Lake Ala-kul (also Ala-Kol and Ala-Kel) is a large alpine lake of glacial origin, located on the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, near the city of Karakol, in the eastern part of the Terskey Ala-Too mountain range. It is located in a vast hollow between the Karakol and Altyn-Arashan gorges and has no exit. The name of the lake in Kyrgyz means “multicolored lake”, which corresponds to its location. The bright turquoise waters of the lake contrast with snow, which does not melt even in summer, green grass and mountain flowers of all shades.
The lake is located at a very high altitude – 3500 m above sea level. Of all the high-altitude lakes of Kyrgyzstan, Ala-Kul is perhaps the most beloved by tourists because of its beauty and size. By the way, the length of the lake is about 3 km, and the width is 500 m. The total length of the coastline is 7 km.
Like the lake itself, the road to it also attracts tourists. Passing through the picturesque Karakol Gorge, tourists can enjoy magnificent views of the mountains and the Tien Shan Forest. You can also get to the lake through the picturesque Altyn Arashan gorge, but for this you need to overcome the Ala-Kul pass (altitude 3900 m). Of course, the circular route is also popular: the entrance to one gorge and the exit from another.
You can visit Ala-Kul Lake at any time convenient for you. We can arrange one-, two- and three-day tours from the city of Karakol, as well as a transfer from Bishkek.
How to get to Ala-Kul Lake?
Ala-Kul Lake is one of the most inaccessible sights of Kyrgyzstan. Despite the fact that the lake is located very close to the city of Karakol, it is not so easy to get to it by car. Firstly, the quality of the roads in the local valley leaves much to be desired, and you can only drive on them in an SUV with an experienced driver.
Another option is to walk the entire route. From the entrance to the Karakol gorge to the lake is about 30 km. The same applies to the Altyn Arashan Gorge, which is an interesting option for several days of hiking.
