Alamedin Gorge

Alamedin is a green mountain gorge 40 km south of Bishkek, with warm springs, forest, waterfalls and alpine meadows — a perfect day out of the city.

The Alamedin river, one of the rivers that flows through Bishkek, rises in more than fifty glaciers of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too. At about 1,800 m the old ‘Teplye Klyuchi’ (Warm Springs) resort has a pool of naturally warm water. Beyond it the valley opens into alpine meadows with juniper and birch, waterfalls, berry slopes in late summer and views of glaciers and peaks over 4,500 m.

It is quieter than Ala-Archa and good for easy hikes, picnics and a soak in the warm water after a walk.

• Distance: about 1 hour from Bishkek
• Altitude: 1,800–2,500 m on the main paths
• Best time: May to October
• Good for: day hikes, families, a relaxed first day