Ala Kul Lake Essential Guide: Everything You Need to Know

Spend any time travelling in Kyrgyzstan, or any time researching travel in Kyrgyzstan, and you’ll undoubtedly come across the name ‘Ala Kul Lake’. This alpine lake, nestled into a beautiful mountain bowl at 3500m, is, without doubt, one of Kyrgyzstan’s star attractions. Almost everyone travelling to Kyrgyzstan includes an Ala Kul Lake trek on their itinerary. 

There’s good reason for Ala Kul Lake’s popularity. Shimmering magnificent shades of turquoise and surrounded by mountains and glaciers Ala Kul Lake is a sight to behold. In a land of incredible lakes, that’s saying something. 

Want to see for yourself what all the fuss is about? Read on for our complete guide to Ala Kul Lake, which features all the information you need, including alternate routes, so you can get yourself out on the trail to enjoy some of the best of Kyrgyzstan’s hiking. 

What is Ala Kul Lake?

Ala Kul Lake is a magnificent alpine lake sitting at 3500m. As with so many of Kyrgyzstan’s gorgeous lakes, Ala Kul Lake is a brilliant turquoise colour and is surrounded by beautiful mountains. To top it all off, there’s a glacier that goes all the way down to the lake’s shore. 

While Ala Kul Lake can only be reached by foot, it’s still within close proximity to Kyrgyzstan’s adventure hub, Karakol. 

If that isn’t enough to entice you, there’s an added bonus. The most popular route to reach Ala Kul Lake involves a stay at Altyn Arashan, a hot spring resort. This is after the hardest day conquering Ala Kul Pass. A dip in a hot spring on a hike? Yes, please!

Due to its beauty and relative accessibility, Ala Kul Lake is easily one of the most popular things to do in Kyrgyzstan and the Ala Kul Lake trek is the most popular overnight hike in the country. 

Read 14 Awesome Things to Do in Kyrgyzstan for more epic adventures

Ala Kul Lake Location 

Ala Kul Lake is located in the Terksey Ala-Too mountain range in Eastern Kyrgyzstan, around 20 km from Karakol. Karakol is the administrative capital of Issyk-Kul Oblast and Kyrgyzstan’s de facto adventure capital. 

Want to visit another stunning lake in Kyrgyzstan? Read all about remote Kel Suu

Located in some of the best mountains in Kyrgyzstan, you can only reach Ala Kul Lake by two days of trekking. 

Best time to hike to Ala Kul Lake

Just as with all Kyrgyzstan hiking, the season for doing the Ala Kul Lake trek is from June to September. The best time to visit Ala Kul Lake is from July until early September. 

During this time, the weather will be the warmest (although still not hot by any means!) and the passes should be free of snow. 

Before June, there will most likely be too much snow to safely reach the lake. After September, it will be very cold and the yurt camps will have packed up for the season. 

Heading to Kazakhstan? Read our complete guide to Almaty

How to do the Ala Kul Lake Trek

You can reach Ala Kul Lake in a number of different ways. Ala Kul Lake sits in a part of the mountains in Kyrgyzstan that is very well-connected to a number of hiking trails, so the options for getting there are almost unlimited.

The most popular route goes from the Karakol Valley to Ak Suu. We’ve set out two different itineraries for this route and have also provided some suggestions for alternative routes.

Traditional Ala Kul Lake Trek: Karakol Valley to Ak Suu

By far, the most popular route is to hike from the Karakol Valley to Ak-Suu. This route is commonly done over 3 or 4 days. 

3 or 4 Days?

Whether you choose 3 or 4 days is completely up to you. When deciding which option to take, consider the amount of time you have, your level of fitness and hiking experience and what Kyrgyzstan hiking experience you are looking for. 

Taking 4 days allows you to go at a slower pace and enjoy the scenery. However, for this option, you will need to be self-sufficient as there are no guesthouses or yurt camps at Ala Kul Lake (where you sleep on the second night). 

