Most popular hikes in Kyrgyzstan (Summer 2025)
Hiking, trekking and camping are some of the big attractions for a trip to Kyrgyzstan, but with hundreds of options across a range of distances, elevations and difficulty, how do you choose?
Well you’ve come to the right place. This guide will break down the most popular hikes in Kyrgyzstan and provide an overview on their distance and difficulty, as well as some other important information to consider such as how difficult they are to reach, including those that require special permits.
If you’re still planning, check out the perfect Kyrgyzstan itinerary here and the essential packing list here.
Honestly, we have way too much info to share from spending over a month in Kyrgyzstan for just a few blog posts, so be the first to know about the release of our upcoming Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide. The first 50 on the waitlist will receive our entire Google Maps pin list for free with their copy.
Contents
Most popular day hikes in Kyrgyzstan
There are many fantastic day hikes available in easily accessible regions like the Ala Archa National Park and Karakol in the Issyk-Kul region. These hikes can be completed in a single day, often requiring an early start but without any camping equipment necessary.
Ala Archa National Park, Ak-Sai Waterfall
Technical difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Distance: 5km round-trip, 300m elevation gain
Duration: Four hours return from trailhead (six hours total return to Bishkek)
This moderate difficulty hike begins from the Ala Archa National Park trailhead, which is reached by the electric shuttle busses from the national park entry ticket office.
It follows the main valley up until the Ak-Sai waterfall and features beautiful views of the towering snow-capped mountains. In Summer the route is usually full of blooming wildflowers and the walk itself is quite simple in good hiking shoes.
It’s close proximity to the centre of Bishkek and easy transport to the trailhead by taxi including Yandex, marshrutka or public bus makes this one of the most accessible in all of Kyrgyzstan.
Altyn Arashan
Technical difficulty: Easy
Distance: 30km round-trip, 650m elevation gain
Duration: Twelve hours return from entrance gate (Thirteen hours including taxi/bus from Karakol)
Altyn Arashan is the final stop on the Ala Kul lake trek, however it can also be reached as a day hike departing as early as possible from Karakol. From Altyn Arashan, you can share or hire a 4x4 taxi to take you back to Aksuu if you do not wish to complete the walk back.
This valley is one of the most beautiful of the accessible valleys in Kyrgyzstan, which is reflected in its rapid tourist development over the past few years with permanent guesthouses and lodges now a fixture at the end of the jeep track.
You could turn this into an overnight trip by staying in one of the many yurt camps available at Altyn Arashan, where you’ll also have the option of enjoying the hot springs in the area or heading out on a horse trek in this postcard-perfect valley complete with stunning pine forests, grassy meadows, rocky streams and glacier views.
Jeti-Oguz Gorge, Seven Bulls rock
Technical difficulty: Easy
Distance: 24km round-trip, 250m elevation gain
Duration: Five hours return from Jeti-Oguz (Six to seven hours return including bus/taxi from Karakol)
This easy hike will take you to the iconic Seven Bulls rock formation in the Jeti-Oguz gorge, with extends south from Jeti-Oguz town, itself about 20km west of Karakol where you’ll likely be staying.
An early start for this hike is recommended as well, beginning with a marshrutka or taxi to Jeti Oguz, where you can begin to follow the main road south into the gorge. Eventually you will arrive to the Jeti-Oguz resort area, where you can follow a short, steep trail up to a viewpoint of the Seven Bulls rock.
Most popular multi-day hikes
From busy routes that draw massive summer crowds to famous treks for those looking for a week+ adventure, Kyrgyzstan is fully equipped with a range of multi-day hikes of different durations.
Ala Kul lake trek
Technical difficulty: Moderate, clear trail with sections of steep descent on scree and large sections of crossing rockfall.
Distance: 55km, 1,600m elevation gain.
Duration: Three to four days depending on campsite selection.
This trek, while likely the most popular in all of Kyrgyzstan, can be completed both with independent camping equipment or using only yurt stays, permitting those without camping equipment to complete the trek.
The trailhead begins at the Karakol National Park entrance south of Karakol town, and travels up Karakol valley towards Karakol peak before turning up a side valley, to Ala Kul lake and over Ala Kul pass. The final campsite from this direction is Altyn Arashan before finally ending in Aksuu.
While easily accessible from Karakol and incredibly popular, it can be an intense trail for inexperienced trekkers with high-altitudes, rough terrain near the lake and a very steep, loose gravel / scree descent from the pass and proper hiking shoes should be an absolute minimum, ideally with hiking poles as well.
The incredible views over the massive Ala Kul lake to the Takyr Top glacier as well as both Karakol and Aksuu valleys make this an unforgettable leg of a trip to Kyrgyzstan, packed with yurt stay options and horseback riding in some amazing scenery.
Ak Suu Traverse
Technical difficulty: High to extreme
Distance: 110km, 7,100m elevation gain.
Duration: Seven to ten days
That elevation gain isn’t a typo, and while this trek is only for those with advanced trekking experience, it is commonly referred to as the single best hike in all of Kyrgyzstan.
Beginning in Jyrgalan, an hour and a half drive east from Karakol, this trek follows a largely trackless route requiring navigation, crossing at least a pass for each day of the trek. This advanced hike is physically demanding, made even more so by the altitudes experienced along the journey.
It features the very best of Kyrgyzstan’s wild scenery with snowy, jagged mountain peaks, blue alpine lakes and tree-less grassy meadows. If you’re a beginner or amateur hiker it might not be on the cards for the first trip, but we’re definitely looking forward to conquering this one eventually!
Lenin Peak basecamp, Tulpar-Kol lake & Beshkol lake
Technical difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 60km+, 800m+ elevation gain
Duration: three to four days
The southern Alay mountain region of Kyrgyzstan is among the most rugged of the country. The highlight of hiking and trekking in this region is the towering Lenin Peak marking the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan at 7,130m.
While the Lenin Peak summit trek is popular, the trek to basecamp via Tulpar-Kol and then day treks from basecamp in the Alay mountains is what we’d recommend for those not equipped to summit Lenin Peak.
The gateway to this area is Sary Mogul, a small settlement reached from Osh in Kyrgyzstan’s south. From Sary Mogul you can organise a taxi or trek to Tulpar-Kol lake, a distance of around 20km, where you can camp before heading to basecamp the next day. You can then make your way back through Sary Mogul on foot or by taxi before heading into the mountains north of the town and visiting Beshkol and Koshkol lakes.
Other popular treks and trails
Kyrgyzstan is basically one massive national park, unbelievable terrain and views are right around every corner and there really is no limit to where you can find tracks and trails with the help of GPS trekking apps.
Some other popular areas where you can forge your own treks and trails include:
Song Kul
This area is particularly popular for organised yurt stays and horse-trekking, however the large plateau the lake is located in is becoming more and more crowded with commercialised yurt stays and large-group horse rides. It’s reached from the town of Kochkor in the Naryn region.
Sary Chelek Nature Reserve
This reserve located in Kyrgyzstans northwest featuring many picturesque lakes contrasts most of Kyrgyzstan’s high-altitude treks with its relative low altitude, meaning more dense vegetation and warmer temperatures especially during the day. With many routes to take at varying durations, this area is most commonly visited on tours from Bishkek so the flexibility to spend a few days independently camping in the area can be very rewarding!
That’s It!
If you’ve made it down here, thank you so much for reading!
Now you’re ready for the trekking trip of a lifetime in Kyrgyzstan!
