Alay Trek Tour
Accommodation, guides, transport included.
Alay Trek Tour Highlights
Explore the Alay Mountains, a breathtaking yet little-known gem in southern Kyrgyzstan. This 8-day group trek offers some of the finest trekking and hiking in the country: spectacular mountain scenery, panoramic views of glacier-clad Lenin Peak (7,134 m), high-altitude passes and encounters with Kyrgyz nomadic culture.
During the trek you cross high passes like Sary Mogul (4,306 m) and Jiptick (4,185 m), enjoy up-close views of Lenin Peak at Base Camp and Traveller’s Pass (4,150 m), and experience traditional nomadic life while staying in yurts, meeting local shepherds and savouring home-cooked meals. Experienced trekking guides take you through this off-the-beaten-track part of the Pamir-Alay, and the trek supports community tourism, benefiting families in the Pamir-Alay Mountains.
Itinerary: Osh – Sary-Mogol – Zhanyryk yurt camp – Sary Mogul Pass – Kyzyl-Shoro – Koshmoinok Pass – Sarybell Pass – Kozho-Kelen – Jiptick Pass – Darbazatash Valley – Sary-Mogol – Tulpar-Kol Lake – Traveller’s Pass – Osh.
Difficulty: Challenging Recommended for fit hikers with some trekking experience: 3–9 hours (up to 24 km) of walking per day on mountain trails, partly narrow and on scree, with three passes above 4,100 m (highest Sary Mogul Pass, 4,306 m) and nights at 2,800–3,600 m. Luggage is carried by horses.
Tour Itinerary
Depart from the historic city of Osh to the village of Sary-Mogol (3,000 m). There is remarkable scenery along the way, so enjoy the ride! After about two and a half hours of driving, we stop for a short hike to the beautiful Isumrudnoe (Emerald) Lake. Lunch, then we continue driving to Sary-Mogol. After arrival, enjoy the incredible views of the 7,000+ meter high snow-capped Pamir Mountains in the distance. Home-cooked dinner and overnight at a family-run guesthouse. In Sary-Mogol there are several small convenience stores for last-minute purchases. Driving 220 km, 4 hours. Trekking 6 km, 3–4 hours. Facilities: Wi-Fi, electricity, hot shower and western-style toilets.
Osh, Alai Valley, Sary-Mogol
- Osh → Sary-Mogol (220 km)
Overnight: Sary-Mogol (Guesthouse)
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, we begin our trek toward the first yurt camp, following an easy car road that winds through open valleys and past yurt camps. Along the way we encounter grazing yaks, sheep, goats and horses, spot eagles soaring overhead and marmots scurrying through the grass, and stop at refreshing springs. The trek is a unique opportunity to observe the lifestyle of nomadic people – their herds, traditional dwellings and daily routines – up close. Upon reaching the yurt camp at 3,300 m, relax and settle in. Lunch at the yurt camp, then a short hike to the nearby hills for proper acclimatization. In the evening, dinner under the stars and overnight in the yurt. Trekking 14 km, 4 hours. Ascent +461 m, descent -115 m. Facilities: no Wi-Fi, no electricity, no hot shower, outdoor toilets.
Sary-Mogol
Overnight: Yurt camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, we walk for about an hour to the first viewpoint. Some parts are a bit challenging as the trail is narrow and the terrain is mainly scree and small pebbles. We take a break to enjoy the views of the Pamir Mountains before descending into a valley for a picnic lunch by a riverbank with glacier views. After lunch, we head up to Sary Mogul Pass at 4,306 m (1 hour). As you ascend, glaciated peaks and alpine lakes begin to appear. From the top of the pass you see Besh Kol – a viewpoint with stunning views of the alpine lakes and nearby peaks. We then descend to the campsite at 3,600 m. Dinner under the stars at the yurt camp. Trekking 15 km, 8–9 hours. Ascent +1,059 m, descent -859 m. Facilities: no Wi-Fi, no electricity, no hot shower, outdoor toilets.
Overnight: Yurt camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Compared to the previous day, the start of day four is relatively easy-going and mainly downhill. The trail follows the valley and crosses the river several times. As we lose elevation, the terrain changes from high-alpine, rocky and dry to green mid-mountain slopes with juniper bushes. Don’t forget to turn around from time to time to enjoy the glaciers and snow-covered peaks behind you. We pass fields with grazing cows and shepherds’ yurts where you may be invited for tea. After a few kilometers we reach the farmland of Little Sary-Mogol village, pass through it and walk 3.5 km along a dusty road to Kyzyl-Shoro village. Lunch at a homestay, with a chance for a quick hot shower (Wi-Fi and electricity are also available here). After lunch we walk into the gorge east of the village. The trail climbs slowly, about 860 m through grassy meadows and pastures, to Koshmoinok Pass (3,210 m), then descends into Koshmoinok Valley (1 hour). Dinner and overnight in a yurt camp at 2,800 m. Trekking 19.4 km, 7–8 hours. Ascent +866 m, descent -1,596 m. Facilities at the camp: no Wi-Fi, no electricity, no hot shower, outdoor toilets.
