Kyrgyzstan - Tour Highlights and Travel Tips
Sharing territory with the Silk Road makes any country interesting but a trip to Kyrgyzstan will be unique because the mountainous terrain has kept all of the culture inside, and the influences come through the Silk Road and being ruled by Russia at one point. While its ancient history might be preserved, holidays to Kyrgyzstan will offer a wide variety of people, religions, and ingenuity.
Tour Highlights
- Get your breath taken from you with stunning views and geological marvels at Lake Song-Köl.
- Find weather that suits you in the Ala-Archa Canyon, where you can sit by a waterfall, hike to a glacier, or mountaineer up the region’s highest peaks.
- See where the Prophet Muhammad prayed at Suleiman Too.
- Learn how ancient civilizations recorded their history by visiting the Petroglyphs at Cholpon-Ata.
- Overlook the Pristan area from the Przhevalsky memorial garden.
Travel Tips
- Try something new and travel by horseback; the Kyrgyz are known horsemen, dating back to Ghengis Khan.
- If you would like to hitchhike, be prepared to pay for the ride; there is no such thing as a free ride.
- Kyrgyzstan is a largely cash economy; credit cards are rarely used.
- Use discretion when dealing with the police; they can be sketchy.
- Safety of food and drinking water can vary by region.
- Proceed with caution during the evenings; there is drinking and large amounts of partying.
- Women should be careful because although bride-kidnapping is illegal, it can still happen.
- There are flights that are available between Osh and Bishek, but the planes are old; on the bright side, the mechanics are well trained on how to repair them.