Ak-Suu is a raion (district) in Issyk Kul and the Tian Shan in eastern Kyrgyzstan.

Understand

Two of Kyrgyzstan's highest mountains, Jengish Chokusu (Victory Peak, or Pobeda Peak in Russian) and Khan Tengri, are located in this district. Some 93% of the district is occupied by mountains and 7% - by valleys.

Get around

Do

Hiking

• Central Tian Shan Mountains. Even if you do not want to climb Khan Tengri, the glacier that runs west of it is impressive and worth the trip. The trail to the start of the glacier is not particularly difficult, because it is mostly a trek through the valley. But first you need to arrange a transport by 4WD to Engilchek (aka Inylchek) village from Karakol. (updated Nov 2018)

• 1 Engilchek village. Population dropped from 5,000 to 345 after the tin mine closed. Of interest near the village could be the "devil's grave", where supposedly a UFO crashed in 1991. (updated Nov 2018)
• 2 At-Jailoo - Merzbacher Lake. Highest point: 3,550 m. Lowest point: 2,630 m. Total elevation gain: 920 m. Total elevation loss: 920 m. Level of difficulty: medium/difficult. Total hours hiking: ~31 hr. Average total amount of trekking days: 7. Approximate trekking distance: ~76 km.
  A possible itinerary: https://visitkarakol.com/10_days_totheheart_of_tien_shan2 (updated Mar 2019)
• Echkililitash - At-Jailoo. Highest point: 4,001 m. Lowest point: 2,630 m. Total elevation gain: 1,471 m. Total elevation loss: 2,021 m. Level of difficulty: medium/difficult. Total hours hiking: ~39 hr. Average total amount of trekking days: 8. Approximate trekking distance: ~92 km. (updated Mar 2019)
• 3 Enilchek South Base Camp Trek. The base camp, run by Ak-Sai, is ideally situated in the heart of the Northern Tian Shan Mountains, south of the Engilchek glacier at 4,000 m. It has great views of the Khan-Tengri (7,010 m) and Pobeda peaks (7,439 m), which can be climbed from here.
  Highest point: 4,000 m. Lowest point: 2,630 m. Total elevation gain: 1,370 m. Total elevation loss: 1,370 m. Level of difficulty: difficult. Total hours hiking: ~49 hr. Average total amount of trekking days: 11. Approximate Trekking Distance: ~83 km. (updated Mar 2019)
• 4 Engilchek Glacier (Inylchek Glacier) (50 km east of Engilchek village). (updated Nov 2018)
• 5 Khan Tengri (7,010 m). Treks can be organised in Karakol. (updated Nov 2018)

Sleep