Kyrgyzstan: Kol-Tor (Lower Jergez)
This quick and easy hike not far from Karakol ends at a small mountain lake – while it’s pretty enough, the real draw is the massive panorama of Ak Suu region on the way up and down the hill.
Total Km: 14km
Total Days: 1
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1060m+ / 1060m-
Start Point: Jergez Valley
End Point: Jergez Valley
GPS Files
This easy dayhike starts in the hills above Jergez village just beyond the little village of Kara-Kyz. There’s an old jeep road that climbs to at least the shepherd’s camp, but the condition deteriorates rapidly as it rises – we parked a short distance along the track and walked the rest of the way, but you could also just start in Kara-Kyz and add a bit more of a climb to the walk.
From our starting point per the GPS files linked above, climb slowly up the hillside for about 3km along obvious trails or along the road itself until reaching a pretty little shepherd camp in a large clearing. The views from here draw the eye towards the deeper Jergez valley, but for this hike we’ll torn towards the southwest and climb a small valley to the plateau above.
The GPS has a small loop here – the better trail is the one that curves westerly then south as it uses actual trail to climb up the side of a natural rise. However, this path is not entirely apparent from the bottom and so we charged straight up the center of the little valley visible from the shepherd camp – it’s fine enough, though there are some parts where you’re clambering through tall grass and greenery that can sometimes get a bit slick on the steeper bits.
Either way, these two options meet again at the top of the hill from which the first truly panoramic views over the Ak Suu region open up. Take a break to enjoy the view, then pick up the obvious line that climbs towards the top of the forwardmost hills and onwards towards the like – this is a busy pasturage area, so expect to interact with plenty of livestock along the way (and be absolutely certain to treat any streamwater you fill up with).
The hill tops out very quickly, with the obvious depression of the lake and cirque beyond visible just beyond the last small rise. Aim a little to the west of the lake to climb briefly to a nice panorama that takes in both the water and the surrounding mountains, then drop down to the lake shore for a quick break and perhaps a picnic.
After, descend the hillside back to the shepherd camp and onwards to Kara-Kyz and Jergez. It’s a straightforward and fairly easy trek, but nice enough for a quick dayhike out of Karakol.
Alternate Options for Hike Name
The first bit of climbing up the main valley is also the starting point for the Glacial Valleys trail – there are likely no markings on the ground left here but the trail is easy enough to follow and there are big mountain views at the top of Jergez and Almaluu.
See also on the map for another small lake a little further up Jergez which is also called Kol Tor (it’s a common name, you’ll find…) – we didn’t explore it on this trip but aim to get back over there on future visits to Karakol.
Good To Know
Getting to Kol Tor (Lower Jergez)
Between Karakol and Jergez, the #383 leaves regularly throughout the day from the Ak-Suu bus stand in the Ak-Tilek bazaar, stopping along the Ak-Suu highway on the edge of Jergez. Expect to pay 40 som, or more for large packs. Use the same route back to Karakol at the end of the hike.
Where to Stay and Eat
While there are a handful of guesthouses in the villages along the Ak Suu highway, the greatest concentration of tourist services is in the nearby city of Karakol. I typically stay at either Teskey Guesthouse or Matsunoki, but there are a wealth of places for travelers to stay in Karakol.
What to Pack
There really is quite a lot of livestock this close to the major villages of Ak Suu, so be certain to either pack in all the water you’ll need for the day or bring some kind of filtration system if you plan to refill from the streams that come down from Kol Tor.
