At a Glance

What Kyrgyzstan lacks in gracious buildings and fancy cakes it makes up for with nomadic traditions such as laid-back hospitality, a healthy distrust of authority and a fondness for drinking fermented mare's milk. It is perhaps the most accessible and welcoming of the Central Asian republics.

Fast Facts

Full Name
Kyrgyz Republic

Capital City
Bishkek

Area
198,500 sq km
76,641 sq miles

Population
4,700,000

GMT/UTC
+5 ()

Languages
Kyrgyz (official)
Also spelt Kirghiz.

Russian (official)

Religion
75% Muslim, 20% Russian Orthodox

Currency
Kyrgyzstan Som (som)

Ala-Archa Canyon

mountain ; valley/canyon

This grand, rugged but very accessible gorge is a state nature park offering dozens of walking and trekking possibilities, including hikes to glaciers and, for the serious mountaineer, treks to the region's highest peak. There are basic shelters scattered throughout the park but the best way to enjoy the area is to bring your own tent and supplies.

You can use the Upper Ala-Archa Mountain Ski Base as a starting point from which to ski on glaciers, even in summer, though lifts only operate during the December to April winter season. Bishkek travel agents can arrange excursions to the canyon or you can make your own way there by car or by using the local buses. A small fee is charged at the entrance to the park.

Overview

British Mediterranean has three flights a week from London to Bishkek. Bishkek is connected with Istanbul, Moscow, Kiev and Novosibirsk. It's also a possibility to fly into Almaty in Kazakstan and catch a bus for the three hour ride to Bishkek (a Kazakstan transit visa is required). Trains run from Bishkek a few times a week to Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Almaty and Krasnoyarsk (Siberia), and daily to Moscow. There are frequent buses between Bishkek and Tashkent and Almaty, though you often have to change buses at the border; a seasonal bus service links Osh and Kashgar via the Irkeshtam Pass and special jeep tours cross from Bishkek to Kashgar via the Torugart Pass.