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DESTINATION GUIDE – KYRGYZSTAN

The Kyrgyzstan Tourism is going to boom in the coming years: discover why and why you should visit right now.

Welcome to the Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide! Kyrgyzstan is a country covered with mountains, jewel lakes and nomadic people. When traveling through the country, you can only feel connected to nature and yearning for a simpler life. This Travel Guide will help you discover in photos the things to do and see around the country. The detailed information and tips for each destination will also help you plan your own trip.

MAKE THE BEST OF YOUR TIME IN KYRGYZSTAN!

Kyrgyzstan Tourism - Travel Destination Guide, Map, Things to do
TRAVEL GUIDE CONTENT
KYRGYZSTAN TOURISM - General Posts
TOURISM KYRGYZSTAN MAP
PLANNING AND PREPARING YOUR TRIP TO KYRGYZSTAN
THINGS TO DO - AROUND BISHKEK
TOURISM - REGION OF ISSYK-KUL
CENTRAL KYRGYZSTAN TOURISM
TOUR REVIEW

Each post includes info, planning tips and many pictures!

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This page contains affiliate links, which means that if you use them, I get a small commission on your purchase at no extra cost for you. (more info on the Disclosure page).


KYRGYZSTAN TOURISM - General Posts

If you have reached this Travel Guide, you are probably thinking of traveling to Kyrgyzstan. If you are still unsure or just want to day dream, below are some general articles to show you how incredible The Kyrgyz Republic is home stunning sceneries, rich traditions and adorable people.

Below are some summary posts to show you how incredible Kyrgyzstan is:

9 reasons to visit Kyrgyzstan

9 reasons to visit Kyrgyzstan

Video landscapes of Kyrgzystan

Video: Landscapes of Kyrgyzstan

Portraits of Kyrgyz people

Portraits of Kyrgyz people

Travel guide Kyrgyzstan - Top 7 favorite places to visit

My favorite places in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyz yurts and Nomadic culture

Yurt and Nomadic culture

Photo essay summer transhumance in Kyrgyzstan

Transhumance in photos

what to expect foodwise in Kyrgyzstan

Food & Drinks of Kyrgyzstan

Photo-essay - old cars in Kyrgyzstan

Cars in Kyrgyzstan

Travel Guide Kyrgyzstan - best of photos s

Best of photos from Kyrgyzstan

As I wrote on my huffington post article "Tourist please stay away from Kyrgyzstan... or not" I am torn between wanting the country to keep its authenticity and for the world to discover its beauty.


TOURISM KYRGYZSTAN MAP

Here is a map of Kyrgzystan with the main things to do all around the country. Those are numbered and correspond to the posts or descriptions in the following sections of this guide.

Tourism Kyrgyzstan Map - places to visit, travel guide

PLANNING AND PREPARING YOUR TRIP TO KYRGYZSTAN

Thinking of visiting the beautiful Kyrgyzstan, the pearl of Central Asia? Here are some posts to help you plan and prepare your trip: visa, language,

Planning your trip to Kyrgyzstan article

Planning your trip to Kyrgyzstan

Prepare and pack for your trip to Kyrgyzstan 1

Preparing your trip to Kyrgyzstan

Book your trip

If you appreciate all the free content in these online travel guides, consider completing your bookings through my affiliate links. This way I get a small commission on your purchase at no extra cost for you. This helps me to continue bringing you tons of information to plan your trip. Thanks for your support!

  • Book your accommodations - Book from a large choice on Booking.com (my trusted travel booking site) or Compare prices on hotelscombined.com
  • Rent your car - planning a road trip? Compare fares and book on rentalcars.com
  • Book your organized tours, visits and tickets via GetYourGuide.com and Viator.com - I love them both

GET EQUIPMENT YOU NEED

  • CLOTHES, SAFETY ITEMS, PACKING PRACTICAL ITEMS, LUGGAGE, ELECTRONICS... Get it on Amazon (US, UK and Canada only)

GET TRAVEL INSURANCE

  • I wish you a very smooth trip, but my policy is: better be prepared. I personally use World Nomads. Get a quote online here.

PROTECT YOUR ELECTRONIC DATA

  • Don't use unsecured wifi without a VPN service to avoid risking electronic theft - NordVPN is one of the best rated VPN service

THINGS TO DO - AROUND BISHKEK

Kyrgyzstan Tourism starts in Bishkek, the capital city. Located in the North of the country, it is full of trees, squares and statues with the backdrop of high mountains. Discover some of the top things to do in Bishkek as well as a location not far away from it: the Burana Tower where I was lucky to see two girls playing the traditional Kyrgyz Guitar.

Travel Guide Kyrgyzstan: Plan your visit to Bishkek

1a - Visiting Bishkek

Travel Guide Kyrgyzstan: Plan your visit to the Osh Bazaar in Bishkek

1b - Bishkek's Osh Market

Travel Guide Kyrgyzstan: Plan your visit to the Burana Tower

2 - Burana Tower


TOURISM - REGION OF ISSYK-KUL

The main toursitic area of Kyrgyzstan is Lake Issyk-Kul, the second largest altitude lake in the world. It is quite impressive with its intense colors and the surrounding mountains. All the valleys around it have a lot to offer. Discover some posts with geological, natural, historical and cultural places to discover as you tour the lake.

