Here’s an overview of the 8 best hikes and day trips from Bishkek.
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s small and vibrant capital city, will most likely be the start of your travels in this beautiful Central Asian country.
It’s a great little city to get the first (culinary) taste of the Kyrgyz culture and there are plenty of parks, bazaars, Soviet monuments and trendy cafes to keep you occupied during the first couple of days of your visit. It’s also a very safe and peaceful city.
Ala-Too Square, Bishkek
If you’re staying for a while in the city – maybe you have to get your car fixed, you’re waiting to pick up some visas for your further travels in Central Asia or you made it your home base as I did for nearly one year– you might want to escape from the city for a day or two to enjoy Kyrgyzstan’s wild mountains and pristine valleys.
You don’t have to go far from Bishkek to find yourself in the midst of nature. You could see some of the most beautiful landscapes that Kyrgyzstan has to offer in one day.
In this guide, I’ll give you an overview of the 8 best and most beautiful places to visit in Bishkek region.
Some of the destinations that I’m mentioning might be hard to reach solely by public transportation. I’ll describe how you can get to each of the 8 places by marshrutka (minibus) but sometimes you’ll have to combine it with hitchhiking, especially when trying to reach the trailheads of the hikes.
If you don’t feel that adventurous, you can always arrange a taxi at your hotel, use the Yandex Go app (works like Uber but might be hard to request a return ride if you’re in a remote place), rent a car for the day or book a tour.
If you want to rent a car, you’ll need an international driver’s license and to be aware of the driving laws (and corrupt cops). I recommend Iron Horse Nomads and Travel Land Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek as the places to go to rent a vehicle.
Tip: See my Kyrgyzstan Travel Page for a complete overview of all my travel guides and blog posts about Kyrgyzstan!
Are you looking for a customized guided tour in Kyrgyzstan or elsewhere in Central Asia? Or would you like help with planning your itinerary and organizing your trip with confidence?
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Plan your trip to Bishkek
Where to stay
- Best budget pick: Koisha
- Best mid-range choice: Navat Hotel
- Top high-end hotel: Orion Hotel Bishkek
Top experiences in and near Bishkek
- Highlights of Bishkek City Tour
- Bishkek Food Tasting Tour
- Day trip to Ala Archa National Park
- Top hikes and day trips from Bishkek
Plan your trip to Kyrgyzstan
Best Day trips from Bishkek
1. Go for a picnic or a hike in Ala Archa National Park
Ala Archa is an alpine National Park in the Tian Shan mountains, about 40km south of Bishkek.
If you’re looking for some fun (hiking) adventures but you don’t want to go too far from the capital city, then Ala Archa is the place to be! It’s a very popular destination, not only for travelers but also for locals.
On a sunny day, especially during weekends and holidays, many locals living in Bishkek will escape the noise and smog of the city by going on a day trip to Ala Archa for a picnic or a small hike in this beautiful national park.
The best part of Ala Archa is that there are many hiking trails and even if you’re not in the best shape and/or want to have a relaxing day in nature without too much physical effort, you don’t have to walk very far to enjoy the beauty of the gorges, forests and river banks.
If you’re up for a bigger hike, you can choose between 3 marked trails:
1) You can start with hiking to the Ak-Sai waterfall (about 2 hours).
2) If you want to go further, follow the trail right from the waterfall to hike towards the Ak-Sai glacier. Being able to hike to the glacier and back in one day will be a bit much but it depends on how early you start and how fit and fast you are.
I highly recommend doing this hike in 2 days as reaching the Ratsek Hut (3350m altitude) from the trailhead takes about 5 hours of steep hiking.
3) You can also follow the third trail along the Ala Archa river towards the Adygene gorge. This is a one day hike but if you bring a tent, you can keep following the river for a couple of days towards the Adygene glacier.
Ala Archa is the perfect getaway from Bishkek for a nice day out in nature. If you just arrived in Kyrgyzstan, this National Park is a great introduction to the beauty of the Tian Shan Mountains.
Hiking in Ala Archa can be the perfect high-altitude acclimatization training for your travels in Kyrgyzstan!
Tip: Bring water and snacks because there aren’t any shops in the area. Be aware that the weather is a lot cooler in Ala Archa than in Bishkek so take a warm sweater and rain gear with you!
You can go to Ala Archa all year round and if you go in winter, wear proper winter clothes and boots!
How to get to Ala Archa from Bishkek
Ala Archa is a one-hour drive away from Bishkek by public transport. Take mashrutka 265 at the bus stop at Moscow Street 229 (near the entrance of Osh Bazaar).
Tip: install the app Maps.me, type in ‘mashrutka 265’ and the app will show you exactly on the map where to find the bus stop. This minibus will bring you for 25 som all the way to Kash- Kasuu, the closest village near Ala Archa. You can ask the driver if he can drop you off at the entrance gate of the National Park for 50 som.
Once you arrive at the gate, you’ll have to pay an entrance fee of 80 som (per person). From the gate, it’s another 12km of asphalt road to the Alpager base, where the hiking trails start.
There might be taxi drivers near the gate offering you a ride to the base for 500 som but you could easily save that money by hitchhiking instead. There will be a lot of cars with tourists and locals passing by and they’ll give you a lift for free.
→ Tip: the mashrutka doesn’t have a fixed schedule so it might happen that you have to wait for a while in Bishkek before it leaves.
If you want to go early to Ala Archa and not waste time, you could always get a taxi from Bishkek to the entrance gate of the park for 500 som. If you want the taxi to drop you off at the Alpager base (where the hiking trails start), you’ll have to pay the entrance fee of the car (400 som) + an additional 500 som for the taxi to drive you that extra 12 km.
GoBus operates a daily shuttle on Saturday and Sundays to Ala Archa for 800 som each way. The trip goes from Tommi Mall, so if you’re not staying near there it’s not entirely convenient. To get tickets, you need to use the GoBus App but unfortunately it’s not so user-friendly yet (particularly for non-Russian speakers).
How to get from Ala Archa to Bishkek
If you’re going on a day tour, your return to Bishkek is, of course, included. If you’re going independently, it might be a bit challenging to get back.
You could search for a taxi at the parking lot near the Alpager base. If you can’t find a taxi or you don’t want to take one, you can hitchhike back to the bus stop in Kash-Kasuu.
The last mashrutka from Kash-Kasuu to Bishkek leaves around 5.30 pm. In case you’re too late, you can always hitchhike back.
Some people arrange a special deal with the taxi driver upon arrival at Ala Archa. If you’re planning on spending just a couple of hours in the National Park, you can ask your driver to wait for you. The total cost of a return taxi, including the waiting time of the driver, will be around €50.
Day tours to Ala Archa
The easiest way would be to go on a day tour to Ala Archa. Nowadays, there are some really nice (and budget-friendly) day trips to the national park. Here are the ones I recommend:
2. Visit Burana Tower, Kyrgyzstan’s famous landmark
The Burana Tower is one of Kyrgyzstan’s most famous historical sites. It’s located near Tokmok, a town about 80 km from Bishkek. This 25m high tower is all that remains of the ancient city of Balasagun, a once flourishing city that welcomed thousands of Silk Road caravans.
Standing in the middle of nowhere, the Burana Tower might not look that spectacular but when you know that this site used to be a huge city, which was once considered to be the center of the world, it feels pretty surreal to walk around here.
It’s worth a visit if you’re interested in the history of Kyrgyzstan and its role during the Great Silk Road trades.
Another remarkable sight is the collection of ancient bal-bals in the field near the Burana Tower. The bal-bals are gravestones, carved by the nomadic Turkic tribes who used to roam around Central Asia in the 6th century.
These gravestones were initially erected as a representation of slain enemies and later became memorials for their own ancestors.
The bal-bals are oddly proportioned, with misshapen heads and short torsos and are characterized by detailed carvings of faces and hands. They were made by some of the greatest stone carvers of their time and are remarkably well-preserved.
How to get to Burana Tower from Bishkek
The Burana Tower is a 2-hour drive from Bishkek by public transport. For 50 som per person, you can take mashrutka#353 that goes directly from the Eastern bus station in Bishkek to the town of Tokmok.
Once you arrive with the mashrutka in Tokmok, you’ve got 3 options.
You could take a taxi to the tower and back (8km), which will cost you 300 som (around $4). Ask the driver to stay and wait while you visit the tower. You’ll probably only need 1 hour to visit the whole site (you could combine it with a trip to Issyk-Ata or Konorchek Canyons, read more below). Once the taxi drops you off in Tokmok, you can take a marshrutka back to Bishkek.
There are a few marshrutkas running between Tokmok and Burana. Ask the locals in Tokmok where you can take this minibus.
Your last option is to hitchhike. Getting a ride won’t be difficult but know from the start whether or not you have to pay for it.
