{"id":1305348,"date":"2026-10-01T20:59:10","date_gmt":"2026-10-01T20:59:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?page_id=1305348"},"modified":"2026-10-02T10:09:40","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T10:09:40","slug":"karakol","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/asia\/kyrgyzstan\/karakol\/","title":{"rendered":"Karakol"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":200,"featured_media":0,"parent":1302893,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"hw-hub-city","meta":{"footnotes":"","hw_hub_hero_eyebrow":"","hw_hub_hero_h1":"","hw_hub_hero_intro":"","hw_hub_hero_image":"","hw_hub_hero_overlay":"","hw_hub_hero_cta":"","hw_hub_why_title":"","hw_hub_why_body":"","hw_hub_why_link_label":"","hw_hub_why_link_url":"","hw_hub_why_cards":"","hw_hub_stats":"","hw_hub_countries_title":"","hw_hub_countries_intro":"","hw_hub_featured":"","hw_hub_regions":"","hw_hub_hostels_title":"","hw_hub_hostels_intro":"","hw_hub_hostels_cta_label":"","hw_hub_hostels_cta_url":"","hw_hub_hostels_source":"","hw_hub_hostels_location_type":"","hw_hub_hostels_location_id":"","hw_hub_hostels_currency":"","hw_hub_hostels_count":"","hw_hub_hostels_cache":"","hw_hub_hostels":"","hw_hub_when_title":"","hw_hub_when_intro":"","hw_hub_seasons":"","hw_hub_costs_title":"","hw_hub_costs_body":"","hw_hub_cost_rows":"","hw_hub_cost_note":"","hw_hub_money_reads":"","hw_hub_rail_title":"","hw_hub_rail_body":"","hw_hub_rail_link_label":"","hw_hub_rail_link_url":"","hw_hub_rail_image":"","hw_hub_routes":"","hw_hub_events_title":"","hw_hub_events_intro":"","hw_hub_events_source":"","hw_hub_events_continent":"","hw_hub_events_count":"","hw_hub_events_cache":"","hw_hub_events_cta_label":"","hw_hub_events_cta_url":"","hw_hub_events":"","hw_hub_events_pills":"","hw_hub_reads_intro":"","hw_hub_article_rows":"","hw_hub_show_read_time":"","hw_hub_all_title":"","hw_hub_all_body":"","hw_hub_all_cta":"","hw_hub_trips_title":"","hw_hub_trips_note":"","hw_hub_trips":"","hw_hub_faq_title":"","hw_hub_faq_note":"","hw_hub_faqs":"","hw_hub_cta_title":"","hw_hub_cta_body":"","hw_hub_cta_buttons":"","hw_hub_newsletter_title":"","hw_hub_newsletter_body":"","hw_hub_newsletter_shortcode":"","hw_hub_hub_term":"","hw_hub_scope_rows":"","hw_hub_country_hero_eyebrow":"","hw_hub_country_hero_h1":"","hw_hub_country_hero_intro":"","hw_hub_country_hero_image":"","hw_hub_country_hero_overlay":"","hw_hub_country_hero_cta":"","hw_hub_country_stats":"","hw_hub_country_intro_title":"","hw_hub_country_intro_body":"","hw_hub_country_facts":"","hw_hub_country_cities_title":"","hw_hub_country_cities_intro":"","hw_hub_country_cities_live":"","hw_hub_country_cities":"","hw_hub_country_trips_title":"","hw_hub_country_trips_intro":"","hw_hub_country_trip_types":"","hw_hub_country_do_title":"","hw_hub_country_do_body":"","hw_hub_country_do_points":"","hw_hub_country_do_tag":"","hw_hub_country_do_more":"","hw_hub_country_food_title":"","hw_hub_country_food_body":"","hw_hub_country_food_points":"","hw_hub_country_food_tag":"","hw_hub_country_food_more":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_title":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_body":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_points":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_tag":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_more":"","hw_hub_country_transport_title":"","hw_hub_country_transport_body":"","hw_hub_country_transport_points":"","hw_hub_country_transport_tag":"","hw_hub_country_transport_more":"","hw_hub_country_money_title":"","hw_hub_country_money_body":"","hw_hub_country_money_points":"","hw_hub_country_money_tag":"","hw_hub_country_money_more":"","hw_hub_country_safety_title":"","hw_hub_country_safety_body":"","hw_hub_country_safety_points":"","hw_hub_country_safety_tag":"","hw_hub_country_safety_more":"","hw_hub_country_entry_title":"","hw_hub_country_entry_body":"","hw_hub_country_entry_points":"","hw_hub_country_entry_tag":"","hw_hub_country_entry_more":"","hw_hub_country_season_title":"","hw_hub_country_season_intro":"","hw_hub_country_season_note":"","hw_hub_country_season_rows":"","hw_hub_country_budget_title":"","hw_hub_country_budget_intro":"","hw_hub_country_budget_note":"","hw_hub_country_budget_rows":"","hw_hub_country_budget_currency":"","hw_hub_country_events_title":"","hw_hub_country_events_intro":"","hw_hub_country_events_source":"","hw_hub_country_events_country":"","hw_hub_country_events_count":"","hw_hub_country_events_cache":"","hw_hub_country_events_cta_label":"","hw_hub_country_events_cta_url":"","hw_hub_country_events":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_title":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_intro":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_cta_label":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_cta_url":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_source":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_location_type":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_location_id":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_currency":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_count":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_cache":"","hw_hub_country_hostels":"","hw_hub_country_faq_title":"","hw_hub_country_faq_note":"","hw_hub_country_faqs":"","hw_hub_country_cta_title":"","hw_hub_country_cta_body":"","hw_hub_country_cta_buttons":"","hw_hub_country_newsletter_title":"","hw_hub_country_newsletter_body":"","hw_hub_country_newsletter_shortcode":"","hw_hub_country_hub_term":"","hw_hub_country_parent_hub":"","hw_hub_country_scope_rows":"","hw_hub_city_hero_eyebrow":"Karakol town guide","hw_hub_city_hero_h1":"Things To Do In Karakol","hw_hub_city_hero_intro":"The trekking capital of Kyrgyzstan, at the eastern end of Lake Issyk-Kul, with a wooden mosque built without nails, valleys of hot springs and alpine lakes, and a ski base in winter.","hw_hub_city_hero_image":"1302897","hw_hub_city_hero_overlay":"light","hw_hub_city_hero_cta":"Where to stay | #areas\r\nWhat it costs | #money","hw_hub_city_live_stats":"1","hw_hub_city_stats":"1910 | The Dungan Mosque\r\n~3,900 m | The Ala Kul pass\r\n2nd | Largest alpine lake","hw_hub_city_intro_title":"The trekking capital","hw_hub_city_intro_body":"Karakol was founded as a Russian garrison town in the nineteenth century, and it still has wooden houses, an Orthodox cathedral and a remarkable Dungan mosque, built by Chinese Muslims without a single nail.\r\n\r\nIt sits near the eastern shore of Issyk-Kul, the second-largest alpine lake in the world, beneath the Terskey Alatau range, and it is the country's main base for trekking.\r\n\r\nThe Ala Kul trek, over a high pass to a turquoise lake and down to hot springs, starts here. Three days or more is right.","hw_hub_city_facts":"Getting there | Shared taxi from Bishkek, 5\u20136 hours\r\nGetting around | On foot and taxi\r\nLanguages | Kyrgyz and Russian\r\nTipping | Appreciated for guides\r\nTap water | Not recommended\r\nHow long to stay | Three days or more","hw_hub_city_areas_title":"Where to stay","hw_hub_city_areas_intro":"Karakol is a small, low-rise town of wooden houses in a grid of streets. Stay in the centre, near the tourist information office and the main bazaar, within walking distance of the mosque, the cathedral and the marshrutka stops for the valleys.","hw_hub_city_areas_map":"1","hw_hub_city_areas_zoom":"13","hw_hub_city_hostels_pins":"1","hw_hub_city_areas_live":"1","hw_hub_city_areas":"Centre | First-timers | Near the tourist information office and the bazaar. | 42.4907 | 78.3936 |  | ","hw_hub_city_itin_title":"How long have you got?","hw_hub_city_itin_intro":"The routes we would take, in the order we would take them.","hw_hub_city_itin":"","hw_hub_city_do_title":"Things to do in Karakol","hw_hub_city_do_body":"Karakol, at the eastern end of Issyk-Kul, is Kyrgyzstan's trekking capital, with valleys and glaciers of the Terskey Ala-Too range rising just south of town.