On your arrival at Bishkek Airport, you will be welcomed by an Adventure Pulse representative. The drive from Bishkek Airport (Manas International) to Karakol is one of the most scenic journeys in Kyrgyzstan, taking you along the shores of Issyk-Kul Lake and through diverse landscapes. Covering around 414 km, the direct route usually takes about 6 hours to reach Karakol. This road trip along the legendary Issyk-Kul Lake including stops at some scenic locations is one of the highlights of the Kyrgyzstan trip. We drive through deep cutting valleys with stunning backdrops of snowcapped mountains. On your arrival at Karakol, you will be staying in a standard hotel on twin sharing basis.

From Karakol, we drive around 60 km to reach the Ak Su Traverse Trek start point/trailhead in Jyrgalan. From here we hike approximately 15 km to reach the next camp. It is a steady climb up to Terim-Tor Pass situated around 3,200 meters. It’s a beautiful trek through forests and lush green meadows. Overnight stay in a camp at Terim-Tor.

On this day, we cover around 11 km in total and cross two high altitude passes known as Bulak-Ashuu Pass at 3,450 meters and Boz-Uchuk Pass at 3,365 meters. We trek through some incredible mountain scenery and camp near the Boz Uchuk lakes at about 3,450 meters for the overnight stay.

We start our day with a very short hike for about 2 km parallel to the river. After a thrilling river crossing, we begin our ascend to a pass at 3,524 meters. The trail then descends into the Jergez Gorge leading us to a yurt camp at 3100 m where we will set up our stay. In the afternoon, enjoy a 3 km round-trip hike to the nearby Ailanysh waterfall. Overnight stay in the camp.

We hike up to the scenic Ailanysh Lake at 3,445 meters and enjoy a short break here. The trail gets steeper as we head up to Ailanysh Pass (3,676 meters). After the pass, it’s about 5-6 km hike to reach our camp at 2,750 meters. En route, witness some spectacular views of the nearby mountains and the massive Ak-Suu Glacier.

On this easy day, we cover about 12-14 km to reach Altyn Arashan via the Ortok Pass at 3,650 meters. We follow the river and trek through a descending trail all the way to the Altyn Arashan valley. Known for its natural hot springs this place offers much needed relaxation after long days of trekking.

This is one of the challenging days on the trek. After a sumptuous breakfast, we start our long ascent to reach the Ala-Kul Pass, located at 3,960 meters. Although, a gradual ascent for most parts of the trail, the final few meters involve a steep, rocky climb that takes you to the top of the pass. Soak in the vast, expansive views over Ala-Kul Lake from the pass which makes the climb truly worth it. Witness magnificent views of the Karakol Peak standing at a grand height of 5273 meters. We camp beside the lake at an elevation of 3,550 meters. If time permits, enjoy a short hike on the shores of the lake and witness stunning sunset views.

We leave the Ala Kul Lake campsite and climb over to another Ala Kul Pass at 3860 m and descend almost 1000m to a place called Sirota Camp at 2700 m located in the Karakol Gorge. Overnight stay in the camp.

Today for the first half of the day, we climb up to the Teleti Pass at 3750 m. The trail climbs steadily through spruce forests and alpine meadows before reaching rocky terrain near the pass. The reward is sweeping views of the Terskey Alatau range and the valleys below. From the pass it’s a steep descent down to the Karakol valley. The trail descends relentlessly over rocky, uneven terrain until it reaches the forested valley floor. It’s a long but rewarding day.

We descend even further, trekking through a beautiful valley of flowers. After a continuous descend through the valley, we find ourselves at Jeti Oguz. This place is surrounded by incredible rock formations which seem to guard the entrance to the Valley of Flowers. Enjoy a panoramic view of the iconic Broken Heart Rock. From the trailhead, it’s a short one-hour drive back to Karakol town. Overnight stay in hotel.

We transfer back to Bishkek and reach this beautiful capital city of Kyrgyzstan by afternoon. Spend rest of your day exploring around and some short sightseeing tours.