Karakol Travel Guide: What to Do, Where to Stay, and Travel Tips
At the foot of the Tien Shan mountains, Karakol is a gateway to some of the worlds most spectacular hiking trails. In winter, it transforms into Kyrgyzstan's best skiing destination offering well-maintained runs and ski lifts at an affordable price.
If you are hiking the Ak Suu Traverse or the popular Ala Kul Lake trail, you will likely use Karakol as your base. We ended up spending two weeks here as our base for hiking the Ak Suu Traverse - read more about this experience here:
Whether you're passing through or making it your base for a few days, here's how to make the most of your time in Karakol!
A local group performs traditional Kyrgyz music in Park Pobedy during a free concert for a small audience.
Getting There:
Karakol is approximately 6-7 hours by road from Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. An airport was meant to open in Karakol in autumn 2024, but at the time of writing (November 2024), this has not been opened.
GoBus, shared taxis and minibuses (marshrutkas) are the most common options, with stunning views of Issyk-Kul Lake along the way.
We caught a GoBus from the a bus stop at Victory Square, Bishkek which has since been relocated - the exact location I can’t quite work out from Google, so check with your hostel owner! Our bus ticket cost KGS 500 each (AUD$8.85/USD$5.75).
On the way back, we had planned on catching the bus again, however our hostel owner was driving to Bishkek the following day so we decided to get a ride with him instead and paid him KGS 3,000 each (AUD$53.50/USD$34.70). Although it was more than we would pay for a bus, it was a lot more comfortable - and he stopped at the “Fairy Tale Canyon” for us to explore. Read more on that below!
Getting Around:
Karakol is a small town and walkable, but we also used Yandex taxis a lot as our hostel was a little far from the town centre (35-minute walk). We also used Yandex to get to the trail heads.
Download the Yandex app once you get to Kyrgyzstan and pick up a local SIM - as a Russian-owned company, it doesn’t work signing up with your Australian phone number (or likely US/UK/NZ numbers either).
Where I Stayed:
Snow Leopard Hostel
Cost per night: KGS2,000 (AUD$35.60/USD$23.10)
Room Type: Private double room, private bathroom
Website: https://www.booking.com/hotel/kg/snow-leopard-karakol123456.html
We stayed at the Snow Leopard Hostel for about 2 weeks all up, checking in and out between hiking. It was a cozy hostel, with large comfortable rooms and showers with hot water (most of the time).
We could use their kitchen to cook meals, and they have a dining area that is also a social hub - a great space to meet other hikers and explorers!
The best part of our stay there was their service - they were helpful with our hike planning, they looked after our bags whilst on the trails for multiple days, and they even gave up their daughters room for me for one night when they were full and I had come back from a hike early!
Where I Ate:
Lighthouse Karakol
What I ate: Quesadilla with chicken, green smoothie
What I spent: KGS 632,00 (AUD$11.25/USD$7.30)
What I ate: Chicken Schnitznel
What I spent: KGS 517,00 (AUD$9.20/USD$6)
What I ate: Shakshuka and herbal tea
What I spent: KGS 670,00 (AUD$12/USD$7.80)
This place was so delicious I had to go back twice! If I was to pick a favourite cafe in Karakol, this would be it. Fresh food that is full of flavour - and really well priced! The menu is extensive, with a mix of local dishes and western food.
Boorsok
What I ate: Lagman and a pot of fruity tea
What I spent: KGS 322,50 (AUD$5.70/USD$3.70)
Boorsok is named after the traditional Kyrgz food of the same name, which is Deep-fried dough pieces. Although I didn’t try this here, it is a tasty side dish that also is commonly eaten with a cup (or pot) of tea.
Being a traditional Kyrgz restaurant, I opted for the Lagman. Lagman is a Central Asian dish featuring hand-pulled noodles stir-fried with tender pieces of lamb and a mix of vegetables like bell peppers, onions, carrots and tomatoes. The dish is flavored with a savory blend of spices, including garlic, cumin, and chili, which gives it a rich flavour.
Duet Coffee Shop
What I ate: Cheeseburger and mango juice
What I spent: KGS 650,00 (AUD$11.50/USD$7.50)
This coffee shop is connected to the Duet Hostel, and is a great space to meet other travellers - they even have a meet-up board where you can put up which hike or day trip you are planning to do and contact details for those who want to join.
The food was basic but nice, I would mainly recommend this place for the atmosphere though over the food!
Kafe Saymaluu
What I ate: Lamb on the Roaster, a pot of tea
What I spent: KGS 680,00 (AUD$12.10/USD$7.80)
This traditional Kyrgz restaurant is decorated in typical soviet fashion - it’s very extra, very glamourous and over the top.
I had Lamb on the Roaster, which is pretty much lamb and vegetables on a hot plate - exactly what my ailing body needed (this day is when I started to feel the flu creep over me!).
мусулман
What I ate: Large Baked Chicken Shawarma
What I spent: KGS 330,00 (AUD$5.85/USD$3.80)
Мусулман is the Kyrgz word for Muslim, and this place has the best shawarmas I may have ever had! The large shawarma is gigantic, so it was a perfect post multi-day hike treat (otherwise it could have easily been two meals on a normal day!).
