Snow Leopard Hostel in Karakol

If you want a fun, super social stay in Karakol, Snow Leopard might not be the spot for you. But if you are looking for a cozy stay with fellow trekkers looking to connect and superb hospitality, this is the stay I would recommend. We chose a dorm room the night before our trek to Ala Kul, and while the amenities were basic, they were very comfortable. We were in a 4 bed bunk room with an en-suite bathroom, and we had two lovely roommates who were also preparing to set off on the trek. There are no curtains/not much privacy, but this is more of a guest house than a hostel. The owner helped us arrange our lodging at Sirota camp, Altyn Arashan, and a 4x4 taxi to the first bridge (I recommend this). Breakfast was also good value for 300 som. The property offers laundry with hang dry, but we did not utilize this amenity. When we returned from our trek, we opted for a private twin room, which was a great way to unwind and stretch out after our adventure. We would definitely return to Snow Leopard if we go back to Karakol!

We had a lovely stay here - the owners are a lovely family, they speak superb English and were able to help us with everything we needed. The room was a decent size, the bed was pretty comfy and there was decent hot water and wifi. The property was spotlessly clean. The location is on the outskirts of the city, but as we don't mind walking it didn't bother us at all. Great views of the mountains nearby when the weather allowed! All in all a great stay!

We had read that people had used the kitchen to prepare their own food, but this wasn't available to use when we asked. Just to warn people not to expect it.

Unusual review as we didn’t even stay here - but we found Jalil’s contact from an online forum, he graciously helped us arrange transport and tours around Karakol and back to Manas airport. His hospitality and generosity made our Kyrgyzstan experience that much smoother and even better, I can’t even imagine how good a stay at his cosy family run hostel would be! Thank you so much Jalil, all the best, and we will be back ☺️

Pretty much a perfect hostel experience.
Not as social as most other hostels, but you're very close to social bars so that makes up for that.
The rooms are very clean and comfortable (plus a private bathroom is always great!).
The common area is clean and quaint. Very enjoyable experience overall.

From the moment I arrived, the owner warmly welcomed me and offered me tea. We had a lovely chat, and I truly felt his sincere hospitality. The room was clean, and all the staff were very friendly. As someone who runs a hostel in Japan, I learned a lot from my stay here.

Thank you for everything—I hope to come back someday.

Kai from Japan