\r\n\r\nIn town, see the Dungan Mosque, built in 1910 by Chinese Muslim craftsmen in the style of a Chinese temple, without a single nail, and the wooden Holy Trinity Cathedral, a Russian Orthodox church with golden domes. On Sunday mornings, the animal market on the edge of town is one of the most memorable sights in Central Asia: horses, cattle and sheep traded in a field from dawn; go early.\r\n\r\nThe classic trek goes to Ala Kul, a turquoise lake at about 3,500 metres, over a pass of about 3,900 metres, and down to the Altyn Arashan hot springs, usually over three days. Altyn Arashan alone is a day's walk or a bumpy jeep ride up the valley, with natural hot pools.\r\n\r\nJeti-Oguz, about an hour away, has red sandstone cliffs, the Seven Bulls, and the Broken Heart rock. Skazka, the Fairytale Canyon, on the south shore of Issyk-Kul, is a maze of red and orange eroded rock. Jyrgalan, a quieter valley, is good for trekking and horse riding.\r\n\r\nIn winter, the Karakol ski base, about half an hour away, has some of the best skiing in Central Asia, at low prices.","hw_hub_city_do_points":"Dungan Mosque | 1910, built without nails\r\nAnimal market | Sunday mornings; go early\r\nAla Kul trek | Three days, a 3,900 m pass\r\nAltyn Arashan | Hot springs up the valley","hw_hub_city_do_tag":"things-to-do","hw_hub_city_do_more":"All things to do in Karakol","hw_hub_city_free_title":"Free things to do in Karakol","hw_hub_city_free_body":"The Dungan Mosque and the Holy Trinity Cathedral are free or ask a small donation, and so is wandering the town's streets of wooden houses.\r\n\r\nThe Sunday animal market is free to watch, and Issyk-Kul's beaches are free. Trekking is free, apart from small park fees in some valleys.","hw_hub_city_free_points":"Dungan Mosque | Free or a donation\r\nAnimal market | Free to watch\r\nIssyk-Kul beaches | Free\r\nTrekking | Small park fees","hw_hub_city_free_tag":"free-things-to-do","hw_hub_city_free_more":"All free things to do in Karakol","hw_hub_city_food_title":"Eating and drinking in Karakol","hw_hub_city_food_body":"Karakol is famous for ashlan-fu, a cold, spicy noodle soup with jelly made by the town's Dungan community, eaten with a fried bread; the bazaar has stalls selling nothing else.\r\n\r\nOtherwise, food is Kyrgyz and Russian: lagman, plov, manty and shashlyk, grilled meat skewers. On treks, yurt camps serve simple meals.\r\n\r\nA meal is \u20ac2 to \u20ac6.","hw_hub_city_food_points":"Ashlan-fu | Cold Dungan noodle soup\r\nLagman | Hand-pulled noodles\r\nShashlyk | Grilled skewers\r\nA meal | \u20ac2\u20136","hw_hub_city_food_tag":"food","hw_hub_city_food_more":"All food guides for Karakol","hw_hub_city_nightlife_title":"Going out in Karakol","hw_hub_city_nightlife_body":"Karakol is quiet at night, with a few bars and caf\u00e9s in the centre. Most people are resting before or after treks.\r\n\r\nA beer is \u20ac1.50 to \u20ac3.","hw_hub_city_nightlife_points":"Quiet | Rest between treks\r\nA few bars | In the centre\r\nYurt camps | Simple evenings\r\nA beer | \u20ac1.50\u20133","hw_hub_city_nightlife_tag":"nightlife","hw_hub_city_nightlife_more":"All nightlife guides for Karakol","hw_hub_city_transport_title":"Getting around Karakol","hw_hub_city_transport_body":"Shared taxis and marshrutkas reach Bishkek in about five to six hours, and Cholpon-Ata in about two and a half.\r\n\r\nMarshrutkas run from town to the trailheads at Ak-Suu for Altyn Arashan, and to Jeti-Oguz. The tourist information office and CBT, Community Based Tourism, arrange drivers, horses, guides and yurt stays for the valleys.