In May 2024 we have made a week tour through Kyrgyzstan organised by Ecotour. The trip as amazing and excellent -we can just recommend to everybody. Our tour guide Evira and driver Ruslan were fantastic and made the the tour fantastic experience. All the organisation was perfect. Thanks to Ecotour !
Trekking in Kyrgyzstan
An expert guide to trekking in Kyrgyzstan
I’ve been trekking in Kyrgyzstan since 2012, hiked in virtually every oblast of the country, and travelled several times to the remotest corners of the state. Every other valley seems at times to be capped by some glacier or waterfall, not to mention the nearly 2,000 alpine lakes scattered across the country.
Even after all these years I feel like I could devote every summer of the rest of my life to hiking here and still not see it all.
It’s not always easy, of course. Linguistic difficulties and severely limited public transport to trailheads are always a challenge for tourists to overcome, and the cold winters mean trekking season is limited to the non-frozen months of the year.
But Kyrgyzstan is the kind of place where travellers come back again and again until, in my case, deciding it’s easier just not to leave.
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My favourite Kyrgyzstan hike: If pushed I'd say the Ak Suu Traverse from Jyrgalan to Jeti-Oguz route via Ala-Kol might be my favourite. With lakes and waterfalls, one or two passes everyday for a week, and with the Altyn Arashan hot springs right in the middle, it has a bit of everything that makes trekking in Kyrgyzstan delightful.
The best time to go: Ideal hiking season is mid-June to mid-September. You can hike in Kyrgyzstan outside this season, if you're prepared for low temperatures, plenty of rain, and snow at high elevations.
Difficulty: Trekking here is largely non-technical, but expect constant ascents and descents.
Permits: Only required in border areas, permits can be arranged in person but it's much easier done in advance via a tour company.
The best treks in Kyrgyzstan
Some popular, and lesser-known, trekking routes
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Ak Suu Traverse
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Ak Suu Traverse seven day itinerary
Highlights of the Ak Suu Traverse
The Ak Suu Traverse (or Transverse) has become renowned as the best, most varied, and most spectacular trek in Kyrgyzstan... -
Merzbacher Trek
A lesser-known six-day hike
Distance: Approx... -
Issyk-Kul to Naryn
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Song-Kul to Issyk-Kul trek
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Ala-Köl trek
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Talas Range to Sary-Chelek
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Heights of Alay Valley
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Arslanbob Holy Lakes hike
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Khan Tengri Base Camp
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Bulak-Ashuu Lakes trek
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Peak Karakol (Pik Karakol)
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Lenin Peak
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Peak Palatka
Trekking in Kyrgyzstan: Need to know
Everything you wish you'd known before you booked
DIY vs organised treks
DIY trekking in Kyrgyzstan is possible, if not always easy to organise outside of the most common routes, although I’d strongly recommend you engage the assistance of a guide – for the cultural interactions as much as for safety.
Most people trek in Kyrgyzstan as part of an organised tour. International trekking operators organise fully-supported guided treks and walking holidays. This may be a single point-to-point trek, in which case the price will include guides, porters, food, accommodation and all ground transfers. Alternatively it may be a multi-centre type trip, with a few days’ hiking in several different locations.
Spread your wings
You’d be hard-pressed to call any part of Kyrgyzstan “touristy” but the trail to Ala-Köl (Ala Kul) is by far the most popular. I can see why: climbing the final scree-slope steps of the pass is a genre-defining moment. The 360-degree panorama of a long sloping glacier feeding into the turquoise lake backed by layers and layers of Tien Shan peaks is among my favourite trekking views ever, anywhere. But there’s so much more to explore in the country, and sadly, many visitors don’t bother to seek it out.
Stunning scenery around Arslanbob
Kyrgyzstan trekking FAQs
Your questions, our expert answers
Question
When is the best time to go trekking in Kyrgyzstan?
Answer
The high season is mid-June through mid-September, as higher temperatures mean less snow on high passes and in deep valleys, though it is important to be prepared for any weather all year round at these elevations.
Spring sees hillsides covered in wildflowers and autumn brings bright autumnal foliage, but in both hikers will need to be prepared for lower overnight temperatures and plenty of rain.
Winter does see some snowshoe and cross-country skiers, or in the rare desert areas that see no real precipitation, sometimes a tiny few dedicated hikers.
Question
What is June like for trekking in Kyrgyzstan? Will there be lots of mosquitoes or far below freezing at night?
Answer
For most treks, the hiking season for organised/supported tours begins in mid-June. You can hike solo before then, but you'll need to be prepared for the cold and rain.
