Due to the unique geography of this region, the mountain villages of Kyrgyzstan have managed to preserve the traditions and ancient nomadic culture of its people. In summer, the Kyrgyz move to the jailoo (verdant summer pastures) with their herds of sheep and horses, where they live in yurts (felt tents) just as they have done for many centuries. Come and stay in a yurt camp, a world of untouched nature, warm hospitality, calm & spiritual balance.

Kopuro Bazar: Land of Manas
The Talas Valley is also known as the Land of Manas, after the Kyrgyz national hero depicted in the epic poem of the same name. At more than 500,000 lines, the Manas epic is far larger than Homer's "Odyssey" and "Iliad" put together. Manas was transmitted orally from one generation of manaschys (bards) to another for many centuries, until the advent of the first written transcription around 150 years ago. Manas and manaschys are still popular, and 1995 was declared by UNESCO to be the International Year of Manas, in celebration of the th.

Oousandth anniversal of the epic.ne of the greatest battles in Eurasian history took place in the Talas Valley around 1250 years ago. This encounter between Chinese and Arab armies, and the resulting Arab victory determined the Islamic direction which Central Asian history took for centuries afterwards.

The village of Kopuro-Bazar is situated to the east of the city of Talas, at the mouth of the Karakol gorge on the Talas river. Surrounded by majestic mountains and 12km of birch woods (of a type unique to the Talas Valley), the village is a desirable destination for fishermen, due to the abundance of trout on this stretch of the Talas River. An old deserted gold mine outside the village also provides an ideal opportunity for amateur prospectors to spend a few hours panning for gold.

For those with a iove of adventure, or who would like to learn more about a culture different from their own, villagers offer a range of opportunities to go hiking or horse trekking. This is a great way to view magnificent landscapes, visit remote places, as well as a chance to try kymyss, the ancient drink of the Kyrgyz nomad, made from fermented mare's milk, which is a tonic and a cure for respiratory illnesses.

On request, village residents can provide you with horses and act as guides for a four-day horse trek through the Korumdu-Ashuu pass (3100 metres above sea-level) to the Bishkek-Osh road. This also provides the opportunity to visit the high-altitude mountain lake of Kol-Tor, located some 3305 metres above sea-level. Considered sacred by local people, it is the tradition to 'lay a table' when visiting the lake, which entails saying a prayer, making a pile of seven stones, and making a wish (which will come true!)

It is here that you can see where the hordes of the great Chingizkhan (Genghis Khan) paved a way for themselves through the impassable gorges and passes to transport their trophies from the West to the East. You can also visit the scenes of fourth century battles between the Kyrgyz and Kalmyk tribes, as well as the preserved petroglyphsof the ancient inhabitants of the region, which date from 2000BC. These depict thousands of scenes from their daily lives; from hunting and ploughing, to religious ceremonies, engraved by primitive hunters on the stones.

The fauna of this region is very rich, and there is an abundance of hares, marmots and birds of prey. It is also possible, even without the aid of binoculars, to observe ibex (wild goats) and their kids feeding near to your yurt (traditional felt tent) on the jailoo (summer pasture). The variety of wild flora and medicinal herbs will also much delight visitors.

For accommodation, visitors have the option of either using guesthouses in the village, or alternatively spending the night in a yurt in the mountain gorge (where electricity and shower facilities are provided). Upon equest, locals organise demonstrations of Kyrgyz national games, including horse polo and racing, or 'chasing the bride; or short plays such as beshik-toy (putting a new-born child in a cradle) or tuushoo-kesuu (first steps of a child).

The Information Centre in the village also has a handicraft shop where felt souvenirs made by local women are on sale. This is also an excellent opportunity to design and make your own ala-kiyiz (a colour full felt carpet).

Ak-terek: Following in the footsteps of Alexander The Great
The village of Ak-Terek is located on the foothills of Kara-Shoro national park, by the Jassy river, in the Uzgen part of the Osh region.

In headwaters of Jassy there are numerous mineral springs, which are well known to people of the Fergana valley.
The gorge is covered with wild walnut woods, and Alexander the Great's army survived on these during their campaign to conquer India. Later, his warriors brought walnuts back home to Greece and through trade introduced them to Europe. In Russian they are called "Greek" nuts though it would be fairer to call them Kyrgyz nuts.

In the Kara Shoro national park you can find wolves, foxes, bears, wild boars, marmots and Marco Polo sheep. Residents of the village offer breathtaking hiking and horse riding treks through the Kara-Shoro Park to the Arpa valley in the Naryn region. This route was successfully 'tested'last summer by group of Swiss tourists.

Having "squeezed" through the narrow Kypchylma pass (Kypchylma means "squeeze through" in the Kyrgyz language) you will see the ruins of the ancient Kyrgyz-Chinese trade market on Chytty pasture (which means "cotton fabric" in Kyrgyz). These ruins mark the location of the medieval Sogolon caravan-sarai, which stood on the caravan route from the Jassy river valley, through the pass to the Arpa valley. Two meters thick walls to a height of two and a half meters with six towers provided reliable protection from nomad invaders.

Further on the trek leads to jailoo "Balam Kaldy"(the child was left). The ancient story told in this region has it that when moving to another pasture, a mother accidentally dropped a cradle with the child down into an abyss and sadly was unable to retrieve it.

The village of Ak-Terek is a mini base camp, where trekkers acclimatize before their 6-day trek, as well as a great place for beginners to take their first riding lessons.

• The land of Talas is also the Mana's land, that the great epos song about. In classical variant it is said: "Oh, the fine spacious Talas, you really are better than the paradise..."
• Classic of the ancient Kyrghyz history and archeology, professor Alexander Bernshtam has established that Talas region became the first of Tyan-Shyan areas that Kyrgyzs inhabited as far in the first century B.C.
• Inhabitants of Kopuro Bazar are rather mobile people that are not get used to moving on foot. Even on arba, but "on wheels" their motto is. And if there are no wheels they put their legs in and ride a horse so you will meet the best equestrians here.
• The epos of Manas is dear to us because it is written in base of real events and describe the history of composition of Kyrgyz people from clans and tribes and the following lines, transmitted by Mana's lips testify this:
      I have made a cow from white maral;
      I have made the people from the hashed tribes