Arashan Hotel — Hotel in Issyk-Kul Region

Absolutely the worst hostel experience in my entire life. If I had read the bad reviews carefully beforehand, I would have never come. Unfortunately, everything in those negative reviews turned out to be true.

The owner (who also acts as the manager) tries to charge you extra for every little thing — without informing you in advance. He placed me in a staff accommodation, which looked like it was still under construction and lacked proper lighting. I was never informed about this beforehand, nor about the extra charges.

When I pointed out that this was dishonest and called it what it is – a scam, the owner became furious, started yelling, and told me to apologize or get out. He forcibly kicked me out in the middle of the night, in the freezing cold, without letting me get my jacket. He physically threw my backpack outside. I’m not exaggerating when I say I feared for my safety.

On top of that, the owner entered my room without permission, claiming “this is my house” – completely ignoring the fact that guests have a right to privacy when they pay for accommodation. This is not a home; it’s a public business. If you can’t respect guest privacy, don’t run a hostel.

I’ve also come to believe that this owner has a racial bias. I was treated with noticeable hostility from the beginning, and I’ve now read other reviews, other guests experienced something very similar. It appears there is a pattern of discrimination, which is completely unacceptable and needs to be called out.

There are many similar reports of scams, unclean facilities and mistreatment in other reviews. I should’ve believed them sooner.

Please do not support this business. There are better, locally-run alternatives in Altyn Arashan where you’ll be treated with basic human respect. This man is not a local and clearly does not care about the land, the guests, or even safety....

I recently had the pleasure of staying at this place, and despite an initial hiccup with our booking not being processed, the experience turned out to be exceptional, thanks to the amazing service we received. Upon arrival, we discovered that our booking hadn't gone through, which could have been a major inconvenience. However, the two gentlemen at the reception went above and beyond to ensure our stay was nothing short of perfect. Their professionalism and warm hospitality turned what could have been a stressful situation into a seamless and enjoyable experience.

As a vegetarian, I often find it challenging to find suitable options when traveling. To my delight, the staff here were incredibly accommodating.

Their attentiveness and willingness to go the extra mile made me feel truly valued as a guest.

I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a stay where excellent service is guaranteed. The reception team deserves special mention for their outstanding hospitality. I will definitely be returning for...

We camped out our first night at around 0 degrees, in rain and hail. The next morning we arrived at the hotel and received a truly warm welcome. We could check in immediately, which was a huge relief after the rough night. Guests are offered free tea, and the stay includes both a comfortable bed and access to the hot springs—perfect for warming up and relaxing.

What really stood out, though, was the service. Since it was still very cold, we asked for additional blankets, which were brought right away. We were also allowed to enjoy our own dinner in the common area, even though that is where their food is usually served. These small gestures made us feel incredibly cared for.

Overall, this hotel combined comfort, hospitality, and thoughtful details in a way that turned our trip from freezing and exhausting to warm and restorative. Highly...