Discovering Kyrgyzstan's Hidden Gems: A Walk to Altyn-Arashan's Golden Hot Springs from Ak-Suu village

On July 21, 2018, my mother and I embarked on a 2-day, 1-night trek to Altyn-Arashan. We own and operate Happy Nomads Yurt Camp in Karakol, Kyrgyzstan, and since many of our guests visit Altyn-Arashan and Ala-Kol lake, we wanted to experience the trek ourselves. By doing so, we could provide our guests with helpful advice.

We began our journey from Karakol at 8:30 AM by heading to the minibus station for marshrutka #350. This minibus departs from the Ak-Tilek+ bazaars minibus station every 15-20 minutes and costs about 50 soms. You can see the location of the marshrutka on this map that I created.

After a 20-25 minute ride, the minibus arrived at the intersection of the road leading to Altyn-Arashan and the road leading to Ak-Suu resort. The minibus continues straight, so you'll need to inform the driver to stop at this location. You can't miss it – the village of Ak-Suu ends, and you'll see a sign indicating the way.

We arrived at the starting point at 9 AM. I began using the View Ranger app on my phone to record our trek on the first day, but I didn't record the second day since we took the same path. This app works without internet access and provides a highly accurate map. The trek is recorded here: https://out.ac/n9ZSZ 

The 16 km walk took us 5 hours to complete. It's better to start early, as the temperature gets too hot and the sun becomes intense around noon and during the afternoon.

Along the way, you'll encounter breathtaking scenery. The road is in poor condition, so most people prefer to walk rather than drive. The Altyn-Arashan river is pristine and safe for drinking directly from the source.

Some 4WD vehicles transport people to Altyn-Arashan, but the service is expensive, costing 5,000 soms for a round trip from Ak-Suu village. Prices may rise to 6,000 or 7,000 soms depending on the vehicle's condition.

One of the best aspects of this trek is the opportunity to meet fellow travelers from around the world. You'll wind along the serpentine path and, around 12:30 PM, stop by the river for lunch.

After walking for approximately 4 to 4.5 hours, you'll arrive at a cluster of guest houses and yurt camps in Altyn-Arashan. The area, which translates to "Golden Hot Springs," is known for its indoor and outdoor hot springs.

We stayed at Eliza Guest House, where the owner, Eliza, speaks excellent English and is very hospitable. Her contact information and price list can be found in the attached pictures. Eliza also operates a small shop that sells basic goods.

Elza Guest House

From the guest house, you'll have a stunning view of Peak Palatka (Tent), which resembles a tent in shape. After a long day of trekking, you can unwind in the indoor hot springs for 250 soms per person.

We left our belongings at Eliza's guest house. We enjoyed dinner with travelers returning from Ala Kol lake before retiring to our room, which we shared with four other guests. 

Here is Elza Guest house's phone number where you can directly call and book rooms or order lunch, etc.   

+996394860293 Elsa Arashan. This number will work from the month of May.

The night was peaceful, and the next morning, we headed back down the same path. We caught marshrutka #350 and returned to Karakol.

If you plan to visit Altyn-Arashan without trekking to Ala Kol lake and are looking for a more accessible option, consider staying at our Happy Nomads Yurt Camp. We can assist you with your trek, and after you finish, you can return to our camp to do your laundry, use the Wi-Fi, enjoy a good night's sleep in comfortable beds, and have a delicious breakfast before continuing your journey. Additionally, our guests can leave their luggage at our camp free of charge. We are an English-speaking family, and my father also speaks German.

You could visit these hot springs along the river called "The swallow's nest"

Happy Nomads Yurt Camp

Toktogul/Elebaev streets intersection

Karakol, Ysyk Kol province, Kyrgyzstan

+996770521138 Tynch (WhatsApp) Speaks English

+996706521138 Tynch

tel: +996 773359375 Saltanat

e-mail: happynomadsyurtcamp@gmail.com 

website: http://happynomads.info/