Mountains / Parks

If you have very little time allotted to Bishkek and its surroundings, the best thing you can do is to visit Ala-Archa National Park. It is located just 30 km south of Bishkek on the slopes of the Kyrgyz ridge.

This place is very popular among citizens of Bishkek primarily because of its proximity to Bishkek, as well as beautiful nature, a riot of colors, cool rivers, where you can take shelter from the sweltering summer heat. "Ala" is translated as "colorful" and “Archa” is kyrgyz word for juniper that abundantly covers slopes of local mountains.

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From Bishkek to Issyk-Kul lake, for 112 km road goes through the Boom gorge, which is located on the eastern end of the Kyrgyz ridge and is the only corridor between them. ”Boom” means "evil spirit" - the valley was named in the 19th century by Peter Semenov Tian-Shansky, who visited it in 1850. He wrote in his notes the following...

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Too-Ashuu Pass is one of the most important and scenic mountain passes in Kyrgyzstan. Located on the main road between Bishkek and the southern part of the country, the pass connects the Chuy Valley with the Suusamyr Valley and the route toward Toktogul, Jalal-Abad, Osh and other regions. It is a key part of many road trips across Kyrgyzstan and one of the most memorable sections of the Bishkek–Osh highway.

The road to Too-Ashuu offers dramatic mountain views, high-altitude landscapes, sharp turns, tunnels, wide valleys and impressive panoramas of the Tian Shan mountains. For travelers driving from Bishkek toward southern Kyrgyzstan, Too-Ashuu is not just a road section — it is a destination in itself.

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Semyonovskoe gorge is situated on the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, 40 km from the resort of Cholpon-Ata. It is one of the most beautiful places in Issyk-Kul region. Its length is about 35 km. At the bottom of the gorge runs the Ak-Suu river - rough mountain river with pure glacier water. Slopes of the gorge are covered with fir trees. In summer and spring clean air is filled with wonderful smell of alpine herbs.

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