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Osh Bazaar in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

© Creative Commons / neiljs

Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide

Key Facts
Area: 

199,951 sq km (77,201 sq miles).

Population: 

5.6 million (2011).

Population density: 

27.2 per sq km.

Capital: 

Bishkek

Government: 

Republic. Gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Head of state: 

President Almazbek Atambayev since 2011.

Head of government: 

Prime Minister Omurbek Babanov since 2011.

Electricity: 

220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin continental plugs are standard.

Sometimes referred to as the Switzerland of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan is blessed with gorgeous mountain scenery almost everywhere you look. The fact that the country is so little known is mostly down to its isolation and a lack of awareness of its very existence – Kyrgyzstan has only been a country in its own right for two decades or so.

Kyrgyzstan’s landscapes are surprisingly varied, with snow-capped peaks, pine forests and glaciers giving way to open plains and gleaming blue mountain lakes. In places the country really does look Switzerland, whilst elsewhere it can remind one of Scotland, Kashmir and even the Middle East. The mountain vistas alone are reason enough to visit - a visit to Kyrgyzstan would be wasted without trekking to at least one of them and, as there so many locations to chose from, trekking can be done virtually anywhere in the country.

Visitor numbers are increasing gradually, although a short tourist season and the relative difficulty of reaching the country have ensured that it is unlikely to ever become a mainstream destination. What this means is that those adventurous travellers who do make the effort to come are guaranteed a unique and unforgettable experience.

Top events in Kyrgyzstan

July
20

Horses are a large part of Kyrgyz culture and so every year national horse games are held. These include ulak tartysh (‘grey wolf’) where two...

July
26

A horse-centred outdoor festival that involves long-distance horse races, traditional horse games, poetry competitions, music concerts and...

July
31

Demonstrations of hunting with golden eagles and Taigan dogs, Kyrgyz national games that include ulak tartysh, and sale of handicrafts and...