Karagat Hotel

We stayed at Karagat Hotel during our Silk Road journey as our first stop in Kyrgyzstan, arriving by land from Almaty to Karakol. This was an overnight stopover as part of our travel through the mountain areas, and we knew that hotel options in Karakol are limited. Having experienced a wide range of accommodations—from luxury to basic—this hotel unfortunately did not meet our expectations. Room Conditions & Maintenance: The hotel felt poorly maintained overall. We had issues with our shower head which we had to hold while standing in the bathtub trying to take a shower, other room toilet didn’t flash, but housekeeping staff & handyman race de responded quickly and resolved it. We saw at least four rooms, and they varied greatly in size. Most common were twin rooms, but a few were very large rooms with king-sized beds—almost too large, giving a feeling of wasted space or unfinished design. The interior design was lacking, especially when ethnic ornament’s are relatively easy to implement in Kyrgyzstan. In our room, the curtains were torn in several places and there were no proper blackout curtains, which affected sleep quality. These details left a poor impression. Breakfast & Service: I personally skipped breakfast, but those in our group who did eat described it as nothing special—just a basic meal. On the upside, staff were friendly and helpful, which did make a difference. Conclusion: If you’re just passing through Karakol and need a bed and accommodating staff for a night, this hotel might suffice. But if you’re planning to stay more than one night or are looking for comfort and style, I’d recommend exploring other accommodations in the area

I was given a small Spartan room on the back of the hotel. Whilst the room was clean it had no bedside lighting so you had to turn the light off on the wall before getting into bed. The bathroom had a cheap plastic bath without a plug a a shower head that had trouble staying on the wall. The toilet was squeezed in at the side of the bath. The breakfast was average with not a lot of choice.

Me and my wife stayed at this hotel for two nights during our excursion throughout Kyrgyzstan. The room we stayed was huge, comprising an entry hall, a big twin bedroom with fridge and coffee machine and a bathroom. It comprised also a balcony with a nice view over the city. We know however (because we were part of a group of 14 people) that not every room in the hotel is that big or has a balcony. I guess we were just lucky… Anyway, it was a very comfortable stay. The staff was helpful every time we asked for their assistance. It is a pity however that the hotel is clearly a little old, lacking some maintenance in small details that could enhance the guest’s comfort (e.g. one can see all the plumbing hanging from the walls, a stuck toilet flush that I had to repair myself, a bathtub that is not well fixed to the ground, being a bit unstable, etc.).