Amazing Ala Kul Lake
Amazing Ala Kul Lake!
Trekking in Terskey Ala Too is the best solution if you want to enjoy the pristine magnificent nature, unforgettable views of snow- topped mountains, starlit sky at nights with the combination of witnessing nomadic lives on the way. During the trek you will see the most stunning peaks as Oguz Bashi (5 165m) and Karakol (5 216m), the famous moraine - glacial Ala Kol Lake, overcome the passes like Telety (3 800 m) and Ala Kol (3 800m) and enjoy the hot springs of Altyn Arashan. Experience the best of Kyrgyzstan with us!
Why to choose this trek?
- You will have tent camps already set up all along the tour which makes the tour so much easier.
- This will allow you not to carry all the heavy tents, pots, plates and other kitchen equipment.
- It makes the vacations more comfortable - every night you have ready dinner and a tent.
- The tour becomes cheaper because you don't have to hire porters for tents, cooks, etc.
- Mountains, mountains, mountains! The highest peaks of Kyrgyzstan!
Brief itinerary of the tour
Day 01: Bishkek city tour
Day 02: Transfer: Bishkek - Jeti Oguz
Day 03: Trekking: Jeti Oguz - Telety pass
Day 04: Trekking: Telety pass - Karakol gorge
Day 05: Trekking: Radial hike to the foot of Karakol Peak
Day 06: Trekking: Karakol gorge - Ala Kol Lake
Day 07: Trekking: Ala Kol lake - Altyn Arashan gorge
Day 08: Trekking half day and transfer: Altyn Arashan gorge - Cholpon Ata
Day 09: Transfer: Cholpon Ata - Bishkek
Day 10: Bishkek - Airport
Attention: The tour is possible from the 1st of July till the 1st of September
Day 1: Bishkek city tour
Your guide will pick you up at Manas International Airport and accompany you to the capital city of Kyrgyzstan, just a 30-minute drive from the airport. This entire day is dedicated to a guided tour of Bishkek. It includes visiting Pobeda Square (Victory Square), Duboviy Park (Oak Park), Central Ala-Too Square, the History Museum, National Philharmonic, and many others places of interest. But no tour of Bishkek is complete without visiting our Asian Bazaar! We will show it to you today and you will be able to take a lot of dynamic photos of bustling local life. This bazaar is a noisy and colorful tapestry of fabrics, produce, and people selling and buying goods. Traditional dinner will be served at 7 p.m. You will spend the night in a hotel.
Day 2: Bishkek - Issyk Kul Lake - Karakol (400 km, 6-7 hours, 2 600 m)
In the morning you will be transferred to celestial Issyk Kul Lake, the second largest alpine lake in the world (1608m.above sea level). The lake is called "the pearl of Central Asia". You can come up to the lake and to see mountains all around it. On route you will visit Burana Tower (an 11th century minaret) and an open air museum of Balbans (stone warriors). Today you will drive along the whole southern shore. At Bokonbaeva village we will visit a local eagle-hunter. He hunts hares and foxes with the help of eagles (a traditional form of nomadic hunting). Night is in a guesthouse.
Day 3: Karakol - Jeti Oguz (50 km, 2 hours, 2 600 m)
In the morning we will visit the Dungan mosque. It was built in Chinese style without using a single metal nail. This will be followed by the visit of an old wooden Orthodox Church. After lunch we will drive to Jeti Oguz gorge. It's famous for its red rock formations that are called the Seven Bulls - Jeti Oguz. Also you will see Broken Heart Mountain. We will take as many photos there as you'd like and if you want it is possible to walk to the top of a mountain (20 minutes) to see a panoramic view of the gorge! There are yurts in the gorge and people can offer you Kumis to drink. It is a national drink that is made from fermented mare's milk, and it is mildly alcoholic. Your dinner and night will be in yurts.
Day 4: Jeti Oguz - Telety pass (16 km, 6-8 hours, 3 050 m)
Today you will have a beautiful trek where you can enjoy the fascinating scenery, fresh air and freedom of mind in such mountainous serenity. Your path will go along the river bank in a very narrow wooded gorge named Bay Tor that will lead us to the alpine meadows. Here, on a flower carpet, in the mountains the air is sweet and clear, the views are amazing. You will forget all your troubles and gets closer to the nature. At this peaceful place you will have a picnic break. Having some rest we will continue the trek to the foot of Telety pass. Dinner and night is in tents.
