nature dictates its own rules, where every turn reveals new horizons, where the harshness of the mountains combines with their generosity, and the journey becomes a memory that lasts long. Ötmäk is the gateway to Talas, and passing through it means touching the true spirit of Kyrgyz highlands.