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From above: a cathedral with green domes among flowering trees, with the town’s roofs and mountains beyond
28 April 2023 · cathedral and town from above

A mountain town for day trips, trekking and skiing. Find places on foot or by marshrutka (fixed-route minibus), where to stay and how to get here.

  • Check journey timefrom Bishkek; road conditions change
  • Centre on footcathedral, mosque, bazaars
  • 11 places nearbyfrom 0.2 to 30 km
  • All year roundsummer hiking, winter skiing
  • ≈100 placesguesthouses, hotels
Kyrgyz SeasonsPlanning a trip?Ask about a trip

Around

Eleven places from the centre outwards

Start with places you can walk to, then marshrutkas and roads to the valleys. The map on the left shows the route from the centre to the place you are viewing.

  1. A wooden cathedral with green domes and gold crosses behind a lawn07.07.2019

    ≈0.3 km on foot1 / 11

    Holy Trinity Cathedral

    on foot ≈5 minMon–Sat 8–12, 13–17 · Sun 6:30–16

    The wooden Orthodox cathedral with green domes is the centre’s main landmark. Check the parish schedule on holidays; entry fees and photography rules inside are unconfirmed.

    Next Gingerbread houses →
  2. From above: old single-storey houses at a street corner, the town and snowy mountains beyond28.04.2023

    ≈0.2 km on foot2 / 11

    Gingerbread houses

    on foot ≈3 min

    Carved merchants’ houses on Jamansarieva Street recall an imperial frontier town. The Tatar mosque and history museum are on the same street.

    Next Dungan Mosque →
  3. A wooden mosque with a red roof, colourful gables and yellow columns07.07.2019

    ≈1 km on foot3 / 11

    Dungan Mosque

    on foot ≈15 mindaily 8–18

    A wooden mosque built in 1910 without nails. Leave a cash donation of 20–50 som at the entrance; the separate page includes a visit plan.

    Place page →

    Next Bazaars and ashlyanfu →
  4. Sacks of ground red pepper and spices, each with a price tag28.06.2008

    ≈1 km on foot4 / 11

    Bazaars and ashlyanfu

    on foot ≈15 mindaily 8–18

    The big bazaar has spices, dried fruit and trekking supplies. The smaller Bugu Bazaar is central; opposite is a lane serving ashlyanfu, a Dungan soup.

    Next Livestock market →
  5. A dusty square with cars and sheep, snowy mountains in the distance08.09.2013

    3 km by road5 / 11

    Karakol livestock market

    marshrutka No. 101 or taxiSundays only, 7–11

    Horses, sheep and cows are traded on the outskirts on Sunday mornings. Come early; a car market is nearby.

    Next Przhevalsky Museum →
  6. White portico with columns and a bronze eagle above the pediment, surrounded by trees

    12 km by road6 / 11

    Przhevalsky Museum

    taxi or marshrutkacheck for your date

    The museum of the traveller whose name the town bore until 1991, his grave with an eagle and a shady park. Check hours, admission and guided tours before travelling.

    Next Ak-Suu hot springs →
  7. A green valley beneath rocky peaks and heavy clouds09.07.2019

    16 km by road7 / 11

    Ak-Suu hot springs

    marshrutka No. 350 ≈30 minall year

    Hot pools near Ak-Suu village, including children’s pools. Check before travelling whether they are closed for repairs.

    Next Karakol ski resort →
  8. A snowy slope and ridge, clouds and a plain below28.02.2024

    13 km by road8 / 11

    Karakol ski resort

    by 4×4 from your guesthouseDecember–March

    The country’s largest ski resort: over 20 km of pistes, base at 2,400 m. Daily ski passes in the 2026/27 season cost 1,500–2,000 som depending on the day; the electronic card costs 300 som.

    Next Gorge and Lake Ala-Kol →
  9. Tall spruce trees on steep grassy slopes of a forest valley

    6 km + 22 km on the trail9 / 11

    Gorge and Lake Ala-Kol

    3-day trekJuly–September

    Forested Karakol Gorge begins beside town. From here, trek to Lake Ala-Kol at 3,519 m: three days over the pass to Altyn-Arashan.

