Arkit
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A village at the gates of the Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve: a night in a guesthouse before the lakes.
- ≈5–6 h from Jalal-AbadOne marshrutka a day, 450 som
- The village on foot15 km by road to the lake
- 6 places nearbyTo the lake: ≈40 min by car
- 13 places to stay13 within 1.5 km of the centre
6 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.
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August 11, 2017≈15 km along the road1 / 6
Lake Sary-Chelek
The reserve’s main lake, about 6 km long, set among forested mountains. From the gates at Arkit, 17 km of dirt road lead to it — about 40 minutes by car.
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June 9, 2024≈13 km along the road2 / 6
Kyla-Kol Lake
The reserve’s second-largest lake. The road to Lake Sary-Chelek runs along its shore; beyond the water rise wooded hills and green ridges.
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June 9, 2024≈18 km on foot3 / 6
Aram-Kol Lake
A small lake on the Seven Lakes trail below a rocky ridge. The name is translated as “forbidden”: the story goes that animals died here.
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June 9, 2024≈19 km on foot4 / 6
Iri-Kol Lake
The reserve’s third-largest lake and the end of the one-day Seven Lakes trail: 11 km and about 4 h. Camping by the lake is no longer allowed.
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July 11, 2022≈26 km along the road5 / 6
Kara-Suu Lake
Kara-Suu Lake (Karakamysh) lies beyond a 2,446 m pass, about 8 km along the trail from Iri-Kol. Here you can swim and camp, with yurt camps nearby.
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March 14, 2022≈58 km along the road6 / 6
Kerben town
The centre of Aksy District, south of Arkit: a town of about 19,000 people. The photo shows Kerben’s low-rise blocks from above.
Arkit: four seasons
Things to do in and around town throughout the year. Monthly temperatures are averages for 2016–2025, not a forecast.
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Spring
March–MayDays from +8 °C in March to +21 °C in May, nights from +1 to +9 °C. In May the orchards bloom while the peaks are still snowy.
- MarchArkit +8° / +1°
- AprilArkit +15° / +4°
- MayArkit +21° / +9°
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August 10, 2017 Summer
June–AugustGreen slopes above the village streets. Days +24…+28 °C, nights +12…+16 °C.
- JuneArkit +24° / +12°
- JulyArkit +28° / +16°
- AugustArkit +27° / +15°
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Autumn
September–NovemberDays from +23 °C in September to +6 °C in November, nights from +11 to −3 °C. Hikes run until the end of October.
- SeptemberArkit +23° / +11°
- OctoberArkit +14° / +4°
- NovemberArkit +6° / −3°
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Winter
December–FebruaryDays around +0 °C, nights down to −6 °C. In snowfall the road to the lake can be closed.
- DecemberArkit +1° / −6°
- JanuaryArkit 0° / −6°
- FebruaryArkit +3° / −4°
Getting here and getting around town
How to get there
From Jalal-Abad
≈5–6 hOne marshrutka a day, about 6 h and 450 som; be at the bus station by 7:30. A taxi takes about 5 h, roughly 800 som per person.
From Osh
The same marshrutka runs from Osh via Jalal-Abad; a car with driver through a tourist office costs 5,000–6,000 som.
Getting around town
- On foot. The village is walkable; the car park at Lake Sary-Chelek is 15.1 km away by road.
- Marshrutkas. From the reserve gates to the lake there is a marshrutka: 3,000 som return for the whole group; ask when it comes back.
- Taxi. A taxi to the lake is about 150 som per person one way; guesthouses help find a car.
Money and mobile
- Overnight stay. Guesthouses cost 500–1,000 som per person per night, usually with breakfast.
- ATMs. Bring cash in som: the reserve entry and taxis are paid on the spot.
- Water. The village has small shops with water and snacks; better to buy food for the hike in Jalal-Abad or Osh.
- Reserve entry: 400 som for foreigners, 100 som for citizens, plus 150 som for a car; ask for a receipt.
Contact and help
112 single emergency number
- 101 fire and rescue
- 102 police
- 103 ambulance
You can call 112 with a local SIM or without one.
Check in advance
- Travel time to Kerben
- Accommodation prices for your dates
- The winter road to the lake
- Mobile coverage
Check on site
- The marshrutka from Jalal-Abad and back Bus station or guesthouse
- Entry fee and opening hours of the reserve Reserve gates
- A car back from Iri-Kol or Kara-Suu Lake Guesthouse or driver
Where to stay: 13 of 13 places are within 1.5 km of the centre
How many places
- Within 1.5 km from the centre
- 13 of 13
Options with names, from the centre outwards
- AIDA guest houseguesthouse
- Omurguesthouse
- Kyzyl Almaguesthouse
- Auraguesthouse
- Rispeak Guest Houseguesthouse
- Zhibek-Zholuhotel
Arkit in photos
Real photos, each with the date it was taken. Tap or click to enlarge.
- March 14, 2022
- August 10, 2017
- August 11, 2017
- July 11, 2022
- June 9, 2024
- June 9, 2024
- June 9, 2024
- June 15, 2024
Guides and ready-made itineraries
Pages that include this place in a guide or itinerary.