Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Around Karakol
A363
Ken-Suu
Chong-Tash
A362
Tüp
Lake
Issyk-Köl
Chigu
Kyzyl Jar
Sukhoy
Khrebet
Ak-Bulak
Mikhaylovka
Orlinovka
Hotel
Novovoznesenovka
Prezhevalski
Koy-Sary
Pristan
Garden
A364
Lipenka
Ak-Suu
Karakol
Ak-Suu
Sanatorium
Gate
Karakol
Ski Resort
Jeti-Öghüz
A363
Adyr Tör Pass
Svetlaya
Polyana
Altyn-
Arashan
(3600m)
Kurgak-Tyor
Gorge
Kurgak-Tyor
Camp
Jeti-Öghüz
Korort
Seven Bulls/
Broken Heart
Ala-Köl Pass
(3860m)
Ala-Köl
Ranger
Station
Kök-Jaiyk
Flowers)
Ai Tör Camp
(Valley of
Teleti Pass
(3800m)
Palatka
(4260m)
Asan
Tukum
Gorge
Jyluu-Suu
Archa-Tör
Karakol
(5218m)
Pass (3800 m)
Karakol), ofer 4WD transport for 3000som per
vehicle (or 300som per person should a pre-
arranged vehicle be going anyway). But before
booking a transfer, read on.
Around 12km east of central Karakol by good,
asphalt road is the Ak-Suu Sanatorium (' korort '),
terminus of frequent Ak-Suu marshrutka 350
(last return 6pm winter, 8pm summer). From
here, Altyn-Arashan is 14km away, using the
lane that branches south some 200m before the
main sanatorium entrance. This lane degrades
into a contender for the world's worst motorable
road (p265). When smoothed by winter snows,
or when dry and cleared of rocks in mid-summer,
you might ind that judgement slightly over-
blown, but in our experience it is simply more
pleasant to walk - and the roughly ive hours
up, 3½ hours back isn't necessarily that much
slower than driving. The track is easy to follow.
Cross the river after 3km then ignore all further
bridges; at 12km from the kurort keep left (up,
away from the river). There is one small hikers'
short cut (where the road does a double hair-pin)
but otherwise you'll follow the 4WD tracks all the
way. The irst half is mostly along the riverside
with pine clad slopes towering above. After
around 8km there are more views of white-tops,
but only a kilometre before the guesthouses do
you really see down into the glorious upland val-
ley with towering peaks all around. You can alter-
natively hike in to Altyn-Arashan as the climax of
several possible treks to/from the Karakol Valley
(p269), but you'll need to be prepared for poten-
tially treacherous conditions, high altitudes and
stretches of path on precarious scree.
Karakol Valley Ущелье Каракол
Due south of Karakol lies the beautiful Ka-
rakol Valley, a national park for which a
250som entry fee is collected from foreign-
ers at the gate.
2 ¨Activities
Trekking
The valley offers some fine hikes, although
you really need to invest in a tent, stove and
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