To do the Ala Kul Lake Trek in 3 days, you need a very good degree of fitness. For this option, you do not necessarily need to bring camping gear or pack as much food as you can purchase dinner and breakfast en route. 

Exploring more of Kyrgyzstan? Check out Tash Rabat

Ala Kul Lake Trek 4-Day Itinerary

The 4-day Ala Kul Lake trek is a great option. This itinerary allows you to take your time and enjoy the ride. With this option, you take two days to get to Ala Kul Lake and then a further two days to arrive at the finish at Ak-Suu. 

Note that if you choose the 4-day itinerary, camping is the only option for the second night, so you must be self-sufficient. 

Day 1: Karakol Nature Park Entrance to either Camp 1 or Sirota Camp 

• Distance: 15 – 18 km
• Elevation: 650 – 1100 metre gain

The first day on the Ala Kul Lake trek is pretty easy. 

Once you enter the Karakol Nature Park, you continue following the trail for about 15 km on easy, flat terrain. Most of the trail is a jeep track that is really easy to walk on. 

As you walk on, you go deeper into the Karakol Valley and the views are great. I walked this section with a new friend from Slovenia, who remarked that it looked very much like the mountains back home. 

You’ll also be beside the Karakol River for the entire day. Be careful around the river as it can really gush! People have been swept away in the past. 

Read about Ala Archa National Park for more great trekking in Kyrgyzstan

After around 4 hours, you’ll come to a bridge across the river with a yurt camp nearby (sometimes). This is commonly referred to as Camp 1 (2500m) and is a good place to camp for the night. You’ll find a flat area suitable for pitching tents. 

Alternatively, if you would like to push on, Sirota Camp (2950 m) is a further 3 km and 450m of elevation gain away. At this point, you’ll enter the forest. It’s very steep and tough going and you should budget at least an extra 1.5 -2 hours to get there. 

You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see an old log cabin right next to a small river. It’s also marked on maps.me. There are a number of spots here to camp, although it can get quite busy (see below).

In addition to the camping area, there is a yurt camp nearby where you can get a yurt or tent and a hot meal. 

Day 2: Camp 1 or Sirota Camp to Ala Kul Lake 

• Distance: 5 – 8 km
• Elevation: 750 – 1200 metre gain

If you’ve camped at Camp 1, you’ll start by beginning your ascent to Sirota Camp (see above). 

If you’ve camped at Sirota Camp, the ascent only gets more intense from here. It’s pretty much straight up on a path composed of slippery rocks, exposed tree roots, mud and gravel. Take your time and be careful here. It’s very strenuous hiking. 

This is probably the only part of the Ala Kul Lake trek where you could get off the trail. Stay close to the river (on your right) and check your map regularly. 

After climbing up for a couple of hours, you’ll arrive at a waterfall. From there, you follow a steep gravel path until you reach Ala Kul Lake itself. 

There are multiple camping options at Ala Kul Lake. You can camp on the rocks just above the lake, on the high cliffs to the left of the lake or down by the lake. 

Whilst I didn’t camp at the lake, the options on the rocky bank looked pretty exposed to the wind. You’re best off getting to a lower spot, where you’ll be more sheltered from the elements.  

Day 3: Ala Kul Lake to Altyn Arashan

• Distance: 13 km
• Elevation: 400 metre gain / 1400 metre loss

From Ala Kul Lake you make your way up the Ala Kul Pass, where you’ll be afforded incredible views of the lake and surrounding mountains. 

Follow the clear trail to the pass. It’s a very steep and slippery climb, so pay close attention and take your time. 

From the Ala Kul Pass, you have a short but very steep descent down a scree-covered slope. This side of the pass is noticeably steeper and more slippery than from the lakeside. 

It should take about 20 minutes to descend from the Ala Kul Pass.

Once you’ve made your way down the pass, it’s relatively easy walking down the valley to Altyn Arashan. 

When you approach Altyn Arashan, you’ll see yurt camps and guesthouses on the other side of the river. Cross via the bridge a bit further along the trail. 

You can either camp in the valley or spend the night in one of the yurts or guesthouses, all of which will provide meals. You cannot book these online.  