It isn’t very common among the locals to give rides for free, however, some won’t ask you for money when they see you’re a foreigner (and others will try to ask you for more money than they should, read more about hitchhiking in Kyrgyzstan).
If your driver wants you to pay for the ride, don’t give him/her more than 100 som!
Day tours to Burana Tower
The easiest way to get to the Burana Tower is by going on a guided day tour. It’s an extra advantage if you have a guide so you can learn more about this historical place, making your visit much more interesting.
As you only need an hour to visit the historical site, most tour operators will offer a combination with another place of interest near Bishkek.
Here are the best choice of day tours to Burana Tower:
3. Visiting the Issyk-Ata Gorge, Waterfall and hot springs
The Issyk-Ata hot springs are one of Central Asia’s oldest Soviet sanatoriums. These mineral geothermal hot springs are believed to contain all types of magical healing powers and are renowned for being able to cure many illnesses.
Nowadays people still come here to swim in the hot springs and go for walks in the surrounding valley.
The resort might look unkempt and abandoned but it’s definitely worth a visit. It’s like looking through a window into the Soviet past and it’s a good place to relax, swim in the pools, walk around the park of the sanatorium and enjoy the fresh mountain air.
You can go on a hike for the day (or even a couple of days) in the Issyk-Ata Gorge and visit the waterfall. Read more about this hike on the blog of my good friend Stephen Lioy.
How to get to Issyk-Ata from Bishkek
Issyk-Ata is located in the Chuy Valley, about 77km from Bishkek and it’s easy to get there from Bishkek by public transport.
The minibusses leave on a regular schedule at the Bishkek East Bus Station (at 8:30, 10:00, 11:30, 13:30, 17:00 and 18:00) and it brings you directly to the resort. It takes about 90 minutes and a ticket costs 70 som.
Getting back to Bishkek is also easy. Take the mashrutka at the same place where you got off but ask around for the schedule so you don’t miss the last one to Bishkek!
→ you can combine this trip with a visit to Burana Tower. It will be harder to do both when you’re depending on public transport (there is no minibus between Tokmok and Issyk-Ata) but it’s easy to combine when you rent a private taxi for the day.
Day tour to Issyk-Ata Gorge
This day tour to Issyk-Ata combines it all: a visit to Burana Tower, an easy scenic hike to the waterfall in the Issyk-Ata Gorge and a relaxing dip in a geothermal mineral spring!
4. Hike around the Konorchek Canyon
The Konorchek Canyon, also called the ‘Grand Canyon of Kyrgyzstan’, is a little hidden gem on the road between Bishkek and Issyk-Kul. It’s a beautiful red sandstone canyon (with a 2.5 million years old dormant volcano!) and a great place to go on a small one-day hike.
The path takes you along some fantastic rock formations that are also called the ‘Eolian Castles’ and when you climb towards the plateau, you’ll get treated to some magnificent panoramic views over the canyon!
The entire hike takes about 3 hours but you could easily spend a full day here without getting tired of the views.
Most people have no idea that this canyon exists (his big brother ‘the Fairy-tale Canyon’ on the south shore of Issyk-Kul lake is much more famous) so you won’t see many tourists and locals around. You can visit the canyon all-year-round!
Warning: Don’t visit the Konorchek Canyon on a rainy day as there is a potential danger of flash floods in the gorges!
How to get to the Konorchek Canyon from Bishkek
The Konorchek Canyon is located in the Boom Gorge, about 125 km from Bishkek. It’s on the way to Issyk-Kul so you can take any minibus from the New Bus Station in Bishkek that goes towards Issyk-Kul and get off at Red Bridge (let the bus driver know). There’s a big sign showing the direction to the canyon.
From there you have to walk up through a narrow dry gorge that looks like a maze of rocks scattered over a dry river bed. You might have to climb over a few rocky barriers but it’s easier than it sounds. After about one hour you’ll reach an open area from which the main hike starts.
You can get back to Bishkek by going to the place where you got off the mashrutka and flag down any passing cars or marshrutkas going towards Bishkek.
Day tour to Konorchek Canyon
This day tour to the Konorchek Canyon takes you for a visit to the Burana Tower and a scenic hike in the Konorchek Canyon with a picnic at the panoramic viewpoint.