\r\n\r\nThe town is walkable; taxis are cheap for longer trips.","hw_hub_city_transport_points":"To Bishkek | 5\u20136 h by shared taxi\r\nTrailheads | Marshrutka to Ak-Suu\r\nGuides and horses | Via CBT or tourist info\r\nAround | On foot and taxi","hw_hub_city_transport_tag":"transport","hw_hub_city_transport_more":"All transport guides for Karakol","hw_hub_city_money_title":"What Karakol costs","hw_hub_city_money_body":"Karakol is very cheap. Dorms start around \u20ac7 and a careful day is \u20ac15 to \u20ac25.\r\n\r\nA guide for the Ala Kul trek is about \u20ac25 to \u20ac40 a day; yurt camps and guesthouses in the valleys \u20ac10 to \u20ac20 a night with meals. A jeep to Altyn Arashan is shared between passengers. Ski passes at the Karakol ski base are cheap by European standards.\r\n\r\nThe currency is the som (KGS); prices here are euro equivalents, at roughly 100 som to the euro. Cards work in Bishkek's bigger shops and restaurants; cash is essential elsewhere, and there are no ATMs in the mountains.","hw_hub_city_money_points":"Dorm bed | From about \u20ac7\r\nA day | \u20ac15\u201325\r\nTrek guide | About \u20ac25\u201340 a day\r\nYurt stay | \u20ac10\u201320 with meals","hw_hub_city_money_tag":"budget","hw_hub_city_money_more":"All budget guides for Karakol","hw_hub_city_safety_title":"Staying safe in Karakol","hw_hub_city_safety_body":"Karakol is safe.\r\n\r\nIn the mountains, weather changes within an hour, phone coverage is absent in most valleys and rescue is slow. Go with a guide or at least tell someone your route, carry warm and waterproof layers, and allow for altitude: climb slowly above 3,000 metres. The Ala Kul pass is high enough for altitude sickness; acclimatise before you go.\r\n\r\nThe trekking season is short, roughly June to September; snow can close passes outside it.\r\n\r\nEmergency number is 112, or 102 police and 103 ambulance.","hw_hub_city_safety_points":"Weather | Changes within an hour\r\nAltitude | The Ala Kul pass\r\nSeason | June\u2013September\r\nEmergency | 112","hw_hub_city_safety_tag":"safety","hw_hub_city_safety_more":"All safety guides for Karakol","hw_hub_city_trips_title":"Day trips from Karakol","hw_hub_city_trips_intro":"The lake, red canyons, hot springs and riding valleys.","hw_hub_city_trips":"Ala Kul and Altyn Arashan | Three days | Trek | A turquoise lake over a high pass, and hot springs. |  | 1305349\nJeti-Oguz | About 1 hour | Taxi | Red sandstone cliffs, the Seven Bulls. |  | 1305350\nSkazka Canyon | About 2 hours | Taxi | The fairy-tale canyon of eroded red rock by the lake. |  | 1305351\nCholpon-Ata | About 2.5 hours | Shared taxi | The north-shore beach resort, with a field of ancient petroglyphs. |  | 1305352","hw_hub_city_trips_tag":"day-trips","hw_hub_city_trips_more":"All day trips from Karakol","hw_hub_city_season_title":"When to go","hw_hub_city_season_intro":"June to September for trekking, December to March for skiing.","hw_hub_city_season_note":"Average highs. Much colder in the mountains.","hw_hub_city_season_rows":"January | -5 | 3 | Skiing\r\nFebruary | -3 | 3 | Skiing\r\nMarch | 4 | 2 | Cold\r\nApril | 13 | 2 | Spring\r\nMay | 18 | 3 | Good\r\nJune | 22 | 5 | Treks open\r\nJuly | 25 | 5 | Peak\r\nAugust | 24 | 5 | Peak\r\nSeptember | 19 | 4 | Good\r\nOctober | 12 | 2 | Autumn\r\nNovember | 4 | 1 | Cold\r\nDecember | -3 | 3 | Skiing","hw_hub_city_events_title":"What is on while you are there","hw_hub_city_events_intro":"The trekking season is short, from June to September.","hw_hub_city_events_source":"api","hw_hub_city_events_count":"8","hw_hub_city_events_cache":"24","hw_hub_city_events_cta_label":"All events in Karakol","hw_hub_city_events_cta_url":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/events\/asia\/kyrgyzstan\/karakol\/","hw_hub_city_events":"Trekking season | June to September | Karakol valleys | Short and busy. |  | \nSki season | December to March | Karakol ski base | Cheap skiing. |  | ","hw_hub_city_budget_title":"What your trip will cost","hw_hub_city_budget_intro":"Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.","hw_hub_city_budget_note":"Prices are in som locally; these