Altyn Arashan was more beautiful than I was expecting and I really enjoyed it. The best part, however, are the hot springs located in the valley! 

Every guesthouse/yurt camp has its own hot spring pool. If you’re staying with them, a soak is usually included in your rate. If not, you can book and pay for one (highly recommended!). They’re a bit rustic, but at this stage, who really cares? 

There’s a not-so-secret outdoor hot spring about 20-30 minutes walk away. It’s very small, lukewarm and becoming quite popular (so often full). You can find its location on maps.me, but in my opinion, it’s not worth the detour. 

Day 4: Altyn Arashan to Ak Suu

• Distance: 18 km
• Elevation: 750 metre descent

This day is super easy. It’s a near-constant descent down to Ak Suu for around 18km. For most of the trail, you’re in the forest, so shaded from the elements if it’s a hot day. 

Up for some horse trekking? Check out Song Kul Lake

Ala Kul Lake Trek 3-Day Itinerary

The 3-day trek to Ala Kul Lake is probably the most popular itinerary. For this option, note that day 2 is very long and challenging. You do not need to bring your own camping gear for this option as you can stay in a yurt camp on the first night and at a guesthouse on the second. 

Day 1: Karakol Nature Park Entrance to Sirota Camp (18 km)

• Distance: 18 km
• Elevation: 1100 metre gain

The first day is pretty much identical to the 4-day itinerary, except that you must reach Sirota Camp. This is because day 2 is very strenuous, so you need to go as far as possible on day 1. 

Day 2: Sirota Camp to Altyn Arashan (19 km)

• Distance: 19 km
• Elevation: 750 metre gain / 1400 metre descent

This is by far the most challenging day. It’s around 19 km of lateral distance, with around 1000m of elevation gain and 1400m of elevation loss.

I did it in reverse and trust me, I was knackered by the end of it. 

From Sirota Camp you’ll climb about 2 hours to reach Ala Kul Lake. From Ala Kul Lake, continue on to Ala Kul Pass (about 1.5 hours). 

Once you’ve reached the top of Ala Kul Pass, you have a steep descent down a scree-covered slope. This should take around 20 minutes. 

Once you reach the bottom, budget around 3 hours walking down the valley to Altyn Arashan. 

Day 3: Altyn Arashan to Ak Suu

*The same as day 4 on the 4-day itinerary option.

• Distance: 18 km
• Elevation: 750 metre descent

This day is super easy. It’s a near-constant descent down to Ak Suu for around 18km. For most of the trail, you’re in the forest, so shaded from the elements if it’s a hot day. 

Alternative Options for Trekking to Ala Kul Lake

There are many other options for trekking to Ala Kul Lake. 

Ala Kul Lake is part of a larger network of trails throughout this region of the mountains in Kyrgyzstan and because of this network, there’s a ‘create-your-own-adventure’ element involved! 

If you would like to explore further options than those provided below, take a look at the paper map provided at Destination Karakol or speak to the team at EcoTrek in Karakol.

Ala Kul Lake Out-and-Back 

• Distance: 39 km
• Elevation: 1850 metre gain / 1850 metre descent
• Time: 3 days/2 nights

If you do not want to conquer Ala Kul Pass, or simply just want to finish exactly where you started, you can hike to Ala Kul Lake as an out-and-back hike. 

On this option, you’ll spend one night en route to the lake (either Camp 1 or Sirota Camp). The next day, you hike to the lake and then descend to the camp of your choice. On day 3, you walk down the Karakol Valley back to the start. 

Karakol Valley – Ala Kul Lake – Panorama Pass – Telety Valley

This is another fun, but challenging, option. This option is only recommended for those that have experience hiking. Note that you will also need to be self-sufficient for this option as there are no guesthouses or yurts in the Telety Valley.

On this itinerary, you reach Ala Kul Lake as per the traditional route (via the Karakol Valley). 

