🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan
Ak-Suu Traverse
12 days | Remote Tian Shan trekking | Small groups
Jyrgalan → Boz-Uchuk Lakes → Altyn Arashan → Ala-Kol → Karakol
Photo: Partner-supplied Kyrgyzstan photography from Asel / Kyrgyz Guided Tours; exact route locations are not confirmed.
- Duration
- 12 days
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Highest point
- 3,860m
- Best season
- June–September
- Style
- Small group / Private
- Accommodation
- Hotels, family guesthouse, tents and yurts
Overview
Cross a wild corner of Kyrgyzstan on foot, travelling through high mountain passes, isolated valleys, alpine lakes and summer pastures where shepherding remains part of everyday life.
The Ak-Suu Traverse is the kind of journey TREKS Central was created for. Starting in the remote Jyrgalan Valley, the route heads deep into the Tian Shan mountains, crossing a succession of passes and valleys before eventually reaching the turquoise waters of Ala-Kol.
For several days there are no hotels and no conventional tourist infrastructure. Nights are spent in tents before the route reaches traditional yurt accommodation around Altyn Arashan and Keldike. Horses carry expedition equipment during the first section, while local guides and support staff make the journey possible.
This isn't about ticking off Kyrgyzstan's tourist highlights. It's about travelling through the landscape itself.
At a glance
- Duration
- 12 days / 11 nights
- Trekking
- 8 trekking days
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Highest point
- Ala-Kol Pass — 3,860m
- Season
- June–September
- Group style
- Small group / Private
- Accommodation
- Hotels, family guesthouse, tents and yurts
- Meals
- Full board through most of the programme
- Start / finish
- Bishkek / Bishkek
- Price
- Price pending confirmation
Operated locally by an experienced Kyrgyz trekking partner.
What makes this trek different
Travelling through the landscape itself
A genuine mountain traverse
Rather than walking out from the same base each day, travellers journey through the mountains from Jyrgalan towards Karakol.
Remote camps
Several consecutive nights are spent camping in the mountains, including beside Boz-Uchuk Lake at around 3,400m.
High passes
The route crosses a succession of mountain passes including Terim-Tor, Buzuchuk, Ailanysh and Ortok before reaching the 3,860m Ala-Kol Pass.
Kyrgyz mountain life
The route passes summer grazing country where horses, goats, livestock and shepherd communities remain part of the landscape.
From tents to yurts
After the remote camping section, accommodation changes to yurts around Altyn Arashan, Keldike and Sirota.
Hot springs and alpine lakes
Altyn Arashan's hot springs provide a welcome change midway through the trek before the journey continues towards Ala-Kol.
Day by day
The itinerary
Day 1Arrive in Bishkek
Arrive at Manas International Airport, where you'll be met and transferred into Bishkek.
The remainder of the day allows time to settle in before dinner in the city.
- Accommodation:
- Hotel
- Meals:
- Dinner
Day 2Bishkek to Jyrgalan
Leave the capital and travel approximately 470km towards the remote Jyrgalan Valley, following the northern side of Issyk-Kul.
Along the way, visit the open-air petroglyph museum before continuing into the mountains and Jyrgalan.
Tonight is spent in a local family guesthouse before the trek begins.
- Accommodation:
- Family guesthouse
- Meals:
- Breakfast & dinner
Day 3Jyrgalan to Terim-Tor14km | 5–6 hours | +950m
The journey into the mountains begins.
Leaving Jyrgalan on foot, follow the trail towards the Terim-Tor Bulak gorge through green valleys, mountain pasture and grazing country.
This is the transition from village life into the remote landscape that defines the coming days.
Camp at approximately 2,550m.
- Accommodation:
- Tent
- Meals:
- Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 4Terim-Tor to Boz-Uchuk Lakes13km | 4–5 hours | approx. +1,050m
One of the tougher days.
Climb to Terim-Tor Pass (3,467m) before continuing through the Turgen Valley and crossing Buzuchuk Pass (3,362m).
Tonight's camp sits beside Boz-Uchuk Lake at approximately 3,400m.
- Accommodation:
- Tent
- Meals:
- Full board
Day 5Boz-Uchuk Lakes to Jergez10km | 5–6 hours | approx. +950m
Continue through the high country towards Ailanysh Pass (3,367m).
The initial climb is steep before the terrain becomes more manageable. Lunch is taken amongst the mountain and lake scenery before descending towards Jergez Valley.
Another night beneath canvas.
- Accommodation:
- Tent
- Meals:
- Full board
Day 6Jergez to Almaluu8km | 4–5 hours | approx. +300m
Cross another high pass, listed by the operator at 3,617m, before descending into Almaluu Valley at around 2,400m.
This is a shorter trekking day, ending with another remote mountain camp.