are euro equivalents. Excludes treks and guides.","hw_hub_city_budget_rows":"Shoestring | 7 | 5 | 3 | 5\r\nMiddle of the road | 15 | 10 | 5 | 30\r\nComfortable | 30 | 20 | 10 | 60","hw_hub_city_budget_currency":"\u20ac","hw_hub_city_hostels_title":"Where to stay in Karakol","hw_hub_city_hostels_intro":"The top-rated places to stay in Karakol right now, live from Hostelworld.","hw_hub_city_hostels_cta_label":"All hostels in Karakol","hw_hub_city_hostels_cta_url":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/hostels\/asia\/kyrgyzstan\/karakol\/","hw_hub_city_hostels_source":"api","hw_hub_city_hostels_count":"12","hw_hub_city_hostels_cache":"12","hw_hub_city_picks":"Best for solo travellers |  |  | \nBest for a party |  |  | \nQuietest |  |  | ","hw_hub_city_hostels":"","hw_hub_city_faq_title":"Karakol travel questions","hw_hub_city_faq_note":"The ones we get asked most.","hw_hub_city_faqs":"Do I need a guide for Ala Kul? | Not legally, but it is strongly recommended: weather changes fast, phone coverage is absent and the pass is high. CBT and the tourist office arrange guides.\r\nWhen is the trekking season? | Roughly June to September; snow can close passes outside those months.\r\nWhen is the animal market? | Sunday mornings, from dawn; go early.\r\nHow do I get there? | By shared taxi or marshrutka from Bishkek, about five to six hours.\r\nHow many days do you need? | Three or more, depending on treks.\r\nCan I ski? | Yes, at the Karakol ski base from December to March, cheaply.\r\nWhat should I eat? | Ashlan-fu, the Dungan cold noodle soup, at the bazaar.","hw_hub_city_cta_title":"Say yes to hostels, meet the world","hw_hub_city_cta_body":"Compare Karakol hostels \u2014 live prices, real reviews and free cancellation on most bookings. Then meet the people already there in the app.","hw_hub_city_cta_buttons":"Find hostels in Karakol | https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/hostels\/asia\/kyrgyzstan\/karakol\/\r\nGet the app | https:\/\/hostelworld.onelink.me\/IdiK\/f5a50nhd","hw_hub_city_newsletter_title":"Get the good stuff monthly","hw_hub_city_newsletter_body":"New city guides, deals and route ideas. No filler.","hw_hub_city_newsletter_shortcode":"","hw_hub_city_hub_term":"karakol","hw_hub_city_city_slug":"karakol","hw_hub_city_country_slug":"kyrgyzstan","hw_hub_city_parent_hub":"asia\/kyrgyzstan","hw_hub_city_currency":"EUR","hw_hub_city_scope_rows":"1","hw_hub_country_states_title":"","hw_hub_country_states_intro":"","hw_hub_country_state_regions":"","hw_hub_country_states":"","hw_hub_state_hero_eyebrow":"","hw_hub_state_hero_h1":"","hw_hub_state_hero_intro":"","hw_hub_state_hero_image":"","hw_hub_state_hero_overlay":"","hw_hub_state_hero_cta":"","hw_hub_state_live_stats":"","hw_hub_state_stats":"","hw_hub_state_intro_title":"","hw_hub_state_intro_body":"","hw_hub_state_facts":"","hw_hub_state_areas_title":"","hw_hub_state_areas_intro":"","hw_hub_state_areas_zoom":"","hw_hub_state_hostels_pins":"","hw_hub_state_areas":"","hw_hub_state_itin_title":"","hw_hub_state_itin_intro":"","hw_hub_state_itin":"","hw_hub_state_do_title":"","hw_hub_state_do_body":"","hw_hub_state_do_points":"","hw_hub_state_do_tag":"","hw_hub_state_do_more":"","hw_hub_state_free_title":"","hw_hub_state_free_body":"","hw_hub_state_free_points":"","hw_hub_state_free_tag":"","hw_hub_state_free_more":"","hw_hub_state_food_title":"","hw_hub_state_food_body":"","hw_hub_state_food_points":"","hw_hub_state_food_tag":"","hw_hub_state_food_more":"","hw_hub_state_nightlife_title":"","hw_hub_state_nightlife_body":"","hw_hub_state_nightlife_points":"","hw_hub_state_nightlife_tag":"","hw_hub_state_nightlife_more":"","hw_hub_state_transport_title":"","hw_hub_state_transport_body":"","hw_hub_state_transport_points":"","hw_hub_state_transport_tag":"","hw_hub_state_transport_more":"","hw_hub_state_money_title":"","hw_hub_state_money_body":"","hw_hub_state_money_points":"","hw_hub_state_money