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).
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Distance 31.2 km provisional (round figure) · Ascent provisional (DEM sample) · High point provisional (DEM sample) · 4d · SAC T3 · Challenging (pass snow, river crossings)
Cite this record
The Hiking World, Ala-Kul Lake Trek, read 2026-09-24, https://www.thehikingworld.com/trails/ala-kul-trek
How we verify · last checked 2026-09-24
Byline
- The Hiking World editorial team · author
Figures marked provisional are seed data and still need verification. Source and last-checked date sit under each cited value.
Forecast at page generation, 2026-11-04T22:08:36.760Z
Representative point on Ala-Kul Lake Trek: 42.319°, 78.528°, about 3567 m. A forecast, not a trail-surface reading.
At generation: -11°C, Partly cloudy.
- 2026-11-05 -12–-2°C, 8 mm
- 2026-11-06 Fog, -20–-4°C
- 2026-11-07 Fog, -20–-1°C
Source Open-Meteo. Mountain weather changes with elevation and aspect.
Life-safety notices on this page come from the issuer.
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 · read 2026-09-10 · provisionalISA 6.5 °C / 1,000 m · wikipedia.org · 2026-09-10
Map loads when this section is on screen.
GeoJSONThis line is a schematic. The files are not a GPS track. GPX · GeoJSON
Cumulative ascent not published — stored line geometry is too coarse for a reliable DEM figure.
Catalog entry
- 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.
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 figure. 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 figure. 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 figure. 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
Conditions, fees and rules change. Confirm with the issuer and local authorities before you go. This is a reference, not a substitute for local advice. Terms
No permit required.
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.
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 · read 2026-09-11 · wikidata · 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.
Getting there car-free
- Karakol (schematic start): car-free flag unknown.
- Altyn Arashan (schematic end): car-free flag unknown.
Trailheads
- Karakol (schematic start) car-free: unknown
Manas International Airport (FRU, Bishkek) 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.
- Altyn Arashan (schematic end) car-free: unknown
OSM named locality 3458454806. The lake pin is mid-line; the pass pin was dropped.
Questions
Do I need a permit for Ala-Kul Lake Trek?
No trail permit is listed as required 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 · 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 · read 2026-09-11 · editorial · provisional