5. Go on a horse riding tour to chon Kemin National Park
Chon Kemin National Park, located 150km east of Bishkek, covers an area of 500 hectares and is home to many species of plants and animals. The valley is a haven for nature lovers and photographers seeking to capture the serene beauty of Kyrgyzstan’s wilderness. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views of snow-capped mountains, lush forests, and vibrant meadows.
Chon Kemin is a great place for nature and adventure enthusiasts. It offers a wide range of activities such as hiking, horseback riding, rafting, and bird watching. The diverse terrain caters to both novice and experienced adventurers, making it a convenient destination for travelers looking to escape the city and immerse themselves in nature without a long and arduous journey.
How to get to Chon Kemin from Bishkek
First, you need to take a shared taxi or marshrutka from Bishkek’s New Bus Station to Tokmok. The fare is around 100 KGS.
Once in Tokmok, you can find a shared taxi or marshrutka heading towards the Chon Kemin Valley. This leg of the trip should cost a similar amount.
The total travel time (one-way) by public transport can be up to 4 hours, due to waiting times and stops. If you only have one day and you like to do some hiking and/or horse riding, I would highly recommend going on a guided day tour to Chon Kemin!
Horse riding day tours to Chon Kemin
Chon Kemin is a great place for horse riding, especially if you’ve never ridden before and would like to experience it at least for one day! Here are some horse riding day trips to Chon Kemin that I recommend:
6. Go skiing (winter) or hiking and cycling (summer) in Chunkurchak
Chunkurchak ski resort is a small ski resort just 40km from Bishkek and is open from November to March (depending on the amount of snow).
There are 5 chairlifts and the wide slopes are perfect for beginners (like me) and intermediate skiers while advanced skiers will have fun doing some backcountry skiing in the valley behind the ski resort. The maximum length of the slopes is about 10km and the height difference is 370m.
You can rent equipment in Chunkurchak but it’s cheaper in Bishkek. The price for a day ski-pass varies from 800 som to 1200 som (€8 – €12), depending on which day of the week you go and how long you want to ski.
During the warmer months, Chunkurchak is a great place for hiking, horse riding and even cycling! There are numerous trails that vary in difficulty, allowing you to explore the beautiful terrain and enjoy the fresh mountain air.
The chairlifts don’t work during the summer but it’s an easy hike up the lush valley of Chunkurchak to the hilltop where you get treated to the view over the peaks of the Tian Shan mountain range.
My friend Stephen Lioy wrote a great report ( and has stunning photos) about hiking in Chunkurchak!
How to get from Bishkek to Chunkurchak
Chunkurchak is only 40 km from Bishkek but there’s no public transport going there. You need to take a private or shared taxi from Bishkek. A shared taxi will cost around 400 som per person, a private taxi will easily be 1000 – 1500 som.
Day tours to Chunkurchak
Chunkurchak offers a wide range of activities, from skiing in winter to horse back riding, hiking and cycling in summer. Here are my suggestions to enjoy an active day in the Chunkurchak Valley:
7. Go on a day hike to the sokuluk Waterfall
The “Dove” or “Pigeons” Waterfall is a nickname that the locals gave to the 60m high Belogorka waterfall in the Sokuluk Gorge (also known as the Belogorka Gorge). It’s one of Kyrgyzstan’s largest waterfalls and it’s located at an altitude of 2100 m.
The 1,5-hour hike to the waterfall takes you through the lush valley and woodlands of the Sokuluk Gorge along a windy river bank. In the summer you’ll come across yurts where you can buy some kumis, Kyrgyzstan’s famous fermented horse milk.
The total distance to the waterfall and back is approximately 8 to 10km and it’s an easy hike for which you don’t need a guide.
How to get to the Sokuluk Waterfall from Bishkek
The Sokuluk Gorge is about 72km from Bishkek, not too far from Ala Archa. While you can easily do the hike on your own, getting there by public transport can be tricky.
There’s a mashrutka that goes from the Osh bazaar to the village of Tash Bulak but then it’s still another 23km before the start of the trail. You can always take a taxi (around 800 som) but then you might have problems getting back to Bishkek unless you don’t mind hitchhiking.
Day tour to the sokuluk Waterfall
The easiest way to get to the waterfall and back is by taking a day tour to the Sokuluk Gorge and waterfall.
8. Hike to Kol-Tor Lake, one of Kyrgyzstan’s most spectacular mountain lakes
Kyrgyzstan has some spectacular alpine lakes and Kol-Tor lake is definitely one of them! This turquoise-colored lake is located at an altitude of 2700m above the village of Kegeti, about 92 km from Bishkek.