    Place page →

    Next Jeti-Oguz →
  10. A line of red rocks above a village and road in the valley23.09.2023

    30 km by road10 / 11

    Jeti-Oguz

    marshrutka No. 372 · day tripall year

    Red Seven Bulls and Broken Heart rocks, Kok-Jaiyk meadows and a waterfall. Marshrutkas every half-hour; the recommended return departure is around 16:00.

    Place page →

    Next Altyn-Arashan →
  11. A wide green valley with a river, distant houses and yurts below spruce-covered slopes22.08.2018

    15 km + 15 km on the trail11 / 11

    Altyn-Arashan

    2-day trekwalking programme: April–November

    The organiser advertises a walking programme for April–November; a winter visit is a separate trip, so confirm accommodation and transport in advance.

    Next One town, four seasons ↓

Seasons

One town, four seasons

Karakol is active all year: mountains in summer, skiing in winter, quiet spring and autumn. Monthly town temperatures are averages for 2016–2025, not a forecast.

  1. From above: a cathedral with green domes among flowering trees, with the town’s roofs and mountains beyond

    Spring

    March–May

    A quiet time: snow melts in the valleys and orchards blossom. The cathedral and the town from above: 28 April 2023.

    • MarchKarakol +5° / −5°
    • AprilKarakol +10° / 0°
    • MayKarakol +15° / +4°
  2. A street with shops and cars, a spruce by the road and a cloudy sky

    Summer

    June–August

    High season: passes and multi-day treks are open, and it’s +20–25° in town. A street in early August 2019.

    • JuneKarakol +18° / +8°
    • JulyKarakol +21° / +11°
    • AugustKarakol +20° / +10°
  3. Mosque roofs and a minaret behind a wooden fence and yellow trees

    Autumn

    September–November

    Yellow trees and snow on the peaks; fewer tourists. The courtyard of the Dungan Mosque in October 2005.

    • SeptemberKarakol +17° / +6°
    • OctoberKarakol +9° / −1°
    • NovemberKarakol +2° / −8°
  4. A snowy slope and ridge, clouds and a plain below

    Winter

    December–February

    The town is snowy and quiet; the ski season runs from December to March. A slope at the end of February 2024.

    • DecemberKarakol −2° / −11°
    • JanuaryKarakol −3° / −13°
    • FebruaryKarakol 0° / −10°

Where it is

Location
Issyk-Kul Region
Elevation
1 750 m
Coordinates
42.49° N, 78.40° E

Included in these guides

Open in Maps

Getting there

Getting here and getting around town

From Bishkek: check journey time before leaving

  • GoBus bus

    10:00, 23:00, 23:30

    750 som, about 6 h 40–45 min as listed for 11 October 2026. Check the timetable, fare and duration in the app before buying check for your date

  • Marshrutka

    from 500 som

    From Bishkek bus station in the morning. Ask the carrier about the current journey time check for your date

  • Shared taxi

    1,000–1,500 som

    Уезжает, когда заполнится; 5–6 h check for your date

  • By air

    Karakol airport

    Reopened from December 2024, flights mainly from Bishkek check for your date

  • From Almaty

    Via Kegen

    By private transport; agree the route and border crossing beforehand

  • To Almaty

    Direct bus · around 10:00

    Allow about 1,200 som in cash. The day before travel, confirm the bus departure and ticket sales point at the Karakol bus station. check for your date

Bishkek’s Western bus station has been closed since late 2024; the Eastern station has no Karakol services. From Cholpon-Ata: marshrutka ≈2 h, from 200 som.

Getting around town

  • On foot. The centre is compact: cathedral, mosque and bazaars within a kilometre.
  • Marshrutkas. 20 som; the main hub is the bus station by Ak-Tilek Market. Find route numbers in 2GIS and Yandex. check for your date
  • From the bus station to the centre. Marshrutka No. 109 or taxi from 100 som.
  • Taxi. Yandex Go is more convenient: the price is known in advance.

