Ala-Archa National Park

Address 40 km south of Bishkek

The most popular day trip from Bishkek — an alpine gorge in the Kyrgyz Ala-Too range, 40 km south of the city. The park stretches over 200 square kilometres of forest, meadow, glacier and rock peaks up to 4,895 metres. The lower gorge is suitable for casual walking; the upper trails reach to the Adygene and Ak-Sai glaciers and are popular with serious climbers.

A taxi from Bishkek runs around 1,500 KGS one way; a marshrutka goes most of the way and you walk or hitch the last few kilometres. The entrance fee is modest. Best in late spring through early autumn; in winter the lower trails are still walkable.

things to do sight Listed by Journal of Nomads
A story
Ala-Archa was set up as a national park in 1976. The area was a hunting ground for the Communist Party leadership of the Kirghiz SSR — the wooden lodge at the entrance, now part of the visitor centre, was originally a presidential dacha. A small alpine cemetery near the trailhead contains the graves of climbers who died on the surrounding peaks.