Overnight: Yurt camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, cross the stream and walk up to Sarybell Pass at 3,132 m (1 hour). Views of the rugged Kichik Alay Mountains open up from the top. From there, the path winds along the edge of the hills. The red rock formations of the “Three Dragon Gorge” are one of the most beautiful spots in all of Kyrgyzstan, with the snow-covered Pamir in the distance. The trail then descends through the red rocks into a cliffed riverbed, and we follow the road through the cliffs to Kozho-Kelen village (3 hours). Late lunch in a guesthouse – hot showers, electricity and internet are available in the village. After lunch, an easy walk on an unpaved road along the river leads up to the yurt camp at the foot of Jiptick Pass (3 hours). Enjoy this beautiful gorge with evergreen trees and meet Kyrgyz nomads busy with their daily activities and herding their animals. Arrive at the yurt camp at 3,050 m for a home-cooked dinner with a local family and overnight in a yurt. Trekking 24 km, 9 hours. Ascent +1,299 m, descent -1,095 m. Facilities at the camp: no Wi-Fi, no electricity, no hot shower, outdoor toilets.
Kozho-Kelen
Overnight: Yurt camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
From the yurt camp, the trail ascends gradually along the river to the foot of Jiptick Pass (1 hour), then switchbacks up to the pass (2 hours). Jiptick Pass (4,185 m) is breathtaking: in the distance you can see the Pamir Mountains, and in clear weather even Lenin Peak (7,134 m). Picnic lunch on the pass. The path then descends steeply to Darbazatash Valley (3 hours). Arrive in the valley (3,274 m) for dinner and overnight at the yurt camp. Trekking 16 km, 8 hours. Ascent +1,150 m, descent -931 m. Facilities: no Wi-Fi, no electricity, no hot shower, outdoor toilets.
Overnight: Yurt camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Walk to Sary-Mogol village (3 hours). Arrive at your homestay for a home-cooked lunch, a shower and Wi-Fi. After lunch, we drive to the yurt camp at Tulpar-Kol Lake near Lenin Peak Base Camp (1 hour). Tulpar-Kol is a series of lakes set in the foothills of the Pamir – a great spot for photography and easy walking. Dinner and overnight in a yurt. Trekking 11 km, 3 hours. Ascent +40 m, descent -320 m. Driving 1 hour. Facilities at the camp: no Wi-Fi, no electricity, no hot shower, outdoor toilets.
Sary-Mogol, Tulpar-Kol Lake
- Sary-Mogol → Tulpar-Kol Lake
Overnight: Tulpar-Kol Lake (Yurt camp)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Wake up early. After breakfast, we head south from Tulpar-Kol to the alpinists’ Lenin Peak Base Camp. After passing the Base Camp, we begin the ascent to Traveller’s Pass. The trail climbs slowly except for the last 20 minutes, where it becomes a steep zigzag up to the pass at 4,150 m. Enjoy the magnificent views of glaciers tumbling off the massive peak, and walk to the viewpoint on the right of the pass for an even better view of Lenin Peak (7,134 m), the highest peak of the Pamir-Alay. Picnic lunch there. We return to the yurt camp the same way, say goodbye to the Pamir and drive back to Osh (5 hours). End of the tour. Trekking 20 km, 6 hours. Ascent +760 m, descent -760 m. Driving 5 hours.
Lenin peak, Osh
- Tulpar-Kol Lake → Tulpar-Kol Lake (20 km)
- Tulpar-Kol Lake → Osh
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Download the itinerary
Tour Price
Group Tour Price
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What's included
Included
- English-speaking trekking guide
- Shared accommodation in a guesthouse (1 night) and yurt camps (6 nights) – 4–6 people per room/yurt
- All meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Transport from/to Osh
- Transport to/from Tulpar-Kol yurt camp
- Horseman and luggage service by horse, up to 12 kg per person
- Border permit for the Lenin Peak Base Camp area (last-minute permit requests require a surcharge)
Not included
- Hotel and meals in Osh before and after the tour
- Sleeping bag
- Drinking water
- Alcoholic drinks
- Services outside the standard program
- Tips
- Travel and health insurance
- Flights or other domestic/international transport
Nargiza is the office manager of Central Asia Guide and mostly responsible for multi country "Stan" tours.
Where you'll stay
-
Night 1
Sary-Mogol
Shared family-run guesthouse in Sary-Mogol or similar
-
Night 7
Tulpar-Kol Lake
Shared yurt camp at Tulpar-Kol Lake or similar
Good to know
- Guaranteed departure with just 2 participants; group size 2–10 people.
- Accommodation: 1 night in a family-run guesthouse in Sary-Mogol and 6 nights in yurt camps, in shared rooms/yurts for 4–6 people.
- Facilities: the Sary-Mogol guesthouse has Wi-Fi, electricity, hot showers and western-style toilets. The yurt camps have no Wi-Fi, no electricity, no hot shower and outdoor toilets, but on days 4, 5 and 7 lunch is in a village (Kyzyl-Shoro, Kozho-Kelen, Sary-Mogol) where Wi-Fi, electricity and a hot shower are available.
