Alamedin Gorge is located in the Kyrgyz Ala-Too range, which is part of the northern Tian Shan Mountains. The gorge stretches along the Alamedin River and is known for its steep, rocky slopes, alpine meadows, and pine forests.
The area is popular for hiking, horseback riding, and camping. Trails lead to waterfalls and higher mountain passes that connect to other valleys. Because of its relatively close location to Bishkek (about 30 kilometres away), it’s one of the more accessible natural escapes for locals and visitors.
Flora and fauna are rich here: you can find juniper, wildflowers in spring and summer, and various mountain animals such as marmots and birds of prey. In winter, the gorge is snow-covered, making it suitable for ski touring.
How to get there?
By Private Car
From Bishkek, head south along the Alamedin Road. After about 20–30 kilometres, you’ll reach the entrance to the gorge near the village of Koy-Tash. From there, the road continues deeper into the valley, though it becomes narrower and less paved the further you go.
By Public Transport
Shared taxis and minibuses (marshrutkas) regularly run from Bishkek to Koy-Tash. From there, you can either hike, hitchhike or hire local transport to reach deeper into the gorge.
By Taxi
You can use the Yandex App and order a private taxi all the way to the trailhead.
Tours
Some local travel companies and guesthouses arrange day trips, often including stops at the hot springs, waterfalls, or guided hikes.
The best time to visit
Spring (April–June)
This is when the valley comes alive. Snow begins to melt, the river swells, and meadows fill with wildflowers. Trails can still be muddy or snowy at higher elevations, but the scenery is especially fresh and colourful.
Summer (July–August)
The most popular season. The weather is warm, the riverbanks are green, and it’s perfect for hiking, camping, or horseback riding. You’ll also see yurts set up by shepherd families, since livestock are brought to graze in the high pastures. This is the easiest time to access most trails.
Autumn (September–October)
The gorge is quieter, temperatures are cooler, and the hillsides turn golden and red with autumn colours. It’s a good season for hiking without crowds, though nights can get quite cold.
Winter (November–March)
The gorge becomes snow-covered and much less visited. It’s not the best for hiking, but it’s great if you enjoy winter landscapes, ski touring, or just want a peaceful escape. The hot springs are especially nice when the air is cold.
Where to stay in Bishkek?
During my several-day stay in Bishkek, I stayed in four different hotels:
Inter Hotel Bishkek: Probably the best price-to-quality ratio. Good locations, modern room.
Hotel Touristan: The room was huge and clean. The receptionist was super helpful, and I even received a fridge magnet as a gift. The only negative was that the AC didn’t work too well.
Malinka: More like a guesthouse rather than a hotel. The room was well equipped with a kettle, tea, sugar, and toiletries. Very friendly owner who let me leave a part of my luggage for several days as I was hiking in Ala Archa National Park.
Hotel T: Very simple, however, comfortable room.
Terrasse Hotel & Bar: A luxurious establishment offering stunning panoramic views of the mountains and the city. I had to get a really good deal on booking.com as in the next days the rooms became 4 times more expensive.
My experience
For my very first trip out of the city, I ordered a Yandex taxi straight to the trailhead of the Alamedin Valley. It is less than an hour from Bishkek, yet it already felt like a whole new world, without traffic jams and air pollution. From the moment I set foot on the path, the scenery was stunning. I chose the trail on the right side of the river, which climbed gently alongside the rushing stream, opening up views of pine-covered slopes and rugged peaks in the distance.
A side path promised a waterfall, so I turned right and hiked upward. Along the way, the valley was alive with marmots chattering from their burrows and darting across the grasslands. The waterfall itself was modest, not quite the dramatic cascade I’d imagined, but the setting more than made up for it. It took me a bit over 2 hours to reach it from the place where I was dropped off by the taxi driver.
I debated pushing on toward the high pastures (jailoo), but the trail ahead looked steep and demanding, so I decided to save that climb for another time. Instead, I wandered deeper into the valley, crossed a small bridge, and sent my drone buzzing overhead to capture the sweeping views before turning back. I later learned that with the right gear and several days, adventurous and experienced trekkers can even reach Ala-Archa National Park from here. However, I couldn’t find sufficient online info about the conditions of the trail.
If you decide to hike to the high pastures, it should take about 2 hours one way, and the trail is visible on Mapy.CZ. On Google Maps, the place is called “At Zhayloo”. Here is the map:
The return journey was just as memorable. I managed to hitch a ride part of the way, then grabbed another taxi back into Bishkek.
