Larry Memmott's Blog

Ala Archa is the first out-of-Bishkek experience for most Expats in Kyrgyzstan.  And it should be.  Ala Archa is incredible, and it has something for practically anyone.  The hiking ranges from a paved (but closed to vehicles) walkway up the canyon (close to a mile) to technical climbing of the high peaks.  The latter is beyond my abilities or interests, but I can recommend a few good hikes and one nice loop drive.

To Ala Archa

This is almost too easy to bother with, but if you just got to Bishkek, maybe you do need directions.  It’s easy.  Straight out Prospect Mira (past the U.S. Embassy) to the last traffic light (just a block before the street ends at the Ala Archa Presidential Residence).  Turn right.  Continue to the first traffic light, and turn left, and up you go, straight up to the end of the road.

You will have to stop at a gate on the way and pay an admission fee for the park.

I’m attaching a .gdb file you can use with your GPS or Google Earth to orient yourself.

At the end of the road is a small hotel and a couple of small café’s.  There are also restrooms there and for the first mile up the canyon.

Here are some of the hiking alternatives:

Straight Up The Canyon

The first mile is an easy saunter up the paved (but closed to traffic) road.  There are benches and picnic tables scattered along, so it’s a nice place for a family outing.  There are even pit toilets!

Beyond the first mile, the trail fords a small stream and you begin to climb the valley a bit more seriously.  Still, this is a relatively easy train and one that anyone who is reasonably fit will enjoy.  As you are mostly climbing the valley floor, it is a good, safe trail for the kids, too.

Adygene Valley Loop and Extension

This is a much more interesting hike, from my perspective, anyway.  You climb up past the Climber’s Cemetery to a meadow of wildflowers and then down the other side of the valley.  There is an extension you can follow as far as you like – reportedly it takes you over the Sokuluk Canyon in a couple of days.

The Waterfall & The Climber’s Lodge

One of the best-known hikes takes you up to a waterfall well above the canyon floor.  You can then continue on to a hut which serves as base camp for climbers mounting some of the nearby peaks.

Another alternative is to enjoy the drive from the Ala Archa Canyon to the next canyon east, Alamedin.