What a transfer to Altyn Arashan costs
Every price we charge, in dollars and som, on one page. Updated for the 2026 season.
Short answer: a seat on a shared day trip from Karakol is $85, a one-way shuttle seat for trekkers is $45, and the whole vehicle privately is $290–360 depending on which UAZ you need. Everything below is the same price you will be charged at checkout.
Day in the valley
| Day trip — one seat Meet at Giraffe Coffee, central Karakol, 08:00. Back by 17:00, 4 hours in the valley, hot spring entry included. | $85 7 430 som per seat | Book |
| Seat on a confirmed departure Available under 72 hours before a departure that is already going. Same trip, lower price. | $65 5 680 som per seat | Book |
| Child under 12 — one seat Same seat, same everything. Children under 4 travel free on a parent’s lap. | $55 4 810 som per seat | Book |
| Guaranteed solo departure Any date you want, we go even if nobody else books. This is the whole vehicle, not a seat. | $190 16 620 som per vehicle | Book |
Shuttle for trekkers
| Shuttle, one way Karakol → Altyn Arashan or back. Drop-off only, the driver does not wait. | $45 3 940 som per seat | Book |
| Shuttle, up and back Return date open for up to 5 days. Message us the morning you want to come down. | $85 7 430 som per seat | Book |
| Ala-Kul through-trek shuttle Up to Altyn Arashan, pick-up from the Karakol gorge trailhead (or the reverse). | $95 8 310 som per seat | Book |
Private vehicle
| Private UAZ-469 “Kozel”, up to 4 Whole vehicle. Full day with the driver waiting for you in the valley. | $290 25 360 som per vehicle | Book |
| Private UAZ-452 “Buhanka”, up to 8 The van. Eight seats, room for backpacks, full day with waiting. | $360 31 480 som per vehicle | Book |
| Private vehicle, overnight, up to 4 Up today, down tomorrow. The same driver drives back up for you — two runs, not one. | $450 39 350 som per vehicle | Book |
Add-ons
| Lunch in a yurt in the valley | $14 1 220 som per seat | Book |
| Night in an Arashan guesthouse Dinner and breakfast included. | $45 3 940 som per seat | Book |
| Horse for 2 hours in the valley | $25 2 190 som per seat | Book |
| Private hot spring cabin, 1 hour | $12 1 050 som per seat | Book |
| Winter surcharge (Dec–Mar) Per person. On private vehicles it is $40 per vehicle. | $15 1 310 som per seat | Book |
How this compares to the other ways up
| Option | Cost | Time up | Comfort | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walk from Ak-Suu | free (+ ~250 som park fee) | 5–6 h, 15 km, +700 m | You carry everything | May–Oct, snow-dependent |
| Marshrutka 350 to Ak-Suu, then walk | ~50 som + the walk | 30 min + 5–6 h | Bus to the trailhead only | Year round to Ak-Suu |
| Hitch a ride with a supply truck | 1 000–2 000 som if one comes | Unpredictable | Standing in a truck bed | Peak summer only |
| Shared jeep found in town | 1 000–3 000 som per person | 2–2.5 h | Cash, no guarantee, may cancel | Jun–Sep |
| Our shuttle seat | $45 one way / $85 return | 2–2.5 h | Booked, paid, guaranteed at 2 | Year round |
| Our day trip seat | $85 | 2–2.5 h | Central meeting point, driver waits, springs included | Year round |
| Our private UAZ | $290–360 per vehicle | 2–2.5 h | Your schedule, your stops | Year round |
Costs on top that are not ours
| What | Typical price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| National park entry | 250–300 som per person | Collected at the barrier. Included in our day trip, not in the shuttle. |
| Hot spring bath | 250 som per person | Included in our day trip. The wild pools by the river are free. |
| Bed in a valley guesthouse | 1 500–2 500 som | Dorm or shared room, usually with breakfast. |
| Yurt with dinner and breakfast | 3 500–4 500 som | Peak season books out — ask us to hold one. |
| A meal in the valley | 300–800 som | There is no shop. Bring snacks. |
Why the price is not lower
Because the vehicle costs the same whether one person is in it or eight. A UAZ-469 for a day on this road is 9 000 som to us and the eight-seat van is 12 000, before anyone has been paid, and neither number moves when you travel alone. Nor does it halve for a one-way trip: the vehicle drives back down empty either way. What we can do — and what this site exists to do — is publish the departures so that the seats actually fill, which is why a seat on a departure that is already confirmed drops to $65. That is not a discount we grant, it is arithmetic we pass on.