Kyrgyzstan

Welcome to Kyrgyzstan

Capital of Kyrgyzstan: Bishkek
Population of Kyrgyzstan: 6.5 million - 33rd in Asia
Size of Kyrgyzstan: 199,951 km2 - 23rd in Asia
Languages of Kyrgyzstan: Kyrgyz and Russian

A landlocked country of soaring mountains and sprawling steppes, Kyrgyzstan only became independent in 1991, after several decades as one of the Soviet Union's republics. Today, the country represents a growingly popular tourist destination, enticing visitors to come with its rolling pastures and unspoiled mountain landscapes. A trip to Kyrgyzstan reveals a mostly rural land, where it's still possible to witness the lifestyle of the semi-nomadic shepherds living in portable yurts - simple dwellings made of wood and animal skins. You'd be hard-pressed to find many urban attractions here, but the hospitality of the natives and the stunning natural scenery will more than make up for any lack of modern amenities.

Highlights

Traverse the ancient Silk Road with its caravanserais set in unbelievable scenery
Wander the traditional bazaars in Bishkek, Osh and the massive market in Dordoi, the largest in Central Asia
Swim in the brilliantly-blue Issyk-Khul lake, surrounded by snow-capped peaks
Explore millennia-old holy sites on Osh’s Sulaiman-Too Sacred Mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage site
Join a traditional festival in the capital’s Ala-Too main square
Browse the National Historical Museum with its adjacent massive statue of Lenin
Stay in a yurt and sample the traditional, nomadic life of the Kyrgyz people
Lose and find yourself on a horseback riding tour of the remote high peaks