7 mountain hikes in extraordinary Kyrgyzstan

Glacier-fed rivers descend from the high alpine zone to lush green valleys, flowing past isolated yurt camps and turquoise mountain lakes. Above, the snow-capped peaks of the Tien Shan reach 7000m (22,965ft) and higher into the sky toward the inspiration of their celestial name: the Heavenly Mountains.

The views from mountain trails in Kyrgyzstan do not disappoint.

Most of the best hikes in this Central Asian nation meander up switchbacked passes and toward rushing rivers throughout the Tien Shan. In a country whose territory is 94% mountains, trekking in Kyrgyzstan is often the only way to access the wildest and most incredible landscapes.

Apart from Kyrgyzstan’s most-popular hiking routes, visitors will often feel like they’ve got these landscapes all to themselves: in most regions, you’ll see more shepherds than fellow travelers. And even the few truly busy paths have their rewards, as they lead to some of the most incredible mountain scenery in all of Central Asia – or the world, for that matter.

Read on to learn more about Kyrgyzstan’s incredible trails.

1. Ala-Köl Lake Loop

Best hike for stunning panoramas

46km (28.5 miles), 2094m (6870 ft) elevation gain, 2–3 days, moderate

No guide to trekking in Kyrgyzstan would be complete without mention of Ala-Köl, one of the most popular hikes in the country and one of the best mountain panoramas anywhere in the region.

The hike climbs gently through pastures along the Karakol River before turning sharply and steeply through a dense spruce forest toward the rocky alpine zone. From the western edge of Ala-Köl (an alpine lake), the trail climbs another 370m (1214ft) to 3900m-high (12,795ft) Ala-Köl Pass, opening a little more with every step into a spectacular 270° panorama.

Layered mountain ridges reach 5000m (16,404ft) and higher, though the shining Takyr-Tor glacier that feeds Ala-Köl dominates the scene. Descending quickly into the Keldike Valley, the route continues through forest cover to Altyn Arashan hot springs (great for a mid-hike soak) and onward to the town of Ak-Suu, near Karakol.

Trailhead: The Ala-Köl trek starts at the entrance gate to Karakol National Park, though private transport can typically drop hikers at the second bridge over the Karakol River, saving you around 7km (4½ miles) of road-walking.

2. Shatyly Viewpoint

Best short walk (and best sunrise) 

3.2km (2 miles), 177 meters (580 feet) elevation gain, 1 hour, easy

The low rays of the rising sun catch the tops of washboard hills running from the shore of Ysyk-Köl lake toward the snowy peaks of the Terskey Alatoo range behind. The short walk to Shatyly Viewpoint is a big payoff for small effort any time of day – but it really shines at dawn, as the light on the Tien Shan signals the start of a new day.

Trailhead: A 12km (7½-mile) dirt road out of Bökönbaev town runs up the Boz-Salkyn Valley to the Shatyly starting point. No public transport is available, so you’ll have to rely on a private driver and/or guide.

3. Ak-Suu Transverse

Best long-distance hike

109km (67.7 miles), 7155m (23,474ft) elevation gain, 7 days, moderate to challenging

The weeklong Ak-Suu Transverse adds two and three days onto each side of Ala-Köl, connecting the ecotourism hub of Jyrgalan to the red rocks of Jeti-Ögüz Valley over some of the country’s best trekking terrain. One to two passes per day leads hikers past lakes, waterfalls, the glaciated south face of exquisite Tashtanbek-Tor Bashi peak and over the panoramic pass to Ala-Köl.

Travelers wary of carrying a full pack over such distance and elevation can opt for room and board in a network of yurt camps opened in 2024 by Karakol-based Kyrgyz Life.

Trailhead: The Ak-Suu Transverse starts in Jyrgalan Valley and ends at Jeti-Ögüz resort, both of which are accessible by public transportation from the city of Karakol.

4. Shar Waterfall

Best waterfall hike

17km (10.5 miles), 822m (2697ft) elevation gain, 6–8 hours, moderate

Central Asia’s tallest waterfall plunges more than 400m (1312ft) down a stepped cliff face at the top of the Tuyuk Bogoshtu Valley in Kyrgyzstan’s Naryn region. Though just off the road to popular Köl-Suu lake, Shar is little-visited by trekkers – and on most days it’ll be just you and the shepherds enjoying the cold spray at the base of the falls.

