Altyn-Arashan
Open-air hot springs in a fir valley — free, open around the clock, two of them named in OpenStreetMap. Three hours on foot from Ak-Suu village or an hour of very rough 4×4; there is no public transport. The natural second night of the Ala-Köl circuit, and a destination in its own right.
Weather
At 2 482 mNow: -4° · Partly cloudy · Wind 1 km/h
Updated: 8 min ago · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0)
Trail conditions
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Discussion
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How to get there
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Tashkent — Bishkek busTwo departures a day from the bus station by Almazar metro, through Kazakhstan, 601 km, 12 h 40 min. The 2022 ticket was 250,000 UZS — an old figure, to be re-checked. · 601,0 km · 12 h 40 min250 000 UZS · 250 000 UZS · at the 2022-04-15 rate
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Bishkek — Karakol shared taxiAbout US$6 a seat; a 2023 source, to be read as an order of magnitude.70 000 UZS · 6 USD · at the 2026-09-16 rate
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Through Ak-Suu: 4×4 or on footKarakol to Ak-Suu village, then up the valley. There is no public transport: either a good 4×4 (about an hour of very rough road) or three hours on foot. The price of a vehicle was not checked.
Questions and answers
Do you need a permit?
Yes. This is a protected area: entry needs permission, or a fee at the gate. The valley lies inside the Arashan reserve. The springs themselves are free (fee=no in OpenStreetMap), but entry to a protected area may be charged under the 2023 rules; no tariff is published.
How do you get there?
Tashkent — Bishkek bus: Two departures a day from the bus station by Almazar metro, through Kazakhstan, 601 km, 12 h 40 min. The 2022 ticket was 250,000 UZS — an old figure, to be re-checked. There are 3 ways in altogether.
Is there water on the way?
Yes, there is water on the way.
Can you camp?
Yes, you can pitch a tent and stay the night.
Can you drive there?
Yes, you can drive there.
Photos
Photos by Wikimedia Commons contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
