3 days trekking tour to Ala Kul Lake




Duration
3 days
Max Group Size
20
Departure Type
Scheduled
Guiding Method
Fully guided
Physical level
moderate
Operated In
About this tour
Discover one of the most iconic trekking routes in Kyrgyzstan — the breathtaking Ala-Kol trail near Karakol.
This 3-day adventure takes you through alpine forests, high mountain passes, and dramatic gorges to the stunning Ala-Kol Lake, famous for its bright turquoise water and rugged peaks.
The journey ends with a relaxing experience in the natural hot springs of Altyn Arashan.
Perfect for travelers seeking active adventure, raw nature, and unforgettable mountain landscapes.
Route
- 1KarakolAsiaKyrgyzstanIssyk KulStart
- 2Altyn-ArashanAsiaKyrgyzstanIssyk KulKarakol
- 3KarakolAsiaKyrgyzstanIssyk KulEnd
What makes this tour special
Itinerary
We depart from the city of Karakol to the Karakol Gorge early in the morning. The drive to the trail head will take about 30 minutes. Upon arrival at the meeting point, we get to know the staff, pack our backpacks, and start moving. After about 2-2.5 hours of easy hiking up the pristine river valley, we will stop for lunch at a small lake. After lunch, we will continue up the valley before turning to left to begin our ascent up toward Kurgak-Tor (Dry Gorge). Here, the route becomes much steeper, crossing through a dense forest and up the side of the mountain to the campsite at an altitude of 3000m. This portion of the hike will take approximately 2 hours. We will overnight near Orphan's Shelter where there is a hut that can be used as a kitchen-dining room in bad weather. In total, the path to our campsite will cover 13-14 km, taking 4-5 hours in total. Overnight in tents. Residence: Yurt Camp. Meal: L,D
The second day of our trip is no less interesting. We will begin at a gentle pace for about 2-3 hours as we rise to Ala-Kol Lake (3532m). After a snack and a rest, taking in the breathtaking views of the beautiful turquoise-coloured lake and white-caped surrounding mountains, we will continue along the north shore toward the other side of Ala-Kol. From here, we must go up again toward the pass (3860m), from which you can see all of the nearby peaks of the Terskey Ala-Too ringing the lake and rising up to over 5000m above sea level. The descent from the pass is steep but not long. We will set up camp not far from the pass after about 30-40 minutes of descent. In total, on this day we will walk about 8 km over approximately 4-5 hours. Overnight in tents. (3400m). Residence: Yurt Camp. Meal: B,L,D
After breakfast, we descend the gorge to the hot springs of Altyn-Arashan (2500m). The descent takes 2-3 hours depending on the pace. The distance covered is 10 km. Upon arrival, we will have lunch and then enjoy a relaxing soak in the hot springs. After lunch it is possible to stroll down to other natural hot spring sources located between the river and the rocks down the gorge. A car will be waiting for us in Arashan, and will drive us back to Karakol. Meal: B,L
Trip includes
Included
2 nights in tent camps
English speaking guide
Guiding Method
Fully guided
Assistant from 7 people
Entrance fee
Hot springs in Altyn-Arashan
Porters for luggage
Excluded
Alcohol
Single supplement
Insurance
Availability
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Make this journey exclusively yours
By design, this is a group tour. You can however request a private, customized version of this tour for yourself or your private group of people. Private departures are usually more expensive, but come with these benefits:
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Itinerary can be tweaked and customized.
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