Travel Guide Kyrgyzstan: Plan your visit to Cholpon-Ata Petroglyphs

3 - Cholpon-Ata Petroglyphs

Travel Guide Kyrgyzstan: Plan your visit to the Valley of Altyn Arashan

5 - Altyn Arashan valley

Travel Guide Kyrgyzstan: Plan your visit to the Karakol animal market

7- Karakol and its animal Market

Travel Guide Kyrgyzstan: Plan your visit to Jeti-Oguz Seven bulls

8 - Jeti-Ogüz

Travel Guide Kyrgyzstan: Plan your visit to the valley of flowers

9 - Valley of Flowers

Travel Guide Kyrgyzstan: Plan your visit to  Skazka canyon

12 - Skazka Canyon (Fairy tale canyon)

Travel Guide Kyrgyzstan: Plan your visit to the Issyk Kul lake

Around Issyk-Kul lake

4 - Rukh Ordo Cultural Centre - site to discover the Kyrgyz culture

6 - Ala-Kol lake​ - beautiful small lake at 3500m, in a bowl with snowy mountains around

10 - Sarychat-Ertash Reserve

11 - Barksoon waterfall : on a road going to a gold mine, just accross from a but of Youri Gagarine. Requires steep climbing.​


CENTRAL KYRGYZSTAN TOURISM

Outside of the beaten path, away from the wifi, you can discover the natural beauty of Kyrgyzstan. It is like driving in the museum where each turn reveals a new painting or structure. Don't just believe me, check the pictures in the post below, pack your bag and go there. My top experience here was my yurt stay near Song-Kul lake.

Photo essay: drive from Issyk kul to Song Kul, Kyrgyzstan square

Drive: Lake Issyk-Kul to Song-Kul

Travel Guide Kyrgyzstan: Plan your visit to Song Kul lake

13 - Song-Kul lake

Painted landscapes of Kyrgyzstan Song Kul to Kazarman square

Song-Kul to Kazarman

Driving from Kazarman to Arslanbob Kyrgyzstan 2

Kazarman to Arslanbob

Travel Guide Kyrgyzstan: Plan your visit to Arslanbob and its walnut forest

19 - Arslanbob

Travel Guide Kyrgyzstan: Plan your visit to Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve

20 - Sary-Chelek National Park

Travel guide Kyrgzystan: the Naryn river and Toktogul reservoir

21 - Naryn River Toktogul Reservoir

Travel Guide Kyrgzystan - Driving through Talas Ala Too Mountain Range from Toktogul to Bishkek

Toktogul to Bishkek

  • 14 - Kol-Suu - 3500m high alpine lake in the Tian Shan mountains
  • 15 - Chatyr-Kol - yellowish-green alpine lake in the Tien Shan mountains
  • Check out this great post and pictures by Eric and Taylor about their trip to both Kol-Suu and Chatyr-Kul
  • 16 - Tash Rabat Fortress - 31 room - stone caravanserai at 3200m in atlitude from  the 15th century - Check the pictures from Eric and Taylor 
  • 17 - Uzgen Historical Complex - located in Uzgen, one the of the most ancient cities in Kyrgyzstan. It dates from the 11th / 12t century and includes 3 mausaleums and  a minaret
  • 18 - Sulaiman-too Mountain - World Heritage site in the city of Osh, sacred mountain worshipped over several millennia
  • 22 - Manas Mausoleum (Gumbez of Manas) - located near Talas, it is landmark of the Silk Road period - Built in 1334

TOUR REVIEW

independent review wandering Earl tour Kyrgyzstan

Review Wandering Earl tour


Of course there are much more things to do in Kyrgyzstan. I am only sharing the ones I have experienced myself. Feel free to share yours in the comments when you come back from your trip!


GENERAL TRAVEL TIPS

travel packing lists - essential travel items 2

Travel Checklists for packing

Travel Safety Tips - hotel safety tips 2

Travel Safety Tips

Best compact binoculars for Travel and safari

Best Travel Binoculars


Inspired? Which ones do you want to experience?

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Camille says

    August 18, 2015 at 8:51 AM

    Salut Claire

    Je suis tombée sur ton blog il y a quelques temps, nous étions sur le meme tour en Namibie. Juste un petit clin d’œil pour dire que je m’amuse à voir tes destinations car elles sont très similaires aux miennes! J’avais finalement passé 3 mois en Nouvelle Zélande peu de temps après la Namibie et j’étais allée en Jordanie juste avant ca. Je suis actuellement au Kyrgyzstan et je poursuivrai en Ouzbékistan. Je regarde donc régulièrement les destinations que tu choisis! A bientôt. Camille

    • Claire Robinson says

      August 19, 2015 at 10:18 AM

      Salut Camille!
      Quelle surprise! Amusant que nous voyagions sur les même destinations. Fais mois signe quand tu passes par Paris.
      Claire

  2. gloria says

    January 15, 2017 at 8:32 AM

    That was a beautiful place I’ve ever seen

  3. najma sanai says

    February 21, 2017 at 4:01 PM

    Hi there,
    we are planning a trip to Kyrgyzstan in early May touring the Son-Kul area. (we are doing a longer tour in Kazakhstan after Kygyz.) Absolutely loved your photos. Want to know in which season you sent to Song-Kul/Issyk-Kul? Would the Steppes be green in early May? And would it be cloudy/rains?

    • Claire Robinson says

      February 21, 2017 at 6:30 PM

      Hi Najma
      Those photos were taken the first half of June.
      I would believe the Steppes will be green in May but there might still be a lot of snow – it can be very variable as you are in the mountains.

  4. Peter Elvidge says

    October 1, 2024 at 8:06 AM

    loving your photos, great work Claire

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