7-Day Alay Mountains Trek from Osh with Lenin Peak and Yurt Stays

• Depart from Osh in the morning and visit Kolduk Lake on the way.
• Walk around the lakes, enjoy the grandiose views, and then continue driving to Sary-Mogol for lunch at Alay Travel House. After lunch, drive for 1 hour to Tulpar-Kol yurt camp and take an afternoon walk around the lakes.
• Tulpar-Kol, known for its picturesque yurt camps, is an incredible destination for all types of travelers, whether active hikers or those looking for a more relaxed experience.
• Guests can stay in traditional yurts and enjoy activities such as hiking, horseback riding, and multi-day trekking options lasting 3 to 4 days.

Accommodation: yurt camp (twin, double, and single beds in yurts are available), with an outside shared shower using a solar water heater and water-running toilets.
Connection: there is solar electricity for phone charging, signal (Megacom, Beeline, O), and 5G Wi-Fi.
Driving distance: 245 km / 152 miles
Time of reaching: 5 hours (excluding breaks and lunch time)
Ascent/Descent: 4740/2210 meters
Highest and lowest points: 3610/980 meters
Accommodation altitude: 3500.00 meters | 11482.94 feet
Tour category: easy

• Leave the heavy bags in the yurt and walk to Travelers' Pass via the Base Camp. Enjoy the panoramic view of Lenin Peak, have lunch, and then return to the yurt by the same route. Overnight in the same yurt.
• This trail takes you through alpine meadows and ascends to Travelers' Pass (~4,130 m), offering breathtaking views of Lenin Peak and the Alay Valley below.
• The high altitude and steep sections make this hike more challenging, but rewarding.
• If you do not want to go all the way to the pass, you will have the opportunity to hike to the base camp instead (there and back 6 km, 3 hours).
  Daily route: Tulpar-Kol to Travelers' Pass to Tulpar-Kol
  Distance: ~14 km round trip
  Duration: 3-7 hours
  Difficulty: Moderate to challenging (when walking up to Travelers' Pass)
  Ascent/Descent: 650/50
  Highest and lowest points: 4127/3500

• The route from Tulpar-Kol Lake to Tuyuk Canyon is a hidden gem for trekkers in the Alay Valley. This trail not only offers solitude and pristine landscapes, but also provides some of the best views of Peak Estonia (6,202 m) and Peak Latvia (6,134 m), two impressive peaks in the Zaalaysky Range.
• Trail to Tuyuk Canyon:
• There are two options: through Peak Panorama (4 hours up and down, moderate level) or along the lakeside road (2 hours, easy hiking).
• Nomadic culture: during summer, you might pass herders and yurts, offering opportunities for cultural interaction.
• Horse riding is available to Tuyuk Canyon by pre-booking.
• After soaking in the stunning scenery, descend for about 3 hours to the shepherd's hut, then continue by transfer to Sary-Mogol.

Total distance: 31 km

Driving distance: 22 km, 40 min

Hiking time: 9 km, 3-4 hours (excluding lunch and break time)

Ascent/Descent: 130/450 meters

Highest and lowest points: 3500/2920 meters

Accommodation altitude: 2976.00 meters | 9763.78 feet

Night in guesthouse (Alay Travel House)

The rooms are available as family, twin, and single, with hot showers and water-running toilets.

Dinner will be prepared by the cooking team of the guesthouse.

Connection: there is electricity, internet (Wi-Fi), and signal.

• Today we continue our trekking in the north range of the Alay Valley (Trans-Alay).
• From Sary-Mogol to the trailhead, we go by car for 1 hour, then the trekking starts. It is going to be a bit of a tough trek because we go up to the pass called Sary-Mogol Pass (4,270 meters) and Besh-Kol Lake.
• Our daily route takes 6-8 hours of walking uphill on a rocky path.
• At the top of the pass, we enjoy the stunning scenery of the Besh-Kol lakes. Then we continue to the other side until the yurt camp.

