Alay Travel Guide

The Alay Valley and Alay Mountains in southern Kyrgyzstan offer breathtaking trekking, hiking, climbing, cycling, horseback riding, and experiences ideal for group or family travelers. Here are some main highlights: Google maps location

 1. Majestic Peaks and Glaciers

• Peak Lenin (7,134 m): One of the easiest 7,000+ meter peaks to access, offering stunning views from Base Camp. Trekkers can explore the surrounding high-altitude areas without climbing the peak.

2. Scenic High-Altitude Lakes

• Tulpar-Kol Lake: A turquoise alpine lake near Peak Lenin Base Camp, perfect for trekking and yurt camps.
• Damjailoo and Kosh-Kol Lakes: Hidden gems surrounded by rugged mountains, ideal for tranquil day and multiday treks.
• Kolduk Lake: An untouched place for adventure lovers with the best views and recommended for a two-hour hiking on the way to Osh.
• Pamir-Alay mountain border system views: Including Lenin Peak (7,134 m) and Estonia Peak.

3. Panoramic Mountain Passes and Peaks

• Sary-Mogol Pass (4,280 m) and Zhiptik Pass (4,185m): Challenging but rewarding passes offering views of the Pamir-Alay range.
• Kyzyl-Art Pass (4,282 m): Gateway to Tajikistan with spectacular vistas of the Alay Valley.
• Other Peaks:
  • Peak Panorama of Tulpar-Kol (4,000m) is a stunning viewpoint of Tulpar-Kol lake, offering a breathtaking panoramic view of Lenin Peak, the Alay Valley, and the series of glacial lakes collectively known as the «40 Lakes.» Reaching this point is a challenging yet rewarding
  • Peak Skobelov (5,051m) Located in the heart of the Alay Mountains, Skobelova Peak offers stunning views and is a popular destination for experienced climbers and trekkers.
  • Peak Yukhin (5,300m) Yukhin mountain serves as a great acclimatization peak for those attempting higher ascents, Lenin Peak.

4. Varied Trekking Routes

• Tulpar-Kol around Lenin Peak: A easy to moderate hike linking alpine lakes and valleys, ideal for any travelers (beginners, family, group and experienced trekkers).
• Sary-Mogol through Sary-Mogol Pass (4,280 m) and Zhiptik Pass (4,185 m): A challenging route with views of snow-capped peaks and mountain rolling gorges that surprise with stunning sceneries

5. Rich Biodiversity

Discover unique flora and fauna, including ibex, marmots, and rare birds like the golden eagle and lammergeyer.

6. Unspoiled Wilderness

The Alay Mountains are less crowded than other trekking destinations, offering solitude and a connection with nature.

Getting to Alay

1. From Osh

Osh is the main gateway to the Alay Valley, located 180-250 km away depending on the destination (e.g., Sary Tash, Sary Mogul, or Karamyk village).

• Private Taxi:
  • Hiring a private taxi from Osh is quicker and allows for flexible time (pick up) and stops (e.g., for photos or visiting villages).
  • Cost: ~4,000-5,000 KGS (50-60 USD).
  • Duration: 3-4 hours to Sary Mogul.
  • Direct to Tulpar-Kol: While rare, you might find a driver willing to take you directly to Tulpar-Kol (~5-6 hours) for 6,500-7,000 KGS (75-80 USD). Alternatively, transport can be arranged from Sary Mogul guesthouses (2,000-2,500 KGS, 25-30 USD, ~1-hour drive).
• Shared Taxi/Marshrutka:
  • To Sary Mogul:
    • Shared taxis or marshrutkas regularly depart from Osh’s central (old) bus station near the central bridge (Google map location) 
    • Duration: 3 hours to Sary Tash (~190 km); ~4 hours to Sary Mogul (~220 km).
    • Cost: 400-600 KGS (5-7 USD).
    • Note: Shared taxis leave when full, usually in the afternoon (15:00-16:00) and marshrutka leaves around 14: 00p.m but arrival is almost same time

2. From Bishkek

Reaching the Alay Valley from Bishkek is a long journey, so most travelers prefer flying to Osh first.

• Fly to Osh, Then Travel Overland:
  • Domestic flights from Bishkek to Osh are frequent, affordable, and take just 1 hour. Scheduled airlines are Tez Jet (https://flytezjet.com/),  Avia Traffic (https://aviatraffic.kg/) and Asman Air (https://aviatraffic.kg/)  then from Osh, follow the directions above.
• Overland via Shared Taxi/Marshrutka:

From Bishkek’s Western Bus Station (Google maps location),  take a marshrutka or shared taxi to Osh (10-12 hours). From Osh, continue to the Alay Valley.

• Cost: ~2,000-2,500 KGS (25-30 USD). Note: Passenger taxis depart after all seats are taken by passengers. They have not schedule most of them depart in the evening.
• Jeep Tours:
  • Jeep tours from Bishkek to the Alay Valley can be arranged by many travel companies, including us, offering a comfortable and scenic journey.

3. From Tajikistan (Murghab, Khorog or Dushanbe)

If you’re traveling from Tajikistan (via the Pamir Highway), the Alay Valley is accessible via the Kyzyl-Art Pass (border crossing near Sary Tash).

• Shared Taxi/Private Transport:
  • Due to temporary border closures, travel companies will transfer you to another vehicle for transportation from the Kyzyl-Art meeting point.
  • From the border, transfer to Sary Mogul (~2 hours) can be pre-booked (~8000 KGS, 100 USD).
• Border Considerations:
  • Ensure your visa and documents are in order, especially if traveling with your own vehicle.

4. Border Crossing: Irkeshtam Pass

The Irkeshtam Pass connects Kashgar in Xinjiang, China, to Sary Tash in Kyrgyzstan.

• From Kashgar to the Border (China side):
  • Take a shared taxi or hire a car from Kashgar to the Irkeshtam Pass (~250 km, ~5-6 hours).

·  Border Formalities:

• Chinese and Kyrgyz customs procedures may take time, so patience is key.
• Ensure you have a valid Kyrgyz visa (if needed https://www.evisa.e-gov.kg/) before arriving.
• The both checkpoints: Open Monday to Friday, closed on weekends except for freight (trucks) Working time from 08:00 to 18:00 and close during lunch (12:00-14:00).
• Note: Borders close during major holidays in China and Kyrgyzstan (e.g., New Year).
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• From the Border to Sary Tash (Kyrgyzstan side):
  • Shared taxis or private drivers are available to take you to Sary Tash (~70 km, 1-1.5 hours).
  • Cost: ~500-800 KGS (6-9 USD).
• Private Car:
  • Pre-booked transport to Sary-Mogol (Alay Valley) from Irkeshtam Pass is recommended.
  • Cost:
    • Minivan (Honda Step WGN): ~80 USD (1-7 people).
    • Mercedes-Benz Sprinter (8-17 seats): ~150 USD.

From Sary-Mogol, you can begin trekking tours, enjoy easy hikes around Tulpar-Kol or Lenin Peak, plan climbs of Lenin Peak or nearby smaller peaks like Yukhin.