The Ala-Archa Gorge is one of the most famous sights of Kyrgyzstan. The Ala-Archa Gorge is located in the Chui region and is a national park. Every year, hundreds of thousands of domestic and foreign tourists visit this high-altitude gorge. There are several reasons for such popularity. Firstly, the Ala-Archa gorge is located just 30 km from Bishkek, which makes it easily accessible and provides the infrastructure necessary for tourism: paved roads, shops, hotels, cafes and places to relax in the picturesque nature.
Secondly, the Ala-Archa gorge has geographical features. It is located in the middle and highest part of the Kyrgyz Mountains – the second longest ridge of the Tien Shan. Therefore, the mountains rise as high as possible above the plain, and from here begin numerous mountain trails leading to the highest peaks of the Kyrgyz Mountains.
Ala-Archa is famous for its untouched nature: vast spruce and birch forests, numerous springs fed by clear glacial waters, and mighty rocks.
Ala-Archinsky gorge.
There are many hiking, trekking, mountaineering and rock climbing routes in the Ala-Archa Gorge. That is why the world-famous Alpine camp “Ala-Archa”, founded about 70 years ago, is located here. Every year, numerous ascents are made from here to such peaks of the Tien Shan as Korona, Adigen, Komsomolets, Teacher, Pioneer, Free Korea, Boxing and to the highest peak of the Kyrgyz Mountains – Semenov-Chan-Shan Peak (4876 m). Every year, on May 1, an Alpinade is held, which begins with a mass ascent to Komsomolets peak (4160 m) and continues until the end of the May holidays. Various mountaineering competitions, including the World Championship, are held here every year.
A few kilometers from the Alpine camp there is another attraction of Ala-Alchi – the shelter “North Star”. There is a monument to many climbers who conquered the slopes of the Tien Shan.
Five kilometers east of the Alpine Camp, near the Ak-Sai glacier, there is a Ratsek hut, which serves as a base camp for climbing most of the peaks of Ala-Archi.
At the far end of the gorge, almost 20 km from the Alpine Camp, is the Upper Ala-Alcha. At the foot of the Large Ala-Archa Glacier there is a small house that was once part of a ski base. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the base fell into disrepair, but the houses remained and are still visited by tourists.
How to get to Ala-Archi?
The National Park is located on the territory of the gorge, so the entrance to its territory is paid. The entrance to the gorge can be reached by minibus 265, which runs during the day from the Osh market (specify whether it goes to the protected area).
