Situated in the centre of Central Asia, Kyrghyzstan advantageously differs from the nearby lying countries with its amazing nature. The major part of this country is represented by mountains. Beautiful, high and such various mountains named Tyan-Shyan.

Mountains is what we are famous for and rightly so. Our mountains are the Tien-Shan, the word alone evokes images of far flung mountain meadows, of peaceful peoples in their yurts, of high altitude peaks to conquer.

We see visitors from everywhere. Western Europe, America, Russia, Japan. It's the variety of Kyrgyz nature that is such an attraction, there is something for everybody. Definitely a lot for those who love to roam and discover on foot and something for every level of strength and capability.

And best of all, you will feel like no one has ever tread here because there are no visible signs of organized tourism, hardly any sign posts, no organized camp sites... where in the world can you still find unspoiled nature like that? One excellent reason to chose Kyrgyzstan on your next nature trip.

To assure that your time in the country is spent well, that's where your travel agent comes in. The top travel agents in Kyrgyzstan are professionals and understand your needs, they arrange and organize a tailor made and unforgettable trip, including porters, cooks, food, equipment such as tents, insulation mats, sleeping bags, gas stoves and cartridges. Or else, in Bishkek, RED FOX, the outdoors and equipment specialist has everything you need at fair prices, so you don't have to bring it all in from abroad.

The North
Talaskaya, Chuyskaya
That's where the famous Ala-Archa gorge is situated and the legendary Ak-Say glacier with more high altitude treks. This is climbing country and nowadays even on a sunny winter day you may encounter dozens of amateurs tackling the rocks.

The Alamedin, Kegety and Shamsi gorges are perfect for leisurely hikers. Where the Kok-Dyhar-Su and the Konorchek river merge, there's a beautiful canyon and hiking along the high walled Boom gorge, the hiker reaches the northern shore of the Issyk-Kul region. This is of course the Mecca of tourism, not only because of the lake itself but because of all the possibilities the neighboring countryside offers.

Overnight stays at resorts, a whole range of accommodation at every level and for every budget is at your disposal. There are several day trips to the Kungey Alatau mountain ranges to chose from. The most popular trip for the last 10 years has been the hike along the Chon-Kyzy Suu gorge, the Dzhety-Oguz and Karakol gorges. There's so much to see and you walk through different nature zones, from dense mountain forests with juniper and pine trees to Alpine grass meadows, with snow-white peaks glistening in the back.

East of Issyk-Kul lay the Central Tien Shan Rocks, where ice and snow dominate. Two peaks of over 7000m are the challenge for high altitude climbers, many of which have dreamed of conquering the Khan-Tengriand the Peak Victory.

For those on foot, hiking trails have been created, you can book a variety of trekking options taking up to 10 days, getting you far away from civilization, into some of the most beautiful mountain sites in the world, with the South Inylichek glacier camp as your base.

You like to walk and hike but want to get to your destination fast? Book a helicopter trip. A 30 minutes flight is all it takes to shuttle you to the base camp from the shores of Issyk-Kul. From the southern shores of Lake Issyk-Kul, crossing the Terskey Alatau mountain range, you get to the inner Tian-Shan area, the least explored and visited, pure nature at its best and ideal for multiple day trips; High altitude plateaus, in Kyrgyz referred to as SYRT provide the ideal base where your own private tent camp will be mounted, complete with cook and porters, from where on foot or horseback the wild beautify of the sparsely populated mountains can be explored. In March an April, this is where ski hiking becomes more and more popular. A swim in the warm lake in the morning and then off by car to the white spring snow, what a contrast.

West of the SYRTS, the river Naryn winds though another increasingly popular area for hiking and trekking. Lake Son-Kul is where nomads spend their Summers, and there are ample possibilities for walks with overnight in yurts and yurt camps to get acquainted with the nomad life style, traditions, local food and horse riding. Yurting is the new trend and is becoming an increasingly organized tourism sector.

To combine yurting with cultural sight seeing, cross the Kulak-Ashu pass to get into the Arty and Torugart valley with the Chatyr-Kul lake. The famous Tash-Rabat mausoleum from the 11th century, located right there, is the only building in Central Asia constructed without a single wooden peg. Trekking from here is for those in search of fauna, with wild goats and other animals roaming here. This area is hardly, hardly explored, all the more tempting to visit.

The Sandalazhskiy and Chatkalskiy mountains invite you to dwell by some of the most beautiful mountain lakes to be found, the Sary-Chalek and the Iri-Kyol, the Karasuu and many others. This is lake country with all the flora that goes with it. The warm climate of the area allows for hiking and trekking until deep into autumn.

Kyrgyzstan has all the ingredients needed for an unforgettable vacation, it's tourism is only developing and nothing is large scale. Friendly people welcome you and are genuinely delighted over each visitor. What a unique country to explore on foot.