The night time temperatures in June vary from 7 to 10 degrees C. You won't be troubled by mosquitoes in the mountains.
Question
Would you recommend hiking in September to avoid the crowds?
We'd like to visit Kyrgyzstan in August, but could possibly come a little later in September if it would be more peaceful - what do you suggest?
Answer
It depends where you go hiking – if you follow a more touristic itinerary, for example Ala Kol, or around Issy Kul, perhaps the end of August and into early September would be better. If you're not doing a touristic tour, July and August are the best time – the days are longer and the temperatures are still warm – and you certainly won't be troubled by any crowds.
Question
How challenging is trekking in Kyrgyzstan? Would you recommend it for, say, a fit & active 60 year old?
Answer
Most of the trekking in Kyrgyzstan is non-technical and requires no real skill. But there’s plenty of elevation gain most days and very little flat walking, so the focus should really be on assessing the ‘fit and active’ criteria in the lead up to a trip.
Question
Is the Ak Su Traverse ok for intermediate hikers?
Answer
The Ak Suu Traverse is a rather difficult trek – the full route may not be suitable for intermediate or less confident hikers. The first four days might be a better option, which can be easily arranged.
For less confident trekkers I'd encourage you to consider other treks. Personally I'd recommend three days trekking around Tong in the Issyk-Kul region. It's much less popular than the Ak Suu Traverse, but is similar in that you'll sleep in tents and your luggage will be carried on horseback. The first two days you hike through forest, alpine meadows, crossing a high pass of 3500m. On the third day the trail descends gently at first. When you enter Tosor gorge, steep red rock formations rise on either side. The Tosor river flows beside the trail, providing cool air and the soothing sound of water. Occasional stream crossings and narrow, rocky paths require care, but nothing technical.
Question
What kind of food should I expect on a trek in Kyrgyzstan?
Answer
Shepherds’ yurt camps will typically offer passing visitors tea or fermented horse milk and some small bites but, if trekking solo, you’ll want to carry in your own provisions as much as possible. The major exception is tourist yurt camps, which typically include breakfast and dinner into their pricing schemes.
On an organised trekking tour you'll be well catered for, with three meals a day.
Question
What sort of accommodations are there? Can we stay with locals in Yurts?
Answer
On DIY trek, there is only the accommodation that you carry in on your back. Yurts do exist in most places, but these are typically authentic shepherd’s yurts and not really set up to receive tourists. You may be welcomed in, but expect a very rustic experience, and at any rate you can’t count on it so you’ll still need to lug a tent along.
On organised trekking tours your operator will take care of the camping logistics: you'll have porters striking and setting up camp each day and horses or vehicles transporting camp equipment from stop to stop.
In more popular tourist areas like Ala-Kol and Son-Kol, local community-based tourism programs have established tourist yurts that do reliably receive overnight guests.
Question
We'd like to go trekking in Kyrgyzstan but not with tent camping – which treks can be done with homestays or yurt camps?
Answer
Traditionally, the Kyrgyz people were nomads who didn't build houses in the mountains but spent the summers there with their flocks in yurts. It is possible to spend a night in these traditional yurts, but it's very rustic and informal and will depend on the contacts of your guide or trekking operator.
To meet growing interest, there are now fixed yurt camps that cater especially for tourists – this is more like a simple safari camp experience, with a meal tent, separate bathrooms, hot water, and other facilities to make it a bit more comfortable.
There are a few point to point treks that can be done with homestays, guesthouses or yurt camps. There is a network of yurt camps on the Ak Su Transverse trek and the short Ala Kol trek can be done with yurt camps rather than tents, as can the horseback treks in the Pamir Alay Mountains.
If you really don't want to camp, you should try staying in a few different yurt or homestays and doing day hikes from there. Popular spots are around Karakol, Son-Kul and Sary Chalek, others are quieter and not yet so well known. These places you still find on the south side of Lake Issyk-Kul and hiking in the Chon Kemin valley are a good option.
Question
Which is your favourite region to trek in Kyrgyzstan?
Answer
I’m a big fan of the village of Jyrgalan in far eastern Issyk-Kul. It’s one of the few areas where you can walk right out the door and into the start of a hike, and also quite popular for freeride skiers in winter.
To pick one best trek, the Ak Suu Transverse from Jyrgalan to Jeti-Oguz route via Ala-Kol might be it - lakes and waterfalls and one or two passes everyday for a week, in varying scenery and with the Altyn Arashan hot springs right in the middle. It has a bit of everything that makes trekking in Kyrgyzstan delightful.
Question
Is trekking in Kyrgyzstan safe? How about for solo female travellers?
