Complete Guide to the Ala Kul Trek in Kyrgyzstan

The Ala Kul Trek near Karakol has become one of the most popular hikes to do in Kyrgyzstan. The 55-km one way trail takes hikers through Karakol Valley, to the stunning Ala Kul lake, and down to Altyn Arashan. In just a few days, you’re rewarded with some of the most incredible views you can possibly imagine.

Ala-Köl or Ala Kul is a majestic alpine lake sitting in a bowl of mountains in the Terskey Alatau mountain range of the Karakol-Issyk Kul Region. The demanding trek to reach the lake is steep and rocky, with unpredictable mountain weather making conditions tough. 

However, for those looking for an adventure that is accessible and achievable, the Ala Kul Trek is a must do on any trip to Kyrgyzstan. I completed the trail with two friends (Margaux and Elodie) over four days and we had some of the best fun and most incredible views of our entire time in Kyrgyzstan.

In this guide, I’m going to detail absolutely everything you need to know to successfully complete the Ala Kul trek near Karakol.

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Quick Overview of the Ala Kul Trek

• Total Distance: 55 km
• Recommended time: 3-4 days
• Total ascent: 2,569 m
• Total descent: 2,695 m
• Highest point: Ala Kul Pass, 3,920 m
• Start: Karakol National Park Entrance, 6km from Karakol
• Finish: Ak Suu Village
• Difficulty: Moderate-Hard
• Location: Karakol National Park
• Closest town: Karakol
• Respect: Please remember to leave no trace and carry your rubbish out with you

What is the Ala Kul Trek?

The Ala Kul trek is a 55 km section of the much longer Ak Suu Traverse Trek in Kyrgyzstan. It’s considered the most beautiful section and has become one of the most popular treks in the country.

Ala Kul is one of the most scenic alpine lakes in Kyrgyzstan and can only be visited on foot. While for most people it’s quite challenging, anyone with a good level of fitness should be able to complete the trek over 3-4 days one way. 

For many, including me, the Ala Kul trek has been the highlight of my two months in Kyrgyzstan, so it’s definitely a must do for anyone who loves trekking and mountain vistas.

When to Hike the Ala Kul Trek

The Ala Kul Trek is only possible during the warm summer months. This means you should aim to complete the hike between end of June and end of September. Although, it’s best done from July to early September for the best conditions.

However, the weather is extremely unpredictable in these mountains, and you should be prepared to experience four seasons in one day, even in summer. It’s not unusual to have snow, rain, storms, and wind, all in the peak summer season.

Keep an eye on the weather forecast before you head off and ensure you’re prepared for cold temperatures at night and possible wet conditions.

How Long Does it Take to Hike the Ala Kul Trek?

A lot of people plan to do the Ala Kul trek in three days, however, I’d recommend planning for four days instead. For those staying in yurts along the way, it’s definitely achievable in three days, as you’ll be carrying less stuff. But don’t underestimate this trail, as it’s quite demanding and doing it over four days is much more manageable.

If you’re planning on carrying your own camping gear and food, I would certainly recommend doing the trek in four days instead. Doing the trek in three days would require a demanding fitness level and very long days of walking. Whereas in four days, the trek becomes much more enjoyable, and it allows you to really soak in the views (including camping at the lake itself, which you would otherwise miss on a three day itinerary!).

I’ve heard some people trying to work out how to reach Ala Kul and return in two days. This is extremely hard to accomplish and could only be done if you got a 4×4 taxi to drive you into the Altyn Arashan Valley. From there, you could hike up to the lake and come back the same way with one night at the yurt camp at the base of the pass. However, this is very rushed and difficult to do, so I’d advise allowing a minimum three days for the trek.

Can You Ride a Horse to the Lake?

No, Ala Kul is only accessible on foot, due to the steepness of the trails leading to the lake. However, it is possible to take a horse from Altyn Arashan to the base of the pass. From there, you’d have to hike up to the pass yourself to see the view of the lake. 

However, I wouldn’t recommend doing this as it means your experience will be quite rushed. Please also consider the health of the animals, as it’s a long steep ascent through the valley and it’s a difficult task for the horses. There are better places to ride horses in Kyrgyzstan, such as Song Kul.

How to Get to Karakol and Where to Stay

The base for anyone completing the trek is the major town of Karakol on the eastern shore of Issyk Kul lake. Karakol is a hub for tourism into the surrounding mountains and has everything you need for before and after a trek.

Karakol is 405 km from Bishkek or a 7 hour drive. You can take a marshrutka or shared minibus that leave Bishkek frequently throughout the day. Another option is to take the train from Bishkek to Balykchy and then take a marshrutka from Balykchy to Karakol, which can also be done in one day (I highly recommend this option).

