Archa-Tor / Ala Kul / Ak-Suu Valley Trek
Description
Itinerary
Conditions
Photos
Practical information
This trek is a combination of three treks in Kyrgyzstan. These are the Archa Tor trek, the Ala Kul lake trek and finally the Ak-Suu valley trek. The first two treks pass through valleys that meet in the Karakol Gorge. It would therefore be a shame to do only one when you can do both at once. The third allows you to visit another magnificent valley and is the extension of the second.
This combination is therefore a wonderful adventure in the heart of the Tian Shan, accessible only with backpacks and tents. The name of the Tian Shan mountain system, translated from ancient Chinese, means “divine mountains”. Tian Shan crosses the territory of five Asian countries, has a length of more than two thousand five hundred kilometers and more than 30 of its peaks rise to more than 6000 m.
We therefore suggest that you join us in the majestic Tian Shan Mountains, namely along the Terskey-Alatau ridge in Kyrgyzstan : “Mountains of Eternal Snow”. These places are known for a variety of beautiful landscapes : there are red sand cliffs, dense forests, snow-capped peaks and picturesque glaciers. It is important to consider that your mental and your endurance will be two great capacities in the realization of this trek but you must see all this splendor with your own eyes.
This trip through the Tian Shan will appeal to experienced trekkers or participants in good physical shape. Communion with nature and disconnection from gadgets are guaranteed – there is no connection outside the cities.
It is better to have good wind protection – pants and a jacket, during the day the weather often changes. For overnight stays, warm thermal underwear and a good sleeping bag with a comfort temperature of -5 to -15 are recommended. Sun hat, sunscreen with H50 protection mandatory.
The courses will take all day according to the rhythm of the group. You must be in good physical shape. Altitude headache may occur – remember to bring aspirin with you. We also always have a group first aid kit on hand. You acclimatize gradually and you don’t gain altitude suddenly, so there’s no need to be afraid.
To cross the border, you must be in possession of a passport. When crossing borders, your passport will be stamped or you will be issued a migration card. It is recommended to check that everything has been affixed correctly. Duration of stay 90 days. It is important to keep the return ticket stubs. If you arrived by car or train, you must also register at the airport border post.
The local currency is the Kyrgyz som. Money can be changed upon arrival (rubles or dollars or euro) directly at the airport, or you can go to the Mossovet stop in Bishkek and find a bank with the most favorable rate.
There is no mobile communication on the route, in the cities you can buy SIM cards from local operators – Oshka and Megacom. Sims can be bought almost everywhere in Bishkek and at the airport, but it is better to contact your relatives via the Internet using What’sApp. Do not expect shops and electricity on the course. Only the last days, when we spend the night in the cities, it will be possible to recharge the batteries, so take batteries for your devices.
Levels of difficulty
Difficulty levels are graded from 1 (easy) to 5 (hard), and a full description can be found here.
| # | Archa Tor – Ala Kul Trek |
| Level of difficulty | 5/5 |
| Distance traveled | 83.27 miles |
| Cumulative elevation gain | +6944 m |
| Cumulative negative elevation | -7401 m |
| Nature | 5/5 |
| Culture | 1/5 |
| Meeting | 3/5 |
| Comfort | Tent |
| Minimum Age Recommended | 18 years |
Trek de Archa Tor - Ala Kul
If you like to be totally disconnect from the world, it’s for you, wild nature and landscape with lot of altitude. It can be snow sometimes.
Merci IDTrek pour m’avoir fait découvrir cette chaîne de montagne impressionante avec de si belles et longues vallées. Un plus pour le dutsch, un jeu qui mérite d’être connu.
Day 1 : Karakol - Chon Kyzyl-Suu - Ayu Tor - Archa Pass Camping Spot W
We meet at Victory Square in the center of Karakol at 9:00 a.m. A vehicle will pick us up from here and take us to the mountains. We will drive about 1 hour to reach the starting point of the hike at Chon Kyzyl-Suu. From the window you can already see the coast of Issyk-Kul on one side and the mountains on the other. The view is lovely.
