Ala-Archa National Park is one of the main attractions of Kyrgyzstan. It is located on the Kyrgyz ridge in 40 km from Bishkek. And if you have not been there yet, we should go there.
Archa is kind of juniper. The name of the park comes due to the abundance of juniper bushes covering slopes of mountains. Also Tien-Shan spruce and about 600 different species of plants grow here.
The national park is home for many animals and birds. There are hoofed mammals: ibex, wild boar and roe deer. Predators - foxes, wolves, also very rare snow leopard and Turkestan lynx. Besides there are small animals: marmot, hare, marten, and ermine. Birds - partridges, ular, eagles and vultures.
You may ask: «Why going exactly to Ala-Archa?» Because here, in the closeness to the city, you can see a lot of mountain reliefs and landscapes: birch and larch trees, spruce forests and thickets of juniper, alpine meadows, mountain lakes and waterfalls, glaciers and rock walls. And everything is possible in one day. National Park available is year round. And if you are not afraid of cold weather, in the winter you can plunge into a real fairy tale and enjoy beauty and majesty of the area.
Behind the entrance gates, there is picturesque mountain road with good asphalt to the resort. Alpine camp Ala-Archa is located at an altitude of 2100 m above sea level. This place was as Mecca for Soviet climbers, who arranged meetings, trainings and climbing.
8 a.m. Leaving Bishkek
The road takes about an hour by car to Ala-Archa resort. There we go deeper into the spruce forest not far from main road. The path gently climbs up along the slope and brings us to the rock with name "Broken Heart" and then further to high-altitude meadows. Then crossing Sharkyratma stream, we come up to Ak-Sai waterfall. Here is good place for relax or lunch. We continue our way upon long steep climb, and in the end you can enjoy beautiful panorama from Ratsek hut. Some rest is planned near mountain huts, among rocky walls and snow peaks. Altitude is here 3300 meters above sea level. For example Bishkek locates on 700 - 900 meters. This is the ending point of today's tour for normal people.
The strongest members can go to the lake formed on glacier or climb to the plateau of Ak-Sai glacier. The way down takes almost twice less than the ascent. Optionally, we can change route by going through Tepshi pass and down to Ala-Archa gorge below Ala Archa resort itself. From there we return to the city by car.
7 p.m. Return to Bishkek
8 a.m. Leaving Bishkek
Road by car to alpine camp Ala-Archa it takes about an hour. From here, crossing the crystal-clear river Ala-Archa on the bridge, we go to the west to the gorge with the beautiful name Adygene. The trail passes through beautiful larch forest and the memorial to the dead climbers. You will learn a few sad stories about mountaineers. Further you will see the peaks of Adygene and Electro. The gently sloping pathway alternates with steep slopes. After the forest zone, alpine meadows begin, and then glacial sediments - moraines.
The strongest participants will be able to reach the glaciers. There are magnificent panoramas and the lake in the glacier, surrounded by beautiful snow peaks. A glaciological station on the shore for climate monitoring. Way down the same route. And then we return to the city by car.
8 a.m. Leaving Bishkek
Road by car to alpine camp Ala-Archa it takes about an hour. Then we continue on the road, by foot. A narrow strip of asphalt road will lead us to a large stone plateau. We cross the plateau with lots of streams and continue on a destructed road. All the way in front of us we see Ala-Archa peak. The track goes from one shore to other shore. Stormy river becomes quiet and finally disappears beneath glacial sediments - moraine. There is no exact point of the end of the journey; it depends of the weather when we go down. In the evening we return back to the city by car.
7 p.m. Return to Bishkek
Please follow the guides' recommendations and do not leave the group without notifying the guides.
It is recommended to bring:
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