- Luggage is carried by horses – up to 12 kg per person.
- Food: please let us know in advance if you are vegetarian/vegan or have food allergies.
- The trek supports community tourism, benefiting families in the Pamir-Alay Mountains.
- We also arrange private tours on this route upon request at a different cost.
What to bring
- Warm clothes and layers – it gets warm during the day, but it can go below freezing at night and when it rains: fleece and light jackets for the day and a down jacket for the nights.
- Good hiking shoes – ankle support is not necessary, but useful on some of the steep inclines.
- Small day pack for camera, water, sunscreen, snacks and extra layers.
- Sun protection – the sun is very strong at altitude: sunglasses, sunscreen (SPF 30 or above) and a sun hat/cap.
- Water- and windproof jacket and pants – it gets especially windy on the passes.
- Walking sticks are recommended (we can provide them for an additional fee).
- Sleeping bag (not included in the tour).
- Medical kit for blisters, traveller’s diarrhoea and other minor illnesses.
- Water purification tablets or drops if you want to clean spring water.
- Refillable water bottle – help us avoid single-use plastic in the fragile mountain environment.
- Lip balm, wet wipes and/or antibacterial hand gel.
- Hat and gloves for the cold nights.
- Head lamp to find your way around the camps at night.
Kyrgyzstan travel information
Practical essentials for travelling in Kyrgyzstan. Open a topic to read more.
Visa policy
Find your country from the list and check possible visa requirements for Kyrgyzstan before booking.
The official currency is the Kyrgyz som (KGS). Bishkek has plenty of ATMs, but outside the larger towns and the northern shore of Issyk-Kul cash is how almost everything is paid.
ATMs and cards
Some ATMs in Bishkek dispense US dollars as well as som. Beyond the capital, ATMs are found in the few largest towns but mostly not in smaller ones, except on the northern shore of Issyk-Kul. Mastercard works in all ATMs, but Visa is still the more widely accepted card. Demirbank's red ATMs have lately been the best option for foreign cards, with moderate fees.
Exchanging money
Exchange offices in the major cities change US dollars, euros and roubles into som. Notes must be clean, fresh and without any signs of wear. Exchange offices prefer larger notes from 50 USD and 50 EUR, and sometimes give a better rate for them.
Paying by card
Cards are accepted in major hotels, restaurants, large supermarkets and some museums in Bishkek and Osh, and occasionally even in taxis. Elsewhere, apart from the northern shore of Issyk-Kul, paying by card is not practical.
Kyrgyzstan is generally safe for travellers and tourism is growing fast, but the usual precautions matter.
Documents
Always carry your passport or a notarised copy. Without proper identification you can be detained by the police.
In towns
- Robberies, some of them violent, and thefts happen especially in crowded places such as the bazaars. Take care after dark.
- Sexual harassment has been reported on public transport. Avoid walking or travelling alone, especially at night.
- Book taxis in advance from established services.
- Stay away from crowds and demonstrations.
- Watch where you step: some streets have large holes and pavements are often uneven.
Laws and customs
- Respect local traditions, customs, laws and religious practices.
- Possessing or using narcotics is strictly prohibited.
- Do not photograph anything related to the armed forces or security services.
- Same-sex relationships are legal but not widely discussed or publicly recognised.
Border areas
Smuggling makes the southern border zones with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan unstable and best avoided.
Kyrgyzstan is visa-free for travellers from many countries. Others can apply for an electronic visa or through an embassy.
Visas
For a tourist visa, most passport holders need an invitation letter from a tourism company. Kyrgyzstan has had an electronic visa system since 1 September 2017.
Border regions
Visiting border regions requires a special permit.
The best times to visit Kyrgyzstan's lower areas are May–June and September. In the high mountains, July and August are best.
Lower areas: May–June and September
In late spring and early autumn the valleys, Issyk-Kul's shores and the towns are green or golden, days are pleasant rather than hot and there are fewer visitors.
High mountains: July and August
This is when the high pastures, yurt camps and mountain passes are open, and trekking and horse-riding routes that are under snow the rest of the year can be reached. Days in the valleys can reach about 30°C, and nights at altitude can still be close to freezing. Summer is also the time of festivals celebrating Kyrgyz traditions.
Winter
Winters in the highlands are long and close the high passes, but it is still a captivating season. Hiking, horse riding and skiing are all possible, and yurt stays are available too.
Healthcare in Kyrgyzstan is basic and medical facilities are scarce, so comprehensive medical and travel insurance is essential.
Medicines
If you rely on regular medication, bring enough for the whole trip: it can be hard or expensive to find locally.
Insurance
Arrange comprehensive medical and travel insurance before you arrive. A serious accident or illness may mean emergency air evacuation to a neighbouring country.
Food and water
Treat tap water and other local water as contaminated and boil it before drinking; bottled water is the safest choice throughout your stay. Be careful with unpasteurised dairy and other animal products.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations against polio and tuberculosis are recommended before entering the country, and others may also be advisable. Ask your doctor or travel clinic.
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