We will then walk 2.5 km to reach Ayu Tor, it is a short warm-up with a first acclimatization at around 2500m where we will take a first break.
We will then follow the Kyzilsuu river to join that of kara Batak which will take us to the foot of the Col Archa-Tor. It is best on this day to eat a lot for breakfast and to eat lunch as late as possible. Indeed the day is a day of climbing only, and the more we have climbed meters, the less we will have a heavy digestion to manage uphill. The distance is about 10km, which is why a good pace will bring us around 3:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon to the camp. We will then be able to fully rest, and enjoy the view while eating lighter after this beautiful first effort. Protein bars are a good asset in this kind of stage.
- Night in tent
- All food
- 2 IDTrek guides speaking French/English/Russian and Spanish
| # | Archa Tor - Ala Kul Trek |
| Level of difficulty | 4/5 |
| Distance traveled | 5,59 miles |
| Cumulative elevation gain | +932 m |
| Cumulative negative elevation | -12 m |
| Nature | 5/5 |
| Culture | 1/5 |
| Meeting | 3/5 |
| Comfort | Tent |
| Transportation time | 1h05 |
| Walking time | 4 -5h |
Day 2 : Archa Pass Camping Spot - Archa-Tor Pass - Camping spot Jeti-Ogüz Valley
This second day will be a little more intense, it allows us to pass the Archa-Tor pass and then to reach the Jeti-Ogüz valley. The day will start with a good climb of about 700m over 3.5 km to reach the pass, where a magnificent view awaits us. Then 7.5 km of descent with a drop of 1300m will put our knees to the test. It is important to be careful both uphill and downhill, and put the effort into perspective. In order to guarantee enough rest, we leave early to allow us to start in the fresh air and not suffer the climb. It is therefore a hard day ahead of us but the reward will be to pitch the tent for at least two days instead of one. And to leave our backpacks loaded to go radial for a full day.
- Night in tent
- All food
- 2 IDTrek guides speaking French/English/Russian and Spanish
| # | Archa Tor - Ala Kul Trek |
| Level of difficulty | 5/5 |
| Distance traveled | 6,21 miles |
| Cumulative elevation gain | +685 m |
| Cumulative negative elevation | -1278 m |
| Nature | 5/5 |
| Culture | 1/5 |
| Meeting | 3/5 |
| Comfort | Tent |
| Walking time | 6 - 7h |
Day 3 : Camping spot - Peak Ogüz Bashi (Yeltsin) - Camping spot in the forest T
Today we go radial, in order to observe one of the most beautiful peaks and highest peaks of the Tian Shan range, Ogüz Bashi peak is the local and historical name of this peak. Oguz-Bashi means “bull’s head” and this peak has the shape of two horns. It was renamed in 2002 in honor of Russia’s first president, Boris Yeltsin. Its altitude is 5168 m.
We will therefore travel about 7 km to arrive at the foot of the peak, at an altitude of around 3100m where we will have our lunch. Time for a few photos and we will go down the same path.
If our group is brave and fit, we can decide to extend the road to the Teleti valley, where we can set up camp at the entrance to the gorge leading to the Teleti pass and thus reduce the following day. Please note that we will have to organize this trip in the morning, so the group will have to be ready to travel 4.5 km more. However, this additional effort of approximately 1h -1h30 of additional walking downhill will leave us more time to climb the next day to the Teleti waterfall.
