Kyrgyzstan: Ala-Kol lake hike

Date: 2nd - 4th June, 2026

The hike to Ala Kol Lake, including the Altyn Arashan pass, takes 2 nights and 3 days starting from Karakol. After researching the top three hikes in Kyrgyzstan, I found this one to be the most recommended, so I decided to try it. I met a fellow hiker at the guesthouse who mentioned the pass was completely covered in snow, and another warned it was dangerous. Initially, this was disappointing, but I chose to proceed with the hike. After resting for two days in Karakol, I began the hike on June 2nd. The weather forecast predicted rain and thunderstorms throughout the week, which concerned me as I dislike getting wet and didn't have a raincoat. However, the iPhone weather app indicated rain only between 7 PM and 9 PM, which was somewhat reassuring.

First day: The hike is 14 km from the park entrance to Sirota Camp at 3000m. I started early, around 5:45 AM, and walked for about 20 minutes to the bus stop. Unfortunately, no bus arrived for the first 40 minutes, so I booked a car through the Yandex app. The taxi took a while to arrive, and upon arrival, the driver canceled the ride and left. This was frustrating as I lost an hour. Finally, after waiting for an hour, the bus arrived, and I was relieved to get on.

The bus dropped me at the entrance, and I had to walk another 30 minutes to reach the trailhead. The path is mostly a wide gravel road until the second bridge. Many hikers take a taxi/shared bus to the second bridge to avoid this less scenic section. There are signs warning of wild boars, bears, and wolves, but I saw no signs of these animals, and the trail felt very safe. I hiked for two hours without encountering any other hikers. Mostly you will be following the river upstream with very little ascent.

The trail is quite open for the first 5 km, then passes through a pine forest for a couple of kilometers before opening up again. For the first 11 km, there is little elevation gain, but the last 3 km become steeper, especially from the third bridge towards the camp. There are some picturesque spots where you can take photos, almost feels like subject to my painting, here are some.

I took frequent short water breaks and had some snacks around the third bridge, including dried fruits, nuts, white honey, and bread packed by the previous guesthouse. After a short break, I continued towards the camp.

You will spot lot of flowers on the way:

I reached the campsite around 12:30 PM and stayed at the Mico Camp, next to Sirota Camp. They offered Wi-Fi but charged around 4500 INR for the Yurt Camp, including dinner and breakfast. The yurts are basic with a sleeping bag, so you might want to bring some thermals to keep you warm. This seemed expensive, but accommodation alone was available for 2200 INR. It was nice to meet hikers from Europe, the US, and Poland at the campsite.

The campsite provided dried fruits, bread, jam, and hot tea. Around 1:30 PM, it started to rain heavily and continued until 5 PM. We were anxious about the next day's trip as it was expected to be challenging. Hikers from other camps gathered to decide whether to visit the lake and return or cross the snow-covered Altyn Arashan pass. We decided to decide the next day based on the conditions.

Second Day: The hike to Altyn Arashan is 18 km, passing over Ala-Kol Lake and through the highest pass in Kyrgyzstan. To our surprise, the morning was bright with few clouds, which lifted our spirits. We started the hike at 6 AM. The first 3 km involved a steep ascent with a 500 m elevation gain, following a rough stream. The water was milky as it flowed over large boulders. Everyone felt the effects of the steep climb.

After the steep ascent, the trail opened up to the lake, offering breathtaking views. The ice on the lake was starting to melt, and the lake was surrounded by snow-covered mountains on three sides, creating spectacular views.

Fellow hikers had snacks, took photos, and enjoyed the sun before heading to the Altyn Arashan pass, which required another 400 m gain over 2 km. We thought the toughest part was over, but this second phase was also challenging. We took many short breaks but kept pushing towards the high pass.

We were all exhausted but surrounded by tall snow-covered mountains on one side and rocky mountains on the other. The view was stunning, and the full view of Ala-Kol Lake was amazing. There were a couple of campsites at the base of the lake. We reached the peak around 10:30 AM.

To my surprise, I met the same "superman" Japanese hiker I had encountered at the Ratsek hut. He was effortlessly navigating the mountains. I finally took a photo of him as you can see on the right side of the photos below.

Below picture depicts the divide between the Ala-Kol lake to the right and Altyn Arashan valley to the left:

The peak stands at 3960m

After the hardest part of the hike, the dangerous part begans. From the pass, the snow was more than knee-deep, making it tough to traverse. One misstep could send you rolling down the hill. It was so cold that my hands were freezing, so I switched to my thick gloves for the first time, which provided some relief. For the next 1.5 km, the downhill was almost 600 m with snow, but I had fun sliding down on my back. We all sighed with relief when it was over and took a snack break. The right side photo depicts steep downhill covered with snow which later goes into the valley as shown in the left picture.

Break time photos:

I collected a wild goat horn as a souvenir as it was lying beside me :).

We then had a 13 km hike to Altyn Arashan, with a gradual descent. After such steep uphill and downhill sections, I was exhausted. I started walking down, and after a few kilometers, all my fellow hikers were behind. I wasn't sure if they were taking horses to the camp or just walking slowly. Regardless, I kept going, but it felt like 20 km. The views changed from snow-covered mountains to green rocky mountains.

There were horses for those who opted for rides to the pass and cattle grazing in the distance. I followed the river to the campsite. It was exhausting, and I felt alone as my fellow hikers were no longer in sight. I reached the campsite around 1:45 PM. I chose a guesthouse with shared accommodation, costing 3500 INR, which seemed expensive for a shared bed and basic breakfast. Since it started raining, I didn't want to look for other guesthouses or yurts. However, you can find accommodation for 2500 INR with dinner and breakfast.

The guesthouse had a hot spring, and it was nice to relax in the hot water, as the room was private for individuals or couples. However, the water was very hot, so I couldn't relax for more than 10 minutes at a time.

Third day: After breakfast at 8 AM, ( basic breakfast with some porridge, tea, dry fruits) I started heading towards Ak-Suu village, an 18 km downhill hike. The trail followed the strong current of the river, so it was easy to stay on track. The trail was muddy due to the previous day's rain. Along the way, I met a few other hikers, and to my surprise, I encountered the first Black French hiker. I had never met a Black hiker before and mentioned this to him. He found it amusing in a friendly way. It took about 4 1/2 hours to reach the village, followed by a 30-minute minibus ride to Karakol.

At the new guesthouse, I took a refreshing shower after not bathing for three days. I then went to the market to buy some vegetables and meat. I got some fried chicken, which tasted great—everything does when you're exhausted and hungry.

Overall, it was an amazing hike, and I was happy to meet all these hikers.