_tag":"","hw_hub_state_money_more":"","hw_hub_state_safety_title":"","hw_hub_state_safety_body":"","hw_hub_state_safety_points":"","hw_hub_state_safety_tag":"","hw_hub_state_safety_more":"","hw_hub_state_layout":"","hw_hub_state_cities_title":"","hw_hub_state_cities_intro":"","hw_hub_state_cities_live":"","hw_hub_state_cities":"","hw_hub_state_cities_tag":"","hw_hub_state_cities_more":"","hw_hub_state_season_title":"","hw_hub_state_season_intro":"","hw_hub_state_season_note":"","hw_hub_state_season_rows":"","hw_hub_state_events_title":"","hw_hub_state_events_intro":"","hw_hub_state_events_source":"","hw_hub_state_events_count":"","hw_hub_state_events_cache":"","hw_hub_state_events_cta_label":"","hw_hub_state_events_cta_url":"","hw_hub_state_events":"","hw_hub_state_budget_title":"","hw_hub_state_budget_intro":"","hw_hub_state_budget_note":"","hw_hub_state_budget_rows":"","hw_hub_state_budget_currency":"","hw_hub_state_hostels_title":"","hw_hub_state_hostels_intro":"","hw_hub_state_hostels_cta_label":"","hw_hub_state_hostels_cta_url":"","hw_hub_state_hostels_source":"","hw_hub_state_hostels_count":"","hw_hub_state_hostels_cache":"","hw_hub_state_picks":"","hw_hub_state_hostels":"","hw_hub_state_faq_title":"","hw_hub_state_faq_note":"","hw_hub_state_faqs":"","hw_hub_state_cta_title":"","hw_hub_state_cta_body":"","hw_hub_state_cta_buttons":"","hw_hub_state_newsletter_title":"","hw_hub_state_newsletter_body":"","hw_hub_state_newsletter_shortcode":"","hw_hub_state_hub_term":"","hw_hub_state_country_slug":"","hw_hub_state_parent_hub":"","hw_hub_state_currency":"","hw_hub_state_scope_rows":""},"class_list":["post-1305348","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","wpbf-post"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Things to Do In Karakol - Hostelworld Travel Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Things to do in Karakol: the Dungan Mosque built without nails, the Sunday animal market and the Ala Kul trek, plus where to stay and what it costs.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/asia\/kyrgyzstan\/karakol\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Things to Do In Karakol - Hostelworld Travel Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Things to do in Karakol: the Dungan Mosque built without nails, the Sunday animal market and the Ala Kul trek, plus where to stay and what it costs.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/asia\/kyrgyzstan\/karakol\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Hostelworld Travel Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Hostelworld\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-10-02T10:09:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@hostelworld\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/asia\\\/kyrgyzstan\\\/karakol\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/asia\\\/kyrgyzstan\\\/karakol\\\/\",\"name\":\"Things to Do In Karakol - Hostelworld Travel Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-10-01T20:59:10+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-10-02T10:09:40+00:00\",\"description\":\"Things to do in Karakol: the Dungan Mosque built without nails, the Sunday animal market and the Ala Kul trek, plus where to stay and what it costs.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/asia\\\/kyrgyzstan\\\/karakol\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/asia\\\/kyrgyzstan\\\/karakol\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/asia\\\/kyrgyzstan\\\/karakol\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Travel Blog\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Asia\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/asia\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Kyrgyzstan\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/asia\\\/kyrgyzstan\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Karakol\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Hostelworld Travel Blog\",\"description\":\"Cheap Travel and Backpacking Tips\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Hostelworld\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"\",\"contentUrl\":\"\",\"caption\":\"Hostelworld\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.hostelworld.