Ala-Archa National Park

Kyrgyzstan

A visit to Ala-Archa is easily the most popular day trip for visitors to Bishkek, for equal parts ease of accessibility and spectacular mountain landscapes. It's just a 45-minute drive from the centre of town. Pick from three trails that range from gentle to steep, or just stake out some space beside the alplager and spend the day in the fresh mountain air.

Many locals head up for the day just to picnic on the mountains slopes under the namesake juniper (арча) trees – burning boughs of which are said to ward off evil spirits from the home.

Contact

Address

Kashka-Suu village

Get In Touch

(0)701-551693

http://ala-archa.kg/

Suggest an edit to this attraction

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

State Museum of Fine Arts

22.79 MILES

Collections of Kyrgyz embroidery and felt rugs, a splendid variety of paintings, and rotating exhibitions of local and international touring works all…
Ala-Too Square

22.47 MILES

Surveyed by a triumphant statue of Айкол Манас (Mighty Manas), Bishkek's nominal centre is architecturally neobrutalist in style but has a photogenic…
Osh Bazaar

22.11 MILES

Bishkek's most central bazaar has a certain compulsive interest and is an important city landmark. For traditional Kyrgyz clothes, including white…
Nissa Art Salon

22.7 MILES

Originally built as the St Nicholas Cathedral, the steeple was removed and this space converted to an art museum during the Soviet period. The building…
Art Group 705

21.8 MILES

Well-curated irregular exhibitions on a wide variety of themes and a grungy hipster-chic space make this a great stop for art seekers. Go through the gate…
Gallery M

22.32 MILES

This one-room gallery hosts rotating thematic exhibitions of works primarily by local artists. Much of it is for sale, and there is a handful of applied…
Dubovy Park

22.69 MILES

Where wide, green Erkindik (Freedom) Ave enters this pleasant central park, artists sell a range of locally themed paintings. There's a small open-air…
Dordoi Bazaar

26.62 MILES

This bazaar built primarily of repurposed shipping has shrunk somewhat since Kyrgyzstan joined the Eurasian Customs Union, but is still an atmospheric…

View more attractions

Nearby Kyrgyzstan attractions

1. Belogorka Waterfall

10.16 MILES

The 60m Belogorka Waterfall is one of the most impressive in the Bishkek area. The surrounding valley is dominated by a sharply pointed spike of mountain…

2. Ata-Beyit Memorial Complex

12.49 MILES

This memorial complex, the name of which means 'Grave of Our Fathers' in Kyrgyz, commemorates a mass grave in which the bodies of 137 local intelligentsia…

3. Art Group 705

21.8 MILES

Well-curated irregular exhibitions on a wide variety of themes and a grungy hipster-chic space make this a great stop for art seekers. Go through the gate…

4. Gapar Aitiev Studio Museum

22.07 MILES

Run by the son of the legend himself, this was once the working studio of Kyrgyz National Artist Gapar Aitiev. It will be of interest to visitors with a…

5. Osh Bazaar

22.11 MILES

Bishkek's most central bazaar has a certain compulsive interest and is an important city landmark. For traditional Kyrgyz clothes, including white…

6. Gallery M

22.32 MILES

This one-room gallery hosts rotating thematic exhibitions of works primarily by local artists. Much of it is for sale, and there is a handful of applied…

7. White House

22.47 MILES

The seat of government in Kyrgyzstan, the sidewalk out front of this Stalinist Modern construction is also the site of regular protests organised by local…

8. Ala-Too Square

22.47 MILES

Surveyed by a triumphant statue of Айкол Манас (Mighty Manas), Bishkek's nominal centre is architecturally neobrutalist in style but has a photogenic…

View more attractions