Altyn Arashan Hot Springs
Thermal water at 35–41 °C comes out of the ground along the valley floor. You can soak in a wooden bath house for about 250 som or walk to a free pool by the river.
Altyn Arashan means "golden spring". The name is the reason most people come: hot mineral water in a cold mountain valley at about 2,500 m, with spruce forest on the slopes and the river running past.
There is no single spa. The springs are spread along the right bank of the Arashan River. Most of them are piped into small wooden or concrete bath houses that belong to the guesthouses. A few run into rock pools by the river that anyone can use.
Karakol ⇄ Altyn Arashan
A seat in a 4×4, round trip. The driver waits.
- Out08:00
- Back16:00
3 750 somper seat, round trip
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Book a seatThe water
Two kinds of thermal water come out in the valley:
- Radon spring — about 35 °C.
- Hydrogen sulphide spring — about 41 °C, with a faint sulphur smell.
These temperatures hold all year, which is why bathing in winter works. The water is clear and mineral-heavy. Locals have used it for rest and treatment for a long time, and the valley has been a protected reserve since 1963.
We are not doctors and don't make health claims. If you have heart or blood pressure problems, or you are pregnant, ask your doctor before sitting in hot water at altitude.
Which bath to choose
| Guesthouse bath house | Wild pool by the river | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | about 250 som per person | free |
| Where | on the guesthouse grounds | on the riverbank, short walk |
| Privacy | door that closes | none, you share with whoever is there |
| Temperature | steady | varies with river water |
| Changing | inside | in the open |
| Best for | rain, cold, evenings, short on time | dry summer days, if you like a walk |
Guesthouse bath houses are the easy choice. You pay about 250 som in cash to the guesthouse, they show you a wooden hut with a pool, and you close the door. Each guesthouse has its own, so if one is busy, try the next. Overnight guests often get the bath included.
Wild pools are free and more scenic, with cold river water a step away. They are less comfortable to change at and the temperature depends on the day. Directions and tips are on our free hot springs page.
How to soak at altitude
- Keep each session short: about 15–20 minutes.
- If you feel lightheaded, it is usually the altitude plus the heat. Get out slowly and sit down.
- Drink water before and after. Not alcohol.
- Don't soak right before a steep walk. Bathe after your walk, not before.
- Skip the bath if you have an open wound.
- Many people cool off in the river between sessions. It is glacial and very cold; go in carefully.
What to bring
- Swimsuit. Even in bath houses, you may share with strangers.
- Towel. Guesthouses may lend one, but don't count on it.
- Flip-flops or sandals for wet wooden floors.
- Cash in som. There is no ATM or card terminal in the valley.
- A plastic bag for wet things on the ride back.
Fitting the springs into a day trip
The day trip gives you about five hours in the valley. That is enough for a walk up the valley and a soak, or for two soaks with lunch in between.
- Meet at Giraffe Coffee
Zhusaeva St, central Karakol
- Depart
16 km of riverbed track with fords, 2–2.5 hours
- In the valley, about 5 hours
Hot springs, walks, lunch at a guesthouse. The driver waits.
- Back down
- Karakol
A good order: arrive around 10:30, walk first while you are fresh, eat, then soak in the early afternoon and dry off before the jeep heads back at 16:00. You are in Karakol around 18:00.
The seat costs 3,750 som return. The national park fee (about 300 som) and the bath (about 250 som) are paid in cash in the valley and are not included.
Staying the night
If you want the springs in the evening or early morning when the valley is quiet, sleep up there. Book a one-way seat up on day one and another one-way seat down on a later date. See where to stay.
Read what's in the valley before you go: signal, cash, food and power.
Questions
How much do the Altyn Arashan hot springs cost?
A guesthouse bath house costs about 250 som per person, paid in cash to the guesthouse. The wild pools by the river are free. Neither is included in the jeep seat.
How hot is the water?
Published figures give about 35 °C for the radon spring and about 41 °C for the hydrogen sulphide spring, all year round. Wild pools vary with how much river water mixes in.
How long should I stay in the water?
Around 15–20 minutes at a time is enough at this altitude. Get out, cool down, drink water, then go back in if you want.
Do I need to book the bath house?
On a day trip you usually just ask at a guesthouse when you arrive. In July and August it can be busy; go early in your five hours rather than at the end.
Can I bathe in winter?
Yes. The springs run all year and indoor bath houses work in the cold. Changing is the hard part, so bring a second towel. See our winter page for the road.
3 750 som per seat, round trip. Daily at 08:00 from Giraffe Coffee, Karakol.
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