From Ala Kul Lake, you can swing back down via the very difficult Panorama Pass and descend through the remote and stunning Telety Valley. You should budget at least 4 – 5 days for this option.

Return to Karakol via Ak Suu Arboretum Path

When hiking from Altyn Arashan to Ak Suu, just before you reach the paved highway, is the trailhead for the Ak Suu Arboretum Path. You can continue hiking on this for a further 13 km to reach Karakol. 

Ak Suu Traverse

You can include Ala Kul Lake as part of a much larger trek on the Ak Suu Traverse (this is what I did). 

The Ak Suu Traverse is a very challenging, 90 km, 7 – 10 day trek from Jyrgalan to Jeti Oguz that traverses the most epic scenery of any mountains in Kyrgyzstan. It’s incredibly difficult and only for experienced hikers. But if you want a challenge, this is it!

Good To Know

The Ala Kul Lake trek is hands down the most popular of Kyrgyzstan’s hiking options. 

You know what this means: in mid-summer, it’s super busy folks! If it’s peace and solitude you’re after, this may not be the hike for you. 

In high season, the trail to Ala Kul Lake and by extension, the yurt camps and camp spots are guaranteed to be fairly busy. It’s worth attempting to book your yurt camp in advance or trying to arrive at your campsite early in the day to get a decent spot. 

I visited Ala Kul Lake after 5 days of very remote hiking on the Ak Suu Traverse and it was disorienting to be amongst so many people again (to say the least). I arrived at Sirota Camp late in the afternoon and seriously struggled to find a decent place to pitch my tent. I was also disgusted by the amount of human waste, toilet paper and other refuse scattered plainly throughout the camp. 

Moral of the story: please, when you visit, don’t be a dickhead. Follow Leave No Trace principles and be sure to pack out everything you’ve packed in.

Do you need a guide to do the Ala Kul Lake Trek?

If you’re an experienced hiker, definitely not! Most people do the Ala Kul Lake trek independently, without a guide.  

It’s always a good idea to have a map downloaded and have a hiking buddy. That said, if you’re experienced hiking in high-altitude mountains, you can safely do this hike on your own mid-summer (granted you check the weather and are prepared for mountain conditions). There should be lots of people on the trail so you don’t have to be worried about isolation. 

If you’re not experienced in hiking, or just not comfortable doing the Ala Kul Lake trek independently, we suggest you hire a guide or join a tour. There are multiple options for organising a guide and/or tour. 

Transportation

It’s very easy to get to organise your transport for the Ala Kul Lake trek, with options for both public transport and private taxi hire. 

How to get to the start of the Ala Kul Lake Trek

To do the Ala Kul Lake trek, you must first get to the Karakol Nature Park.

From Karakol, you can take a marshrutka (minibus). Marshrutka #101 leaves from the front of Duet Hostel in the centre of Karakol. 

This marshrutka goes directly to the entrance of the park (where you pay the 300 KGS entrance fee). 

Alternatively, you can hire a taxi to take you to the start. This should cost approximately 800 – 1000 KGS for the entire car. You can always try to find hiking friends to split the cost. 

If you hire a taxi, be sure to ask to be dropped off at the ‘first bridge’. Every taxi driver will know what you are talking about. 

The ‘first bridge’ is a further 6-7 km down the trail, which is actually just a jeep track, thereby saving you some time (about 1 – 1.5 hours) and less exciting walking. 

How to leave the end of the Ala Kul Lake Trek

The Ala Kul Lake trek finishes in Ak Suu village. 

Just outside the village, at the end of the hike, is a bus stop for marshrutka #350. This takes you into Karakol and should cost around 25 KGS. 

Of course, taxi hire is always an option. This is Central Asia!

If you want to finish early, you can always hire a 4×4 from Altyn Arashan. Note that this is not a cheap option and will cost at least 70 USD and most likely need pre-organising. 

How much does it cost to do the Ala Kul Lake Trek?

Outside of the 300 KGS entrance fee to Karakol Nature Park, there are no other fees associated with hiking to Ala Kul Lake. 

