Explore the spectacular Tian-Shan Mountains with it’s magnificent alpine lake Ala-Kul and gorgeous Jeti-Oguz Valley on this 7-days trek. Marvel at crystal clear glacier fed lakes and streams, giant boulders and alpine meadows filled with herds of grazing sheep and cattle. Experience a taste of local life while walking through villages and meeting people along the way.
Our expert trekking guides will take you on an unforgettable journey through this beautiful Tian Shan Mountains in Kyrgyzstan.
Highlights from the Best of Tian Shan Mountains Trek include:
- Stunning views of Ala Kul Lake (3,500 m), camping on the shore of the lake to discover the full beauty of the lake
- Beautiful mountain vistas crossing Telety Pass (4,306 m) and Ala Kul Pass (3,900 m) filled with alpine lakes, endless peaks of Tian Shan
- Jaw-dropping views of Oguz Bashi Peak (5170 m) know as Boris Yeltsin Peak now, radial hike to the..
- Diverse landscapes, from turquoise alpine lakes to lush green valleys
- Sleeping in a traditional yurt where you’ll have an opportunity to meet Kyrgyz shepherds, learn about traditional nomadic culture, and enjoy hearty home-cooked meals
- Small Group Travel join other fellow travelers to share the price and make it more adventures
- A commitment to community tourism so that your tour will benefit local communities and families in the Tian Shan Mountains.
Detailed Tour Information about the Best of Tian Shan Mountains Trek
Tour Overview: Best of Tian Shan Mountains Trek
Destination: Jeti – Oguz Valley, Ala Kul Lake, Altyn Arashan hot springs, Karakol City
Category: Trekking
Duration: 7 days / 6 nights
Trekking distance: 80 km
Service Level: Standard
Physical Rating: Moderate to Demanding depending on physical fitness
Max elevation: 3950 m
Min elevation: 2450 m
Total Gain/Loss:
Season: July to mid-September
Start / End: Bishkek City
Itinerary: Bishkek – Jeti-Oguz Valley – Telety Pass – Ala Kul Lake – Altyn Arashan – Karakol City – Bishkek
Map of the Best of Tian Shan Mountains Trek
Blue – transfer from Bishkek to Yurt camp
Redbrown – hiking route
Day 1. Transfer from Bishkek to Kok – Jaiyk Valley
Driving distance/time: 380km, 6-hours Hiking distance/time: 7km, 2-hours Accommodation: Yurt camp
We leave Bishkek for Kok – Jaiyk Nature Reserve in Jeti-Oguz Valley. Our journey goes along the southern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake before we turn into Jeti-Oguz Valley. We take a short break to marvel at Jeti-Oguz Canyons with seven red rock formations. A trip continues a few kilometers up to the valley. Arrival at Kok – Jaiyk Valley and be impressed by the beautiful scenery decorated by evergreen trees covering the mountain slopes. We pack our luggage and hike in the valley up to our yurt camp facing one of the most scenic peaks of the country Oguz Bashy. After being accommodated at your yurt camp (2615m), take a short walk to see a local life busy with their daily activities.
Day 2. Hike to the foot of Oguz Bashy Peak
Hiking distance/time: 16km, 6-hours Ascent / Descent: 292 m, 292 m Accommodation: Yurt camp
Today we hike up to the foot of the massive and glaciated Oguz Bashy Peak standing at 5170 meter. The trail goes along the river through evergreen trees covering the mountains around. As we approach the foot of the peak (3000 m), you get a sense of awe by the beauty of the landscape. While hiking, you spot a grazing herds of sheep and horses looking at you as strangers lost in the mountains. After your picnic lunch at the foot of the peak, we hike back to our yurt camp.
Day 3. Hike to the foot of Telety Pass
Trekking distance/time: 12km, 5-hours Ascent / Descent: 908m, 417m Accommodation: Tents
Leave the yurt camp behind as the trail takes you to the conjunction of rivers where we head to the foot of Telety Pass. We will begin the long and gentle ascent to the campsite (2993 м) for around 4 hours. Enjoy a relaxing walk along the gushing river. You’ll be rewarded with a beautiful view of the rolling green hills and surrounding gorges filled with sheep and cattle. The campsite is at the foot of the pass and provides the perfect spot to gaze glaciated peaks around. Overnight and dinner at the tent.
Day 4. Hike to Karakol Valley over Telety Pass
Trekking distance/time: 14km, 5 hours Ascent / Descent: 836m, 1250m Accommodation: Tents
As you leave the campsite behind, you’ll begin a steep ascent to Telety Pass (3787m) for around 2-3 hours. From the pass, enjoy the wonderful views of the nearby gorges and craggy peaks in the south over lunch. Then begins a long descent (4 hours) into Karakol Valley where we’ll set up tents for the night. Enjoy the lush and green valleys of Karakol after this difficult descent.