Money, SIM cards and help

  • Cash machines throughout the centre; most accept foreign cards. Bazaars and small cafés take cash only.
  • SIM or eSIM – with your passport at Beeline, MegaCom or O! shops. Over 30 days: phone registration (IMEI).
  • Water. Do not drink tap water: boil it, use a filter or use refill stations.
  • Visitor Center – 150 Lenin Street, Mon–Sat 9–18: maps, tours, transport check for your date

112single number · 101 fire · 102 police · 103 ambulance

Check on site

  • Book the return bus ticket in advanceGoBus
  • Whether Ak-Suu hot springs are openVisitor Center
  • Ski resort transfer and journey timeguesthouse
  • Border-zone permit for Engilchek: allow 5–12 daystour operator
  • Weather and trails before trekkingVisitor Center

Check in advance

  • Overnight heating and hot waterguesthouse
  • Parking, a bathhouse, laundry and mealsguesthouse
  • The exact map pin and contact by messengerguesthouse
  • Confirm the booking 1–2 days ahead and check arrival timeguesthouse
  • Flights via Karakol airport for your datesairlines
Kyrgyz SeasonsPlanning a trip?Ask about a trip

Keep planning

Guides and ready-made itineraries

Pages that include this place in a guide or itinerary.

Included in guides

Accommodation

Where to stay: 62 of 99 places are within 1.5 km of the centre

Guesthouses, hostels and hotels: almost all within walking distance of bazaars and marshrutkas. In winter, guesthouses arrange ski resort transfers.

1 km1.5 kmGreen YardKhanin Guest HouseJamilya's B&BMEMO'S Guest HouseKyrgyz Tours GuesthouseArashan GuesthouseTurkestan Yurt CampTeskeyGuest houseguesthouse RiversideAmir Hotelguest house Askar Alakol-Karakol Guest HouseHostel DomAskaarhostelMurasLenaguesthouseTent hostelguesthouseNeofitguesthouseguesthousehostelhotelguesthouseKBHhostelGuesthouse Happy GuestVikingPark HotelhotelhotelhostelElitaKaragat HotelBed and Breakfast NiceU Salimy Guest HouseVersalHiker's B&BhostelSnezhny Bars HostelguesthouseNur Guest HouseguesthouseNOVA HOTELBellavistaHotelJasminTwin HousehotelguesthouseguesthouseguesthouseCapsule hostelBed & Breakfast NicehotelKaravanToru-AygyrAltamiraCompasshostelguesthouseSayak HostelMy GuesthouseSono GuesthouseNova MotelSuncorAlimThe Way of TravelersGostevoj DomFour Seasons Guest HouseOimo Hotel78 Hotel&CafeGreen HouseGuest House AlinaEniresthostelWooden houseKarakol HotelU ZinyIssykkulNomadstan Capsule Hostel KarakolRezidentsiyaKyrgyzstanArgo Guest HouseKerege-TashKhiker B i BDuet HostelMadanurAziyaMedAziya+Interhouse KarakolTeskeyEvergreen Guest HouseAtaySnezhny Bars HostelKarakol River GuesthouseIssykkul Ak-Tilek MarketSouthern bus stationBus station centre
guesthousehostelhotelotherbus stations; Ak-Tilek is by the bazaar© OpenStreetMap

How many places

99 on the map, within town limits

44 guesthouses24 hostels29 hotels2 other

Within 1.5 km from the centre
62 of 99

All photos

Town and surroundings in photos

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

  1. 07.07.2019
  2. 28.04.2023
  3. 28.04.2023
  4. 28.04.2023
  5. 28.06.2008
  6. 05.08.2019
  7. 06.08.2019
  8. 05.08.2019
  9. 07.07.2019
  10. October 2005
  11. 28.06.2008
  12. 08.09.2013
  13. 08.09.2013
  14. 04.08.2019
  15. 28.04.2023
  16. 09.07.2019
  17. 28.02.2024
  18. 23.09.2023
  19. 22.08.2018
  20. 22.08.2018

Karakol and nearby places

11 places · from 0.2 to 30 km

© OpenStreetMap

Each number marks a place and its photo. Lines from the centre show approximate road routes.