Ala-Archa National Park

Ala-Archa is the mountain park on Bishkek's doorstep. About 40 kilometres south of the city, the Ala-Archa river cuts a long gorge into the Kyrgyz Ala-Too range, and from the park gate the road climbs to the old alpine camp at roughly 2,150 metres, where most walks begin. The name means 'bright' or 'motley juniper', after the archa trees that grow on the slopes with Tian Shan spruce. Above them rise more than fifty glaciers and a crown of peaks over 4,000 metres, among them Semenov-Tianshansky, the highest in the range at about 4,880 metres, and the much-photographed Korona.

Walks

• Riverside walk: an easy hour or two up the main valley from the alpine camp, through spruce forest and meadows.
• Ak-Sai waterfall: a half-day hike with a steady climb to a waterfall below the Ak-Sai valley.
• Ratsek hut: a strenuous ascent of about 1,200 metres to a mountain hut at around 3,350 metres, with close views of the Ak-Sai glacier and the surrounding peaks; fit hikers do it as a long day, others stay overnight.
• Adygine valley: a parallel side valley with glacier lakes, for a longer day or a camp.

In winter the lower valley is a popular place for snowshoeing and cross-country walks, and the park is a training ground for Kyrgyz mountaineers year-round.

Wildlife and flora

Ibex live on the higher slopes, and snow leopards are reported in the remote upper valleys, though very rarely seen. In early summer the meadows are full of wildflowers, including wild tulips at lower levels in spring.

Practical notes

Allow 45 minutes to an hour by car from central Bishkek. An entrance fee is charged per person and per vehicle at the gate. Weekends are busy with city residents. Weather changes fast: bring water, sun protection and a warm layer even for a short walk. Ala-Archa is a good acclimatisation day before Song-Kul or a Tian Shan trek, and pairs with the Burana tower for a two-day Bishkek programme.