What To See and Do in Karakol, Kyrgyzstan

Karakol is a small city in the far east of Kyrgyzstan, close to the Chinese border. As a relatively easy journey form the capital Bishkek, it is a major tourist hub in the country and the gateway to explore many of the mountains and hikes that the region is famous for.

I loved my time in Karakol and thought it was a beautiful place with the perfect mix of a little bit of tourist development whilst still seeming like it was an untouched town.

Best things to see and do in Karakol

Holy Trinity Church

The Holy Trinity Church in the centre of town was built in 1895 after and earthquake destroyed the original 9 years earlier. Built as a wooden Russian Orthodox church when Cossacks immigrants arrived to the area, it has had a chequered history but was returned to an orthodox church with the fall of the Soviet Union.

It’s open to visitors between 8am and 5pm to get close to see the stunning colours painted onto the wood.

Dungan mosque

The Dungan Mosque is used primarily by the Dungan ethic group that are indigenous to the area.

Built in the early 20th Century, this wooden mosque is constructed entirely without nails and can be visited at all times of day as long as there isn’t a service going on inside.

Karakol Historical Museum

The Karakol Historical Museum is a small museum in the heart of town that highlights the history of not just of Karakol but the wider region. From the various different ethnic groups and their traditions and customs, to the flora and fauna that surround the area that will appeal to those that prefer to learn about the geography of the area.

Try Ashlan Fu

Ashlan Fu is a noodle dish that is only found in this part of Kyrgyzstan. It is a dish of cold noodles in a spicy and sour broth made by the Dungan people that are native to this corner of the country. I tried mine at this restaurant here which doesn’t even have an English sign or have any English information on Google maps.

I have found that people either love it or hate it, but there is only one way to find out!

Explore the parks

There are plenty of parks all over Karakol that you may want to explore.

I actually walked through Aryk Myrza as I walked from the bus station to my hostel and has a large number of statues dedicated to famous Kyrgyz heroes and their horses. Karakol Victory Park also has a large number of statues dedicated to those that lost their lives during one of the many wars. Pushkin Park is close to a major stadium and has statues of tanks and other historic relics.

Wander the streets

This may be a strange thing to write, but I actually really enjoyed just walking around Karakol. There are a couple of main streets with a bit of hustle and bustle with cute coffee shops and take away places on. But you may turn one street and then be in a residential area with traditional homes and local buses going past.

Or turn another way and find yourself in a local market with elderly ladies gossiping as they sit next to their fruit and veg.

Karakol felt an extremely safe space to just walk around and get a feel for the city. Mass tourism hasn’t quite made it here yet so you will still be seen with a touch of inquisitiveness from the locals.

I found Karakol to be one of the best places in Kyrgyzstan to people watch and just let the world go by.

Ski

Although I don’t ski and never really look it out, I know that the mountains around Karakol are popular for local and Russian skiers. There are a lot of ski rental shops in town and most of the bars and restaurants are designed to be enjoyed in winter temperatures. If you have any more info on skiing in Karakol, let me know!

Best things to see and do near Karakol

Skazka Canyon

Despite being a nearly 2 hour journey away from Karakol on the marshrutkas, Skazka Canyon (or Fairytale canyon in English) is one of the most striking natural sites I saw in Kyrgyzstan.

The multi coloured rock formations are stunning and I have a complete guide on how to visit Skazka Canyon.

Jeti Oguz

Visiting Jeti Oguz is probably the simplest day trip you can do from Karakol.

There is some very good hiking in this area, but the main highlight is to view Seven Bulls Rock, a stunning formation of orange red rocks that look like they are guarding the valley beyond.

It is relatively easy to get to Jeti Oguz and I have written a guide on how I did it.

Hike to Ala-Kul Lake

Hiking to Ala-Kul Lake was actually the main reason I visited Karakol in the first place. However, due to bad weather, (storms were forecast for the days I was there!) I didn’t end up hiking to the lake.

Even though it was August and the best time of year to hike to Ala-Kul, I met people that had done the hike a few days before and got caught in a snowstorm!

The photos look incredible and I’m sure the 3 day hike was worth it, but check the weather and your equipment before you head off.

Visit Jyrgalan

For those that really love hiking, spending some time in Jyrgalan and making it a base should be high on your list.

Mostly run as community initiatives with help from USAID, there are an abundance of hiking, biking and horse riding trails in Jyrgalan, all with an absolutely stunning backdrop.

Other things to note about Karakol

How to get to Karakol?

Karakol is a major hub and it is relatively easy to get to Karakol from destination all over eastern Kyrgyzstan using local marshrutkas. The most popular route would be from Bishkek which I have written a guide for.

There is an airport with a few flights per week from Bishkek. There are also seasonal buses from Almaty in Kazakhstan.

Where to stay in Karakol?

I didn’t find the accommodation options in Karakol to be good value for money when I searched. I noticed that many of the choices were expensive and didn’t look the best.

I stayed at Karakol Based Hostel in a dorm room which had a good kitchen, great location and was a social hostel and I found it good for meeting people.

Duet Hostel and Snow Leopard hostel also come highly recommended.

For mid range options you should check out Suncor Hotel and My Hotel Karakol which are both in good locations.

When is the best time to visit Karakol?

The best time to visit Karakol would be in the summer months for outdoor activities with the best time to hike to Ala Kul lake in August and early September.

Where to eat and drink in Karakol?

Central Asia isn’t a foodie destination but there are still a few good restaurants and places to eat and drink in Karakol.

One that is chosen by a lot of tour groups is Dastorkon (location) and has a lot of local dishes. To tryh Ashlan Fu you should head to Ашлянфу (location).

If you’re looking for a drink in the evening The Hut (location) is a cool little Speakeasy bar and Imperiya Pitstsy (location) sells good beer and good food late into the night.

Summing up what to do in Karakol

Karakol should absolutely be on your Kyrgyzstan itinerary as it is a beautiful part of the country with lots to see and do in the city, but also around it.

It is a good place to base yourself for a few days and explore what else is around the area. After all, isn’t the incredible nature one of the reasons to visit Kyrgyzstan?

For those that want more of an in depth look at Karakol and the surrounding region, including food and cultural tours you should check out Destination Karakol for more.

Dan

Dan is an avid traveller from London. His first big adventure was in 2010 living in Malaysia for 3 months. He has been on the road almost constantly since 2015 travelling to destinations that aren’t on the mainstream tourist trail and working full time and travelling since 2021.