Five activities to do around Bishkek

Hiking in Ala Archa

One of the best things about Bishkek is that real mountain views are close at hand. Of all the hiking options around the capital, Ala Archa National Park is the strongest: a trip out of the city brings you among mountains, juniper forest and a river. The park suits everyone, from a beginner to a committed hiker. If climbing is not for you, a tarmac path follows the river all the way to a picnic clearing. For something more serious, turn left at the start point and follow the trail up to the Broken Heart rock at 2 km and the waterfall at 4 km.

The park's inhabitants include ibexes, marmots, gophers, stoats, squirrels and many kinds of birds, while a snow leopard lives high up on the snow-capped peaks.

Horse riding: Chunkurchak or Chon Kemin

For anyone keen on horseback riding, Bishkek and its surroundings are a good place to start. There are two main options. The first is Chunkurchak, 38 km or about 40 minutes away. The second is much further from the capital but far more impressive: Chon Kemin valley, 160 km or about two and a half hours away.

Both offer fine views, but Chon Kemin comes first: it is a much vaster, broader and greener valley, and the riding route there climbs higher, up to a wide panorama. If time is short, Chunkurchak remains a good choice for a half day in the saddle.

A cultural walk through Bishkek

A walk around the capital is a good way to round off a trip. Victory Square is dedicated to the Second World War, with its monuments and eternal flame: more than 360,000 Kyrgyz soldiers were sent to the front, and a third of them never came home. The Kyrgyz National Opera and Ballet Theatre is a handsome building in the classicism style, built in 1955.

Ala Too Square is the main square of the city, with its tall flagpole and sentinels, the historical museum, the Manas monument and the White House. Erkindik, or Freedom boulevard, and the old railway station show the Soviet architecture of the early 20th century, and the Kyrgyz State Philharmonic Hall frames the mayor's office, the International University and the Philharmony itself. Osh bazaar is the legendary open-air market, the place for souvenirs, dried fruit and national delicacies. The whole city walk takes about three hours on foot.

Paragliding above Gornaya Maevka

For adrenaline, there is paragliding. About 30 minutes from the centre of Bishkek lies the mountain area called Gornaya Maevka; providers can arrange a transfer that picks you up at the foot of the mountains and drives you up. Two flight heights are offered — 500 m and 1,000 m. The scenery up there is impressive, and the flight looks out over the city.

Rafting the Chu river

River rafting is the other option for a group looking for adrenaline. The run takes place about 140 km from Bishkek, on the Chu river. Its category is easy to medium, so even a first-timer can enjoy it without stress: 25 km of river, taking about an hour and a half. Equipment — raft, oars, wetsuits, helmets and life jackets — and river guides come with the trip.