Karakol - Altyn-Arashan
Description
Day 1: Meet at Manas airport. Transfer to hotel (40min, 25km). Explore Bishkek. Overnight at a guest house (Elevation: 900m).
Day 2: Depart for Karakol along Issyk-Kul lake (5-6 hours, 400km). Visit Cholpon-Ata's petroglyphs en route. Overnight at a guest house (Elevation: 1670 m).
Day 3: Journey to Jeti-Oguz gorge (1-2 hours, 40km). Enjoy horseback riding (additional cost) or hike to the waterfall (2-3 hours, 5km). Overnight in a yurt camp (Elevation: 2300m).
Day 4: Hike to Telety pass (3820m) (7-8 hours, 8km). Overnight in a tent (Elevation: 2843m).
Day 5: Summit Telety pass (3820m) and camp (4-5 hours, 8km). Overnight in a tent (Elevation: 3000m).
Day 6: Leaving your campsite you will enter Karakol Valley (Karakol National Park) and ascend to Sirota EcoTrek base camp ~4-5 hours (9km). You will be walking alongside the river for ~1 hour and then you will cross a bridge with a cable and trek up the valley to the campsite. Overnight in the tent (Elevation: 2700m).
Day 7: Leaving the campsite you will summit Alakul Lake (3600m) in ~2-3 hours (~4km). Enjoy a short hike around the lake area and beware at night the temperatures fall below 0 C. Overnight in the tent (3500m).
Day 8: Leaving the campsite you will summit Alakul pass (3860m) and descend to Keldiki gorge where you will find the Altyn-Arashan hot springs ~4-5 hours (~15km). Be aware that the Alakul pass is very steep with many loose rocks and can be dangerous. Overnight in the tent (2500m).
Day 9: After leaving the camp, you will go by military truck to Karakol ~ 2-3 hours (35 km). Saying goodbye to the escort team, you will go to the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul (~ 3-4 hours, 130 km). Overnight and dinner in a yurt camp on the shore of the lake (altitude 1600 m).
Day 10: Leaving the guest house you will travel to Bishkek ~6-7 hours (400km). On the way you will visit Burana Tower. Overnight in the guest house (900m).
Day 11: Leaving the guest house you will travel to Manas airport ~40 min (25km).
Price
Additional information
Personnel
The price listed above includes food, rental equipment and transportation for the personnel.
EcoTrek will provide an experienced mountain guide. The guides are all well educated in trekking and mountain safety.
EcoTrek will provide one porter for each client. The porters can carry up to 15 kilos. The porters will carry all food and camping equipment for the entire trek. Typically our clients carry a small backpack which contains water, snacks, and 1 or 2 items of clothing during the trek. An additional porter can be provided for €35 per day.
EcoTrek will provide a professional mountain cook. The cook will prepare national dishes for the trip from fresh and ecologically clean products. Please inform your chef if you are a vegetarian or have allergies. If there are more than 7 customers, an assistant mountain cook is provided.
Climate
Kyrgyzstan has a continental climate. The sun shines over 200 days a year. The temperature during the summer months can range from 20ºC to 40ºC between 900-2000m elevation; between 3000-4000 m the temperature ranges from 0ºC to 20ºC. In Kyrgyzstan the weather can change 3-4 times a day. Be aware sometimes you may experience rainy, snowy and sunny weather in the same day.
You need to bring
Winter jacket, sleeping bag rated for -26ºC to 0ºC, rain gear, 2-3 pairs of wool socks, waterproof trekking boots, gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen with high UV-protection, lip balm with UV-protection.
EcoTrek will provide the necessary trekking equipment
A 2 person 3 season tent and a sleeping mat. EcoTrek will also provide a kitchen for the cook and dining area for the clients to eat their meals. If client wants to stay in single tent there is a cost of €5 per day.
Food during the trek
Breakfast: hot cereal or fried eggs, cheese, honey, bread, butter, coffee and tea. Lunch: salads, sandwiches, fruit, coffee and tea.
Snack: cookies, coffee and tea.
Dinner: soup, second course, cheese, honey, dried fruit, bread, coffee and tea.
Insurance
It is strongly recommended that all clients have proper insurance to cover any illnesses, helicopter evacuation and transportation to their country of origin. In the event of an emergency EcoTrek will do everything in its power to assist clients. Please contact your Embassy to find the best travelers insurance policy for your stay in Kyrgyzstan.
Terms & Conditions
EcoTrek needs to be paid in full before the trek starts. If the client cancels the trek before the agreed upon start date, EcoTrek will keep a 15 % cancelation fee. Clients who return early from a trek are not eligible for a refund for the personnel/food unless injury, illness or natural events forces the trek to end early.
All prices are listed in EUROS and these prices are valid throughout 2023. EcoTrek will prepare a receipt for the payment. Please note that bank transfers will cost an additional 7 % for the transaction fee. We request that a 15% deposit is paid 15 days before the start of the trek.
Note:
EcoTrek provides a basic first aid kit. It is recommended to bring your own altitude sickness tablets, digestive tablets, and any other additional medication needed during your trek.
Transportation provided during the tour
EcoTrek provides seamless transportation solutions for your adventure, blending comfort and reliability throughout your journey. Whether navigating city streets or conquering rugged Kyrgyzstan mountain roads, our experienced drivers ensure expert guidance. With backgrounds in tourism and service, they bring over a decade of specialized driving experience, making your airport transfers and trekking expeditions smooth and enjoyable.
