Included:
Transfer Bishkek-Karakol-Bishkek (minibus), 2 nights yurt camp accommodation
in Karakol FB, 1 night hotel accommodation in Bishkek (***DBL BB), transportation
to the Karakol mountaineering base site (start point) and return from
Arashan hot springs (4WD), all permits, meals during trekking, camping
gear, guide, interpreter, porters for carrying the luggage.
Not included: Travel to and from Bishkek,
visa fees, alcoholic beverages and other luxuries, personal items.
Optional.
Transfer to and from Bishkek from/to Almaty and Torugart Pass, hotel
accommodation in Bishkek and Almaty (from * to *****), hotel and guesthouse
accommodation in Karakol, additional
excursions, Kyrgyz folk show, sightseeing in Bishkek and Almaty.
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Tien Shan: To the Alakel Lake. 9 days.
Region: Kyrghyzstan, Central Tien Shan, Terskey
Ala Too range
Activity: trekking
Trip Category: regular
Difficulty: easy, no need of special
skill (kids from 14 years old are allowed).
Season: June to September.
Tien Shan - "The Sky Mountains" is one of the world's biggest and highest (up to 7,439 m - peak Pobeda) mountain land on the south of Central Asia where virtually all kinds of mountain outdoors are possible - from easy trekking to extremely difficult mountaineering. The entire area keeps ecological purity and untouched wild nature so far.
This route is popular short-term and cheap alternative for "All the Hot Springs" trip for those who haven't much time but want to be familiar of all the landscape's types of northern ridges of Terskey Ala Too range (in Kyrghyzian: "Variegated mountains turned away from the sun") in Central Tien Shan. Travelers visit an amazing high-altitude Alakel lake, cross the Alakel pass of 1A CD, 3860 m and have a rest on well-known hot springs in Arashan valley. Easy trekking/pass hopping.
Itinerary:
| Day 1 | Arrival to Bishkek. Transfer to Karakol. Yurt camp accommodation. (Yurt is the traditional dwelling of the Kyrghyz nomads). |
| Day 2 | Transfer to the Ala Too mountaineering base site. Tent camp. |
| Day 3 | Hike up to the "Orphan's Asylum". Camping in the fir forest. |
| Day 4 | Hike up to Alakel Lake. Tent camp on the lake's shore. Rest. |
| Day 5 | Crossing of Alakel pass (1A CD, 3860 m). Descent to Arashan hot springs. |
| Day 6 | Day of rest on Arashan hot springs. Optional excursion to the pedestal of Aksuu Wall. |
| Day 7 |
Return to Karakol. Excursion to Nikolay Przhevalsky - famous Russian discoverer of Central Asia - museum on the shore of Issyk Kul lake. |
| Day 8 | Visiting the Issyk Kul lake. Return to Bishkek. Hotel accommodation. |
| Day 9 | Transfer to airport. Departure from Bishkek. |
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Ala
Too mountaineering base site from the ascent to "Orphan's
Asilum".
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The
"Orphan's Asilum"
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Waterfall
on the Alakel stream.
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Alakel
lake
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Alakel
pass (view from the descent side).
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Arashan
hot springs.
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Area
map (468 k).
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