Ak-Suu

Updated October 27, 2026How we check facts

Village 12 km from Karakol: wooden church, arboretum, hot springs. Trails lead on to Altyn-Arashan.

Marshrutka No. 350From Karakol, 50 som and up
Church and arboretumArboretum: 13 km trail
8 places nearby5 to 78 km away

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8 places from the centre outwards

Start with places you can walk to, then roads out of town. The map shows the route from the centre to the place you are viewing.

January 26, 2025

≈4.8 km along the road1 / 8

Ak-Suu Resort

Marshrutka “Kurort Ak-Suu” from Karakol; ~5 km from villageCheck opening hours

Upriver from the village is a resort with a sanatorium and hot springs. Locals come here as they would to a bathhouse. The Altyn-Arashan pools are a different place, higher in the mountains.
August 22, 2018

≈17 km along the road2 / 8

Altyn-Arashan

3 km by car, then 14 km on foot or by 4WDApril–November

A valley with hot springs, guesthouses and yurt camps. From the village the road follows the Arashan River, then turns into a stretch for hikers or 4WDs.

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≈12 km along the road3 / 8

Karakol

Marshrutka No. 350, about 20 minutes, 12 kmDaytime, every 10 minutes

The region’s main town: an old centre with a wooden church, a mosque, bazaars and plenty of places to stay. Marshrutkas run from here to every valley.

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August 9, 2019

≈21 km along the road4 / 8

Przhevalsky Museum

Via Karakol, about 21 km by carCheck opening hours

The explorer’s museum on the lakeshore: expedition maps, personal belongings and a monument with a bronze eagle. Allow 30–45 minutes.

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July 25, 2024

≈25 km along the road5 / 8

Karakol Gorge

Via Karakol, then marshrutka No. 101; about 25 kmMay — September

The forested valley of the Karakol River, the way to Lake Ala-Kol. The nature park entrance is about 6 km south of Karakol, then roughly 10 km on foot to the alpine camp.

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≈49 km along the road6 / 8

Jyrgalan

East along the road, about 49 kmAll year round

A mountain village for summer hikes and winter off-piste skiing. The valley has guesthouses and a tourist office.

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≈54 km along the road7 / 8

San-Tash

East along the road, about 54 kmSpring–autumn

A stone mound near the village of San-Tash, tied to the legend of counting Tamerlane’s warriors. The mound is about 4 metres high.

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August 1, 2021

≈78 km along the road8 / 8

Karkara

East along the road, about 78 kmSummer

The Karkara River valley: forest, river and a night in a tent. It is often part of a trip from Karakol to the Sary-Jaz valley.

Ak-Suu: four seasons

Things to do in and around town throughout the year. Monthly temperatures are averages for 2016–2025, not a forecast.

Spring
March–May

The season starts in April, with tours to Altyn-Arashan. Daytime temperatures in the village are +5 to +15 °C.
- MarchAk-Suu +5° / −7°
- AprilAk-Suu +10° / −1°
- MayAk-Suu +15° / +3°
July 9, 2019

Summer
June–August

Summer is the best time. About +20 °C by day, dark spruce forest on the slopes, snow on the peaks. Yurts return to the valley.
- JuneAk-Suu +18° / +7°
- JulyAk-Suu +21° / +10°
- AugustAk-Suu +20° / +9°
Autumn
September–November

September is still warm. In October the yurts in the valley come down, and in November the tour season ends.
- SeptemberAk-Suu +17° / +5°
- OctoberAk-Suu +9° / −3°
- NovemberAk-Suu +2° / −10°
January 26, 2025

Winter
December–February

In winter it is about −3…0 °C by day and the gorge is under snow. Two or three guesthouses stay open in Arashan.
- DecemberAk-Suu −2° / −13°
- JanuaryAk-Suu −3° / −15°
- FebruaryAk-Suu 0° / −12°

Where it is

Location: Issyk-Kul Region
Coordinates: 42.50° N, 78.52° E

Open in Maps

Getting here and getting around town

How to get there

From Karakol
20 minutes
Marshrutka No. 350 from Ak-Tilek Market runs via Ak-Suu to the resort. Fare from 50 som, backpack 30; the directory lists 20–35 som.
From Bishkek
6–7 h to Karakol
First to Karakol: a marshrutka from 500 som or a shared taxi for 1,000–1,500 som. Then change to marshrutka No. 350.
Back to Karakol
until evening
The same marshrutka runs back to Karakol. The last one leaves around 17:00 from the valley exit; check the time with the driver.

Getting around town

On foot. The Ak-Suu arboretum and its 13 km trail start at the edge of the village; a road along the river leads up to the resort.
Marshrutkas. Marshrutka No. 350 from Karakol runs through the village to the resort. Ask the driver to stop at the turn for Altyn-Arashan.

Money and mobile

Cash. Bring cash in som from Karakol: the Altyn-Arashan valley has no shop and no card terminal.
SIM and eSIM. There is no reliable signal in the Altyn-Arashan valley; check coverage in the village itself for your date.
Help. Emergency number: 112.