KG
Ala-Archa
An alpine gorge of glaciers, juniper forest and waterfalls, an hour from Bishkek
An alpine gorge of glaciers, juniper forest and waterfalls, an hour from Bishkek
The main valley follows the river past juniper (archa) forest beneath snowy peaks.
Photo: Davide Mauro, CC BY-SA 4.0
An easy-to-moderate trail of about 4km each way leads to the waterfall, one of the most popular hikes in the park.
Photo: Davide Mauro, CC BY-SA 4.0
A steep hike leads to the Ratsek mountaineering hut at 3,400m, below the Ak-Sai glacier and peaks such as Korona.
Acclimatise and start early; weather changes fast.
Photo: Калачев Сергей, CC BY 3.0
Picnic spots and short trails line the river near the park entrance.
Photo: Arnoldus9, CC0
There are few places to eat inside the park, so bring a picnic and water from Bishkek. A small hotel and café near the entrance serve simple meals in season.
Back in Bishkek, try beshbarmak, lagman and samsa.
Ala-Archa is about 40km south of Bishkek, around an hour by taxi. There is no regular public transport to the park entrance, so most visitors take a taxi or tour.
An entrance fee is charged per person and per vehicle.
Kyrgyzstan uses the som (KGS).
A day trip or an overnight hike.
Hike to the Ak-Sai waterfall and back.
Climb to the Ratsek hut for glacier views, staying overnight.
Go slowly above 3,000m.
Bring water and snacks.
Storms can arrive quickly.
Agree a return pick-up time.
Quick answers for planning time in Ala-Archa.
About 40km, around an hour by taxi.
About 4km each way.
Around 3,400m.
Not regularly; take a taxi or tour.
June to September.
Planning a wider trip? Our Kyrgyzstan travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.