Visiting Ala Archa National Park from Bishkek
Ala Archa is one of the best day trips from Bishkek, and for good reason. It has some beautiful mountain scenery, some great hiking, and is a welcome respite from the heat of the city. This guide will tell you exactly how to get to Ala Archa National Park from Bishkek by bus, what are some of the best hikes to do in Ala Archa National Park, and more top tips and advice.
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Planning a trip to Kyrgyzstan? Have a look at my 8 Day Kyrgyzstan itinerary here.
How to get to Ala Archa National Park from Bishkek by Bus
Taking the bus to Ala Archa National Park is the cheapest and most sustainable way of getting there from Bishkek. The bus is number 1, and it leaves from here, just behind the Lenin Statue. Someone has made a Google Maps pin named ‘Bus 1 (Ala Archa)’ which is very helpful. The bus makes several stops leaving Bishkek, but if you want any chance of getting a seat, you’ll need to get on at the beginning of the route.
The buses to Ala Archa leave about every 20 minutes starting from about 8am and run until about 7pm. Like most buses in Kyrgyzstan however, the schedule is very flexible, but either way you won’t be waiting long.
The bus to Ala Archa costs 40 som (approx. £0.35) each way, and you can pay on the bus by tapping a Visa card on the machine. The driver will help you if you have any troubles. They don’t accept cash.
The journey to Ala Archa on the bus takes about 45-50 minutes.
How Much is Entry to Ala Archa National Park?
When you arrive at the park entrance, you will need to pay for your entry ticket. This costs 250 som (approx. £2.10), and you can pay card or cash at the machines in the entrance hall. From here, you will get on a free bus which takes you all the way to the main centre of the park where you will find the trailheads, food vendors, cafes, toilets, and the cable car.
The Best Hikes in Ala Archa National Park
There are several great hikes in Ala Archa National Park, including some multi-day treks. However, if you’re visiting for a day, here are two popular hikes to do.
Aksay (Ak Sai) Waterfall and Razeka Station
One of the most popular hikes in Ala Archa National Park is to Aksay (or Ak Sai) waterfall. It’s relatively easy, and you can even skip the first incline by taking the cable car. From the top of the cable car, it’s almost completely flat until the last 300m or so where you’ll have a steep climb to the waterfall. It’s a nice place to sit and admire the views of the mountains and valleys. Without taking the cable car, it’s around a 4 hour return trip.
If you are ready for a challenge, continuing past Aksay waterfall takes you up to Razeka Station where you’ll find a hut with views of an incredible glacier. It’s not for the faint hearted, though, as it’ll take your total elevation gain to around 1200m. Once you’re up there, however, the views are stunning. You can opt to keep going a bit closer to the glacier, and this forms part of some of the multi-day treks in the National Park.
Upper Ala Archa Trail
The Upper Ala Archa Trail is an easy walk along the river in the valley and is absolutely beautiful. There is much less elevation gain, and you can turn around and come back whenever you want. There are plenty of spots to sit and enjoy the views, and it’s even a good way to rest after doing Razeka Station and Aksay waterfall.
I hope this guide to visiting Ala Archa National Park from Bishkek helps you plan your trip. It’s a great way to start or end your Kyrgyzstan itinerary. Unfortunately Ala Archa has a lot of construction going on at the moment (2026), so I am predicting that it’ll lose some of its charm soon as it gets busier. However, it’s still more peaceful than Bishkek, so I definitely recommend. As always, look after the places you visit and remember to only leave your footprints behind :)
Looking for more on Kyrgyzstan? Check out some of my other posts here:
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