Wild Kyrgyzstan

When you hear the name Kyrgyzstan, you first think of wild land inaccessible mysterious and adventurous.

This may be true for the time being, since this country is an area that borders the troubled province of Xingjang in China to the east.

To the south is Tajikistan; Afghanistan is close and to the north and west Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are the neighbors.

But the concern is unfounded. Kyrgyzstan offers a wealth of opportunities and is easy to travel around. Provided that one adheres to some behaviors.

First and foremost, you should not seek the comfort of European hotels. The possibilities to stay overnight are various but always quite simple. If you want to travel the country individually, Russian language skills are an advantage and sometimes necessary.

Of course, it is more advisable to join one of the many group tours that are offered

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Best time to travel is May until the end of October.

All trips to this country begin in the capital Bishkek. Bishkek is a modern city and it is worth spending 2 to 3 days here.

Very close to the capital you can find a recreation area in the mountains.

The so-called “Ala Arca” Nature Reserve.

Hiking trails waterfalls and high mountains invite activity.

The region that is best developed is in the east of the country.

Here you can find the second largest highland lake on earth. Lake Yssyk Kul is a jewel in this area with 6,236 km² and an altitude of 1,600 meters.

The mountain ranges of the Tianshan Mountains dominate the landscape and in between are almost endless steppes.

Around the lake leads a road that is not very busy and is in very good condition. Here you could make a nice bike tour. To go around the lake you have to cover a distance of about 430 km.

The south side of the lake is still very pristine. In the east, one encounters the ethnic group of the Uyghurs. Several ethnic groups with different religions live in the city of Karakol.

Kyrgyz, Uyghurs profess Islam, inhabitants of Russian origin are Orthodox Christians, and Dungans are a Chinese minority with Islamist leanings.

On the north side of the lake you can find several tourist resorts.

But not only the lake offers vacation opportunities. Southeast of Karakol in the mountains you can go trekking with horse guide cook and guide. These treks usually last 4 to 8 days and go up to an altitude of 3400 meters.

With the nomads you can spend the night in their yurts or in your own tent if there are no nomads around.

Everything that goes beyond 4000 m has expedition character. The highest mountain in Kyrgyzstan is located on the border with China and is 7480 m high (Pobeda Peak).

Kyrgyzstan is also located on the Silk Road and therefore it is possible to take a tour to Kashgar in neighboring China. All formalities for a smooth border crossing are handled by a local agency.

The area in the southwest of the country is the least developed. Here you will look for accommodation in vain. Roads are almost non-existent. The area borders Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and is called Batkent.

I can recommend this country to all mountain and nature fans who want to feel a last touch of adventure.