The hike to Shar Waterfall is a straightforward, moderate climb along a forested slope, with the waterfall peeking occasionally through the trees. Eventually, the trail opens into a high cirque for the final 1½km (1 mile) to the base of the falls.

Trailhead: Start walking from a yurt camp at the end of the road 6km (3¾ miles) past Bash Kaindy village, near At-Bashi town. No public transport runs past the village, so either hike in or hire a private car.

5. Heights of Alay

Best multi-day loop hike

85km (52.8 miles), 4435m (14,550 ft) elevation gain, 5 days, moderate to challenging

Though in fact part of the Pamir-Alay rather than the Tien Shan, one of the top hikes in Kyrgyzstan’s southern regions climbs three passes in five to six days, capped by horizon-stretching views of the Peak Lenin massif, across the Alay Valley, from atop 4185m (13,370ft) Jiptik Pass. More moonscape than mountain meadow, the pass offers a sharp contrast with the green valleys at the trek’s lower elevations and the red rock walls of Kozho-Kelen village halfway through the trek.

If the hike seems too ambitious with a full pack, it’s possible to stay in yurt camps and guesthouses along the full route. Visit Alay and CBT Sary Mogol can arrange drivers, guides and pack horses, and prebook yurt stays along the route.

Trailhead: Both legs of the loop terminate in the Alay Valley around 20km (12½ miles) north of Sary-Mogol.

6. Sary-Chelek Lakes Loop

Best one-day loop hike

10.68km (6.63 miles), 440m (1444ft) elevation gain, 3 hours, easy

While 6km-long (3¾-mile-long) Sary-Chelek lake tends to steal the spotlight in the eponymous Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve, the area is home to seven total mountain lakes tucked between rolling hills and (in the case of Kara-Kmysh lake) just across the next mountain ridges. The easy Sary-Chelek Lakes Loop takes in six of the seven, winding through fields of wildflowers in spring and the busy hay harvest in late summer. (It’s an easy one-day add-on to cross over that pass to number seven.)

In contrast with most of Kyrgyzstan’s best trekking, the sub-2000m (6562ft) elevation also gives the area a much longer trekking season and comparably warmer temperatures, making it an excellent shoulder-season hike in Kyrgyzstan.

Trailhead: The loop starts from the end of the road in Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve, around 15km (9¼ miles) past the entrance in Arkyt village.

7. Boirok Grove

Best hike for fall foliage

6km (3.73 miles), 478m (1171ft) elevation gain, 2–3 hours, easy

A pretty but unremarkable stand of birch trees not far from Bishkek becomes a magnet for local hikers in late October as brilliant golden foliage fills the Boirok Valley. Walking in atop an open hillside, the hike provides wide views up the main valley of Ala-Archa National Park before dipping into Boirok and its spruce trees. Inside the grove, strips of white birch bark contrast starkly against the ground beneath a canopy of golden leaves.

This short and easy trek is a popular destination for weekend picnics; on weekend mornings or weekdays in fall, hikers will typically have it to themselves.

Trailhead: Public transportation travels between Bishkek and the village of Kashka Suu, from which a 1.25km (¾-mile) dirt road leads to the Boirok trailhead.

Top tips for trekking in Kyrgyzstan

• High-elevation hiking in Kyrgyzstan is best from July through September, when passes are largely open and weather is typically pleasant. Lower elevations are often accessible from mid-May through to mid-October – but be sure to inquire locally and pack for the chance of snow.

• Wild camping is allowed throughout the mountains, though you should stay aware of livestock-movement patterns or risk waking up amid a sea of sheep. Near yurts, beware of sheep dogs as they’re typically wary of strangers. In the rare event that a shepherd asks you to move elsewhere, just pack your gear and carry on a little further.

• Gear rental is reliably available in Bishkek, Karakol, Osh and Naryn. Since equipment quality and weight vary significantly, experienced long-distance hikers will prefer to rely on their own equipment from home. Still, prices track with quality, and it’s generally no problem to kit up for under $20 per day.

• While specialized dehydrated trekking meals are rare in Kyrgyzstan, local bazaars are a great place to stock up on locally harvested nuts and dried fruits for hiking snacks.