Day 5. Hike to Ala Kul Lake
Trekking distance/time: 7km, 6 hours Ascent / Descent: 1053m, 28m Accommodation: Tents
After breakfast, we cross the bridge and begin to hike in a steep gorge with green slopes decorated by evergreen trees. This day challenges you with strenuous walking through screws and boulders. We break for lunch near Sirota Campsite standing at 3000 meters. After few hours of demanding ascent, be rewarded with the jewel of Ala Kul Lake standing at 3500 meters and fed by glaciers around. The view of this turquoise alpine lake takes your breath away. We set a camp on the shore of the lake.
Day 6. Ala Kul Lake to Altyn Arashan Valley over Ala Kul Pass
Trekking distance/time: 14km, 7 hours Ascent / Descent: 442m,1471m Accommodation: Yurt camp
After breakfast, we head on to Ala Kul Pass standing at 3950 meters. Craggy and glaciated peaks of Terskey Ala-Too open on top of the pass. Give time to gaze at these towering peaks of the great Tian Shan Range. Descend the steep path towards beautiful Keldyke Valley at (3200m). We break for lunch in this valley. After a few hours of descending along lush green pastures, we arrive at camp standing at 2450 meters. In fact, Altyn-Arashan means ‘Golden Spa’ and this valley is famous for its hot sulfur springs. We take a bath in hot spring pools to relieve muscle pains.
Day 7. To Ak Suu village – Karakol City – Bishkek city
Driving distance/time: 460km, 7-hours Trekking distance/time: 15 km, 4-hours Descent: 450m
We hike to Ak Suu village (4 hours) where we will be picked up by our driver to get to Karakol city (30 minutes). The trail goes most of the time along a beautiful river gushing through the valley. You will never be able to forget the sight of the snow on Peak Palatka at 5260 m or “Swallow’s Nest Pool”, nestling beneath the open sky. Arrival at Karakol city for lunch. After lunch, we head on to Bishkek. Late arrival in Bishkek city.
Price for the Best of Tian Shan Mountains Trek Guided Tour
| number of people | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6-7 | 8-10 |
| price per person in USD | 1625 | 1230 | 1020 | 930 | 855 | 790 |
Included in Tour Price:
- English-speaking trekking guide + his assistant
- Yurt camp 3 nights (Shared with 4-5 people)
- Tents (shared with two people)
- All meals as indicated in the itinerary (All the meals are prepared in established camps except for lunch)
- Transport from/to Bishkek
- Personal meals
- Sleeping mats
*Please let us know in advance if you are vegetarian/vegan or if you have food allergies.
Not Included in the Tour Price:
- Hotel and meals in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan before and after the tour ends
- Men porter to carry your luggage (You will carry your personal belongings like clothes, sleeping bag)
- Tour Guide on transfer days from/to Bishkek
- Drinking water
- Alcoholic drinks
- Services outside of the standard program
- Tips
- Travel and Health Insurance
- Flights or other domestic/international transport
- Sleeping bags
Join the following groups for summer 2024
(If the following dates do not suit your travel plans, please contact us, we will post a new tour with your dates and try to collect more people to join you)
Best of Tian Shan Mountains Trek Photo Gallery
Practical Information for Trekking and Hiking in the Tian Shan Mountains of Kyrgyzstan
The following section provides both practical travel information for trekking and hiking in Tian Shan Mountains of eastern Kyrgyzstan and details specific for this Best of Tian Shan Mountains Trek.
You will be responsible for carrying your items, including sleeping bags, clothing, and other essentials. If you prefer to hire a porter to assist with your luggage, the cost is $70 per day, which covers the porter’s meals and accommodation. Each porter can carry a maximum of 15 kg.
At each overnight camp, breakfast, dinner, tents, and sleeping bags will be provided.
The trek is quite challenging in parts: climbing up rocks/gravel before and after Ala Kul Pass at 3950 meters. You have to be reasonably fit. It can be a moderate trek for experienced and physically fit trekkers. Consider it a difficult trek for those who are not physically fit and have not done a trek for a long period.
You must be physically fit to do this trek.
You always have a guide if you join a group. It can be nice to have a guide especially if you are trying to do this with limited time, as they will know where the better trails are and can point out other sites along the way that you might not know the name for or are looking for. There will likely be places where you run into snow this year as it’s been a much colder, snowier year than last year.
We strongly recommend joining one of our groups and do it as a guided trek.
You should take warm jackets and good trekking shoes. The weather changes frequently.
The best period to do this trek is from mid June to mid September.
The Tian Shan Mountains have humid climate and offers much rain. You should bring rainproof jackets.
The hike is steep and the altitude might impact you. If you are in a group, your group will have porters who carry all food and tents. You should bring with you a backpack to carry sleeping bags that can keep between 0 and -5 comfortable temperature, proper hiking boots, hiking trousers + rain cover for them, rain cover for bags and yourself, wind stopper jacket, and many thermal layers – NO cotton as if you sweat you remain wet.
There are springs and streams throughout the journey. We recommend bringing some water purification. Water coming from springs is pure and cold, you can drink if your stomach is not sensitive. In the worst case, you can ask your guide to boil water for a drink.
This 7-days trek can be shortened to 3-4-5-6 days.
You can join the group from others cities if you are already in Karakol or other cities near the trek starting point.
You can also join the trek on days 2,3,4 if you don’t have 7-days.