Ala-Archa National Park

Ala-Archa is a high-mountain gorge national park situated about 40 kilometres south of Bishkek in the Kyrgyz Ala-Too range, making it the most accessible alpine wilderness from the capital. The main valley rises steeply through fir and spruce forest before opening into glaciated terrain above 3000 metres, with several peaks exceeding 4500 metres. Day hikes to the Ak-Sai glacier and longer mountaineering routes to the summit of Semyonov-Tian-Shansky Peak attract both casual visitors and serious climbers.