How much the trek will cost will depend on a variety of factors, including whether you sleep in guesthouses/yurt camps v camping, hire a guide or make your own food. 

Generally speaking though, even if you were to hire a guide and sleep in yurts/guesthouses, it does not cost a lot of money to do the trek. 

How difficult is the hike to Ala Kul Lake? 

The Ala Kul Lake Trek is moderately challenging but not overly demanding. 

Anyone with a reasonable degree of fitness can do the hike to Ala Kul Lake. It’s a steep but straightforward trail, with one challenging mountain pass. I’ve seen groups of all sorts of people on the trail to Ala Kul Lake. 

The first and last sections of the hike (the approach to Sirota Camp and the descent from Altyn Arashan) are very straightforward and easy. The trail becomes steeper once you approach the lake, but is still moderate.

By far the most demanding aspect of the Ala Kul Lake trek is the Ala Kul Pass. Not only is the pass at a high altitude (3850m), which makes breathing difficult, but the terrain is extremely steep, rocky and covered in loose scree. It is important to take your time on this section and pay attention. 

What to expect on the Ala Kul Lake Trek

Safety

The Ala Kul Lake trek is a safe hike, with no serious issues distinct from other Kyrgyzstan hiking trails. 

Altitude is the biggest issue. Ala Kul Lake sits at around 3500m, and Ala Kul Pass at almost 3900m, so altitude sickness is a real concern. Monitor yourself for symptoms (shortness of breath, dizziness and headaches) and if any of those become serious, you should descend to a lower elevation. If you would like to camp at Ala Kul Lake, we strongly recommend taking two days so that you can acclimatise before sleeping at such a high elevation.

As with many of Kyrgyzstan’s hiking trails, there may be a number of river crossings. If you have to ford a river, practice proper technique: cross at a slight angle, heading downstream but facing upstream. Lean slightly into the current, and step sideways. Always unbuckle your hip belt before fording fast-moving rivers. 

And finally, watch for rock fall and pay attention on the trail. This is easier said than done as you may find yourself constantly distracted by the beauty around you!

As with all hikes, accidents do happen, so good travel insurance is essential.

We use and recommend SafetyWing. It covers up to 4000m and is specifically designed for long-term travellers and nomads. 

Because accidents happen.

Water

There is plenty of water on the Ala Kul Lake trek, so there is no need to carry excess water.  We always recommend getting water from a flowing source, if possible.

As with all hikes in the mountains in Kyrgyzstan, be sure to treat your water before drinking it, as it is most likely contaminated by animal droppings.

Pro tip: for treating water on all our hikes, we use a Steripen – it’s a game-changer.

Navigation

It is pretty easy to navigate to Ala Kul Lake. There aren’t any trail markers, but the trail itself is quite clear and easy to follow. 

There is a trail on maps.me that you can use to navigate, just be sure to have it downloaded in advance.

There are also trails on AllTrails and Wikiloc. Being one of the most popular Kyrgyzstan hiking trails, there are usually at least a dozen people on it on any given day, so you will not be alone. 

If you would like a paper map, you can easily pick one up from Destination Karakol. 

Mobile Reception and Electronics

There is little to no reception on the Ala Kul Lake Trek, so make sure to download any offline maps you may need. 

We also recommend bringing a power bank to keep your devices fully juiced.

Accommodation

If you do not plan to hike to Ala Kul Lake with a tent and camping gear, you can sleep in yurt camps and guesthouses along the way. 

There are yurt camps along the trail at Sirota Camp and sometimes at Camp 1. Due to the popularity of the Ala Kul Lake trek, these can get busy or even full in high season. 

You cannot book the yurt camps online. You can, however, often make a booking for Sirota Camp via the restaurant connected to Duet Hostel. 

We would recommend going to Duet Hostel a day or two in advance to make the request. You’ll have to pay a deposit and will receive a small ‘receipt’ confirming this. You’ll then pay the remainder on arrival. Note that you may just be placed in a tent, rather than a yurt, depending on space. 

