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Karakol is a small city in Eastern Kyrgyzstan not far from the Chinese border. It’s a popular spot for travelers to base themselves as they prepare to go out on multi-day treks into the surrounding mountains. But, even if you are not going to sleep in the mountains of Karakol, it is still worth visiting, it is a sweet city with diverse offerings in and around. I spent a total of three days in Karakol on my one week trip to Kyrgyzstan, and while I did go on treks, I did not do any that were multi-day. Here’s what to do in Karakol… or at least what I did there!
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Wander Central Karakol
Downtown Karakol isn’t huge, it won’t take you long to walk around the whole thing, but wandering around it is a good way to get your bearings when you arrive. And I think it’s important to get the vibe for whatever city you visit by walking around a bit. Aimless is best, but if you want a few spots to shoot for, start with Park Pobedy where you can see Репрессия Шейиттери Эстелиги — the Repression Martyrs Memorial. Carry along to City Square and the park opposite it where you can find the Karakol City Fountain and on the opposite end the I Love Karakol sign.
Dungan Mosque
The Dungan Mosque is a small colorful building built in a Chinese architectural style. There is a small donation requested at the door of just KGS 20. Women will need to cover their hair as this is a practicing mosque, but there are scarves and hoods hanging near the door which you can borrow for the time you’re walking around. The interior is closed off as people do use the space for prayer, but you can walk around the exterior and see into the inside. It’s a sweet place to stop for a few minutes and it has lovely flowering gardens out front.
Holy Trinity Cathedral
The Holy Trinity Cathedral in Karakol is a fabulous building which was built in the late 19th century. There was an earlier iteration which was destroyed by an earthquake before being rebuilt. The cathedral ir Russian Orthodox and shows that through its design and architectural style. We walked in on a Sunday as we were walking by. Services were just finishing and loads of people were funneling out in their church clothes. Because of this, we didn’t actually go inside, but the exterior of the building as well as the gardens are also gorgeous. You absolutely can visit the interior and it’s free to do so, though no tours are available. Women should also be aware that it is normal for Russian Orthodox women to cover their hair and shoulders in church.
Hike Ak -Suu Arboretum
This is a great day hike near Karakol and is listed on Alltrails app as Ak-Suu Arboretum. It is not arduous but it is also not extremely easy, there are plenty of slow and steady inclines.
The hike brings you through forests and undulating hills across the valleys. You’ll pass through cow herds and walk by herders as they make their way through the day. The views are phenomenal and varied. We saw multiple birds of prey circling over head.
Start your day off in a nearby village just outside of Ak-Suu. You can get there in a taxi or on the #350 marshutka. The trail will bring you around in a large, open semi circle around the mountains and back to Karakol.
When I did the trail, I actually did the reverse, but I don’t recommend doing it my way. There is a dirt trail which extends from the road near Ak-Suu and continues on for the first 3km of the hike through the woods before opening up into fields and turning into a small grass track. The way I did the trail it proved quite difficult to find here the dirt path picked up in the woods and we did a lot of weed wacking and tracking back and forth through quite an overgrown forest. It was a definite solid 15 -20 minutes of *small* panic. So again — start near Ak-Suu instead.
Definitely download the Alltrails app no matter what to make sure you can keep track of the trail (it’s really not marked in any way) and carry a backup battery (check out Belkin for good quality) just in case — more about what else I recommend packing for your trip to Kyrgyzstan here. There’s absolutely no where to buy snacks or water out here so pack everything you’ll need for a fairly long day.
The hike is point to point just under 13 kilometers. It took us about four and a half hours beginning to end. Once we were finished we ended up hitchhiking back in to Karakol. Though there is a a marshutka stop it doesn’t have a schedule and we didn’t really want to wait around.
Catch a Show at Duet Hostel
Absolutely no guarantee this will be happening when you’re in town. But we were lucky enough to check out Duet Coffee Shop for breakfast and spot a sign there saying they would have a Kyrgyz music and dance show that evening.