Total distance: 31 km

Driving distance: 17 km (1 hour by car)

Trekking distance: 14 km, 8.70 miles

Time of hiking: 6 hours (excluding driving, breaks, and lunch)

Ascent/Descent: 910/790 meters

Highest and lowest points: 4270/3380 meters

Accommodation altitude: 3458.00 meters | 11345.14 feet

Accommodation: yurt stay with shared beds on the carpet; there are blankets and a water-running toilet.

Connection: no electricity, internet, or signal.

Food: lunch box on the route and dinner in the yurt camp.

Host: the woman's name is Orozgul.

• Head east, following the river and descending slightly to the end of the beautiful mountain gorge.
• Enjoy grandiose views of the Kichik Alay, or Trans-Alay, mountain range.
• At first, we cross a small village below Sary-Mogol. Further on, the direction of travel turns to the right onto a dirt road.
• After 2-3 hours, we reach the small village of Kyzyl-Chara and stop here for lunch in a homestay or at one of the cafes on the way. Then we continue onward to the yurt camp in Koshmoinok.

Approximate trekking distance: 18 km (11.18 miles)

Hiking time: 7 hours (excluding lunch and break time)

Ascent/Descent: 830/1460

Highest and lowest points: 3467/2467 m

Accommodation altitude: 2822.00 meters | 9258.53 feet

Accommodation: yurt stay (shared beds on the ground with carpet and blankets); there is a solar water heater shower and a flush toilet.

Connection: no electricity, internet, or signal.

Food: lunch on the route, and dinner will be cooked by the hosts in the yurt.

Host: the owners' names are Nurdoolot and Begali.

• We begin the next day of the trek on the slopes of the beautiful Cretaceous mountains of Kichik-Alay. Straight away, we cross Sary-Bel Pass (3150 m), with stunning rocks and amazing views of this natural creation.
• After Sary-Bel Pass, there are two downhill trails leading to Kojo-Kelen.
• Based on our extensive experience, we recommend walking via Oy-Tal for a shorter and more enjoyable trek, while Kok-Bel is better suited for horse travel due to its accessibility for horses.
• After descending to Kojo-Kelen, we will take a short break at a local home to enjoy a refreshing shower and tea, giving you a chance to relax and recharge. Following this, our local driver will transfer you, because of the long way, to a yurt camp located near the base of Jiptik Pass - offering a well-explored and thoughtfully planned option for your journey.

Accommodation: yurt (shared beds, 2-5 people in one yurt); there is a simple flush toilet.

Connection: no electricity, internet, or signal.

Meals: lunch on the way, and dinner will be cooked by the owners in the yurt.

Host: the owners' names are Bolot and Aizada.

Total distance: 25 km (15.53 miles)

Hiking distance and time: 10 km (5 hours walking + 1 hour driving, excluding lunch and break time)

Ascent/Descent: 1400/980

Highest and lowest points: 3300/2220 m

Accommodation altitude: 3250.00 meters | 10662.73 feet

• After breakfast, the trek continues up to the top of Jiptik Pass and crosses it by noon (4185 m asl).
• If the sky is clear, from the pass you can see a stunning view of the Pamir-Alay Valley with Lenin Peak (7134).
• At the top, you will have lunch and time for photo shooting. After soaking in the stunning scenery, descend towards Darbaza-Tash, traversing picturesque landscapes.
• Upon reaching Darbaza-Tash, a transfer will take you to Sary-Mogol.

Accommodation: guesthouse (Alay Travel House). The rooms have double, twin, and single beds with hot showers and water-running toilets.

Food: lunch box on the way, and dinner will be prepared by the cooking team in the guesthouse.

Host: Abdilla and Sharapat

Total distance: 26 km

Trekking distance: 15 km (15.53 miles)

Driving distance: 11 km (40 min driving)

Hiking time: 5 hours walking, then 30 min driving (excluding lunch and break time)

Ascent/Descent: 910/1240 meters

Highest and lowest points: 4170/3215 meters

Accommodation altitude: 2976.00 meters | 9763.78 feet