Alpine Trekking in the Tian Shan
14 days of high-mountain trekking — glacial passes, Ala-Kol Lake, Altyn-Arashan hot springs and a remote yurt camp at 3,500 m.
Who it's for
Hikers in good physical condition; experience with multi-day trekking required. Daily 5–7 hours walking with elevation gains over 1,000 m.
Guides
French-speaking lead guide plus a certified mountain guide for the technical trek days; cook and pack-horse drivers.
Accommodation
Tents on the trek; family guesthouses or yurt camps before/after.
Luggage
Soft duffel + day pack. Pack horses carry most luggage on trek days; you only need essentials in your daypack.
Alpine Trekking in the Tian Shan
14 days of high-mountain trekking — glacial passes, Ala-Kol Lake, Altyn-Arashan hot springs and a remote yurt camp at 3,500 m.
Alpine Trekking in the Tian Shan — 14 days
The classic Tian Shan trek — Karakol to Ala-Kol Lake (3,560 m) over the Ala-Kol Pass (3,860 m), then descent through Altyn-Arashan to its hot springs. Combined with culturally rich days at Issyk-Kul Lake and Bishkek.
17 days, 17 camps
Bishkek to Cholpon-Ata
Drive east along Boom Gorge. Visit Cholpon-Ata petroglyphs.
Cholpon-Ata to Karakol
Drive along the southern lake shore via Skazka Canyon. Late arrival Karakol.
Karakol — acclimatisation day
City tour: Holy Trinity Cathedral, Dungan Mosque, animal market (if Sunday). Light afternoon walk in the Jeti-Oguz valley to start acclimatising.
Karakol to Karakol Valley trailhead
Transfer to the trailhead. Start of the trek — first day light, ascending through spruce forest along the Karakol River. Camp at 2,400 m.
Karakol Valley to Sirota Camp
Climb steadily up the valley to the Sirota base camp at 2,950 m. ~5h walking, 550 m gain.
Crossing Ala-Kol Pass to Lake Ala-Kol
The big day. Climb to Ala-Kol Pass (3,860 m), descend to the turquoise Ala-Kol Lake at 3,560 m. ~7h, 900 m gain + 300 m descent.
Ala-Kol to Altyn-Arashan
Steep descent into the Altyn-Arashan valley to the hot springs at 2,600 m. ~6h, 1,000 m descent.
Altyn-Arashan rest day
Soak in the hot springs, short side walks, herder camp visit.
Altyn-Arashan to Karakol (descent
Final 5h walking descent to the trailhead village; pickup and transfer to Karakol for hot showers and a city night.
Karakol to Bishkek (long drive
Long return drive along the northern Issyk-Kul shore back to Bishkek (≈7h with stops).
Bishkek to Ala-Archa
Half-day in Ala-Archa National Park. Afternoon Bishkek city tour. Farewell dinner.
Departure
Transfer to Manas Airport, return flight.
International return flight
Arrival home.
Notes
- Trek may be modified by weather; storms in the high cirque can postpone the pass crossing.
- Pack horses carry most gear; you carry only daypack on trek days.
Bichkek > Aeroport Manas
Departure for to l’airport Manas de Bishkek (40 km) et international flight de retour
international flight airport Manas to Bishkek —>
(Compagnie TURKISH AIRLINES)
En raison de conditions climatiques ou d’évènements imprévus
- En raison de conditions climatiques ou d’évènements imprévus, l’itinéraire pourra être modifié.
- Les altitudes indiquées restent approximatives, à quelques dizaines de mètres près.
5 stops
Included
- National-park permits and entry fees
- Accommodation throughout the trip
- All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Local guide on each day
- All ground transport during the trip
Not included
- Travel and medical insurance
- Tips for guides and drivers
- La location de horses pour les journées de balade on horseback (à titre indicatif prévoir un coût de 25 euros pour 2 hours de balade, payable sur place en euros)
Where you sleep
Hotel in Bishkek; guesthouses in Cholpon-Ata and Karakol; 4 nights in tents (high camps with cook tent and dining tent); 2 nights in yurts at Altyn-Arashan.
Nuraly Turganbaev
Nuraly is a French language professor at the National University and also the director of our tourism company. His love for nature and the environment has inspired him since 1996 to travel across Kyrgyzstan with foreign travelers as a guide and interpreter (Kyrgyz – Russian – French). Over the years, he has worked with several tourism agencies and gained extensive experience in tourism, guiding, and interpretation. Thanks to his deep knowledge of the country, nomadic culture, and local traditions, Nuraly is today the main tour leader and one of the key figures of our company.
See all tours led by this guide →Things people ask
To book an EcoNomad tour, fill out the contact form with your dates, group size and the tour you have in mind. We send a tailored quote within 48 hours. Your booking is confirmed once a 30% deposit is paid; the balance is due 30 days before departure.
A passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your entry date is required. Citizens of the European Union, Switzerland, Canada and Australia travel visa-free for stays of up to 60 days. Some border zones (China, Tajikistan) require a special permit — EcoNomad helps you arrange these.
The main season runs from May to October. June–August is ideal for nomadic tours and high-altitude jailoos (summer pastures). July–August suits the high passes (above 3,500 m). March and April offer quieter spring landscapes. EcoNomad also runs ski-touring trips from December to March.
Our tours come in three grades: Easy (2–4h of walking a day, little elevation gain, family-friendly), Moderate (4–6h of walking or riding a day, passes above 3,000 m) and Demanding (technical hikes of 6–8h a day, passes above 3,500 m). Each tour page states the level required.
Accommodation varies by tour and stage: traditional yurts in the high mountains (summer), guesthouses or homestays in the villages, and 3-star hotels in the cities. This mix is intentional — it brings you closer to local people and the nomadic way of life.
All our tours include full board. Kyrgyz cuisine is generous: soups, grilled meats, fermented dairy and home-baked bread. Vegetarian diets are catered for on request at the time of booking. In the mountains, meals are prepared at camp by our team.
Travel insurance covering medical costs, repatriation and outdoor activities is mandatory. We recommend providers such as World Nomads, Allianz Travel or an equivalent. Make sure your policy covers horse riding and high-altitude trekking.
Several of our tours reach passes or camps above 3,500 m. Altitude sickness (AMS) is rare when acclimatisation is gradual — our itineraries build in gentle ascent days. Your guide explains the symptoms from day one and carries a first-aid kit and a pulse oximeter.
The local currency is the Kyrgyz som (KGS). Bishkek, Karakol and Osh have ATMs accepting Visa and Mastercard. In the mountains and remote villages, only cash is accepted. Bring the equivalent of €200–300 in soms for personal expenses.
4G covers Bishkek and most towns. Remote valleys and yurt camps have little or no signal. Your guide carries a satellite phone for emergencies in areas without coverage. Take the chance to truly disconnect.
Bring a day pack (20–25 L) and a soft duffel or travel bag for baggage transfers. A detailed packing list tailored to your tour is sent once your booking is confirmed. Golden rule: walk in already broken-in boots, not new ones.
Standard cancellation terms: 30% non-refundable (deposit), 50% of the total between 60 and 30 days before departure, 100% under 30 days. Free changes before the deposit is paid. In case of force majeure (extreme weather), we offer a postponement or a credit note.