- Night in tent
- All food
- 2 IDTrek guides speaking French/English/Russian and Spanish
| # | Archa Tor - Ala Kul Trek |
| Level of difficulty | 3/5 |
| Distance traveled | 8,70 miles / 2,49 miles |
| Cumulative elevation gain | +414 m / + 19m |
| Cumulative negative elevation | -414 m / (+) - 127m |
| Nature | 5/5 |
| Culture | 1/5 |
| Meeting | 3/5 |
| Comfort | Tent |
| Walking time | 4 - 5h / 1h |
Day 4 : Camping spot in the forest - Foot of the Teleti pass
We collect the tents and following our motivation from the day before, we follow the fiery Jeti-Ogüz river then we branch off or start our day towards the Teleti river, have a snack and approach the snow-capped peaks of the mountains. We are approaching the Terskey-Alatau ridge at an altitude of three thousand meters! Along the way, we will come across cows and horses that graze here. We will set up camp under Teleti Pass. For those who have the courage, a small Teleti waterfall awaits them 3.26km round trip from the camp with an additional 228m of elevation to climb and descend.
- Night in tent
- All food
- 2 IDTrek guides speaking French/English/Russian and Spanish
| # | Archa Tor - Ala Kul Trek |
| Level of difficulty | 3/5 |
| Distance traveled | 4,97 miles / +2,49 miles / waterfall Teleti +1,86 km |
| Cumulative elevation gain | +486 m / +19 m / waterfall Teleti +228 m |
| Cumulative negative elevation | -29 m / -127 m / waterfall Teleti -228 m |
| Nature | 5/5 |
| Culture | 1/5 |
| Meeting | 3/5 |
| Comfort | Tent |
| Walking time | 5 - 6h |
Day 5 : Foot of the Teleti Pass - Karakol Gorge
After waking up very early and again having a good breakfast, we will begin the ascent of the Teleti pass. The climb is long, sometimes steep, but we will go through it with stops to rest, without rushing. The distance we have to cover today is 10 km, but we have to climb 750 m to the pass and descend on the other side to a height of 2600 m. The height of the pass is 3800 m. We will rejoice once at the top, take photos, and have a snack then descend. The descent is long, so watch your knees. We set up our camp near the rapid Uyuntor river.
- Night in tent
- All food
- 2 IDTrek guides speaking French/English/Russian and Spanish
| # | Archa Tor - Ala Kul Trek |
| Level of difficulty | 5/5 |
| Distance traveled | 6,21 miles |
| Cumulative elevation gain | +801 m |
| Cumulative negative elevation | -1172 m |
| Nature | 5/5 |
| Culture | 1/5 |
| Meeting | 3/5 |
| Comfort | Tent |
| Walking time | 6 - 7h |
Day 6 : Karakol Gorge - Foot of the Karakol Glacier T
Today we can sleep longer, relax, wash, swim in the river. Also, this day will serve as an emergency route if we do not have time to descend from the Teleti pass in case of bad weather (in this case an upstream camp is planned).
For the brave, with a light bag, we can do a radial hike closer to the Karakolsky peak (5281 m). It is the highest point of the Terskey Ala-Tau ridge, but not the largest mountain in Kyrgyzstan. It is located between the peaks of Elephant and Oguz-Bashi, which we will also partially see on other days in good weather. We will not approach the foot even, but if we go there, we will pass along forest paths and large fields of kurumnik.
- Night in tent
- All food
- 2 IDTrek guides speaking French/English/Russian and Spanish
| # | Archa Tor - Ala Kul Trek |
| Level of difficulty | 5/5 |
| Distance traveled | 12,42 miles |
| Cumulative elevation gain | +687 m |
| Cumulative negative elevation | -687 m |
| Nature | 5/5 |
| Culture | 1/5 |
| Meeting | 3/5 |
| Comfort | Tente |
| Walking time | 6 - 7h |
Day 7 : Karakol Gorge - Foot of Lake Ala-Kul
We slowly recover our camp and descend the Uyuntor River, which after a few kilometers becomes the Karakol River. We will reach a belvedere, admire the view and look for a suitable place to ford the river. On the other side, after drying, we will put our shoes back on and from there we will begin the ascent along the colorful gorges of Kurchak-Tor towards Lake Ala-Kul. The place of our overnight stay is remarkable – it is an exceptionally decorated glade by tourists, its name is the refuge of «Sirota».
