How to choose a route
- Never been to the mountains, or hiking with children? Start with the Quiet River.
- Can you walk around a city for 2–3 hours without getting tired? Head for the Teke-Tor Waterfall.
- Done day hikes before and don't mind climbing? Try the Salyk Gorge.
- Comfortable camping and carrying a backpack? Altyn-Tor is waiting for you.
- Experienced in technical mountain treks, with crampons and rope? Then you can think about the Alamedin Pass.
Easy routes
- Quiet River. A walk along the right bank of the Alamedin to a stream and a small waterfall. About 1–1.5 hours each way. Good for families with children.
- Teke-Tor Waterfall. The gorge's postcard view: about 5.7 km each way with 370 m of ascent, roughly 2 hours. Good for beginners.
Moderate routes
- Salyk Gorge. A path to the glaciers and the walls of the gorge's highest peaks. About 5 hours to the moraine; best done as an overnight trip. For hikers with some experience.
- Altyn-Tor and the Lakes. The "golden place", 20 km from the road, with moraine lakes and a hanging glacier. A 2–3 day trek with a tent.
Hard route
- Alamedin Pass. A pass at about 4,000 m with a descent into the Issyk-Ata Gorge. This is a technical mountain trek, only for experienced hikers with proper equipment.
Before any route
Mobile signal disappears just beyond the sanatorium. Download an offline map such as Organic Maps or Maps.me, and always tell someone where you're going and when you plan to be back.
Don't drink from the river: livestock graze further up the gorge. Fill up at the springs by the sanatorium or bring a filter.
Carry all your rubbish out with you. The gorge stays beautiful only thanks to people who leave nothing behind.