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Green mountain slopes and conifer forest beneath snowy peaks and dark clouds.
Jyrgalan

Jyrgalan

Updated How we check facts

A mountain village for summer hikes and off-piste skiing in winter; you get there via Karakol.

  • 1.5–2 h from KarakolBishkek to Karakol: 6–7 h
  • Village on footNo café, one shop
  • 6 places nearbyFrom 17 to 60 km
  • 15 places to stay14 within 1.5 km of the centre
Kyrgyz SeasonsPlanning a trip?Ask about a triphello@kyrgyzseasons.com

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.

  1. A wooden church with green roofs and golden domes behind a flower garden.August 1, 2019

    ≈60 km along the road1 / 6

    Karakol

    Marshrutka or taxi, about 60 km, 1.5–2 hMarshrutkas run during the day

    The region’s main town: a wooden church, a market and museums. You return here from Jyrgalan and travel on around the lake.

    Place page →

  2. A wooden church in Ak-Suu with a carved cornice, a pale tented roof and a silvery cupola.July 28, 2015

    ≈49 km along the road2 / 6

    Ak-Suu

    On the way to Karakol, about 49 kmAll year round

    A large village near the lake on the way to Karakol. Some marshrutkas from Karakol only go this far, so look for one with a “Jyrgalan” sign. The village has a wooden church.

    Place page →

  3. A rushing river among green and golden grass, with a conifer forest beyond the bank.August 1, 2021

    ≈56 km along the road3 / 6

    Karkara valley

    By car via Tyup, about 56 kmSummer

    A valley with a fast-flowing river and conifer forest near the border with Kazakhstan. People come for the day or stay overnight.

  4. The Arashan river winds through a green valley, with a dark wall of spruces on the right and a grassy slope on the leftAugust 22, 2018

    ≈52 km along the road4 / 6

    Altyn-Arashan

    Drive 52 km to the road’s end at Ak-Suu, then walk or rideSummer

    A valley with yurt camps and hot springs above Ak-Suu. From the end of the road you follow the river on foot or on horseback.

    Place page →

  5. ≈32 km along the road5 / 6

    San-Tash

    By car on the road towards Tyup, about 32 kmDuring the day

    A pile of stones near San-Tash village. Legend has it that Tamerlane’s warriors piled up stones here so that the army could be counted.

    Place page →

  6. ≈17 km on foot6 / 6

    Eki-Chat

    On foot or horseback, about 17 km one wayJune–September

    A summer pasture where several valleys meet: cows and horses graze here, and herders live here in summer. It makes a long day, with a return to the village by evening.

Map

Jyrgalan: four seasons

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

  1. Spring

    March–May

    Spring is a time of change: April is still for winter activities, and in May people start hiking to Kok-Bel.

    • MarchJyrgalan +2° / −9°
    • AprilJyrgalan +7° / −4°
    • MayJyrgalan +13° / 0°

  2. Summer

    June–August

    In summer, day hikes and multi-day treks set out from here.

    • JuneJyrgalan +17° / +5°
    • JulyJyrgalan +19° / +7°
    • AugustJyrgalan +18° / +6°

  3. Autumn

    September–November

    September ends the main hiking season, though people still walk to Kok-Bel in October.

    • SeptemberJyrgalan +15° / +2°
    • OctoberJyrgalan +7° / −6°
    • NovemberJyrgalan −1° / −13°

  4. Winter

    December–February

    In winter, people come for off-piste skiing and snowshoeing.

    • DecemberJyrgalan −5° / −17°
    • JanuaryJyrgalan −6° / −18°
    • FebruaryJyrgalan −3° / −15°

Where it is

Location
Issyk-Kul Region
Coordinates
42.61° N, 79.01° E
Open in Maps

Getting here and getting around town

How to get there

  • From Karakol

    1.5–2 h

    Marshrutka No. 331 from Ak-Tilek Market: 8:30, 14:00, 17:30. Taxi 4,000–5,000 som. Look for the “Jyrgalan” sign.

  • From Bishkek

    6–7 h to Karakol

    First to Karakol: marshrutka from 500 som, night bus, or shared taxi for 1,000–1,500 som. Change there.

  • Back to Karakol

    7:30 · 10:30 · 16:30

    Marshrutka No. 331 from the village: 7:30, 10:30 and 16:30. Confirm the service with your host the day before.

Getting around town

  • On foot. The village is small and everything is close: the tourist office is at 3 Asanbaeva Street, and guesthouses are a few minutes’ walk away.

Money and mobile

  • Cash. Get som in cash before you leave Karakol.
  • SIM and eSIM. Buy a local SIM card and top it up before you arrive. Coverage in the mountain valleys: check for your date.
  • Food. Arrange meals with your accommodation, and buy food for hikes in advance.

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.

  • Unified emergency dispatch service

Check in advance

  • Accommodation and meal prices for your date
  • Mobile coverage in your chosen gorge
  • Conditions on snow slopes and summer trails
  • Whether the last service actually runs, and which time is right on your date: 13:30 or 14:00

Check on site

  • The return service and the state of the access road Driver or host
  • Conditions on your chosen trail Guide or tourist office

Where to stay: 14 of 15 places are within 1.5 km of the centre

1 km1.5 km centre
guesthousehostelhotelother© OpenStreetMap

How many places

15 on the map

11 guesthouses1 hostel3 hotels

Within 1.5 km from the centre
14 of 15

Options with names, from the centre outwards

  1. Alakol-Jyrgalanguesthouse
  2. Rakhatguesthouse
  3. Baitorguesthouse
  4. Ulanhotel
  5. Dolinka lodgeguesthouse
  6. Darya hostel Jyrgalanhostel
  7. Beimaral Lodge Jyrgalanhotel
  8. Razzak Guest Houseguesthouse

Jyrgalan in photos

Real photos, each with the date it was taken. Tap or click to enlarge.

  1. August 1, 2019
  2. August 1, 2021
  3. July 28, 2015
  4. August 22, 2018
  5. July 9, 2019

Guides and ready-made itineraries

Pages that include this place in a guide or itinerary.

Included in guides

Routes and programmes

Routes and programmes

Kyrgyz SeasonsPlanning a trip?Ask about a triphello@kyrgyzseasons.com

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