Karakol has plenty of accommodation options, plus other services like supermarkets, trekking agencies, gear rental, and more. Most people spend a couple of days in Karakol before they head off for the Ala Kul trek.

Here’s where I recommend you stay in Karakol:

• Interhouse Hostel: A fantastic home for travellers and hikers looking to relax before and after their hike, with a friendly atmosphere, beautiful garden, and lovely host.
• Duet Hostel: A popular hub for backpackers, it’s a lively hostel with a cafe, tourist information and live music nights.
• Matsunoki: A blend of Japanese-Kyrgyz culture, this midrange guesthouse offers a lovely terrace and a relaxing vibe.
• Ordo Hotel: A charming midrange guesthouse with lovely hosts, home-made breakfast and plenty of advice for travellers and hikers.

Read more: How to Get From Bishkek to Karakol

Do You Need a Guide or Can You Hike Independently?

You can definitely do the Ala Kul trek independently. I’d recommend having some previous hiking experience, especially in the mountains, as the trail is steep, rocky, and the weather can change within seconds. 

Otherwise, navigation is pretty straightforward and in the summer months, you’ll see many people along the way, so you definitely won’t be alone.

If you’re a little nervous though, it’s easy to hire a guide in Karakol for your trek. Head into the Destination Karakol Office for more information on guides or 4Rent Shop in Karakol can also help arrange a guided trip. Otherwise, you can check out this fully supported Ala Kul trek here.

Solo traveller but don’t want to hike solo? In Duet Hostel in Karakol, you’ll find a white board where travellers write down their name and Whatsapp number looking for other travellers to join them. This is a great way to find other people to go with, and I met others who found great hiking buddies this way.

Transport to Start of Trek

The start of the trail is very near to Karakol city. You can catch a local minibus/marshrutka #101 from the opposite corner of Duet Hostel heading for the national park entrance for 30 som. It’s the last stop and the driver will tell you when to get off.

There is another option to take a taxi to the “first bridge”, which would save you about 7km or 1.5 hours of walking. If you want to save your legs this can be a good option. Me and my friends managed to hitch a ride with locals along this stretch which probably saved us about 3km all up. There’s a little a bit of traffic so you might get lucky like us!

Daily Trail Notes: 4 Day Ala Kul Trek Itinerary

Here’s a day by day detailed account of our experience doing the trek over four days, while camping along the way.

Day 1 Karakol to First Camp

• Distance: 15 km
• Time: 4.5 hours
• Ascent: 638 m
• Descent: 108 m

We didn’t leave Karakol until around midday as we’d picked up our camping gear in the morning and figured out how to pack everything into our small backpacks (I had a 30L pack!). We took the marshrutka to the start of the trail and then hitchhiked with a local guy for a short bit, before starting our walk along a dirt road.

The first day is completely on a dirt road to First Camp, following a river. There was a little bit of traffic, but not too much that it became annoying. It was a gentle climb for most of the day, but not overly challenging. 

The views really started to open up into Karakol Valley towards the end of the day, and it really is a special sight to see the horses grazing against towering peaks. We made it to the trail junction, where the suspension bridge leads to Sirota Camp on the left. Here we had to pay the national park entrance fee of 300 som (keep the receipt as it’s checked at the end of the trail!).

We continued walking straight though to First Camp, where a large yurt camp lies in a stunning valley. We wanted to avoid camping near them, so we continued for an extra 1km to find our own camping spot. About halfway between us and the yurt camp was a natural spring for clean water, which was quite convenient (marked on Maps.Me). 

We had dinner at about 7.30pm and were in bed once it got dark, ready for the next two much harder days.

Day 2 First Camp to Ala Kul Lake

• Distance: 9.5 km
• Time: 5.5 hours
• Ascent: 1,111 m
• Descent: 217 m

We were up before 8am but we still didn’t leave camp until just before 10am. We then stopped by the spring to filter some water and used the toilets at the yurt camp, before finally crossing the suspension bridge to start the day’s climb.

The entire day was spent going upwards to the lake. After about 1.5 hours we made it to Sirota Camp, a collection of yurts by a small lake and stream. We stopped here in the shade for our lunch break, to use the toilet and to refill our water.

From here, we could see the trail climbing steadily up through the valley. The climb got even steeper and rockier, as it followed the river closely upwards. After another 1.5 hours, we came to a beautiful waterfall, the perfect spot for another break.

