Ala-Archa National Park

Ala-Archa is Bishkek’s mountain playground. A narrow road climbs from the city into a gorge lined with juniper (archa) and spruce, ending at a trailhead surrounded by 4,000-metre peaks.

Trails

• Ak-Sai waterfall — 3–4 hours return, a steady climb to a 30-metre cascade.
• Ratsek hut — a full-day hike to the climbers’ hut under the Ak-Sai glacier.
• Valley walk — an easy riverside path for families and acclimatisation.

Bring layers: even in July it can snow above 3,000 metres.