Holy Trinity Church, Karakol
Wooden Russian Orthodox church with a bright green roof and a tall bell tower from the Russian era. A reminder of the town's Russian past, and still a working church.
Karakol
Close to the east end of the lake, this town is a base for hiking to Altyn-Arashan hot springs and Jeti-Oguz rocks, with ski slopes.
Attractive locations
Karakol Dungan Mosque
Wooden mosque built in the style of a Chinese pagoda, with carved eaves and bright colours, for the Dungan community. Visitors are welcome outside prayer times and should dress modestly.
Jeti-Ögüz Rocks
Row of red sandstone cliffs west of Karakol, often called the Seven Bulls. A nearby split rock is known as Broken Heart, and the surrounding valley is a popular spot for short walks and picnics.
Ala-Kul
High mountain lake in the Terskey Alatau with turquoise water and steep slopes around it. Reaching it takes a demanding multi-day trek or a hard long day hike from Karakol, usually in summer.
Altyn Arashan
Mountain valley above Karakol known for its hot mineral springs and its views of snowy peaks. Reached on foot, on horseback or by a rough track, and good for an overnight stay in simple guesthouses.
Przhevalsky Museum
A small museum honouring the Russian explorer Nikolai Przhevalsky, who died near Karakol in 1888 at the start of an expedition. His grave and a memorial stand close by, on the lakeshore.
Airports
Karakol International Airport IKG
It is about 2 km in a straight line from Karakol.
Issyk-Kul International Airport IKU
It is about 139 km in a straight line from Karakol.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Kyrgyzstan page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan-8.7 °C11 mm
- Feb-5.5 °C16 mm
- Mar1.2 °C23 mm
- Apr6.3 °C42 mm
- May10.4 °C50 mm
- Jun14.3 °C52 mm
- Jul16.7 °C41 mm
- Aug16.2 °C40 mm
- Sep11.7 °C29 mm
- Oct5.4 °C25 mm
- Nov-1.0 °C23 mm
- Dec-7.2 °C14 mm
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Dec. Wettest months: Apr, May, Jun.
Costs
Prices here are about 33% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
112. Police 102. Ambulance 103. Fire 101.
local government
Ministry of Emergency Situations (unified dispatch service 112)
Helps with: Kyrgyzstan's emergency ministry. Its website lists 112 as the unified dispatch service and gives contact phones, an address in Bishkek and an email.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Kyrgyzstan who needs emergency help or wants to report an emergency.
Phone: 112
Email: mchs@mail.gov.kg
Address: Manas Avenue 101/1, Bishkek
local government
Department of Tourism (Kyrgyz Republic)
Helps with: Kyrgyzstan's state body for developing and supporting the tourism industry. Its contact page lists a reception phone, an email and an office address in Bishkek.
Who qualifies: Anyone with a tourism enquiry about Kyrgyzstan.
Phone: +996312621861
Email: tourism.department@mail.ru
Address: 96a Kievskaya Street, Bishkek
ngo
Red Crescent Society of Kyrgyzstan
Helps with: Kyrgyzstan's national Red Crescent society. Its website lists disaster risk reduction, first aid, restoring family links, blood donation and support for vulnerable people.
Who qualifies: People in Kyrgyzstan who need its first aid, disaster, family links or social support services.
Phone: +996312300190
Email: info@redcrescent.kg
Address: 10 Erkindik Boulevard, Bishkek
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Kyrgyzstan
Helps with: The UN migration agency, present in Kyrgyzstan since 1997. Its work covers migration management, crisis response, and humanitarian help for migrants, returnees and host communities.
Who qualifies: Migrants, returnees and host communities. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +996 312 988011
Email: iomkyrgyzstan@iom.int
Address: 103 Ibraimov Street, Business Center Victory, left wing, 6th floor, Bishkek 720021