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/Hostelworld\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/hostelworld\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/hostelworld\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pinterest.co.uk\\\/hostelworld\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/hostelworld\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Things to Do In Karakol - Hostelworld Travel Blog","description":"Things to do in Karakol: the Dungan Mosque built without nails, the Sunday animal market and the Ala Kul trek, plus where to stay and what it costs.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/asia\/kyrgyzstan\/karakol\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Things to Do In Karakol - Hostelworld Travel Blog","og_description":"Things to do in Karakol: the Dungan Mosque built without nails, the Sunday animal market and the Ala Kul trek, plus where to stay and what it costs.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/asia\/kyrgyzstan\/karakol\/","og_site_name":"Hostelworld Travel Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Hostelworld","article_modified_time":"2026-10-02T10:09:40+00:00","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@hostelworld","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/asia\/kyrgyzstan\/karakol\/","url":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/asia\/kyrgyzstan\/karakol\/","name":"Things to Do In Karakol - Hostelworld Travel Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-10-01T20:59:10+00:00","dateModified":"2026-10-02T10:09:40+00:00","description":"Things to do in Karakol: the Dungan Mosque built without nails, the Sunday animal market and the Ala Kul trek, plus where to stay and what it costs.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/asia\/kyrgyzstan\/karakol\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/asia\/kyrgyzstan\/karakol\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/asia\/kyrgyzstan\/karakol\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Travel Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Asia","item":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/asia\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Kyrgyzstan","item":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/asia\/kyrgyzstan\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Karakol"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/","name":"Hostelworld Travel Blog","description":"Cheap Travel and Backpacking Tips","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Hostelworld","url":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"","contentUrl":"","caption":"Hostelworld"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Hostelworld","https:\/\/x.com\/hostelworld","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/hostelworld","https:\/\/www.pinterest.co.uk\/hostelworld\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/hostelworld"]}]}},"lang":"en","translations":{"en":1305348},"brizy_media":[],"pll_sync_post":{},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1305348","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/200"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1305348"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1305348\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1305355,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1305348\/revisions\/1305355"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1302893"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1305348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}