- Night in tent
- All food
- 2 IDTrek guides speaking French/English/Russian and Spanish
| # | Archa Tor - Ala Kul Trek |
| Level of difficulty | 3/5 |
| Distance traveled | 3,74 miles |
| Cumulative elevation gain | +447 m |
| Cumulative negative elevation | -118 m |
| Nature | 5/5 |
| Culture | 1/5 |
| Meeting | 3/5 |
| Comfort | Tente |
| Walking time | 3 - 4h |
Day 8 : Foot of Ala-Kul Lake - Ala-Kul Lake - Ala-Kul Pass - Altyn Arashan
Today we are going to Ala-Kul lake. In Kyrgyz, it means «motley lake». The lake is located at an altitude of 3532 m, it is fed by a melting glacier. The lake is more than 70 m deep, and its length along the shore is almost 3 km. We have a steep climb over the rocks, about 600 m. The climb is not easy, but we have already overcome much the same during the climb to Teleti. The weather on the lake is changing right before your eyes, so it’s best to stock up on warm, windproof gear.
We will continue our journey – along the lake to the Ala-Kul pass of the same name (3900 m), where the highest point of our route will be. The day will not be easy, because we are already at a high altitude, and the loads here are more difficult after all this, your body will have taken the habit and although the weight decreases with the rations that are consumed, fatigue and aches replace this relief.
On the other hand, from the pass there is a beautiful panorama of the neighboring peaks. The snow-capped peaks catch the eye and the lake offers a beautiful contrast! There is a steep descent from the pass for about a kilometer, so we will take it slowly, taking care of our knees. The descent is about 10 km. We will walk all day until evening. But below we will be rewarded by hot springs in the gorges of the Arashan River (altitude 2500 m). Here we will set up camp.
- Night in tent
- All food
- 2 IDTrek guides speaking French/English/Russian and Spanish
| # | Archa Tor - Ala Kul Trek |
| Level of difficulty | 5/5 |
| Distance traveled | 9,32 miles |
| Cumulative elevation gain | +1029 m |
| Cumulative negative elevation | -1466 m |
| Nature | 5/5 |
| Culture | 1/5 |
| Meeting | 3/5 |
| Comfort | Tente |
| Walking time | 8 - 9h |
Day 9 : Altyn Arashan - foot of Ak-Suu pass
We begin the third part of this trek, waking up early in the morning, we will have breakfast and begin the ascent of the Anyr Tor valley. This day will seem easier to you after all the efforts we have overcome so far. Only 7km and 613m of elevation with a continuous but regular climb and a false flat at the end of the course to rest your legs.
- Night in tent
- All food
- 2 IDTrek guides speaking French/English/Russian and Spanish
| # | Archa Tor - Ala Kul Trek |
| Level of difficulty | 3/5 |
| Distance traveled | 3,73 miles |
| Cumulative elevation gain | +613 m |
| Cumulative negative elevation | -19 m |
| Nature | 5/5 |
| Culture | 1/5 |
| Meeting | 3/5 |
| Comfort | Tent |
| Walking time | 4 - 5h |
Day 10 : Foot of Ak-Suu Pass - Ak-Suu Pass - Ak-Suu Gorge
The transition to the Ak-Suu gorge starts early in the morning, we will climb to the Ak-Suu pass, which is located at an altitude of 3600 m, then descend to the Ak-Suu valley. We will go as far as crossing the river bridge and set up camp on the river bank. It is possible that we stop upstream depending on the weather conditions of the day or the day before.
