From Karakol to Jyrgalan and Alakol-Jyrgalan Eco Center

We drive from Karakol to Jyrgalan, to the easternmost point of our journey to Central Asia.

Jyrgalan

Jyrgalan is a former miner village, approx. 60 km east of Karakol that was set up for a coal mine. But for environmental protection reasons the mine was closed. Since 2013, Jyrgalan has been being developed for tourism with the help of Discover Kyrgyzstan and USAID. One built or expanded several guest accommodations.

The road from Karakol merges halfway into an unfastened gravel piste. It leads through the picturesque green hilly terrain. At the entrance to Jyrgalan, a barrier operated by a woman controls access to the place.

Most buildings are wooden houses with a shed for animals. Only a larger building stands out, it was the accommodation for the miners.

In the evening, one brings the grazing animals such as goats, sheep, and horses to their enclosures. There might be wolves in the region.

In the morning, the owners bring the cattle to an assembly point from where the cattle-drover take them to higher pastures. In the evening, one brings them back home. As a rule, each house has 3 to 5 cattle.

The village is surrounded by green hills and a little further away by high mountains. It is an ideal landscape for hiking, cycling or horse riding. In winter you can find good snow conditions here, which invite you to cross-country skiing and ski hiking. But you can also take a snowmobile to nearby mountains and ski down through untouched nature.

Alakol-Jyrgalan Eco center

We stay in the Alakol-Jyrgalan Eco center, operated by Emil and Gulmira Primova. It has a main house and a side house.

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In the main house are the office and a little day room which is the communication hub next to guest rooms.

The kitchen is in a little pavilion. Guest rooms and a dining hall also are in the outbuilding.

When they got the business opportunity Emil and Gulmira moved here from Karakol. They are very satisfied with the course of business for which they work tirelessly. Besides accommodation and food for the guests, they also offer the services for booking tours and renting skis, bicycles, or horses.

Recently there is also a sauna available.

So there is a constant coming and going of guests from all over the world.

Please read on > Bird’s Eye View of Jyrgalan

You like to visit Jyrgalan?

Please check Destination Jyrgalan for further information or assistance when planning your trip

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Disclosure: Our trip was organized in cooperation with Discover Kyrgyzstan, and made possible by the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). All opinions are our own.