Answer
Kyrgyzstan is safe with the caveats of any wild alpine destination: landslides, flash floods, widowmakers (falling tree branches), and avalanches can and do happen in a mountain environment and you should be prepared for these eventualities.
Solo female travellers need have no specific concerns for Kyrgyzstan, beyond the risks that exist anywhere in the world.
Question
Are any special permits required to trek in Kyrgyzstan?
Answer
No permits are required for trekking, but border areas do require a special permit from the Border Guards Service. The most popular tourist and trekking areas that this includes are Peak Lenin Base Camp, Kel-Suu Lake, and Inylchek Glacier and Base Camp areas. While this is possible to do individually, it will require multiple visits over several weeks to various government offices in Bishkek and regional cities. It’s far more practical to pay a tour company $40-50 to do it on your behalf before you arrive in the country.
Question
Can you trek in Kyrgyzstan solo or without a guide?
Answer
Most of Kyrgyzstan’s trekking routes can be done solo, but having a guide or even just a local friend along can open up so many yurt doors and so many incredible interactions along the way: from simply being invited in for tea and a chat to being invited along on horseback to collect the herds from high pastures in the morning.
Despite how amazingly vast the landscapes are, so many of my favourite trekking moments have been borne of these small personal interactions that even the best route planning and map reading could never guarantee.
The major exception might be routes along the southern border with Tajikistan, where recent border clashes mean having a guide and interpreter to hand is probably wise.
Question
What are the hardest and easiest treks in Kyrgyzstan?
Answer
A few day trips out of Bishkek are suitable for basically any fitness and experience level: Ala-Archa’s waterfall, Belagorka waterfall, and Boirok Birch Grove are all top of mind. In terms of most difficult, the sky's the limit. Peak Lenin is one of the most accessible 7,000m+ peaks on the planet, but with a guide and some climbing training can be done by trekkers.
Question
Where can you do horse trekking in Kyrgyzstan?
Answer
Basically anywhere that one treks can be done as a horse trek, with a rare few exceptions like Ala-Kol where the primary trail is in parts either too steep or poor footing for horses. Most visitors will arrange these trips in tourist hubs like Karakol, Kochkor, Naryn, or Sary-Mogol; but in principle anyone with the language and horsemanship skills could arrange this directly with shepherds in the mountains.
Question
What trekking/camping gear can I rent in Kyrgyzstan?
Answer
The full range of necessary gear is available in trekking hubs (especially Bishkek and Karakol), though footwear for anything larger than about 40cm can be difficult to find. However, the gear available is often low-end Russian equipment (some military, more often Red Fox or similar brands) so Ultralight wannabees will need to bring everything from home.
Question
What languages are most useful while trekking in Kyrgyzstan?
Answer
In cities, Russian and Kyrgyz are more or less equally common, with English and other foreign languages also heard in the more touristy destinations. In rural regions and especially deep in the mountains, Kyrgyz is by far the more common with Russian a bit behind. Though, oddly, as part of the Soviet educational system German was widely taught and so some old timers can still converse a bit.
Question
Ala-Köl yurt camping in October?
Is it possible to do the Ala Köl trek staying in yurts in October, or is that too late?
Answer
Unfortunately the yurt camps are all shut down at the end of September. You may be able to organise your own trek if you bring your camping gear, but note that conditions turn very quickly towards the end of the season.
Question
Hiking in November?
I understand November is too late in the trekking season, but are there any places we can go for day hikes?
Answer
The weather in November is too unpredictable to organise overnight treks, but there are still plenty of options for day hiking. The lower valleys around Chon Kemin and the red-rock canyons of Konorchok and Kok Moinok would be ok. Around Kochkor and Temir-Kanat, there are scenic day routes to viewpoints and mountain villages. At Lake Issyk-Kul you can hike in the Skazka and Jeti Oguz valleys and visit Altyn Arashan by vehicle. These can be organised into a 10 day trip, although be prepared for disruption with changeable weather.
Question
Too much for one trip?
We’re planning about 10 days in Kyrgyzstan in August or September. We’d like to see Son Kul, Sary Jaz, a couple of canyons, and do hikes like Lenin Peak Base Camp, Kel-Suu, Kol-Tor, and Ala-Kul, plus maybe 1–2 days of horse riding. Is it realistic to fit this all in, and what would you recommend?
Answer
You’d need around two weeks to include everything. For a 10-day trip, it’s better to leave out Lenin Peak, which requires several days of travel, and focus instead on Son Kul, Kel-Suu, Ala-Kul, and two canyons such as Konorchok and Skazka. This keeps driving manageable and gives a balanced mix of scenery, hiking, and local experiences.
