There are a number of interesting canyons in the vicinity of Karakol. One of the most visited is the Altyn-Arashan Gorge. The gorge is actually called Arashan - after the flowing river, and Altyn-Arashan is a place in the center of the gorge where springs flow and where there is a yurt settlement, a kind of resort in the field.

Features of the gorge

What makes the Arashan Gorge attractive?

There is no need to mention that it is beautiful 

It is relatively easy to get to the gorge from Karakol.

It is rather wide in its middle part. This width and spaciousness was enough to accommodate a whole yurt settlement - Altyn-Arashan. In a yurt or guest house you can stay overnight, that is, you do not have to carry a bivouac (tent, sleeping bag and mat) with you.

Altyn-Arashan settlement stands on hot springs. Some springs are ennobled and fall under the patronage of individual owners, so there is a fee for their visit (usually 200 soms). But there are also free baths. In addition, wild baths are located in a very picturesque place on the bank of the river. “Altyn-Arashan” translates as “golden spring”.

The gorge is perfect for trekking: both for easy walks and multi-day treks. A popular route to the high-mountainous Ala-Kul Lake passes through the gorge.

How to get to Altyn-Arashan from Karakol

From Karakol we drive to the neighboring village of Teplokluchenka (now renamed Ak-Suu).

The river Ak-Suu flows through Teplokluchenka. We follow it up to the fork: the place where the river Arashan flows into Ak-Suu and we continue along Arashan. (If you continue along Ak-Suu (to the left), the road will lead to the sanatorium on hot springs. The sanatorium was built in Soviet times and is still in successful operation. There are shuttle buses from Karakol to the sanatorium. Locals go to these hot springs like to a bath).

It is further to the springs on the Arashan River and the road is quite bad. From the fork, you can scrape along the Arashan River a bit more, and then you can either walk or take a custom-made UAZ or GAZ-66.

You can get to the  beginning of the route from Karakol by shuttle bus ( # 350 from Central market of Karakol) to Ak-Suu sanatorium or by taxi.

Booking a night in the yrt camp 

Please contact us to make a reservation for one of those camps 

Djety-Oguz, or the Valley of Seven Bulls, is one of the most popular gorges on the southern shore of Issyk-Kul. A series of gorges with red rocks starts from it.

The southern coast of Issyk-Kul is interesting first of all for its mountain gorges. The Terskey Ala-Too (“Shadow Mountains”) ridge is cut through by numerous rivers, which, running down to the lake, form various valleys, each of which is beautiful in its own way. 

Dzheti-Oguz Sanatorium

Behind the red rocky ridge is the resort Dzheti-Oguz, consisting of houses and yurts lined up along the road.

The distance from the village of Jeti-Oguz to the resort is 12 km. The altitude of the resort is 2200 meters.

In the middle of the XIX century radon springs were discovered here, studied and described by Semenov-Tianshansky.

The Jety-Oguz sanatorium was founded in 1932.

Now it consists of several buildings. The territory is green, there is a lot of juniper, which is considered a medicinal tree with bactericidal properties. Just living in the mountains and walking in the surroundings have a healing effect.

The sanatorium offers the following procedures: radon baths, mud treatment, various types of massage, paraffin treatment, kumysolechenie.

The cost of accommodation with meals and treatment - 1500 soms per night per person.

Some rooms have a view of the red rocks "Seven Bulls".

From Karakol to the resort Jeti-Oguz - 30 km. You can get here from Karakol by taxi or by route No. 371, which starts from the city bazaar "Ak-Tilek".

You can spend the night in the valley of Kok Zhayyk, which is located up the canyon from the sanatorium. There are many yurt camps in the valley that welcome tourists in the summer. 

CBT yurt camps meet all standards of hospitality and are located in unique places. 

Please contact us to book a yurt.

Karakol is not a big city where different nationalities live compactly, but the main ones are Kyrgyz. Many tourists use Karakol as a starting point for their further trips to the Sary Jaz Valley or for long hiking and horseback riding tours. Therefore, you will find many options for accommodation in the city. What is there to see in Karakol?

 1. Dungan Mosque built in the Chinese architectural style, it is a gift from the Chinese people to the Muslims of Issyk Kul. At that time the building was built without a single nail, in its style it is a unique architectural monument and quite unusual for local places.

2. Central Market (Bazaar) There are actually 2 markets in Karakol that you can visit but the more interesting one to visit is Ak Tilek Bazaar, it is the oldest bazaar in the area and people still use it to buy various food, clothes, construction and other materials. It is quite varied and has a little taste of Azat bazaars but in very small proportions. Here you can buy traditional bread - Nan and taste spicy cold soup - Ashlyanfu. It is quite popular among the local people. 

3.Russian Orthodox Church The largest Orthodox church in the Issyk-Kul region, which still welcomes its parishioners. The building has been rebuilt many times due to earthquakes or the misuse of the Soviet Communists, but still retains the architectural style of the church and has its own century-old history.

4.Cattle Market - The cattle market is one of the most interesting places to visit if you want to get a closer look at the nomadic culture. There are many traders and buyers with a variety of livestock, from thoroughbred horses to common sheep or goats. The market is quite large by local standards and takes place every Sunday, no matter what the weather. It is a necessary part of the farming world.

In Karakol today there are a lot of options for accommodation, you can easily book through popular websites many accommodation. If you are traveling on a budget, hostels are your obvious choice and there are about 4-5 of them in Karakol. We can recommend KBH Hostel - Karakol or Ordo Hostel which are affordable and have good reviews. 

