Ala Archa National Park | How To Get There & What To Expect

You become mesmerized by the snow-covered peaks of the Tian Shan mountains towering behind the city of Bishkek from the first moment you see them. At least I did. If the same holds true for you, you’ll be glad to know that you can actually hike them. In fact, visiting Ala-Archa National Park in Kyrgyzstan, is not only one of the top things to do in Bishkek, it’s one of the top things to do in Kyrgyzstan.

18 miles (30 km) south of Bishkek, this park provides stunning beauty, as well as relief from the dusty, hot city. Read on to learn how to get from Bishkek to Ala-Archa National Park and what to do there.

These are serious mountains, so serious this was once a Soviet camp for climbers in military training. Don’t be put off by this. There’s something for everyone here, from easy to advanced.

Ala Archa National Park

Ala-Archa National park is in the Kyrgyz Ala-Too range of the Tian Shan mountains. There are more than 20 glaciers and 50 mountains. The park entrance is at 5,000’ (1,500 m) and the highest peak is 16,000’ (4,895 m), higher than most well-known mountains in Europe!

I read about hiking here and although it was high on my list, I admit that I was intimidated reading about the serious hiking and difficulty of getting from Bishkek to Ala Archa (more on that below). I am so glad, however, that I got over that and visited.

Ala Archa provides hiking options for almost everyone, from locals and casual tourists to serious climbers. Plus, you’ll be blown away by their beauty.

Easy Walk/Hike in Ala Archa National Park

If you only have an hour or two in the park, you can take an easy walk down to Ala-Archa river. Locals visit as well, often picnicking here. If you just want a relaxing day in nature, bring a blanket and some snacks with you and find a space to enjoy the scenery.

I’ve also read that horseback riding is an option, but didn’t see any information points or people to talk to. If you want this, I suggest arranging it in advance through your accommodation or via a tour.

Hike To Ak-Sai Waterfall

For a moderate hike up to Ak-Sai waterfall. According to AllTrails, this trail is 4.6 miles with 2,119’ (645.8 m) of elevation gain. Signage is limited, so download the map on AllTrails in advance or download maps.me and note its location so you can track to it.

This hike is not so much for the waterfall itself, but for the view of the valley from up above. It’s really a stunning hike up here.

If you want more of a view, but don’t want to hike all the way to Ratsek hut, you can go beyond the waterfall until you reach a clearing with a view of the valley.

Ala Archa to Ratsek Hut

If you want a stunning view and challenging hike, hike all the way to Ratsek Hut.

According to AllTrails, the total hike is 7.2 miles (11.59 km) with 4,081’ (1,243.89 m) of elevation gain. After the waterfall area, the ground becomes very steep. Plus, the ground is fine rock and sand, so you slip backwards a little with each step. This makes it extra challenging!

I didn’t realize until after I finished and converted metric to feet that what we did was almost half the distance of Bright Angel Trail in the Grand Canyon, with about the same elevation gain. In fact, if I hadn’t been hiking with a 19 year old from my hostel, I may have given up!

The elevation is so high, it was snowing up here, while it was sunny and warm at the entrance. I was very glad I had a jacket!

You can also see the Ak-Sai glacier from here, another spot to pre-mark on maps.me to know what you are looking for.

Ratsek Hut

Ratsek Hut (also spelled Racek) is named after Vladimir Ratsek (also Ratzek or Racek), a Soviet high altitude alpinist champion from the 1950’s. He made numerous ascents in the Tien Shan Mountains, including Kyrgyzstan’s highest peak at over 24,000’. Vladimir also helped to build Ratsek Hut. This hut honors his memory as Vladimir passed away in 1980.

The hut itself is pretty chill. They offered snacks, lunch or drinks. Note that the sign also offers vodka, whiskey, and champagne to celebrate trekking goals. If you make it to Ratsek, I certainly think that’s worth a celebration! I however, opted for potato chips and hot chocolate (this desert girl was cold and hungry).

There is also a sauna here (for a fee), so bring your suit.

Ratsek hut is actually a base camp for multiple adventures around the Ak-Sai Glacier area and surrounding peaks. Camping and dorm style bunk beds are an option for those wanting to explore more of this area, or to just stay for a night. For details and costs, visit www.ak-sai.com.

I read that over a hundred mountaineering treks have been mapped out in this area, and that there is likely more to be explored. To learn more about mountaineering here and the Ak-Sai Mountaineering School visit the link at www.ak-sai.com.

Note: the Ak-Sai links above are not sponsored links.

How To Get From Bishkek To Ala Archa National Park

There are several options for visiting Ala-Archa National Park. Outside of having your own vehicle, the following are the best ways to get from Bishkek to Ala Archa National Park.

Marshrutka (Mini Bus)

The least expensive, but most challenging way to get to Ala Archa is to take marshrutka #265 from Bishkek. It goes to Kashka Suu village, which I heard is about 4-5 miles (7 km) from the park gate. The cost is around 30 SOM, which is less than $.50. I read that you can ask to be dropped off near the gate for an extra fee. Be prepared to request this in Russian and negotiate the price for the extra distance. The entrance fee is 80 SOM, or a little more than $1.

