Yurt Camp Elza

About Yurt Camp Elza

Elza's is the most flexible camp in the Altyn-Arashan gorge on paper, and that is its real selling point. Ten yurts in three sizes — three sleeping five, four sleeping four, and three sleeping two — which means a couple, a family and a walking group of five can all be accommodated without anyone paying for beds they do not need. Most camps up here offer one configuration and expect you to fit it. Two large dining rooms serve breakfast, lunch and dinner with drinks available, which for a camp of this size means you are not queuing for a table. The setting is the Altyn-Arashan gorge above Teplokluchenka, surrounded by mountains, with the valley's hot springs nearby and the trekking routes toward Ala-Köl starting from the door. Coordinates are published, which helps for a valley where camps are otherwise hard to distinguish on a map. What is not published: the season window, the heating arrangement, toilet and shower facilities, electricity and wi-fi. Assume the gorge standard — stove heat, pit toilets, a banya rather than a plumbed shower, no signal — and confirm before travelling. The quoted rates come from a tour agency's listing rather than the family, and the gap between the single and double prices is wide enough to be worth querying.

Highlights

• Ten yurts in three sizes, from two beds to five
• Two dining rooms, no queuing
• Published coordinates
• Hot springs and the Ala-Köl routes nearby

Getting there

Altyn-Arashan gorge above Teplokluchenka (Ak-Suu), reached from Karakol on the rough 4x4 track or on foot.