The middle segment of accommodation is guesthouses, which make up the bulk of accommodation in Karakol. The average price of accommodation is around $20 per person including breakfast. There are many options for you to choose from, many of the houses are relatively new to the service industry. We can recommend such places as Jamilyas B&B, NUR Guesthouse, Vstrecha Guesthouse, Teskey B&B and many others, you can also contact us for reservations. 

The third most expensive segment is hotels, there are not many of them in Karakol, but there is a choice. For hotel reservations you can also contact us. 

For your convenience, we can book accommodation and meals at Sirota Yurt Camp, which is located before Ala Kol Lake at 3000 meters above sea level.

There are several yurt camps in the area where you can stay and eat. The conditions in the yurts are quite simple, with no beds and modern shower and toilet facilities. Travelers are provided with a sleeping bag or blanket. 

Food can be ordered at the camp. But usually the staff cooks what is planned and not what you order. 

From the first bridge in the Karakol Gorge to the camp is about 18 km or 5-6 hours of trekking. 

Please contact us to book a place in the camp, full payment is usually required before your ascent to the camp. 

There are two ways to get to Naryn city from Karakol. 

First way: You can go to the bus station and buy a ticket for a minibus to Naryn. But this minibus leaves only once a day at 08:00 am. Travel time is 5-6 hours. 

The second way: Take a minibus from Karakol to the town of Balykchy, which is located at the other end of Ysyk Kol Lake, then from Balykchy take a taxi or collective taxi to Naryn. 

In summer the route is quite popular, so in many cases it is possible to get there without any problems. 

Volunteer at CBT Karakol 

Our team will be happy to accept you as a volunteer if you can share your skills or experience in various fields. Our community has close ties with the local people who spend most of their time in the mountain area trying to develop a tourist experience. If you have something to share, our doors are always open! 

The gender and age of the volunteer is not important. It is important for us to learn from the experience of our staff and partners to communicate with different people. 

To become a volunteer in our community, please contact us to discuss the terms and conditions of volunteering. 

CBTKarakol Team 

Where can I get free information about trekking if I want to go without a guide? 

At the moment there are several tourist information centers and community organizations in Karakol that can help you with such information and trekking maps. 

1. Tourist Information Center is located in the left wing of the university named after K. Tynystanov. The center mainly provides information and sells small souvenirs, postcards and maps. For feedback there is WhatsApp. 

Located on Abdrakhmanov Street 

2. EcoTour Info Center is also located in the city center, provides information. Can book yurts or guesthouses in Karakol and surrounding areas. Also provides guides and porters. Can organize transfers. 

Located on Toktogul Street 

3. the public organization *Destination Karakol* is located next to the Russian Orthodox Church. The members of the Destination provide information services and various tours including cultural events. They can provide you with trekking maps, postcards and other useful information about Karakol attractions. 

Located on Lenin Street 

A border permit is required in some parts of the Kyrgyz Republic, namely 

Issyk-Kul oblast: Karkyra, Sary Jaz, Enilchek, Karasai, Dankov Peak. 

Naryn oblast: Kel Suu Lake, Chatyr Kol Lake

Osh oblast: Lenin Peak - Base Camp  

It takes about 7 working days to receive a border permit from the day of submitting the application and receiving the passport copies. This permit  is valid for one month and is valid throughout Kyrgyzstan. 

If you are on a tight deadline, you can get an expedited pass. 

Feel free to contact us about Border Permit 

Zhyrgalan Valley is located 60 kilometers east of the city of Karakol. The valley was used for coal mining in Soviet times, but now it is more of a tourist destination for trekking, horseback riding and biking travelers. The village is surrounded by many hills and high peaks, in winter it is a unique place for freeride skiing and snowboarding. In Zhyrgalan today you can find many options for accommodation in yurt camps or guest houses. 

Here you can make various hiking or horseback riding tours from one to several days. 

If you need information about tours on your own, you can contact the local Tourist Information Center. 

Transfer:  Private taxi  can be booked 

Minibus - #331 - Shakhty Zhyrgalan leaves 3 times a day from Ak Tilek market. 

08:30

13:30

17:30 

For booking guesthouses or other tours please contact us! 

For comfortable and safe trekking or horseback riding in the mountains, it is necessary to have suitable clothing and footwear. 

High trekking shoes, thermal underwear, a good jacket against rain and wind, hiking pants and shorts, knee-length gaiters in case of snowfall, sunglasses and sunscreen. 

Backpack for 60 liters, thermos and medical kit. 

It is very important to carry a water purification filter or purification tablets. 

All yurt camps provide bedding, so it is not obligatory to have a sleeping bag. 

In addition you should take trekking sticks. 

By now there are quite a few good places to eat in Karakol. But you should keep in mind that not all places can sell alcohol. We can recommend a few places where you can have a delicious meal and you will have a wide choice of traditional cuisine from other countries as well. 

Cafe "Dastorkon" is one of the most famous and stable restaurants for tourists. Here you can taste traditional Kyrgyz and Asian dishes. The restaurant takes care of its customers and this means that the dishes are served in the best quality and most importantly, they are delicious. 

Cafe "Altyn Kumara" " This cafe is located next to the first restaurant and is also quite famous and popular among lovers of oriental cuisine, the specialty of this place is shashlik - a dish similar to barbecue. 

Here you can find quality and not expensive food. 

Cafe "Archa" is a new restaurant built next to the above mentioned restaurants. Modern interior and quality service will leave good impressions from this restaurant. Here you can taste pizza and drink various kinds of coke. 

Cafe "Saimaluu" If you want to eat good food and dance at the same time, this place should suit you. The restaurant positions itself as a disco bar with delicious food.