- Night in tent
- All food
- 2 IDTrek guides speaking French/English/Russian and Spanish
| # | Archa Tor - Ala Kul Trek |
| Level of difficulty | 4/5 |
| Distance traveled | 9,94 miles |
| Cumulative elevation gain | +563 m |
| Cumulative negative elevation | -1296 m |
| Nature | 5/5 |
| Culture | 1/5 |
| Meeting | 3/5 |
| Comfort | Tent |
| Walking time | 6- 7h |
Day 11 : Descent to Ak-Suu hot springs - Transfer to Karakol
We will start our last day with a descent to the hot springs of Ak-Suu, where we meet our driver. Drive to Karakol followed by a short city tour. It will be so much to say goodbye to us, and wish you a good return home.
- Breakfast
- Private transportation
- 2 IDTrek guides speaking French/English/Russian and Spanish
| # | Archa Tor - Ala Kul Trek |
| Level of difficulty | 2/5 |
| Distance traveled | 5,59 miles |
| Cumulative elevation gain | +57 m |
| Cumulative negative elevation | -561 m |
| Nature | 5/5 |
| Culture | 1/5 |
| Meeting | 3/5 |
| Transportation time | 20 - 30 mn |
| Walking time | 2 - 3h |
Included
- 2 IDTrek guides speaking French/English/Russian and Spanish
- Transfers (Karakol - Chon Kyzyl-Suu / Ak Suu - Karakol)
- Food delivery at 3 points along the trek route (to limit your loading weight)
- Full board during the trek
- Kitchen equipment, tents, carimats (groundsheets for sleeping)
- Staff : guide, cook, porter (each porter carries 15 kg for 1 person, weight including food, tents, cooking equipment and private objects of the customers)
- Accommodation and hot springs in Altyn-Arashan
- Entrance fees to Karakol National Park
- Groups of more than 8 people benefit from 1 help-guide supplement
- Groups of more than 5 people benefit from an additional assistant cook
- First aid box
Not Included
- International flights to come to Kyrgyzstan
- Accommodation in Bishkek/Karakol before/after the trek
- Transfer from Bishkek to Karakol (we can organize a transfer if you wish and let us know in advance (minimum 5 days))
- Restaurant meals and other personal expenses not included in the trek
- Guides tips
- Personal care items
- Services not mentioned above
- Breakfast on the first day, and dinner on the last day
- Personal equipment (backpack, sleeping bag, foam mattress, etc.)
- Sleeping bags are not included in the price but you can rent them from us for 5 EUR per day
- Additional porter 45 EUR per day (a porter carries a maximum of 15kg)
- Any insurance (cancellation, accident, rescue, sickness, repatriation etc.)
Terms and conditions
Please make sure you have read the terms and conditions of sale by clicking here. In particular, they define cancellation conditions, payment methods, visa requirements and insurance.
Take out IDTrek travel insurance with our partner by clicking here.
Applications for participation are accepted until 5 july. The minimum quantity to confirm the group is 3 people, maximum – 10 people.
Precautions to take before a trip to Kirghizistan :
Difficulty : This route is suitable for people in good health and with good physical training, since the route consists of long transitions on melting ground, strong temperature fluctuations and a climb to a height of 3900 meters above sea level. The terrain can be difficult and the climbs and descents are often demanding, especially in rainy or snowy weather.
Conditions : It is necessary to take with you warm clothes, spare clothes and shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen. If you have a specific illness, you must bring your own medication with you.
Precautions : Before embarking on a trip to Kyrgyzstan, it is advisable to consult your doctor in order to prevent mountain sickness. Especially if you are being treated for heart or blood pressure problems. Your treatments might be a little different before and during the trip.
For people going to hike in the mountains (trekking) over several days, it is recommended to check with a mountain medicine center before your trip.
Mountain sickness…
- has nothing to do with your age
- nor with your physical condition
- just because you didn’t get it on a first trip to altitude doesn’t mean you’ll never get it
- your state of stress and fatigue, all this added to jet lag are major factors
Take the time to do things calmly.