It was a really fun experience as we got to see a few different acts. From a group of dancers to a Manas poem being recited. During the season we were there it seemed this show was being put on each week so I’d definitely recommend popping in and seeing if there are plans for anything the days you’re in town.
Day Trip to Dzhetyoguz
Dzhetyoguz, just up from the village of Jeti Oguz, is an idyllic spot surrounded by picturesque red rocks. It’s about a 40 minute drive from central Karakol. We took a taxi there and arranged for the driver to wait for us as we hiked around the area.
The driver first drove up the hill to a look out point. He pointed out the seven “bulls heads” that can be made out in the rock face. They are there naturally and give the place its name. The main trail here actually just follows the road farther up until it meets a waterfall. We didn’t go that far but it was picturesque just to amble along for a bit. We also wandered through the village and closer to the rock face. All in all we only spent about two hours here but it’s another beautiful spot in the area worth visiting.
Where to Eat and Drink in Karakol
Karakol Lighthouse
63 Amanbaeva, Karakol, Kyrgyzstan
Karakol Lighthouse is of course miles from any lighthouse, but it owns the oceanfront theme just fine. The interior is bright and spacious with two seating areas. There is also some seating on the patio in the front. The staff all speak quite a high level of English and are friendly and helpful. The menu is bilingual and has lots of options including a great many for vegetarians.
You can get all day breakfast, soups, pastas, mains like chicken or fish. Personally I went for the bibimbap which was nice and filling. There are also teas, coffees, pastries, and amazing lemonades.
Bar “The Hut Хижина”
79 Жусаева, Korol’kova, Karakol, Kyrgyzstan
The Hut is a friendly, cozy spot for a drink at the end of the day. It was quiet when I was there but it still felt very welcoming with a friendly bartender and a cat sleeping in the corner. There are a few picnic tables in the front and a darts board and foosball table inside.
We tried a cognac here which was absolutely not my style, but the bartender was happy to give suggestions and help us decide what we wanted. There’s no wine but all of the regular liquor drinks you’d expect are there.
Duet Coffee Shop
86a, Karakol 722202, Kyrgyzstan
Duet Coffee Shop is a hostel, info center, and a great, reliable cafe. They offer some super reasonably priced set menus for breakfast with choices like pancakes or yogurt bowls. There are smoothies, teas, coffees, milkshakes, all the non-alcoholic drinks you could want. And there is also a full bar. Cocktails are comparatively quite expensive to the rest of the menu, but beer is also available.
For other meals you can choose from pretty hefty beef or chicken burgers, pasta dishes, pizzas, or sandwiches. There are also a good few vegetarian options offered on the menu.
Kaynar
9 Ulitsa Orozova, Karakol, Kyrgyzstan
The vibes at Kaynar were to me such classic Central Asian/Russian. I say that having never been in the area before this trip. But it felt so authentic. The lights are bright and fluorescent and the table cloths are covered over by a thick clear plastic. The table next to us was a huge party full of families that were all bringing in their own alcohol.
The food was good. I’d already had a late afternoon toasty so wasn’t super hungry but I did get a bowl of soup — which was surprisingly delicious. There are vegetarian options on the menu. And though that menu was not in English, translation apps and the kind staff were able to help us through it.
Karakol Coffee
112а ул. Токтогула, Karakol 722200, Kyrgyzstan
Karakol Coffee is a sweet little space with a nice courtyard full of greenery. The food menu is small with some sandwiches and cakes as well as pizza options. I did have a toasted sandwich, which was unimpressive but edible. There is a decent bar with a variety of spirits and they pour imported wine plus they serve a variety of coffees like americanos, cappuccinos, lattes, etc.
Whether or not you decide to go out of Karakol on multi-day treks, knowing what there is to do in Karakol is important to optimize your time and enjoy your trip to the city. And I really do recommend giving this little city some time. Whether you’re a day hiker or an intrepid trekker, Karakol will have something to offer you!
