The hike up to Travellers Pass is one of the best day hikes to do in Kyrgyzstan. The trail is a challenging, high-altitude adventure leading up to a pass on the climbing route to Lenin Peak in the Alay Mountains.

The pass is accessible on foot with no mountaineering experience required, making it the best way to get a close-up view of the mammoth mountain known as Lenin Peak, which is over 7,000m high. You can make it up to the pass and back in a day from Tulpar Lake, making it a very worthwhile day trip from Sary Mogul.

The trail begins from the yurt camps around Tulpar Lake and leads first to Lenin Peak Base Camp. From there, it continues up and around to Travellers Pass, passing through a beautiful valley and climbing the steep slopes on a slippery gravel path.

Once at the top, you'll be able to admire the full panoramic view of Lenin Peak, the valley back to Tulpar Lake and further afield. It's easily one of the best views you can find in Kyrgyzstan, with long glaciers stretching down from the peaks, colourful layers of earth on the slopes, and the dotted lakes of Tulpar in the valley floor.

The hike is 16km return all together and should take about 6-8 hours. Travellers Pass is at 4,150m (or the small peak above it at 4,200m offers even better views), so ensure you're acclimatised with a couple of days around Sary Mogul before heading off.