Karakol is a calm town at the eastern end of Issyk-Kul and the main base for trekking in the Tian Shan. Its tree-lined streets and low wooden houses make it a pleasant place to spend a day or two before or after a trek.
What to see in Karakol
- Dungan mosque: a colorful wooden mosque built in the early 20th century without metal nails.
- Holy Trinity cathedral: a large wooden Orthodox church from the late 19th century.
- Animal market: on Sunday mornings, farmers from the region trade horses, cows and sheep.
- Dungan food: try ashlyam-fu, a cold noodle dish that Karakol is famous for.
Trekking from Karakol
The Karakol valley, the hot springs of Altyn-Arashan and the turquoise Ala-Kul lake are all close to town. Our Ala-Kul lake trek links them in four days. The Jeti-Oguz red rocks are about 30 minutes away.
Getting there
Karakol is about six to seven hours by road from Bishkek along the north shore of the lake, and about three hours from Skazka canyon on the south shore.
