# Song-Kul, Kel-Suu & Altyn-Arashan - 8 Days Eight busy days. Ride from Kyzart over the Jalgyz-Karagai pass to Song-Kul, drive to Tash-Bashat and walk to Kel-Suu, then cross to Issyk-Kul for the south shore. The trip ends on foot, up to the Altyn-Arashan hot springs and out to Ak-Suu. - Duration: 8 days - Type: Combined - Best season: May to October - Starts and ends in: Bishkek - Pace: Fast-paced - Activities: Horse riding - 2 days, trekking - 2 days - Accommodation: 2 nights at hotel, 2 nights at yurt, 3 nights at guesthouse - Total driving: 1580 km - Price: on request (depends on group size, season and options). Free quote, no prepayment to enquire. - Group: small group or fully private, with a local English-speaking guide - Page: https://azattours.com/tours/song-kul-kel-suu-altyn-arashan-8-days/ ## Highlights - Riding from Kyzart over the Jalgyz-Karagai pass to Song-Kul - The 14 km walk to Kel-Suu lake - Eagle hunter, canyons and Jety-Oguz on the south shore - Two days on foot to the Altyn-Arashan hot springs and out ## Itinerary ### Day 1: Drive to Kyzart & horse-ride to Kilemche We set off from Bishkek toward Kyzart Village, in the hills below Song-Kul. A home-cooked lunch waits at a family homestay, and your guide takes time to settle you into the saddle before the ride begins. From there the trail follows the Chaar-Archa River through broad, quiet valleys to Kilemche. It is an easy first ride, room to find your rhythm with the horse. By evening you reach a herder family's yurt camp, where there is time to walk the hills and take in nomad life before dinner. - Transfer: 280 km · 4 h - Activity: Horse riding · 21 km · 4-5 h - Meals: Lunch at guesthouse, dinner at yurt - Overnight: Yurt (2700 m) ### Day 2: Ride over Jalgyz-Karagai Pass to Song-Kul Today asks a bit more of you. After breakfast you climb steadily toward the Jalgyz-Karagai Pass at 3300 m, a real effort that pays off at the top with your first look at Song-Kul spread out far below. From the pass you drop down to the lakeshore, riding past grazing herds and scattered yurts. The rest of the day is calm: walk by the water, rest, and after dinner step out to a sky thick with stars. - Activity: Horse riding · 17 km · 4 h - Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner at yurt - Overnight: Yurt (3100 m) ### Day 3: Road trip to Tash-Bashat Village Leaving the lake behind, you drive the scenic shore road and climb the Terskey-Torpu Pass at 3300 m, famous for its tight zig-zag switchbacks. It is a memorable stretch of mountain driving. You stop in Naryn for lunch and a short break before continuing on to Tash-Bashat, an authentic village with little tourist traffic. A comfortable hotel waits here, a welcome change after the yurts. - Transfer: 170 km · 4-5 h - Meals: Breakfast at yurt, lunch at restaurant, dinner at hotel - Overnight: Hotel ### Day 4: Trek to hidden Kel-Suu Lake A long, rugged drive carries you through the At-Bashy region into the remote Kok-Kiya Valley, your gateway to Kel-Suu. The dirt track is rough but the scenery more than makes up for it. From the guesthouse you set out on foot, following the river over gentle ground to the lake. Kel-Suu sits ringed by sheer cliffs, startling and quiet. Take a packed lunch by the water, perhaps a short boat ride, then walk back for the night. - Transfer: 180 km · 4-5 h - Activity: Trekking · 14 km · 4 h - Meals: Breakfast at hotel, lunch at guesthouse, dinner at guesthouse - Overnight: Guesthouse (3200 m) ### Day 5: Long drive to Issyk-Kul This is the longest driving day of the trip. You retrace the route through Naryn for fuel and lunch, then climb the Dolon Pass at 3030 m and roll on past Kochkor Village. There is an optional stop at the Ak-Say canyons before the road brings you down to the southern shore of Issyk-Kul and your guesthouse in Bokonbaev for the evening. - Transfer: 390 km · 7-8 h - Meals: Breakfast at guesthouse, lunch & dinner at restaurant - Overnight: Guesthouse ### Day 6: South shore: eagle hunter, canyons & Jety-Oguz The morning opens with an eagle-hunter demonstration, a glimpse of a tradition kept alive for generations. From there you explore the colour-streaked Fairy-Tale Canyons before stopping for lunch. The afternoon takes in the Barskoon Waterfalls and the red sandstone walls of the Jety-Oguz Valley, then it is on to Karakol, with time for a short look around town before dinner. - Transfer: 150 km · 3-4 h - Meals: Breakfast & lunch at guesthouse, dinner at restaurant - Overnight: Hotel ### Day 7: Trek to Altyn-Arashan hot springs A short drive brings you to Ak-Suu village, where you shoulder a daypack and head up the valley toward Altyn-Arashan. The trail follows a clear river through alpine forest, with a riverside picnic to break the climb. By early evening you reach the gorge and your guesthouse. After a day on foot, ease into the natural hot springs, then enjoy dinner and the deep quiet of the mountains. - Transfer: 30 km · 30 min - Activity: Trekking · 12 km · 5 h - Meals: Breakfast at hotel, picnic lunch, dinner at guesthouse - Overnight: Guesthouse ### Day 8: Trek out to Ak-Suu & drive to Bishkek One last morning on the trail, retracing the river and forest path down to Ak-Suu for a final breath of mountain air. From there you drive to Karakol for lunch. The road home runs along the northern shore of Issyk-Kul, the "Pearl of Central Asia," reaching Bishkek in the evening and closing out a trip of horseback days, hidden lakes, and nomad hospitality. - Transfer: 420 km · 6-7 h - Activity: Trekking · 12 km · 4 h - Meals: Breakfast at hotel, lunch at restaurant ## Common questions **How long is this tour?** It runs 8 days, starting and ending in Bishkek. **When is the best time to go?** The season runs May to October. June to September brings the warmest days, and the high-pasture yurt camps are open. **How fit do I need to be?** It's fast-paced, with 2 days Horse riding and 2 days trekking. Good general fitness is enough, and there is no technical climbing. **Do I need horse-riding experience?** No. Our guides match each horse to your level and keep the first day gentle, so complete beginners ride this route every season. **Where will I stay?** A mix over the trip: 2 nights at hotel, 2 nights at yurt, 3 nights at guesthouse. ## How to book Send your dates and group size and we confirm availability and a tailored price within 24 hours: https://azattours.com/tours/song-kul-kel-suu-altyn-arashan-8-days/#book - WhatsApp and phone: +996 502 888 001 (https://wa.me/996502888001) - Email: azatbeyshenaliev1@gmail.com - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azattourskg/ - Enquiry form: https://azattours.com/#plan - Based in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan