# Tash-Rabat, Kel-Suu & Ala-Kul - 11 Days Two days in the saddle to Song-Kul, a night by the Tash-Rabat caravanserai, then off-road to Kok-Kiya and a walk to Kel-Suu. After the south shore of Issyk-Kul you trek to the Altyn-Arashan hot springs and climb to Ala-Kul, a 19 km day on foot. - Duration: 11 days - Type: Combined - Best season: May to October - Starts and ends in: Bishkek - Pace: Moderately paced - Activities: Horse riding - 2 days, trekking - 3 days - Accommodation: 3 nights at hotel, 3 nights at yurt, 4 nights at guesthouse - Total driving: 1680 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/tash-rabat-kel-suu-ala-kul-11-days/ ## Highlights - Two days riding from Kyzart to Song-Kul - Tash-Rabat caravanserai, Kok-Kiya and the walk to Kel-Suu - Cooking lagman in Kochkor and a yurt night by Issyk-Kul - Altyn-Arashan hot springs and the 19 km hike to Ala-Kul ## Itinerary ### Day 1: Drive to Kyzart & horse-ride to Kilemche Your journey opens with a drive to Kyzart Village, in the hills below Song-Kul. A homemade lunch waits at a family homestay, and your guide walks you through the basics in the saddle before you set off. The afternoon ride follows the Chaar-Archa River through wide, quiet valleys to Kilemche, an easy trail, a good chance to settle in with your horse. By evening you reach a herder family's yurt camp: wander the hills, breathe the air, and watch nomad life unfold before dinner. - Transfer: 280 km · 4-5 h - Activity: Horse riding · 21 km · 4-5 h - Meals: Lunch at guesthouse, dinner at yurt - Overnight: Yurt (2700 m) ### Day 2: Over Jalgyz-Karagai Pass to Song-Kul Today's ride asks a little more of you. After breakfast you climb toward the Jalgyz-Karagai Pass at 3300 m, a steady effort rewarded at the top by the first sight of Song-Kul shimmering far below. You descend to the lakeshore past grazing herds and scattered yurts, reaching camp by evening. There's time to walk by the water; after dinner, the night sky here is 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-Rabat Caravanserai You leave the lake and drive south on a beautifully varied road, up over the Moldo-Ashuu Pass (3200 m), down to a streamside picnic, then through the small villages of the Ak-Talaa region. Crossing the Mels Pass, the wide Arpa Valley opens out before you reach a cosy guesthouse near the 15th-century Tash-Rabat Caravanserai. After tea, walk up to this remarkable stone way-station and the hills around it. - Transfer: 220 km · 5-6 h - Meals: Breakfast at yurt, picnic lunch, dinner at guesthouse - Overnight: Guesthouse (3100 m) ### Day 4: Off-road to Kok-Kiya Valley Today you drive deep into the Kok-Kiya Valley, gateway to the hidden Kel-Suu Lake. The track threads through the villages of the At-Bashy region, framed by dramatic ranges, with a riverside picnic in the Bosogo Valley along the way. You cross the high Kyndy Pass (3900 m) into the vast Ak-Say pastures, passing yurts and herds, and reach your guesthouse in Kok-Kiya by early evening, time for a gentle walk before dinner. - Transfer: 220 km · 5-6 h - Meals: Breakfast at guesthouse, picnic lunch, dinner at guesthouse - Overnight: Guesthouse (3200 m) ### Day 5: Trek to hidden Kel-Suu Lake One of the trip's great highlights. After breakfast you set off on a gentle trek, following a river through open valleys with mountains on every side and herds grazing in the distance. About two hours in, Kel-Suu reveals itself, a startling lake hemmed by cliffs. Linger over a packed lunch and the views (an optional boat ride is possible) before retracing the trail to the guesthouse. - Activity: Trekking · 14 km · 4 h - Meals: Breakfast at guesthouse, picnic lunch, dinner at guesthouse - Overnight: Guesthouse (3200 m) ### Day 6: Road trip to Tash-Bashat Village You drive back out of Kok-Kiya toward Naryn through wide-open pasture country, reaching town around lunchtime for a warm meal and a short rest. In the afternoon it's a short drive on to Tash-Bashat, an authentic, untouristed village where you check into a comfortable hotel, a welcome change after yurts and mountain guesthouses. Stroll the streets, unwind, and enjoy a hearty dinner. - Transfer: 180 km · 4 h - Meals: Breakfast at guesthouse, lunch at restaurant, dinner at hotel - Overnight: Hotel ### Day 7: To Issyk-Kul, cook lagman in Kochkor Today blends scenery and culture on the way to Issyk-Kul. You climb over the Dolon Pass (3030 m), then stop in Kochkor to visit a local Dungan family and cook lagman, their famous hand-pulled noodle dish, and then eat the meal you helped make. Driving on east to the lake, you reach a lakeside yurt camp with time for a swim. In the evening, head to the Ak-Say canyons to catch the sunset before returning for the night. - Transfer: 190 km · 4 h - Meals: Breakfast at hotel, lunch at guesthouse, dinner at yurt - Overnight: Yurt ### Day 8: South shore: eagle hunter, canyons & Jety-Oguz The day starts with an eagle-hunter demonstration, a window onto an old Kyrgyz tradition. From there you explore the dramatic, colour-streaked Fairy-Tale Canyons and stop in Tamga for lunch. The afternoon takes in the Barskoon Waterfalls and the red sandstone of the Jety-Oguz Valley before you arrive in Karakol, time for a short wander through town before dinner. - Transfer: 150 km · 3-4 h - Meals: Breakfast & lunch at guesthouse, dinner at restaurant - Overnight: Hotel ### Day 9: Trek to Altyn-Arashan hot springs A short drive to Ak-Suu village, then you shoulder a daypack and set off up the valley to Altyn-Arashan. The trail follows a sparkling river through alpine forest, with a riverside picnic to break the climb. By early evening you reach the gorge and your guesthouse. After a full day on foot, sink into the natural hot springs, then dinner and stargazing in the 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 10: Hike to alpine Ala-Kul Lake The biggest day of the trip, and one of the most beautiful. On foot or on horseback, you head up from Altyn-Arashan, following the river before the trail turns into the forest and climbs toward Keldike Gorge. A last, slippery push brings you to the Ala-Kul Pass (3900 m), where the turquoise lake and its glaciers spread out below. After photos and a rest, you descend back to Altyn-Arashan for the hot springs and dinner. - Activity: Trekking · 19 km · 7-8 h - Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch & dinner at guesthouse - Overnight: Guesthouse ### Day 11: Trek out to Ak-Suu & drive to Bishkek A final morning on the trail, retracing the river and forest path down to Ak-Suu, one last lungful 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, the close of a trip stitched together from horseback days, hidden lakes, and nomad hospitality. - Transfer: 420 km · 6-7 h - Meals: Breakfast at hotel, lunch at restaurant ## Common questions **How long is this tour?** It runs 11 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 moderately paced, with 2 days Horse riding and 3 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: 3 nights at hotel, 3 nights at yurt, 4 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/tash-rabat-kel-suu-ala-kul-11-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