The problem, however, is that the trail does not start for an additional 7.5 miles (12 km) of asphalt road, from the entrance, called the Alplagar trailhead. Many suggest hitchhiking that. I ended up taking a taxi with someone from my hostel and we picked up a hitchhiker doing just this.

Marshrutka #265 leaves near Osh Bazaar. If you type in “265 to Ala Archa” in Bishkek on maps.me, it shows the bus stop on the southeast side of the southeast corner of Osh Bazaar.

If you choose this option and plan to return the same way, the last marshrutka returns from Kashka Suu village around 5 PM. One thing to know about the marshrutka, is they do not operate on set schedules, they leave only when seats are full.

Taxi

Another option is to take, or share a taxi. As noted above, I did this with someone from my hostel. It was around 850 SOM and we were driven the extra 7.5 miles (12 km) to the start of the trail (specify the Alplagar trailhead). You also need to pay 500 SOM per car to get past the entrance (1,000 SOM for minivan). We had to pay this for the taxi too. Our taxi picked up someone hitchhiking from the entrance to the trail, so rides do happen.

To get back, we got lucky and met some wonderful people from Bishkek on the trail that had a car. They kindly offered us a ride all the way back to town. They also owned a hotel in Bishkek, which I decided to stay in for the rest of my stay. And yes, I insisted they take money for gas even though they didn’t want it.

Alternatively, you can arrange to have a taxi pick you up at a certain time.

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Tours

If you don’t want to struggle with transportation, you can take a guided tour to the park to hike. If you just want to hike along the Ala Archa River or up to Ak-Sai Waterfall, I recommend this tour: Wildlife Hiking Adventure in Ala Archa National Park. It includes hotel pickup. Another option that looks great is this Hike In Ala Archa National Park.

If you want to hike to Ratsek Hut, like I did, it will take longer, so I would discuss this with the tour operator in advance and see if it is an option. If you do this, make sure to bring good hiking boots, a winter jacket, and water.

Where To Stay Near Ala Archa

If you want to stay near Ala Archa, there are places within a few miles of the main gate. Keep in mind, however, that this will still require a taxi as the trails start about 7.5 miles (12 km) from the main gate.

• Guest House NAUKA#81 – about 1 mile (1.6 km) from the Ala Archa main gate. Each room at this inexpensive guesthouse comes with a patio with a garden view and a shared bathroom with a mountain view. 
• Olive Ala Archa Hotel – about 1.3 miles (2 km) from the main gate, this 3-star hotel offers terraces and mountain views
• Happy Flower Guest House – about 4.8 miles (7.7 km) from the main gate, this guesthouse is located in Verkhnyaya Alaarcha. It has a shared dining and lounge space with a large woodburning fireplace and big-theater style TV.

Where To Stay In Bishkek

The place where I stayed is no longer open, so I’ve researched some centrally located places for you at a variety of price points that are highly rated.

Shoestring

• Izzzi Hostel  This hostel gets stellar reviews and is centrally located. There are lockers in the dorms and privacy panels on the beds.
• Nomad Inn Located about a 40-minute walk south of Ala Too Square, this inexpensive Inn is a little farther away. It offers twin beds and a shared kitchen.

Budget

• AURA on Kievskaya, 168 is a basic, but highly rated apartment is centrally located about a 20-minute walk west of Ala Too Square. There’s a full sized bed and kitchen. Also near Sierra Coffee, my favorite cafe here.
• Bishkek Promenade This centrally located apartment with 1 bedroom (full sized bed) and a kitchen, gets great reviews. It’s a 10-minute walk west of Ala Too Square.
• Logvinenko Apartment This 1 bedroom apartment has a terrace with city views, and a kitchen. It gets great reviews and is located about a 10-minute walk north of Ala Too Square.
• Brand New One Bedroom Apartment With Amazing View Cozy 1 bedroom apartment with kitchen and balcony with amazing view. This one does not have many reviews yet, but the few it does have are very positive. It’s located about 10 to 15-minute walk east of Ala Too Square.

Affordable

• Orion Hotel If you want something more grand, Orion Hotel is a 5-star hotel located about  a 15 to 20-minute walk south of Ala Too Square. 

Want More Of Kyrgyzstan?

With its stunning snow-capped mountains, brilliant alpine lakes, verdant forests, and lush, grassy steppes, Kyrgyzstan is full of jaw-dropping beauty and interesting things to do.

If you’re staying in Bishkek, read my Top 22 Things To Do in Bishkek, which also includes an overview of other amazing day trips.

There’s also Burana Tower, where you can see the remains of the capital of the Karakhanid Empire, which once accepted thousands of caravans on the Silk Road.

And there’s two amazing canyons to see here. The first is Fairy Tale Canyon, which provides a fascinating series of windswept red formations south of Issyk Kul Lake. The other is Konorchek Canyon, a vast red canyon that’s like a mini Grand Canyon.

Safe Travels!

Julie