FANTASIA -> Kyrgyzstan -> Highlights -> Ala-Archa National Park

ALA-ARCHA NATIONAL PARK

This area of outstanding natural beauty is situated less than an hour’s drive south of Bishkek. It offers a number of walking, trekking and mountaineering possibilities, including hikes to glaciers and waterfalls. Ala-Archa is the Kyrgyz for "variegated juniper" and it grows in abundance over the mountain slopes.

Near the entrance to the gorge there is a small gate, where the local authorities charge some fee from visitors. Several kilometres up the valley located an old and partly destroid by time and people "Alplager" - the Soviet basecamp for climbers - which end it's days along with soviet era.

Ala-Archa is a well-known place with the citizens of Bishkek, who like to take walks amid unspoilt nature, relax by a waterfall and enjoy a picnic in the summer or visit climbers’ graveyard. Experienced hikers can climb up to the Ak-Sai Canyon and Ak-Sai Glacier surrounded by region’s highest peaks. Amazing landscapes, fresh air and coolness of the mountains along with short distance makes Ala-Archa overcrowded on weekends and holidays while on work days you hardly can meet any people.

Be aware that the ice cold and beautiful Ala-Archa River, flowing along the gorge can be wild and dangerous at the beginning of spring and in early summer.

Ala-Archa is a Bishkek's climbing and hiking centre. It hosts world class ice, rock, mixed alpine climbing and some hiking possibilities to occupy anywhere from an afternoon to weeks. Optional hikes here are:

AK-SAI valley- take a left valley from the small gate at climber's camp. The trail starts just behind a newly built triangle hotel and winds up to Ak-Sai glacier which hosts the region's highest peak Semenova-Tienshanskogo (4837 m). On the way it passes 25 metres waterfall - where most of the people give up, experienced riders can get here on the back of the horse. Further up is a Ratsek cabin with an amazing landscape on the background. From here starts well known climbing routes.

MAIN ALA-ARCHA valley - another option is to follow poor jeep track straight up the valley from climber's camp. Just a few km up there is a good point for panoramic shots of Ak-Sai valley and Peak Ala-Archa which dominates over the area. Another 18 km up is an old ski base which used to access skiers 12 months a year. Along with hiking a good idea could be a horse riding along the valley but some arrangements needed as this service is not always available.

ADYGENE valley - it is the valley on the right side, a little bit below the climber's camp. There is a trail starts from the parking area and goes over the poor bridge up the valley. One of highlights here is a small cemetery for those who died while climbing. There are only a few graves with a real human remainings, most contains only fragments of clothes or equipment as the owners were not found. There is also a small monument placed outside the boundaries for the climber who committed suicide cutting the rope to free his party and not to pull them down with him. Up in the left corner there is a helicopter blade - the monument to commemorate the pilots crushed in the area. The trail contunies another 7 km up through the fur tree forest to Adygene glacier - this is probably less visited area in the whole park with a rich wild and bird life.

You may want to go by yourself or may prefer us to take care of all organisational aspects and really enjoy the trip rather than worry about execution. Please contact us for detailes.

Remember some areas should be avoided unless you are with a local guide who know the area.