Ala-Kul Lake Trek
Ала-Көл
Curated schematic — not walking distance. Pin-to-pin OSM named-waypoint line from Karakol via Ala-Kul to Altyn Arashan, 31.2 km. The pass pin was dropped (no named OSM node). Vertical figures are a GLO-30 sample of those pins, not a walking profile. typicalDays 4 is the published 3–4 day window (typical, not a statute).
Byline
- The Hiking World editorial · author
Desk byline for seed records. Named surveying editors replace this once a trail is verified.
Figures marked provisional are seed data and still need verification. Source and last-checked date sit under each cited value.
Altitude weather delta
High 3,567 m minus low 1,750 m is 1,817 m of relief on this record. A standard tropospheric lapse of 6.5 °C per 1,000 m implies about 11.8 °C cooler at the high point than the valley, all else equal.
That is a model (International Standard Atmosphere environmental lapse), not a forecast and not a trail-closure. Wind, snow, and storms stay in Hazards.
derived:lapse-rate · 2026-09-10 · provisionalISA 6.5 °C / 1,000 m · wikipedia.org · 2026-09-10
Editorial v1 · Provisional catalog
- SAC T3 (mapped — no official SAC grade)
- Demanding mountain hiking. Exposed sections possible; hands may be needed for balance.
- YDS Class 2
- Class 2. Simple scrambling, occasional use of hands.
Log in to view the elevation profile
Curated schematic from named OpenStreetMap nodes (ODbL). The line is pin-to-pin, not a walking path. 2-D length is labelled schematic — not walking distance. Ascent, descent, and high/low points are Copernicus GLO-30 samples at those vertices only (copernicus-dem:glo-30) and remain provisional. Water, permits, and hazards were not taken from OSM tags and must be verified.
No single connected Ala-Kul hiking relation resolved on 2026-09-11. Geometry is an ordered pin-to-pin line through OSM-resolved named nodes: Каракол → Ala-Kol II → Altyn Arashan. 2-D length 31.2 km is schematic — not walking distance. Operator ~55 km figures are Unverified cross-checks, not this DataPoint. osmRelationId is unset. Never graduate to verified without a single connected OSM hiking relation.
Ala-Kul Pass did not resolve as a named OSM node and was not used; the lake pin is Ala-Kol II (4676516589), not the Karakol-town water point 6432303586.
typicalDays 4 is the published typical 3–4 day window, not a DataPoint. A July–September window is widely described; it was not copied from a park statute this pass.
GLO-30 high 3,567 m is a 3-vertex sample that never hits the pass — the commonly cited Ala-Kul Pass ~3,860 m is not this DataPoint. High point left as Copernicus, not overwritten with an unsourced pass elevation. Cumulative DEM ascent 1,817 m is an under-count versus published walking gain; do not treat it as that figure.
Water was not mapped to named WaterSource points (no honest atFraction). Rivers and camps exist on published descriptions; they were not positioned from an official named list this pass.
Water
No water sources recorded.
Permits & fees
No permit required.
Getting there
Sourced legs to the Karakol (schematic start) base start station — where this trail record begins. This is not a route planner: durations are approximate and marked provisional until an official transport page confirms them.
Road · Bishkek (FRU) → Karakol
Manas International Airport is the usual international air gateway (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manas_International_Airport, checked 2026-09-11, CC BY-SA). Road continues to Karakol on Issyk-Kul.
en.wikipedia.org · 2026-09-11 · wikidata · official · provisional
Classic Ala-Kul is not among named Kyrgyz border-zone permit destinations this pass. A nature-reserve / park-gate fee is widely described; no official tariff was copied.
Plan from your location
Type a city, then pick a match. These links open external search tools — they do not fetch fares or timetables.
Trailheads
- Karakol (schematic start) car-free: unknown
- Altyn Arashan (schematic end) car-free: unknown
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Hazards
- Altitude: GLO-30 high 3,567 m on this 3-vertex sample; published descriptions put Ala-Kul Pass near 3,860 m — that cited pass is not this DataPoint. AMS is a public safety fact.
- Pass snow and river crossings are ordinary on published walking descriptions. Surface as safety facts, not this schematic DEM gain.
Questions
Do I need a permit for Ala-Kul Lake Trek?
No trail permit is listed on this record for Ala-Kul Lake Trek.
When is the best time to hike Ala-Kul Lake Trek?
On this record the best season is: Widely described Jul–Sep.
How difficult is Ala-Kul Lake Trek?
Ala-Kul Lake Trek is graded SAC T3 (mapped — no official SAC grade) · YDS 2. A sourced hazard on this record: Altitude: GLO-30 high 3,567 m on this 3-vertex sample; published descriptions put Ala-Kul Pass near 3,860 m — that cited pass is not this DataPoint. AMS is a public safety fact.
How long is Ala-Kul Lake Trek?
This figure is 31.2 km (provisional): a schematic straight-line estimate between waypoints — not a measured walking distance; published figures are the better guide. See /guides/how-long-is-the-trail
How do I get to Ala-Kul Lake Trek?
The record’s base start is Karakol (schematic start). A primary gateway on the record is Manas International Airport (FRU). Trailhead transit notes are not included in this public FAQ.
Related trails
- Alta Via 1 · Same collection
- Everest Base Camp Trek · Same collection
- Fishermen's Trail · Same collection
- GR20 · Same collection
- Inca Trail (Classic 4-day) · Same collection
- K2 Base Camp / Concordia · Same collection
Featured in
Related links
- Tourism boardVisit Kyrgyzstan — Ala-Kul trek (tourism copy, not a park statute)visitkyrgyzstan.org · 2026-09-11 · editorial · provisional