Turquoise water
Strong colour among grey rock.
Bruno Rijsman — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Bruno Rijsman — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Bruno Rijsman — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Bruno Rijsman — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Bruno Rijsman — CC BY-SA 2.0
Ala-Kul is a turquoise mountain lake in the Terskey Ala-Too range above Karakol and the goal of Kyrgyzstan's best-known trek. No road reaches it, so you only see it after a long climb. Snowy peaks and glaciers above the water make the effort worthwhile. Sources put the lake at roughly 3,530 to 3,560 m. The pass above it also varies, from 3,860 to 3,920 m, so treat these numbers as approximate. The route enters Karakol National Park and has become one of the busiest in the country, with yurt camps appearing in the valleys during summer. The usual route starts up the Karakol Valley among spruce trees beside a fast river, then leaves the forest for a steep rocky slope. At the top the turquoise water appears between grey walls, often with cloud moving overhead. The Ala-Kul Pass looks down on the whole lake before the path drops to the Altyn-Arashan valley and its hot springs. The lake is about 23 km in a straight line from Karakol, but the full loop is around 55 km and takes 3 or 4 days. July and August suit it best, though snow can fall at any time. Climb slowly to avoid altitude sickness, bring sturdy boots, warm clothes and a tent if you have not booked a camp, and do not go alone if you are not used to mountain walking.
Strong colour among grey rock.
A view over the whole lake.
Spruce and a fast river.
Terskey Ala-Too range, south-east of Karakol, Issyk-Kul Region
The usual route takes 3 or 4 days. Some companies offer a very long day with a 4WD for part of the way, which is tiring and not for everyone.
Some walk it unguided in summer, but it is a high mountain route, and a guide is better if you lack experience.