Altyn Arashan vs Ak-Suu vs Jeti-Oguz: Which Hot Springs?

Karakol sits on a band of thermal water. Within an hour or so of town you can soak in three quite different places. Each one makes a good day, but they suit different travellers.

If you choose the mountain one, the Altyn Arashan day trip is a 3,750 som return seat at 08:00, and Altyn Arashan hot springs explains the baths.

The short version

Pool prices change every season. Treat these as rough figures.

Altyn Arashan: the mountain one

What it is. A meadow on the Arashan River at roughly 2,500–2,600 m, inside a reserve protected since 1963. Wooden bathhouses and guesthouse pools sit over springs that come out at about 35 °C (radon) and 41 °C (hydrogen sulphide). Palatka peak towers above the head of the valley.

Getting there. The only practical vehicle is a high-clearance 4x4 such as a UAZ. Minibuses and taxis go only as far as Ak-Suu village. After that the road is 12–17 km of rough track and about two hours by jeep, or five to six hours on foot. Read more in is the road dangerous.

What the day looks like. With the shared jeep: meet at Giraffe Coffee in central Karakol at 07:50, leave at 08:00, arrive around 10:30, about five hours in the valley, back at 16:00, in Karakol around 18:00. A seat is 3,750 som return.

Costs on top. About 300 som national park fee and about 250 som for a pool, both cash. Food is not included. No ATM, no mobile signal.

Choose it if you want mountains, a walk and a soak in one day, or you are heading to or from the Ala-Kul trek.

Karakol ⇄ Altyn Arashan

A seat in a 4×4, round trip. The driver waits.

• Out08:00
• Back16:00

3 750 somper seat, round trip

Pick a date

Book a seat

Ak-Suu: the easy one

What it is. A hot-spring complex in Ak-Suu village (also called Teploklyuchenka), at the bottom of the Altyn Arashan valley. Indoor and outdoor pools, changing rooms, lockers.

Getting there. About 10 km east of Karakol. A 2026 guide gives marshrutka 350 for 30 som from the bus area east of Ak-Tilek bazaar, or about 25 minutes by taxi. Our marshrutka guide has details.

Costs. A guide updated in October 2026 lists 400 som per hour, a 100 som refundable locker deposit and 50 som towel rental. Open daily from 9:00 to 23:00. Earlier guides quoted 250 som per hour, so prices have risen.

Choose it if you have a free evening, want a soak after skiing or hiking, or do not want a long bumpy drive.

Jeti-Oguz: the rocks

What it is. A gorge south-west of Karakol famous for the Seven Bulls, a wall of red conglomerate cliffs protected as a natural monument since 1975, and the Broken Heart rock on the way in. An old sanatorium near the rocks offers thermal baths.

Getting there. About 30 km from Karakol. A taxi through a guesthouse has been quoted at around 700 som with waiting at about 100 som per hour, and marshrutka 371 runs from the bazaar for about 40 som. These figures come from an undated guide, so check locally. The road is in good condition.

What to do. Climb the short path above the rocks for the view (about 25 minutes at a slow pace), stop at Broken Heart, and walk further up the valley if you have time.

Choose it if you care more about scenery and photos than about the soak. More in our Jeti-Oguz day trip guide.

How to combine them

• Three days in Karakol: Altyn Arashan on day one, Jeti-Oguz on day two, Ak-Suu on any evening.
• After the Ala-Kul trek: soak in Altyn Arashan where the trek ends, take the 16:00 jeep down (2,750 som one way), and you are back in Karakol around 18:00.
• Ski holiday: Ak-Suu after a ski day; Altyn Arashan on a rest day when the road is open. See Altyn Arashan in winter.

Which one should you pick?

• Only one free day and want the "real" mountain experience: Altyn Arashan.
• Only a free evening: Ak-Suu.
• Want photographs of red cliffs and a short hike: Jeti-Oguz.

If you are also curious about free natural pools, see our page on free hot springs. For Altyn Arashan's pools in detail, read the hot springs guide.

Etiquette and health at all three

• Shower before you get in where showers exist.
• Keep sessions short in hot water, 10–15 minutes, then cool down and drink water.
• Do not soak after drinking alcohol.
• If you are pregnant or have heart or blood pressure problems, ask a doctor before soaking in hot mineral water.
• In the wooden bathhouses at Altyn Arashan, wait your turn and do not stay longer than agreed with the owner.

Cost of each day, roughly

• Altyn Arashan: 3,750 som seat + about 300 som park fee + about 250 som pool + food.
• Ak-Suu: about 60 som minibus return + 400 som per hour + towel or locker if needed.
• Jeti-Oguz: minibus or taxi + entry or bath fees on site + food.

Altyn Arashan is the most expensive of the three, and for most people the most memorable.

Sources

Altyn Arashan temperatures and reserve date: too.kg. Ak-Suu prices, hours and minibus: trvlogue.com (updated October 2026). Earlier Ak-Suu price: backpackmoments.com. Jeti-Oguz rocks and protection date: Wikipedia; access and viewpoint: Zigzag on Earth (updated 2024); taxi and minibus: nomadicbackpacker.com.