The trail climbs what seems to be a rock wall, up and over this waterfall to the lake. It took us less than an hour, but it was very steep. It’s all worthwhile though when you get to see Ala Kul lake from the top. This incredibly view of the turquoise water against the backdrop of mountains is outstanding.

People had already pitched their tents right there at the top, and we thought it was getting quite crowded and exposed to the winds, so we continued walking. We had to climb a bit further to get up and around the lake and then down to the official tent camp, Ak Sai camp. This is run by a tour company and we were told we couldn’t camp amongst their tents.

So, we continued down from there to the lake’s shore. We found a few nice spots there to pitch our tents (although not entirely flat), right next to a little spring (again, marked on Maps.Me). We enjoyed the view of the last light on the lake before having dinner at 7pm and going to bed early.

Day 3 Ala Kul Lake to Altyn Arashan

• Distance: 15 km
• Time: 7.5 hours
• Ascent: 596 m
• Descent: 1,584 m

The biggest day of the whole trek! We were up for sunrise to see the first light against the mountain tops, before packing up our tents and heading off at about 8.45am. It was a slow and steady climb straight up to the pass along a loose scree slope.

In just under two hours, we finally made it to Alakol Pass. At nearly 4,000m it was cold and the air is much thinner, but the view is one of the best you’ll ever see. An incredible panorama of the Terskey Alatau Mountains, Karakol Peak, Ala Kul lake, the valley below, and several glaciers.

From there, the notoriously steep, treacherous descent begins. The worst of it only takes about 30 minutes to descend, but it’s a hair-raising, sweaty scramble down very loose gravel on a near vertical trail. Be careful, use your trekking poles, and look out for rock falls from above!

Once we got down to the yurt camp, we decided to rest here and have some lunch. The hardest part of the day was done and now it was just time for a long descent. The trail continued for hours through the valley, which was beautifully green and full of grazing animals. 

We had to cross over a river, but the level was low enough that we could rock hop across. Then, the final descent had us finally reach the Altyn Arashan Valley. Our knees were very grateful to have a bit of a break, but we still had a few kilometres of walking to Altyn Arashan.

We crossed the bridge into the little village and were confronted by lots of tourists and guesthouses (many people come here by car and day tours). We refilled our water and used the toilets at Elza’s Guesthouse.

The famous indoor hot springs in the village were crowded and you have to book a time slot, so we decided to carry on further to camp outside of the village. Only 1km away, we found a decent camping spot just off the main road and at the start of the trail that leads to the natural hot springs by the river (that are free!).

After a long day, we were pretty exhausted so we had an early dinner and were in bed ready for the final day.

Day 4 Altyn Arashan to Ak Suu Village

• Distance: 15 km
• Time: 4 hours
• Ascent: 224 m
• Descent: 786 m

The last day is the least scenic and the easiest. There is the option to get a taxi to take you back to Karakol from Altyn Arashan, especially as many tourists are coming to the village on day trips or overnight stays by car. But a few hikers, like us, still walk out to take the marshrutka. 

We started our day with a walk down to the hot springs hidden in a cave by the river, which was a short 10-minute walk from our camping spot. We were lucky enough to enjoy the naturally warm sulphuric bath for an hour before other tourists arrived.

After breakfast, we finally began our walk out. It’s simply following a dirt road the entire way, and is very dusty as there’s lots of traffic from the 4×4 tour vans. We found a great picnic spot though off the side of the road, with actual picnic tables that someone has built beside the river.

Otherwise, it was a long dusty walk and we finally made it to the edge of Ak Suu village where we got a marshrutka back to Karakol. We took our camping gear back to 4Rent and then headed straight to Duet Hostel for a good meal.

If you’re planning on a three-day trek itinerary? Most people go to Sirota Camp on the first night and then Altyn Arashan on the second night.

Transport Back to Karakol

Just before you reach Ak Suu village, you’ll see a bus stop on the other side of the road. From here, you can get a marshrutka back to Karakol for about 40 som. They leave frequently throughout the day.

You’ll also find a few taxis hanging around along the road before this bus stop or you can pre-book a taxi before your trek with an agency in Karakol. However, the local minibus is very easy and cheap to use.

Options for Extensions?

There are several options for extending the Ala Kul trek as it’s part of the much longer Ak Suu Traverse. You can begin the trek in Jeti Oguz and hike to Ala Kul and out to Altyn Arashan or vice versa as part of this trail. This would add about two days onto your trek and you must have your own tent for this section.

If you were interested in just adding a day, then a popular side trip is from First Camp to Karakol Glacier and Mount Karakol base, which is about 25 km return. We saw a few people doing this day hike out and back from camp, or there are more camping options on the way to the glacier too if you have your own tent.

