Visiting of gorges of mountain ridge Terskey Ala-Too.

"In general, the reference to Turkestan as the birthplace of domestic or human-related animals and plants was very popular. Given the unknown country, it was convenient to point to Central Asia as their cradle. The result of our trip is a completely opposite conclusion. Turkestan received almost all of its animal and plant population from neighboring countries".

Alexey P. Fedchenko. "Journey to Turkestan". 1875.

Tours of sights of Issyk-Kul Lake area.

Short description of route of trip through village of Ak-Suu to Arasan Gorge:

Karakol - Ak-Suu village - Altyn-Arashan Gorge (Golden Spring) - Arasan River - Ortok Pass 2300 meters above sea level - Altyn Arashan resort 2600 meters above sea level - Karakol.

Distanse of a route: 70 km.
Season: June - September.
Best time for excursion: July - September.
Аdvanced order: for 48 hours.
Duration of trip: 1 day.

Detailed program of trip by jeeps to resort in Altyn-Arashan valley:

Transfer: Karakol - Ak-Suu village. - Arasan gorge - Altyn-Arashan resort (31 km).
From Karakol our path lies to the Ak-Suu village, this is the former Teploklyuchenka village from here in the fall of 1869 the military garrison was transferred to Karakol. At that distant time, the garrison was called the Aksuu fortification, which served as the center of control of the Issyk-Kul district.
Ahead of us is a new journey in the Terskey Ala-Too mountains. The asphalt road will continue a little further beyond the Ak-Suu village and will soon end. Recently, the road has been repaired and filled in here and there, but after about 5 kilometers we will encounter an extreme section of the road on the left bank with large stones.
This is one of the extreme roads to the tourist attractions of the Issyk-Kul Lake area. Not far from the Altyn-Arashan resort, there is an ascent along the black soil, which must also be overcome, even in the rain. Just before the resort, there is a small Ortok pass at an altitude of 2,300 meters above sea level.
Stops along the way, photographing the surroundings of the Arasan River, which flows in a thin strip in a deep gorge. Arrival at the Altyn-Arashan resort. This is one of the most beautiful gorges in Kyrgyzstan, located on the northern slope of the Terskey Ala-Too ridge.
At the Altyn-Arashan resort, you can swim in natural hot radon springs, and then dive into the cool waters of the Arasan River, which is nearby. Walks in the vicinity of the resort. Thermal springs "Altyn-Arashan" are located in a picturesque valley, in the area of ​​alpine meadows.
In the immediate vicinity of the river there are springs with different water composition and temperature. They contain hydrogen sulfide, the water temperature reaches 41, in radon 32 degrees. Here you can take baths all year round, the local healing water treats diseases of the joints, digestive organs, liver, kidneys, heart.
The picturesque resort is spread out on a large meadow at an altitude of 2600 meters above sea level. On the basis of radioactive hot springs, a "people's resort" has settled; a bath building and several residential buildings and tents. In Altyn-Arashan there is a bridge over the Arasan River, but the trail up the gorge goes along the right bank of the river.
Between the resort and the confluence of the Altyn-Arashan sources, the gorge widens, the middle part of its slopes, especially the left one, is covered with a narrow strip of spruce forest, and the bottom of the gorge is occupied by meadows. From the resort to the southeast and further to the southwest, a 13-kilometer trail leads to Lake Ala-Kel.
The trail is laid along the left side of the Arasan River, after about 3 kilometers a ford is crossed over the Kol-Dike River and the ascent begins along the eponymous gorge to the Northern Ala-Kol Pass, 3893 meters above sea level. 7 kilometers from Altyn-Arashan, at an altitude of about 2650 meters above sea level, in the Ekichat valley, two sources of the Arasan merge: the right one is Tashtektor and the left one is Takyrtor.
Here, on a picturesque clearing, where slender fir trees descend almost to the river, there is usually a shepherd's tent. The glade is a great place to spend the night. The pass offers a magnificent view of the high-mountain, moraine, flowing, freshwater lake Ala-Kel located at an altitude of 3,532 meters above sea level.
Traversing the slope along the southern shore of the lake, the trail leads to the sources of the Kurga-Tor River, on which a little lower there is a picturesque waterfall and along the eponymous gorge, tourists descend into the gorge of the Karakol River.
In the vicinity of the healing springs there are several wooden houses on picturesque glades on the right along the bank of the Arasan River. To the south, a view opens up to the Palatka peak, 4,733 meters above sea level, this inaccessible, snow-ice peak looks like a giant white tent dominating the neighboring peaks of Terskey Ala-Too. Lunch.
In the afternoon, transfer: Altyn-Arashan - Arasan gorge - Ak-Suu village - Karakol city (31 km). Arrival in Karakol, end of the excursion.

Legend of origin of Altyn-Arashan hot spring.

The moon against the background of Tolgon-Ai, the daughter of a poor nomad from the Bugu clan, looked plain and did not make any impression on those around her. Numerous local horsemen sought her swan hands. But the girl's ardent heart belonged to the most chosen and courageous, but poor batyr Kumushbek.
Kumushbek and Tolgon-Ai swore to each other rune in eternal devotion and selfless love. At that time there was unrest all around and somehow Kumushbek stood up for the poor people whose cattle were taken away and taken into slavery, he fought bravely, but in an unequal battle he was treacherously killed.
Many wanted to get the beautiful girl Tolgon-Ai as a wife, the rich invited her, offered her untold riches, herds of horses and endless flocks of sheep, beckoned her to their luxurious homes, were ready to give her all their wealth in order to take possession of her.
Tolgon-Ai was adamant and sacredly kept her love for her beloved Kumushbek:
- "I would rather die than become the wife of a man I do not love!" - said Tolgon-Ai.
Tolgon-Ai approached a huge rock towering over the others in the Arasan gorge, touched the rock, the rock parted with a roar, the girl stepped lightly into the resulting gap, the rock closed again, closing the beautiful girl Tolgon-Ai forever from the eyes of people.
Only the hot tears of the girl seeped through the thick rocks, and a hot spring was formed, and the beauty of the girl was embodied in flowers that grow in alpine meadows and wither only in severe frosts.

Note:
Author program of Alexander Petrov. Copying and introduction from sanction of author.

Photos by:
Alexander Petrov.