Day 5: Telety pass - Karakol gorge (18 km, 6-8 hours, 2 500 m)
Today we will have an ascent over the Telety pass. It will be not very difficult and the trail will go through a narrow path with a slight ascent. There are only two rather steep slopes, which require some efforts. From the top of the pass at 3 800 m a.s.l. we enjoy the breathtaking panoramic view and the surrounding area. Descent is rather simple. We will go along a wide slope covered with talus, across alpine meadows with various herbs and flowers, along the East Telety river. Later we hike through the wood along a trail covered with roots. Dinner and overnight is in a tent camp.
Day 6: Radial hike to the foot of Karakol Peak (16 km, 6-8 hours, 2 500 m)
Today we will have a beautiful radial hike up along Uyun Tor river to the foothill of Karakol Peak (5 281 m). We have a chance to see Tien Shan blue spruce forest, a big abundance of underwood plants as dog rose, honeysuckle, black barberries, mountain ash, black current, etc. There also can be found a lot of mushrooms in the forest. Starting from May there found flowers blooming on the meadows such as snowdrops, tulips, primerose, white anemone, alpine Aster, edelweiss of surprisingly big size. We reach the point with a view at the highest peak of Terskei Ala Too - Karakol Peak. Dinner and overnight is in a tent camp.
Day 7: Karakol gorge - Ala Kol pass (3532 m) (9 km, 6-8 hours, 3 600 m)
After a strengthening breakfast we will start our descent along the gorge for about 3 km. Then we cross the river over a bridge and go towards the forest. Then we ascend again which finishes at a steep slope covered with grass; here the trail turns into a serpentine and we pass by a river overflow, and arrive to an unusual place which is called "Sirota" mountain hut. It is a log hut. There is a table, benches, fireplace inside. We can find a number of sculptures of animals and idols carved in wood around the hut. After some rest we hike up a little more along the river and reach a beautiful waterfall, flowing down from Ala Kol Lake. Dinner and overnight is in a tent camp.
Day 8: Ala Kol Lake - Altyn Arashan gorge (18 km, 6-8 hours, 2 600 m)
Today we will overcome the pass Ala Kol (3 800 m) and enjoy the breathtaking views of Ala Kul Lake. It stretches from east to west for 2.8 km, its width is 500 m, and depth 70 m. Ala Kol means Colorful Lake in Kyrgyz language. Depending on the light the water might change its color. It can be emerald green, turquoise with white clouds reflected, light green or dark grey, or even black. We will descend from the pass along a talus slope and then we will cross a picturesque valley of Keldike with stunning landscapes, herds of cattle and flocks of sheep grazing. Going through a forest we will end up in Altyn Arashan valley. This place is famous for its hot spring with the temperature of 50 degrees Celsius. You can enjoy it in thermal baths in old Russian style houses. Dinner and overnight is in tents.
Day 9: Altyn Arashan gorge - Cholpon Ata (155 km, 4-5 hours, 1 600 m)
Today you will have a trek towards the Ak Suu village. We will descent over green fields with blooming flowers and crystal mountain springs. The final 5 km of the gorge are very narrow not more than 30 m with high rock walls. At the entrance to the gorge we pass by a village - Ak Suu the name comes from the hot springs. Here you will have a car to take you to the northern side of the Isyk Kul lake. Here you can enjoy the beautiful sandy beach and sun. Night is in a hotel.
Day 10: Cholpon Ata - Bishkek (280 km, 4 hours, 700 m)
In the morning we will visit a place where you will see ancient pictures on stones! They are called petroglpihs. These petroglpihs were made more than 2 000 years ago by shamans. All these stones are still at the same place as they were at that time. You can see a panorama view of the Issyk Kul Lake from this place - people were thinking that it was the middle of the world. After an excursion you will visit a museum in Cholpon Ata. There are many attractive things from the Kyrgyz history, handicraft, music instruments and a lot of other interesting artifacts. Afterwards we will drive to Bishkek city.
Day 11: Bishkek - Airport
In the morning is transfer to airport.
