Top 6 best hikes in Kyrgyzstan

Top 6 best hikes in Kyrgyzstan, a landlocked mountainous country in Central Asia, is a hidden gem for adventurers and mountain lovers. The immaculate landscapes of the Tien Shan and Pamir mountains and its nomadic culture make it a dream destination for hikers.

You can trek anywhere in Kyrgyzstan from 3 days to 18 days. There are so many attractive mountains to explore. Unfortunately, everyone has limited time. We very much hope that our article ‘Top 6 best treks in Kyrgyzstan’ will help you choose your adventure. On Top 6 best treks in Kyrgyzstan, you will enjoy the freedom of the mountains, meet the Semi-nomads, discover the ancestral culture of the Kyrgyz and immerse yourself in the silence of nature. The beauty of the landscape on each itinerary is breathtaking.

As an experienced guide in Kyrgyzstan, we want to share the trekking routes that are on our list of the best itineraries. We’ve hiked the new routes, the little detours in the middle of the trip, and of course the super-famous treks such as the Ala Kul trail. The list starts with the well-known treks and ends with the unknown treks.

1. Trek to Lake Ala – Kul

The symbol of trekking in Kyrgyzstan is the Ala Kul route. The itinerary varies from 3 days to 7 days, through green meadows, forests, rocky passes culminating at over 3800m and, of course, the famous turquoise Ala Kul lake. This is a trek of great difficulty, with 1000m of ascent per day. The route starts in the Jeti- Oguz Oguz valley and ends in the AkSuu valley. The short option is also from the Karakol valley to the Altyn Arashan valley. Until 2017, we carried our luggage on our backs because the passes are still not accessible on horseback. Today, it’s a very popular route, with lots of tourists every day. Several travel agencies in Karakol have set up tent and yurt camps on almost every stage of the route. So you can spend a little time there, with a rucksack, raincoat and water bottle. The yurt camps can provide you with accommodation, food, a picnic lunch for the day and even organise evacuation transport.

Period: from 10 June to the end of September!

We are not recommend. It’s very pretty and mess at the same time!

2. Trek the Shamshy valley

Favourite trek for French tour operators. Short access from the Kyrgyz capital, 127km. Descent into the Saralasaz valley to reach Lake Son Kul. The trek begins in an arid zone (1600m), then the red ochre colour accompanies you to the green meadows of the Shamshy valley. It’s a 5-day trek, with a pass at 3800m that we cross on the 5th day. The red ochre-coloured canyon and the possibility of camping alongside the nomads of the Touyouk valley cover the assets of this itinerary and put it on our list of the best treks. Between 6 and 7 hours’ walking per day. Generally 800m ascent.

Best period is of course July-August, but to pass the canyon and return to the village of Shamshy is feasible in May and late September. Allow 3 days for this.

3.Trek to the Enilchek glaciers

Extreme east of Kyrgyzstan, the region of glaciers and monstrous peaks culminating at over 6000m. The view of the mountains is splendid… This is a high-season trek (mid-July to late August), designed for sportsmen who are reluctant to tackle mountaineering. You can start from the At Jailoo valley to reach the Enilchek glaciers, then the famous Merzbakcher lake across the dark river and moraines. The option via the Tuz pass is our favorite. The view of all the peaks opens up from the Col de Tuz at 4100m. Minimum 4 or 5 days recommended to explore. You’ll need the right hiking gear, a minimum of good physical preparation and a maximum of high-mountain trekking experience, as well as the right mood for bad weather – it’s no joke here.

From the At Jailoo valley, it’s possible to take advantage of the Ak Say travel agency’s tented camps. They have set them up for their mountaineering clients, elevating the Khan Tengri 7010 and Pobeda 7439m peaks.

KAGAN guides haven’t been to this region for a long time. If you’re interested, our director Azamat will be happy to accompany you to the king of the Celestial Mountains.

4. Trek to Teshik Kul lake

3rd trekking destination around Lake Issyk Kul. After spending a good night in a yurt camp on the beach, meeting the traditional hunter with the eagle, we can tackle this trek. The potential of the Teshik Kul trek is good. It can be done in 4 days, but can also be extended to 10 days in different directions from Teshik Kul Lake. Average altitude is 3000m. 6 or 7 hours trekking per day, nights in tents, no campfires, gentle river crossings. The itinerary is feasible from July to early September. The KAGAN team often includes it in our itineraries.

The landscape in 2 words: at first, there are forests. Then wide valleys, peaks covered in eternal snow, a rocky pass with a view of the Tong glacier. The colors of the meadows change from green to yellowish. Beautiful Lake Teshik Kul at 3500m is the goal of this trek.

Encounters with nomads after Teshik Kul Lake are unique. The people live peacefully in their metal huts or yurts. Their camp often includes a LADA 4×4 in the color of a Lamborghini. All types of herds can be found here: horses, sheep, cattle and yaks.

5. Trek to Peak Lenin

Peak Lenine, the country’s 2nd highest peak at 7134m. The upper Chon Alay valley lies at the foot of Peak Lenine in southern Kyrgyzstan. This little-explored region offers a veritable playground for trekking enthusiasts. Even if you don’t climb the peak, there are treks ranging from 3 days to 18 days on foot. Average trekking altitude is 3700m.

The valleys you can visit on an 18-day trek are: the Kichik Alay mountain, the village of Kojo Kelen, the Sary Mogul valleys, the Kosh Kol lakes and you approach from the west to camp 1 at the foot of Lenine peak. But this area of the country also covers the treks around the village of Murdash. A new destination in the Kyrgyz tourism market.

Why is it in our “Top 6 best treks in Kyrgyzstan” list? If you’re a true mountaineer, you’ll have your trek doze thanks to the extensive valleys, the view of the monstrous Lenine on one every hill at 3800m. The locals in their yurt camp with their herds meet us every day. Every day we bought a small lamb for dinner with the locals. The yellowish landscape doesn’t mean it’s the same as the Tien Shan. The Pamir region has steep passes, ideal for yaks.

6. Trek – Arpa Valley

For a more relaxed trekking experience, consider the Arpa trek, which stretches from Tash Rabat to the Fergana Valley. This is a real trek that can only be organized by “real” travel agencies in Kyrgyzstan. A 10-day trek over passes at 4000m, close to the border with China. In the middle of nowhere, we meet 2 or 3 yurt camps along the way. The rivers flowing directly from the glacier are frightening when crossed on horseback. The trek must be accompanied by horses to be 100% self-sufficient. We meet people again towards the end of the trek, when we approach the Kara Shoro valley.

Marmots are our daily neighbors. From time to time, we see the horns of mouflons and billy goats. Since this is a frontier zone, there are no villages nearby, at altitudes above 3300m. The scenery: We walk due west, with snow-covered, dark-grey peaks to the left of us, and yellowish plains as far as the eye can see to the right… The weather is fine around 4pm, before we reach camp.

Conclusion:

With its pristine beauty and warm hospitality, Kyrgyzstan is an unforgettable destination for those seeking adventure and exploration off the beaten track. So get your trekking boots ready, pack your backpack and embark on an unforgettable journey. We’ve put together a selection of the best treks we’ve organized. To do these treks solo, you need to be physically and mentally prepared, and 100% ready for adventure. If you go with KAGAN, it’ll be 100% adventure, exploring the itinerary to the full.

Welcome to Kyrgyzstan!