Altyn Arashan is a little village in the green valley of the same name just southeast of Karakol. It's famous for its natural hot springs, which have been built around by local guesthouses catering for the tourists who flock there to soak in the water.

Most of the guesthouses have their own indoor hot springs, which are small and operate on designated time slots, so you need to book in advance in summer.

How to get there? Most people reach Altyn Arashan on a day tour from Karakol (a 4x4 is required), or you can stay overnight in the village. It's also part of the Ala Kul trek or Ak Suu Traverse and a popular overnight stop for hikers. You can either stay in a guesthouse or wild camp somewhere in the valley. This is how I visited the village; it was our last night on the Ala Kul Trek and we camped just outside of Altyn Arashan near the free hot springs on the river.

If you’re happy to walk a bit from the village (and away from the tourists!) you’ll find these free hot springs hidden in a cave by the river about 1.5km from Altyn Arashan village. You can find them on Maps.Me.

Important: There is a national park entrance fee for this valley!