On the Ala Kul Lake trek, only Altyn Arashan has guesthouses. There are a number of them in the valley and there is no reception at Altyn Arashan, so advance booking is both unnecessary and impossible. Just rock up and ask for a room! Like the good old days. 

Camping

In our opinion, the best option is to hike to Ala Kul Lake with a tent and other camping gear. This gives you complete freedom to set your own itinerary: you can choose where you sleep and how long you want to hike each day.

In addition to the set camps provided here, you can wild camp at any suitable spot. There are plenty of flat pitches along the way. It’s the ultimate freedom!

Where to Rent Camping Gear in Karakol

If you don’t have your own hiking gear, never fear because EcoTrek Trekking & Travel in Karakol rents any camping gear that you may need. 

We haven’t had to rent anything from them (we carry all our own stuff), but have met many travellers who have, and all have given positive reviews. 

They also sell gas canisters for hiking stoves at very affordable prices. This is where I stocked up before setting off.

Weather

The weather is unpredictable in the mountains in Kyrgyzstan, even in the height of summer. Ala Kul Lake is no exception!

It can be sunny, then windy, then stormy and then sunny again – all in the space of a few hours. It can even snow in summer. What does this mean? Be prepared! Make sure you bring gear rated to freezing conditions. 

Please, please, check the weather before you head out to Ala Kul Lake. We always use this website for weather in more obscure locations such as Ala Kul Lake. 

If a storm is coming, it’s best to delay your plans. Seriously, shit can get real. 

Need more convincing? When I visited Ala Kul Lake as part of my larger Ak Suu Traverse trek, a massive storm came in the following night. It completely flooded the valley leading to Jeti Oguz. It was closed off and bridges were washed away. Anyone in there would have been unable to walk out and would have been stranded. Yes, take the weather seriously!

Food 

There are limited options for purchasing food on the Ala Kul Lake trek. 

The yurt camps at Camp 1 and Sirota Camp can serve basic meals, as well as sell soft drinks and a few snacks. 

The guesthouses at Altyn Arashan all sell meals, as well as drinks (not cold), hiking stove fuel and a few other basic items. 

Even if you plan on buying meals at the above options, you will still need to bring enough food for lunches and snacks whilst trekking. 

If camping, you’ll need to bring all the food for the duration of the Ala Kul Lake trek. 

Instant noodles, quick pasta packages, instant oatmeal, crackers and cheese and tuna are great options. Hard-boiled eggs (your guesthouse in Karakol will happily prepare these for you), nuts and dried fruit are excellent options as well. 

You can find all the food you’ll need in Karakol. Globus is a big supermarket that has a really good selection of food. It’s particularly good for packaged food such as instant coffee, cheese and pasta packages. For things like dried fruit and nuts, you can visit any one of Karakol’s bustling markets. 

Fuel canisters for hiking stoves can be found at EcoTrek Trekking & Travel. Their prices are very reasonable. 

Rubbish

Pack it out, folks! Make sure to bring a bag to collect your garbage and take it out with you. Please, please do not throw your rubbish out on the trail or leave it at your camp spot.

With the trail’s popularity, the refuse left behind is getting out of hand (see above). The Deuce Ultralight Trowel is a great hiking tool that allows you to Leave No Trace cleanly. 

Pro tip: to minimise rubbish on the trail, decant as much of your food beforehand as possible.

Tips and tricks

• Check the weather forecast beforehand. These are high-altitude mountains in Kyrgyzstan, so the weather can change VERY quickly. If there’s a storm coming in, DO NOT attempt the hike. 
• Download maps.me or another digital map in advance. The trail is relatively easy to follow, but you should always have a map for all hiking in the mountains in Kyrgyzstan. 
• Be prepared for cold, wet and windy weather. 
• Take cash. If you would like to stay in a yurt or guesthouse, buy a meal, or even just a drink, you will need to pay in cash. 
• Bring hiking poles. They’re not only useful for the ascents and descents but testing rock stability and crossing rivers and streams. 
• As always, leave no trace. 

Packing list

Where to stay in Karakol

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