Arslanbob Trekking – 4 days

Hike to Toguz Bulak (9 Springs) for a leisurely lunch along the river, then head out of the hamlet. Camp for the first night near Holy Rock after ascending a steep slope through high pastures dotted with grazing sheep and cattle. You will be treated to expansive vistas of the walnut forest and the Arslanbob valley.

Trekking distance / time: 7km / 6 hours Max/Min Elevation: 3130 m / 1765 m Total Gain/Loss: 1365 m

You'll reach Friendship Pass (3,600 meters) after a strenuous scramble over a scree and along an adventurous road. Here, you may have a leisurely lunch while taking in expansive views of the Arslanbob valley and stunning glaciers. As you start to descend from the pass, Kolkupan Lake, which is turquoise in color, appears below. On the second night, there is a camping by the lake. As you stroll around and take in the lake, you might run into local families as this is a holy lake that the locals come to visit and pray.

Trekking distance / time: 9km / 7 hours Max /  Min Elevation: 3676 m / 2829 Total Gain/Loss: +696 m / – 990 m

Enter Kerei Gorge by following an untamed scree route that runs around the lake's northeastern edge. You'll start your leisurely, four-hour climb to Kerei Pass (3500m) as soon as you leave the lake behind. Over lunch, take in the breathtaking views of the rugged Babash Ata peaks in the south and the surrounding valleys from the pass. After that, we'll descend into Kerei Valley for two hours to pitch our tents for the night.

Trekking distance / time: 14km / 7-8 hours Max / Min Elevation: 3600 m / 2829 m Total Gain/Loss: +1123 m – 772 m

Proceed to descend through a large valley encircled by strikingly tall mountain peaks, following the stream as it descends from the Kerei Valley. You will continue to walk across grassy fields towards the spruce forest at Kenkol Gorge and Kyzyl-Unkur Valley, where you will come across shepherds and their enormous flocks of sheep. There, your vehicle will be waiting to drive you to Jalal-Abad.