CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES:
Coal sales	$ 1,861,788	$ 2,158,006		$ 2,208,611
Transportation revenues	30,111	33,597		26,021
Other sales and operating revenues	39,124	81,708		65,692
Total revenues	1,931,023	2,273,311	[1]	2,300,324	[1]
EXPENSES:
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation, depletion and amortization)	1,138,848	1,377,053		1,383,360
Transportation expenses	30,111	33,597		26,021
Outside coal purchases	1,514	327		14
General and administrative	75,087	69,076		76,699
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	322,509	333,713		274,566
Asset impairment		100,130
Total operating expenses	1,568,069	1,913,896		1,760,660
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS	362,954	359,415		539,664
Interest expense (net of interest capitalized of $358, $695 and $833, respectively)	(30,669)	(31,153)		(33,584)
Interest income	14	1,460		1,671
Equity in income (loss) of affiliates	3,543	(49,046)		(16,648)
Acquisition gain, net		22,548
Other income	725	955		1,566
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	336,567	304,179		492,669
INCOME TAX EXPENSE	14	21
NET INCOME	336,553	304,158		492,669
LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	(150,619)	(92,846)		(208,318)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P. ("NET INCOME OF AHGP")	$ 185,934	$ 211,312		$ 284,351
BASIC NET INCOME OF AHGP PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT (in dollars per unit)	$ 3.11	$ 3.53		$ 4.75
DILUTED NET INCOME OF AHGP PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT (in dollars per unit)	3.11	3.53		4.75
DISTRIBUTIONS PAID PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT (in dollars per unit)	$ 2.6100	$ 3.7725		$ 3.4375
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF UNITS OUTSTANDING – BASIC (in units)	59,863,000	59,863,000		59,863,000
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF UNITS OUTSTANDING - DILUTED (in units)	59,863,000	59,863,000		59,863,000

[1] Revenues included in the Other and Corporate column are primarily attributable to the Matrix Group revenues, Mt. Vernon transloading revenues, administrative service revenues from affiliates, MAC revenues, Wildcat Insurance revenues and brokerage coal sales.