Equipment and items for the trekking part :
• Sleeping bag down from -5°C to -15 C • Good trekking shoes with good ankle support. Extra shoes or pair of sandals, in case the main pair gets wet during rain, etc. • Waterproof rain jacket and pants • Extra warm jackets and pants for swapping • Hat and cap, sunglasses, high factor sunscreen • 40-50 liter backpack and rain cover. • Headlamp • Water bottle • Quick-dry towel • First aid kit, if you have an illness
Recommended to have in addition : • Walking sticks • Toiletries • Insect repellents (for lower altitudes) • Water purification tablets or a water filter (more details in the notes) • Some Diamox pills against potential altitude sickness • Pocket knife
IMPORTANT NOTES
WATER :
Water is important during the trek, we provide boiled water or tea/coffee during breakfast, lunch, dinner, however boiling water is limited, and it is not enough if you need to refill your bottles for the next day. Water can be a cause of stomach problems during a trek. However, you should drink plenty of water. Stay hydrated. Water from some hills is also the source of water for domestic animals and/or wild animals on higher areas. Always fetch water from streams where it is fastest in terms of current. Standing water has a high risk of carrying pathogens, regardless of the environment. While gushing, fast-moving water is very unlikely to contain pathogens in it. It even has less particulate matter. You can fill up with water from natural springs, this is the best because it acts as a natural filter and there is very little chance of particles getting in. Local people, like many tourists, have no problem drinking water from a spring, but if you are unsure, please bring water purification pills with you for the trek. You will not be able to find water purifying pills in Kyrgyzstan.
LUGGAGE TRANSPORT DURING THE TOUR :
• Main luggage : The luggage used to transport all your belongings in the hold of the plane and used to store all the items you do not need on the trek. This can be left at the hotel (ask your hotel).
• Baggage to porters : We provide by default 1 porter to 1 person, who carries 15 kg, this weight including food, tents, cooking equipment and private belongings of customers, generally around 3 to 5 kg the first days . Decreasing the daily food weight will allow you to give your carrier extra weight. You can order an extra carrier, if you have some bulky items like camera with lens, special equipment, etc. You will have to pay an extra 45 euro per porter per day.
• Daypack/backpack : 30-50 liters recommended. During a day of trekking, you do not have access to luggage, which is carried for you by the porters. In mountainous regions, the weather can change very quickly and you must be equipped for this eventuality. Your day bag should therefore be large enough to carry raincoat, fleece jacket, long pants (if walking in shorts), warm hat and gloves, cap, sunscreen, water bottle and other personal items you need during the trek . Sometimes it is also necessary to carry your own packed lunch.
ASSURANCE :
Travel insurance is NOT included. We recommend that clients have their own travel insurance against illness, injury, loss/damage to personal effects. In case of emergency, our staff will do everything possible to drive you to the hospital or another point and solve your problem, the insurance will cover your costs, if you do not have insurance, you will have to cover the costs by yourself.
MEAL :
Breakfast : consists of some of the following dishes: porridge, omelet, omelet with fried sausages, pancakes, scrambled eggs with sausage, boiled eggs, etc. + bread, jam, butter, honey, sweets, tea/coffee.
Lunch boxes or lunch : Dried fruits, chocolate, yogurt, juice, cheese, sandwich, vegetables/fruits and tea/coffee.
Dinner : our cooks prepare European and Asian cuisine, so we can prepare a special menu for you.
TIPS :
Local personnel service is included in the program; however, it is polite to tip local staff if the service has been very good. Also at your discretion, you may also consider tipping your tour manager for appreciation of the efficiency and service you receive.
- Duration
11 days - Period
Juillet-Aout - Type
Nature - Landscape
Glacier,Mountain - Difficulty
Hard - Group
3 - 10 peoples
per person
Request more information
- Duration
11 days - Type
Nature - Difficulty
Hard
- Periode
Juillet-Aout - Landscape
Glacier,Mountain - Group
3 - 10 peoples
per person
Евгений nous parle en direct de son expérience ici.