Adventure

Trek of Ala Kul lake

Discover beauties of the National Karakol park

Duration
4 days
Travel window
Start day
20
Start month
End day
10
End month
Countries
Kyrgyzstan
Activities
Hiking
Discover the journey
Ala-Kul lake
Private field journal 4 chapters

The story

The journey

The blue jewel of the Terskey Alatoo range

The Ala Kul lake is a popular destination in Kyrgyzstan, touristy but the lake is amazing nice, from the Karakol valley to Altyn Arashan valley and its hot water springs.

Route map

The route

Day by day

The journey, day by day

4 chapters

  1. Day 01

    Hiking from Karakol to Sirota camp

    Karakol Sirota camp

    In the morning, we'll board a local bus near the entrance of Karakol National Park. Our hike begins by tracing the path of the Karakol River, following a dirt road that gradually leads into the scenic Karakol gorge. After crossing a bridge, we'll ascend along a steep track, tracing the flow of the Ala Kul lake's pristine waters. Along the way, take in the majestic pine trees of the Tien Shan and the rushing currents of the Karakol River fed by glacial melt. We'll spend the night under the stars, camping at the picturesque Sirota campsite.

    Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    karakol10.jpg
  2. Day 02

    Short hiking day to Ala-Kul lake

    Sirota camp Ala-Kul lake

    Embarking from the campsite, you'll ascend to the stunning Ala-Kul Lake, reaching an elevation of 3523 meters. The trail is steep as you approach the lake, offering a thrilling challenge and rewarding views. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the shores of the lake, surrounded by breathtaking mountain vistas. In the afternoon, take a leisurely hike around the lake, with the option to summit one of the nearby peaks for even more spectacular panoramas. During winter, Ala-Kul freezes solid, its depths shrouded in mystery. Be prepared for nighttime temperatures to drop below freezing as you spend the night in your cozy tent, nestled amidst the wilderness.

    Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Ala-Kul Lake, Kirgistan
  3. Day 04

    Walk down into the Altyn Arashan valley and transfer to Karakol city

    Altyn Arashan valley Karakol

    We'll descend along the piste, passing by hot springs where you can take a relaxing bath if desired. Continuing our journey, we'll hike down the steep, rugged road into the gorge. The final stretch of the trail is gentle as we make our way to the village of Ak-Suu. From there, we'll travel by transport back to Karakol, where we'll enjoy a hearty dinner and spend the night.

    Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

    Altyn Arashan Bike Tour

Further reading

More from this journey

Practical information

Prepare for the journey

  • All transportation in a private vehicle
  • All airport transfers
  • Accommodation as described in the program
  • Meals (3 per day)
  • Bottled water (when possible) & tea
  • English-speaking trekking guide
  • Pack horses with saddle bags & horsemen
  • Camping & cooking equipment (tents, mats, gas, stove, etc)
  • All the activities listed in the program
  • Entry fees at national parks and/or border zones listed in the program
  • Entry fees at museums and historical sites listed in the program
  • Domestic flights mentioned in the program
  • A contribution to our sustainable development projects
  • Organisation of the trip & local taxes

Reviews of Nomad's Land

Travelers, in their own words

Published reviews of our team and service.

Nous tenions à vous remercier pour l’organisation de notre voyage au Kirghizistan. Ce pays est magnifique avec des personnes très accueillantes. Grâce à l’énergie positive de notre guide Baktygul, nous avons pu entrer en contact avec la population locale, aidée par quelques vodka bien sûr.

Hélène and Stan B.
Nomad's Land
Read the complete review

Nomadsland organized a 5 days 4 nights winter tour from Bishkek to Issyk Kol lake via Chom Keming (horse riding), Jyrgalan (snow shoeing), Karakol (museums) and Bokanbaevo (fairy canyon, 7 bulls, eagle hunting), then back to Bishkek. Nikita, our guide, picked us up from the airport and drove us round the snowy roads in his excellent v8 4wd.

Nick Read the complete review

4 Day Hike through Archa Tor pass It’s my first trip to Kyrgyzstan! My wife and I are independent travelers and prefer the solitude of traveling without guide or porters. I found Aibek Nomad's Land online as we were on a short 5 day trip, 3 or which were full day hikes so transport to and from the exact start and end points were essential.

Marc James Read the complete review

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