- Accommodation:
- Tent
- Meals:
- Full board
Day 7Almaluu to Altyn Arashan12km | 5–6 hours | approx. +950m
Follow the valley through shepherd country before climbing towards Ortok Pass (3,729m).
From the pass, descend towards Altyn Arashan, known for its natural hot springs.
After several nights camping, tonight brings a change: a Kyrgyz yurt and the opportunity to enjoy the hot springs.
- Accommodation:
- Yurt
- Meals:
- Full board
Day 8Altyn Arashan to Keldike Valley11km | 5–6 hours | approx. +1,100m
Continue with lighter day packs towards Keldike Valley.
The landscape remains distinctly mountainous and remote, but tonight again offers the shelter and atmosphere of traditional yurt accommodation.
- Accommodation:
- Yurt
- Meals:
- Full board
Day 9Ala-Kol Pass17km | 6–7 hours
This is one of the defining days of the journey.
Climb towards Ala-Kol Pass at 3,860m, the highest point of the trek.
From the pass, descend towards the brilliant alpine waters of Ala-Kol Lake, sitting at around 3,500m amongst the Terskey Ala-Too mountains.
Continue down to Sirota Yurt Camp at approximately 2,700m.
- Accommodation:
- Yurt camp
- Meals:
- Full board
Day 10Sirota to Karakol13km | 6–7 hours
The final substantial walking day follows the Karakol River through changing terrain of forest, pasture and mountain landscape.
At the roadhead, transfer into Karakol for a well-earned night indoors and dinner with a local Dungan family.
- Accommodation:
- Family homestay
- Meals:
- Full board
Day 11Karakol to Bishkek
Explore Karakol before travelling back towards Bishkek along the southern side of Issyk-Kul.
The journey includes a stop at Skazka — the Fairytale Canyon — before returning to the capital.
- Accommodation:
- Hotel
- Meals:
- Full board
Day 12Departure
Transfer to Manas International Airport for your onward journey.
- Meals:
- Breakfast
Photo brief
Awaiting a genuine route-specific operator image
Photo brief
Awaiting a genuine route-specific operator image
Photo brief
Awaiting a genuine route-specific operator image
Photo brief
Awaiting a genuine route-specific operator image
Difficulty & terrain
TREKS Central rating: Challenging
The Ak-Suu Traverse is challenging rather than technical.
Travellers do not need to be mountaineers, but they do need good trekking fitness.
Weather in the Tian Shan can change rapidly, even during summer.
- Repeated days of approximately 4–7 hours walking
- Significant ascent and descent
- Highest point approximately 3,860m
- Some individual days with around 950–1,100m of ascent
- Rough mountain trails, river valleys and high passes
- Several nights sleeping at altitude
- No technical mountaineering in the supplied programme
Where you'll sleep
Accommodation along the route
This mixture is part of the experience. Comfort gives way to wilderness for several days before gradually returning as the route emerges from the mountains.
Bishkek
Hotel
Jyrgalan
Family guesthouse
Mountain traverse
4 nights camping
Altyn Arashan
Yurt
Keldike
Yurt camp
Sirota
Yurt camp
Karakol
Family accommodation
Bishkek
Hotel
What's included
The current operator programme includes:
- Accommodation specified in the itinerary
- In-country transport during the programme
- English-speaking trekking guide
- English-speaking guide for excursions
- Meals as specified
- Listed excursions
- Entrance fees for listed monuments and parks
- Cook during the Jyrgalan–Altyn Arashan trekking section
- Horses for the first five trekking days to carry communal equipment, tents, food and kitchen equipment
- Porter support during the later Altyn Arashan–Karakol section for communal supplies
- Twin-sharing tents
- Local taxes
What's not included
- International flights
- Alcoholic drinks
- Optional excursions
- Tips
- Personal expenditure
- Sleeping bags
- Personal luggage porter/horse services
A complete equipment and packing list will be provided before departure.
Small-group & private travel
Small groups, not tour parties
TREKS Central is built around small groups rather than large tour parties.
You can
- Enquire about joining a small-group departure as a solo traveller
- Travel as a couple or existing group
- Request a private departure
Private pricing depends on group size because guides, transport and expedition support are shared between fewer travellers. Private solo departures are subject to confirmation and individual quotation with our local partner.
2027 departures
June–September 2027
We are currently preparing our first TREKS Central departures for this route. Request your place and we'll come back to you personally — no payment is taken online.
Price pending confirmation
Operated locally by an experienced Kyrgyz trekking partner. TREKS Central is your UK-facing contact throughout.
Pending confirmation
Some details are pending confirmation
Pricing, departures and certain route details are pending confirmation with our local partner.
Eight days on foot. Four nights under canvas. High passes, shepherd country, mountain lakes and yurts.
Ak-Suu isn't a trip where the wilderness is something you visit for an afternoon.
For several days, it's where you live.