Essential Information for the Ala Kul Trek

If you want to complete the Ala Kul trek, below is all the practical information you’ll need. From camping to yurt stays and water sources, I’ve detailed everything below.

Camping and Accommodation Options

There are two options for staying along the trail: camping in tents or yurts. Staying in yurts is a real experience, although the yurt camps along this trail are much more expensive than in other parts of the country. Still, for those not interested in carrying camping gear it makes for a convenient way to do the hike.

On the other hand, camping is ideal for those who want to enjoy their own space a bit more and camp right on the edge of the lake. Many people bring their own camping gear from home, but there’s also the option of renting in Karakol.

There’s also the option for staying in proper guesthouses in Altyn Arashan. Many hikers choose to do this, as it’s comfortable and allows you to enjoy the hot springs on the last night of the trek.

More information on these three options:

Yurt Camps on Ala Kul Trek

If you plan to stay in yurt camps, then this means you don’t need to carry all your gear. You’ll get a bed, breakfast and dinner included in your stay. There are yurt camps at First Camp/Karakol Valley, Second Camp/Sirota and at the bottom of Ala Kul pass.

Prices vary but for the 2025 season they were about $50USD per person on average. This is by far more expensive than yurt stays in other parts of the country, but it’s difficult to get food and other supplies to some of the camps, so it makes some sense.

In high season, expect to share the yurt with other hikers. Blankets are generally provided but if you have a sleeping bag then it’s even better.

Camping Along the Ala Kul Trek

Wild camping is permitted anywhere along the Ala Kul trail. You’ll need to carry a tent, sleeping mat, sleeping bag, and cooker/stove, plus gas. You can either rent this in Karakol or bring your own gear from home. 

You’ll also need to bring your own food for the trek. I recommend going to Globus (supermarket) and the local bazaar (market) in Karakol for your food supplies. While you won’t find dehydrated camping meals (they can only be found in Splav in Bishkek), you can find things like noodles, pasta, rice, lentils, dried fruits, nuts, protein bars, oats, and other items that are great for trekking in Karakol.

Maps.Me has good camping spots marked on the trail and is very reliable in its accuracy. However, it’s best to allow some flexibility as some areas can be busy in high season and you may have to explore other alternatives.

Where to Rent Camping Gear in Karakol?

There are a couple of good gear rental companies in Karakol. EcoTrek is a popular spot to rent camping gear and they also offer good information for trails around Karakol. Their gear tends to be a bit heavy and bulky, but for a decent price. They offer down sleeping bags.

4Rent on the other hand is a relatively new gear rental shop, and in my opinion, has better quality gear. They’re slightly more expensive per day, but have lighter tents and smaller sleeping bags. They only have synthetic sleeping bags.

Both shops also sell gas canisters for cookers.

Staying in Altyn Arashan

Most hikers choose to stay in Altyn Arashan for the last night (on both the 3 and 4 day itinerary). This small village in a valley with the same name is famous for its hot springs. There are several guesthouses and yurts in the village, which offer basic rooms and meals. Prices start from around USD$45 per night. Many of the accommodation here can be pre-booked on Booking.com but you can also just turn up and find something.

For those without camping gear, it’s a great option for the last night of the trek. However, if you prefer to camp, then you can find spots behind the village or further beyond the village edge (spots are marked on Maps.Me).

Water Sources

Water is abundant along the trail with plenty of streams to fill up along the way. However, I highly recommend bringing a water filter of some kind, as the water sources are close to animals and yurt camps which can contaminate the quality.

I used a Lifestraw Bottle, but you can also use a Sawyer Squeeze, which I often use on multi-day trail to filter water. If you’re really nervous about the water quality, then boiling the water (for at least 60 seconds at a rolling boil) is the best way to ensure it’s safe.

Each day you’ll find several water sources, so you don’t need to carry more than a couple of litres. If you’re wild camping though, then it’s best to carry a little extra or plan to camp near a stream or water source to ensure you have enough overnight. Sources tend to be accurately marked on Maps.Me from our experience.

Toilets

If you’re staying in yurts, you’ll have access to a drop toilet which are usually very basic holes in the ground. Bring your own toilet paper!

For those wild camping, you can generally use the toilets offered by yurt camps (ask first!) or dig a hole somewhere away from any water source. It’s ideal to carry a small shovel or trowel to dig a hole, but carry your dirty toilet paper out with you (it does not break down as quickly as you think and it litters the trail!).