The 2-hour hike from the trailhead to the lake is beautiful but it’s quite steep so you need to be fit for it! However, it is worth the effort as you’ll walk through beautiful alpine meadows and coniferous forests with the stunning turquoise lake as the reward for your endurance!
If you leave early enough in the morning, you could do this hike in one day and be back in Bishkek in the evening.
You could also take your time and spend the night camping or sleeping in the mountain hut, owned by the Trekking Union of Kyrgyzstan (600 som for the night and you have to reserve in advance).
You can find the coordinates for this hiking trail here. Stephen Lioy also has a great photo report on this hike.
How to get to Kol-Tor Lake from Bishkek
The hiking trail to Kol-Tor starts in the Kegeti Gorge. To get there by public transport, take at 9:30 am minibus 303 from the Eastern Bus Station in Bishkek towards the village of Kegeti. It takes about 2 hours to get there.
Tell the driver that you want to get out at Kegeti and get out off the bus just before crossing a riverbed into the village. From there it’s another 10 km to the end of the dirt road and the beginning of the trail. You could always hitchhike that last part.
It might be harder to get back by public transport as I read that the last minibus from Kegeti Gorge leaves at 3:30 pm. Of course, you can always hitchhike back to Bishkek.
Day tours to kol Tor Lake
The easiest way to arrange your transportation is by going on a guided day tour to Kol Tor Lake. Here are the 2 tours I recommend:
These are the most ‘known’ day trips and hikes you can do if you have a few days to spare in Bishkek. The best thing about Kyrgyzstan is that there’s always something new to discover, many marked and unmarked trails to hike and you’ll just never get bored of it!
If you’d recommend another great day trip and/or hike near Bishkek, please let me and the other readers know in the comments below! I’d also love to hear about your experiences and adventures in and around Bishkek! If you got more questions, get in touch or leave your question in the comments below!
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More Kyrgyzstan Travel Resources
- The Complete Travel Guide to Kyrgyzstan
- The 14 best hikes in Kyrgyzstan
- The 25 most beautiful places in Kyrgyzstan
- 8 beautiful lakes in Kyrgyzstan
- The 9 best horse riding destinations in Kyrgyzstan
- 15 useful safety tips for Kyrgyzstan
- The complete packing list for Kyrgyzstan
- 28 Things to do in Kyrgyzstan
- 13 Top Things to do in Bishkek – City Guide
- How to visit the Osh Bazaar in Bishkek
- 14 Top Things to do in Osh – City Guide
- 15 Best Things to do in Karakol – City Guide
- The 21 best hikes in Karakol and Jyrgalan
- Tash Rabat Travel Guide
- The complete travel guide to Kel Suu Lake
- The complete travel guide to Arslanbob
- How to visit Sary Chelek Lake and Nature Reserve
- Top things to do around Issyk Kul Lake, a one week itinerary
- Facts and legends of the Burana Tower
- Everything you need to know about horse riding to Song Kul lake
- A comprehensive guide to skiing in Kyrgyzstan
- 6 reasons why you should visit Kyrgyzstan in winter
- Visit Kyrgyzstan in winter by using this 10-day Kyrgyzstan winter itinerary
- Here are the 7 best hikes in the Alay Mountains near Osh
- Use this day-by-day itinerary to hike independently to Ala Kul lake
- Hike independently to Son Kul lake by using these 2 itineraries
- 8 great day trips and hikes near Bishkek
- Ready steady goat! An insight into Kok Boru, Kyrgyzstan’s unusual national sport
- Meet the Golden Eagle Hunters of Kyrgyzstan
Hello, you should update some of your articles.
Visa is not needed anymore for a huge number of countries and people with European driving license can rent a car without the need of an international driving license.
Cheers!
Hi Luna,
Thanks for the heads-up. We always try to keep our articles as updated as possible.
A large number of countries indeed don’t need a visa anymore but some still do so that’s why we always refer to the Kyrgyz Visa Policy.
And yes, not everyone needs an international driving license but it’s better to have one as some cops can make a big thing out of it (they aren’t always updated about the current rules themselves) 🙂
Nice. Come again!
Thanks 🙂
This was an amazing share…Thank you!!
Thank you! Glad to hear you’ve enjoyed it!! 🙂
Awesome post! Really helpful and useful! Definitely answered questions I couldn’t find answers to elsewhere 🙂
Thank you Sabrina! I’m glad to hear that!! Wishing you a great time in and around Bishkek!