суши роллы
What I ate: BBQ chicken sushi, tempura chicken sushi, fries
What I spent: KGS 684,00 (AUD$12.10/USD$7.90)
суши роллы translates to Sushi Roll. This absolute feast was a treat to myself when I finished 6 days of hiking on the Ak-Suu Traverse! I got it delivered to my hostel through an app called Glovo, which also had a promotion of free delivery going at that time - bonus!
Кайнар
What I ate: Vegetable Stew
What I spent: KGS 264,00 ($4.65/USD$3.05)
I ordered this vegetable stew from this restaurant off the Glovo app. It was incredibly filling and tasty, packed with vegetables and it came with a side of rice as well.
Lighthouse Karakol, Boorsok, Kafe Saymaluu
What to do:
Hike the Ak - Suu Traverse
This hike is a 10-12 day hike that takes you through some of Kyrgyzstan's most stunning landscapes. We hiked this solo - camping in our own tent, cooking our own food etc. which was a physical challenge but logistically quite easy!
From mid-June to early September there are guided treks where you can have horses carry your belongings and stay in yurts along the trail, however when we started in the second week of September, they had just wrapped up for the season and all the yurts had been taken down.
You can read more about our experience hiking the trail here:
Hike to Ala Kul Lake
We hiked to Ala Kul Lake as part of the Ak Suu Traverse, but it’s also a popular 2-3 day hike on its own. It’s steep, rocky, and slippery in places, but the stunning views at the top make it worth it—it’s the most popular hike in Kyrgyzstan for good reason!
You can do this hike self-guided, with a tour, or by hiring a guide and staying in yurts. There are two main options: hike in and out from either Karakol Valley or Ala Kul Valley, or cross from one valley to the other, spending the night at the top of Ala Kul.
When we trekked in mid-September, the yurts at the lake had already been packed up for the season. If you don't want to carry camping gear, you can do this part of the trail in one day - it would just mean an early start! If you're hiking off-season, plan accordingly.
This hike is popular, so if you’re traveling solo but don’t want to hike alone, you’ll likely meet others planning the trek in Karakol. Check hostels or stop by Duet Coffee Shop to find hiking buddies.
Visit the Sunday Animal Market
The Sunday Animal Market offers a glimpse into Kyrgyzstan’s nomadic culture. It’s a trading hub where local farmers, herders, and traders buy and sell livestock, including sheep, goats, cows, horses, and yaks.
The market takes place just outside Karakol and starts early, usually around 6–7 AM. Arrive early to catch the busiest action; by late morning, it starts to wind down.
Shop at Atillek Bazaar
This bustling marketplace is perfect for stocking up on trail snacks like dried fruits and nuts. You’ll also find plenty of knock-off branded clothes, cheap electronics, and housewares. Even if you’re not shopping, it’s worth a visit just to soak in the chaotic, lively atmosphere of the bazaar—it’s an experience in itself!
Wander through Fairy Tale Canyon
This is a little way out of Karakol, but can either be done as a day trip or on the way from Karakol to Bishkek if driving along the southern shore of Issy-Kul lake.
Just an hour's drive away, this unique geological site offers colorful landscapes and bizarre rock formations that really do seem like they’re from a fairy tale! It’s totally different to the landscape that you see in the mountains, showcasing just how diverse Kyrgyzstan is.
It’s not a strenuous hike, making it suitable for all fitness levels. Spend 1-2 hours wandering through the formations and climbing small hills for panoramic views of the lake and canyon. I would recommend wearing sneakers/hiking boots or hiking sandals such as Teva’s however, as the trails can be sandy and uneven.
Top Tips:
Kyrgyz and Russian are the main languages. English is limited, but most people we encountered in hostels, cafes, and tour agencies spoke at least basic English. A lot of restaurant menus are only in Kyrgz, so Google Translate will be your best friend!
Bring cash with you, or withdraw cash at one of the ATMS in the town centre (there are a few ATMs at the Globus supermarket which we used). Whilst some cafe’s, restaurants and supermarkets accept card, most hostels, markets, taxis and smaller restaurants accept cash only.
We used an O! Sim card which provided us unlimited data for a month. You can find plenty of O! Stores in both Karakol and Bishkek. The package cost KGS 949, 00 (AUD$16.80/USD$11) per month, but it was billed weekly, so top up enough to ensure the money automatically comes off your phone account each week.
Most guesthouses and cafes offer free Wi-Fi, but speeds can vary. A lot of the time I would end up hotspotting off my phone to my laptop.
There is no service in the mountains, so download offline maps on AllTrails or Maps.me for navigation when hiking.
Karakol itself sits at around 1,700 meters (5,600 feet), so most travelers won’t feel altitude effects. However the Ala Kul Lake hike and the Ak-Suu Traverse, go above 3,000 meters (9,800 feet). If you're sensitive to altitude, take it slow and stay hydrated.
I found shopping for ingredients for meals in the supermarkets quite hard - often I would have a basket full of ingredients for a meal and then realise they did not stock a key item for my dish. I ended up eating out for most of my meals, which ended up being cheap anyway!
