1 Nature
Well...when one is asking what is the one thing that Kyrgyzstan can boast of, we all scream in unison - NATURRRRREEE! And indeed, nature here is breathtaking, stunning, astounding, magnificent, majestic and so on. It seems like the god or universe (what have you) have had benevolently bestowed on Kyrgyzstan surreal landscapes, mountains, greenery, lakes, canyons, gorges, plains, forests, glaciers and much more! Kyrgyzstan has all 4 seasons here, and that whenever you visit our country, you will not be left disappointed with the splendour of nature.
Planning to visit in summer? - Perfect! Enjoy the rich green vistas, lakes and all the possible experiences!
Decided to come in autumn? - Great! Dive into the golden wonderland!
In winter, you will be enchanted by the dazzling snowy views.
As spring comes, you will fall in love with blooming nature.
Kyrgyzstan is also home to the second-largest alpine lake in the world - His Highness Issyk Kul. If you’ve explored the beauties of both the northern and southern shores of this lake, you can readily say that you have seen most of Kyrgyzstan! So, make sure you add our magnificent country to your travel list and come to explore it ASAP!
Below is the shortlist of the most popular places to visit in Kyrgyzstan:
Bishkek city, obviously
Ala Archa National Park
Burana Tower
Issyk Kul lake (Cholpon Ata town)
Karakol town (northern shore of Issyk Kul, from now onwards - IK)
Jeti Oguz valley (northern shore of IK)
Skazka or Fairy Tale Canyon (northern shore of IK)
Barskoon waterfalls (northern shore of IK)
Son Kol lake
Kel Suu lake
Tash Rabat fortress
Osh city
Sary Chelek lake
Arslanbob (the largest walnut forest in the world)
Toktogul reservoir
Suusamyr valley
2 Culture
Thanks to our nomadic past, Kyrgyzstan has so much to offer to zealous travellers! The authentic experiences and indigenous traditions will be of interest to everybody. In the capital city, you will jump into the buzzing lifestyle of contemporary Bishkek. In contrast, you will be able to get an idea of the Kyrgyz heritage, participating in the long-preserved traditions. Among these are: horse riding, falcon hunting, yurt camping, yurt assembling, felt carpet weaving and much more.
One of the most captivating parts of the Kyrgyz culture is the national games. The most popular and most played game is Kok Boru (from Kyrg Grey Wolf). This competitive game is played between two teams of men, and the principles are quite similar to those of football or basketball. On each side of the vast ground, pitch stands a well (goal). Either team aims to throw a sheep or goat carcass (ball) into the well to score a point. This is an extremely rapid and rough game since the players often get injured in a struggle for a sheep and sometimes even fall over their horse getting trampled. This powerful game can be witnessed in many parts of Kyrgyzstan during national tournaments or ethnic festivals and can also be arranged upon request in places like Chon Kemin Valley or Bokonbaevo village (the average price is $130).
Falcon hunting is the ancient type of hunt that Kyrgyz people have been practising for many centuries. Unique in its style and breathtaking in its performance, this experience will engross everyone. The process involves 5 participants: a hunter on a horse, a hound, a falcon and the prey of the hunt itself (usually fox or hare - real or artificial). So, the whole scene looks like this: the hunter is riding astride a horse with one arm stretched aside on which the falcon is sitting with its eyes covered. The hound is running ahead of them, pursuing the prey. Next moment the rider takes off the cover from the falcon’s head and immediately dashes towards the prey, leaving it no chance for escaping. You can however also choose an artificial animal carcass for this show. It is just a show! The average price for this sort of demonstration is $50.
3 Safety
Kyrgyzstan can be readily called one of the safest countries in the world! It actually has been placed in Level 1 group by international organizations along with the other central Asian countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, which means they are among the safest places to travel to. Unfortunately, due to stereotypical misconceptions, the country is often associated with the other less popular and dangerous destinations. People in Kyrgyzstan are very friendly, warm and welcoming.
Need some help? – You will definitely get it! We often hear tourists say that they feel much safer in Kyrgyzstan than in some European countries. Of course, however, there is always room for the force majeure circumstances, just like anywhere else, but the Ventura Tours Kyrgyzstan team is always responsible for their travellers.
Kyrgyzstan has a vibrant and diverse population due to its renowned historical background. In the USSR, more than 80 nationalities were friendly, living in one huge country. So today, you will find in Kyrgyzstan an absolute diversity of people with different religions, confessions and beliefs that call this country home.
4 Prices
This one is another alluring reason to visit Kyrgyzstan. The prices in Kyrgyzstan are so reasonably low that you will feel delighted when paying $10 at a restaurant for an enormous, delicious dinner for two! And yet, it is not only about food. The fairly low prices apply to many aspects of life in Kyrgyzstan.
Thus, renting a decent 2 bedroom (not counting the living room) flat in the very city center will cost you between $300-500 a month. However, sometimes the prices for a hotel room per night might be similar to those in other countries.
Most of the produce in Kyrgyz meals is grown domestically so that you will love not only their costs but also the quality of our vegetables, fruits, meat, dairy products and other delicacies.
Wanna get around the city and use the taxi service? That is where another surprise awaits! The taxi ride within Bishkek will cost you $1-3 at most. But make sure the taxi has a meter, well most of them do. A ride from/to the airport costs 500 soms which is around $6-8.
Ok, with all that being said, we have come up with a list of the average prices for some services and products that every traveller uses constantly:
Taxi ride from the airport - 500 soms or $6-8. A ride within Bishkek - $1-3
Public minibus from the airport - 40 soms or $0,5
SIM card with unlimited mobile internet and calls for one week - $2
Dinner at a restaurant - $6 (single), $10 (couple)
Bottle of beer of the local production (necessary) - $1
Cup of coffee - $1,5
Icecream - $0,3
Grocery shopping at a supermarket or the Osh bazaar - $13 (a couple of full bags)
Public transport within Bishkek (bus, trolley-bus) - 8 soms or $0,1 one way
Horse riding outside of Bishkek - $7 an hour
Pack of souvenirs (average, 3-4 items) $6-7
Well, the "Prices" section perfectly demonstrates that Kyrgyzstan can be the right place for an unforgettable, awesome but thrifty vacation! However, it doesn’t mean you can not go all out with spending money here.
5 Easy-to-get-to country
Kyrgyzstan is simply the perfect destination for those last-minute travel plans. Planning to go somewhere that is unexplored, unique, authentic and stunning? Just grab your passport, credit card and head to Kyrgyzstan, since, with the visa-free regime for 69 countries, most of you will be able to do that! But even if you ever need a visa to our country, Ventura Tours Kyrgyzstan is always here to assist you with this matter.
Well, we hope that this concise but pretty informative article has been of use to you. So, do not hesitate to contact us any time regarding your dream journey in Kyrgyzstan.