Adventure
Trek of Ala Kul lake
Discover beauties of the National Karakol park
- Duration
- 4 days
- Countries
- Kyrgyzstan
- Activities
- Hiking
The story
The journey
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
- Day 01
Hiking from Karakol to 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
- Day 02
Short hiking day to 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
- Day 03
Trek accross the Ala-Kul pass then down to Altyn Arashan valley
Ala-Kul lake Altyn Arashan valley
The path, difficult hike up a scree to the neck Ala-Kul to 3890 meters. From the pass, the view is absolutely magnificent lake and surrounding peaks. Descend to the colorful canyon Keldike camp in the valley of Altyn Arashan.Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 04
Walk down into the Altyn Arashan valley and transfer to Karakol city
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
Photography
Along the way
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
- International flights
- International banking fees (PayPal, ...)
- Travel & repatriation insurance
- Visas / LOI (if applicable)
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Personal expenses
- Personal equipment (sleeping bag, headlight, personal medication, etc)
- Additional costs due to unexpected personal events (health, loss of luggage, ...)
- Tips for guide & driver (always optional, always appreciated)
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.
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.
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.
Private travel, made personal
Plan this private tour
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