Safety in the Mountains

While the trail is relatively safe, there are several things you should be aware of before heading off on the hike. These are the main safety issues you should know about:

Fitness/Difficulty

The trail is quite demanding with a lot of elevation gain over a short distance. It is also steep and extremely rocky places, including the very slippery descent from the pass on loose scree. Ensure you have a decent level of fitness before undertaking this trek, and be prepared for long days of walking.

While it’s a popular trail, don’t underestimate the challenge of it. Even people with lots of hiking experience say this is a challenging route!

Altitude Sickness

The highest point of this trek is nearly 4000m at Ala Kul Pass. This means that there is a serious risk of altitude sickness for those not well acclimatised. If you’ve spent some time in Karakol and perhaps done a day trip to Jeti Oguz, then this will help your body adapt.

However, either way, I recommend drinking a lot of water and taking an easy pace as you ascend. You’ll notice your steps become slower and your breathing will be heavier as you ascend to the pass, but this is normal. 

You may also have a slight headache at the lake or at the pass. This should settle down when you stop to have a break, but if it doesn’t or if it gets worse, then you should descend as soon as possible. Altitude sickness is not a joke and can be serious if you do not descend.

Unpredictable Weather

The weather in the mountains around Karakol is very unpredictable, even in summer. Expect to get four seasons in one day. While the weather forecast is helpful, don’t rely on it completely as it can be inaccurate and change over a few days.

We were very lucky with great weather for four days in August, but we met many other travellers who had snow, storms, and hail during their trek in the same month. Pack warm layers and a rain jacket and be prepared for sudden changes in the weather.

Rock Falls

On the descent from the pass towards Altyn Arashan, the trail is loose scree and rocks and extremely steep. Rock falls are common, especially from other hikers above you. While it’s not a long section, it can be fairly scary. 

If you accidently kick rocks that fall down, yell “ROCK” to alert other hikers below you. Some people in groups carry helmets with them, but most people do not have them. Just be aware and be ready to brace yourself. 

Trail Navigation

With so many people on the trail, navigation is relatively straightforward. However, I highly recommend having Maps.Me downloaded on your phone for offline use. The trail is very accurately marked on the app, including water sources, camp spots, yurt stays and marshrutka stops. 

Ala Kul Trek Cost

If you do the trek independently and wild camp along the way, it’s a very affordable adventure. We rented camping gear in Karakol and bought most of our food in town, except I did bring some dehydrated meals from home for dinners. 

If you’re renting camping gear, expect to pay about 10,000 som for four days, including a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, trekking poles, gas cooker, pot, and cutlery. This can obviously be reduced by sharing the tent and cooker with someone.

The national park fee is 300 som, which you need to pay at the swing bridge heading from first camp up to Sirota Valley.

If you’re staying in yurts, then budget around USD$50 per night for a bed and meals. But I’d also recommend bringing some snacks for during the day.

Essential Gear to Pack

Everyone doing the Ala Kul trek whether camping or staying in yurts should pack the following:

• Backpack
• Hiking pants or leggings
• T-shirt
• Socks
• Underwear
• Long sleeve shirt or top for sun protection and extra warmth
• Hiking shoes or boots
• Warm fleece or jacket
• Down jacket
• Rain jacket
• Beanie and cap (both optional but ideal)
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen and SPF lip balm (the sun is extremely strong in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan)
• Thermals or other clothes to sleep in (also optional, but most people like to have them)
• Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, toilet paper, personal medication etc.)
• First aid kit
• Power bank and charging cables (there are no power outlets in the yurt camps, so bring your own to recharge your phone)
• Earphones (for listening to music or podcasts at night, optional)
• Drink bottle and water filter
• Headlamp
• Snacks
• Swimwear and towel (optional but for the hot springs in Altyn Arashan it’s a good idea)
• Camera (optional, but I always carry mine)
• TREKKING POLES (even as someone who doesn’t use them very often, I would say trekking poles are a must on this trail, especially for days 2 and 3)

If you’re camping then you’ll need to add the following:

• Tent
• Sleeping mat
• Sleeping bag
• Gas cooker
• Gas canister
• Pot and cutlery
• Food for meals and snacks

Exploring More of Kyrgyzstan?

• Issyk Kul: How to Get From Bishkek to Karakol & Exploring Issyk Kul
• Karakol: 15 Best Things to Do in Karakol
• Bishkek: 10 Best Things to Do in Bishkek
• Jyrgalan: Essential Guide to Visiting Jyrgalan Village
• Song Kul: Complete Guide to Horse Trekking to Song Kul
• Kol Ukok: Essential Guide to Kol Ukok Lake Near Kochkor
• SIM Card: Which SIM Card Should You Buy For Kyrgyzstan?

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