The full Terskey Ala-Too traverse from Jyrgalan to Jeti-Ögüz: ridden as far as Ala-Köl, then walked over the Ala-Kul and Telety passes.
Ak-Suu Traverse — Horse and Foot
Seven passes in eight days — five on horseback, three on foot
Jyrgalan to Boz-Uchuk, Almaluu, Altyn-Arashan, Ala-Köl, the Karakol gorge, Telety and Jeti-Ögüz · from Karakol, with a transfer to Jyrgalan
- Duration
- 8 days / 7 nights
- Distance
- ~102 km
- Max altitude
- 3,906 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Best months
- 1 June to 20 September on the ridden version; the walked versions run late June to September
- Riding experience
- none
- Group size
- 1–10
- Price
- US$947-2,197 pp (~83,000-192,000 som) by group size: solo $2,197, two $1,448 each, three $1,198, four $1,073, five $998, six $947, then roughly $955-1,029 up to ten. The fully ridden 6-day alternative from another operator publishes no price.
- Permit
- No
Chat with a real person — free
Seif and the team reply on WhatsApp 24/7 — trip questions, custom plans and booking help.
Ask Seif on WhatsAppAbout the Ak-Suu Traverse — Horse and Foot trek
This is the biggest route in the region and the one worth understanding properly, because no fully ridden version of it exists. The eight-day itinerary is an explicit hybrid: days one to five on horseback from Jyrgalan through Terim-Tor, the Boz-Uchuk lakes, the Almaluu gorge and Altyn-Arashan, then a changeover at Ala-Köl where you hand back the horses and walk the last three days over the Ala-Kul pass at 3,906 m and the Telety pass at 3,792 m to Jeti-Ögüz. Seven passes, six of them above 3,300 m, 102 km. The changeover lands exactly when saddle soreness peaks and asks your legs to take over, which is the honest difficulty of the trip. If you want to stay mounted throughout, the alternative is a separate six-day ride from Turgen through Ak-Suu to Altyn-Arashan — 88 km, Karakol to Karakol, over the Boz-Uchuk and Ailanysh passes, six nights in tents — which is the closest thing to a fully ridden traverse on offer. The walked versions are longer still, 110 to 140 km over seven to nine days. You'll see different pass heights quoted — Ala-Kul anywhere from 3,800 to 3,906 m, Telety from 3,770 to 3,800 m — so work with ranges rather than single figures. Nights alternate between yurt camps, tents and guesthouses, and the tent nights at 3,100 to 3,550 m will be below freezing; sleeping bag and mattress are included. Starlink is bundled, which tells you what the coverage is like.
Day by day
| Day | Route | Hours | Sleep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karakol, transfer to Jyrgalan → Terim-Tor, 3,200 mDaily distances run 14-19 km across the whole trip. | ridden, 14-19 km | yurt camp |
| 2 | Terim-Tor → Boz-Uchuk lakes, 3,215 m | ridden | yurt camp |
| 3 | Boz-Uchuk lakes → Almaluu gorge, 2,750 mOver the Boz-Uchuk and Ailanysh passes. | ridden | yurt |
| 4 | Almaluu gorge → Altyn-Arashan, 2,500 mOver the Ortok pass. Hot springs. | ridden | guesthouse |
| 5 | Altyn-Arashan → Ala-Köl lake, 3,550 mTHE CHANGEOVER. You hand back the horses here and walk the rest of the traverse. | part ridden, part walked | tent |
| 6 | Ala-Köl lake → Karakol gorge, 3,200 mOver the Ala-Kul pass at 3,906 m. | on foot | yurt camp |
| 7 | Karakol gorge → Telety camp, 3,100 m | on foot | tent |
| 8 | Telety camp → Jeti-Ögüz, then KarakolOver the Telety pass at 3,792 m and out through the Jeti-Ögüz valley. | on foot | guesthouse |
Included
- all accommodation
- three meals a day
- English-speaking guide
- all transport
- entrance and park fees
- hot springs
- horses and riding
- sleeping bag and mattress
- Starlink internet
- a second guide if the group exceeds seven
Not included
- alcohol
- insurance
- porters for personal luggage
- personal expenses
- single supplement
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time for the Ak-Suu Traverse — Horse and Foot trek?
The best time is 1 June to 20 September on the ridden version; the walked versions run late June to September. Outside the season the high passes are snowbound and the summer yurt camps are packed down, so most operators only run it then.
How long is the Ak-Suu Traverse — Horse and Foot trek?
It runs 8 days / 7 nights and roughly 102 km, reaching about 3906 m. Difficulty is hard.
How much does the Ak-Suu Traverse — Horse and Foot trek cost?
US$947-2,197 pp (~83,000-192,000 som) by group size: solo $2,197, two $1,448 each, three $1,198, four $1,073, five $998, six $947, then roughly $955-1,029 up to ten. The fully ridden 6-day alternative from another operator publishes no price. Prices vary by group size, season and operator, so confirm current rates when you enquire.
Do you need riding experience?
No prior riding experience is needed — the Kyrgyz horses are calm and sure-footed and guides keep the pace gentle. You should be reasonably fit and comfortable spending several hours in the saddle.
How do you book the Ak-Suu Traverse — Horse and Foot trek?
Enquire on WhatsApp with your dates and group size, and we arrange the guide, horses, yurt nights and transfers. In July and August it's worth booking a day or two ahead.
Book the Ak-Suu Traverse — Horse and Foot trek
Tell us your dates and group, and we’ll arrange the guide, horses and yurt nights, plus the yurt stay at the end.
Chat with a real person — free
Seif and the team reply on WhatsApp 24/7 — trip questions, custom plans and booking help.
Ask Seif on WhatsApp