Horses and yurts in the Tien Shan Mountains, Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan

Find horizons that never seem to end, vast open spaces and the celestial summits of the Tien Shan

Adventure Holidays in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is a place where the wind whispers of ancient ancestors, family ties, and the immense skill of people able to survive in such an extreme environment. It was once part of the historic Silk Road trading route, which brought huge wealth and cultural interaction across the continents and resulted in a country which can only be called a melting pot of ethnicities and cultures. Off limits to foreigners during the Soviet era, it was used as a buffer with China. Today, however, you don’t even need a visa to enter. This landlocked country is a seemingly never-ending sequence of stunning scenery: the jagged white spears of the celestial Tien Shan Mountains, the arid, dry steppe where nomadic tribes of eagle hunters roam, the staggering beauty of Issyk Kul Lake, the second largest alpine lake on the planet.

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Our travellers rate our Kyrgyzstan holidays as

 4.2 / 5 based on 12 reviews

Kyrgyzstan Adventure Holidays

Registan Square, Samarkand

The Silk Road

Discover the natural and cultural highlights of the Silk Road in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

Guided Group

Discovery & Wildlife
16 days inc. flights
From £2,549
Activity Rating - Leisurely/Moderate
Leisurely / Moderate
4.2 / 5
 from 
12 reviews
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Expert opinion: Kyrgyzstan

“Kyrgyzstan’s big draw is the natural beauty and rural lifestyle,” says Exodus’ Product Manager Tom Harari, who ventured on the Exodus Silk Road adventure in 2015. “There are still nomads here, their yurts and horses scatted along the landscape.

As I journeyed through the Tien Shan, the Mountains of Heaven, I visited a Women’s Association for a homemade lunch and bought traditional felt rugs which the Kyrgyz decorate their yurts with. I visited the home of a traditional eagle hunter and hiked through the beautiful Djety Oguz valley. Arriving at the resort town of Karakol on the end of Issyk Kul Lake, the diversity of this small nation became clear as I visited a Russian Orthodox Church and a Dungan Mosque with its distinctive Buddhist iconography. The Dugan are a small minority who are descendants from Chinese women and Arab traders and fled China for Central Asia. I even got to sample a home-cooked dinner in the home of a local Dugan family.

My penultimate stop was the resort of Cholpon Ata where Russians, Kazakhs and Kyrgyz descend in the summer – marking an odd contrast to the country’s pastoral life. Next I headed to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan’s capital city. Whilst it certainly feels like a Russian city, it’s a far cry from the Soviet-looking Tashkent in Uzbekistan where my journey started. Exodus’ Silk Road adventure has taken me through space and time, to stunning cities and through spectacular landscapes, and unveiled a story of conquerors, traders, academics and craftsmen, whose impact on the history of the world is undeniable.”

Want to see it for yourself? Check out our Silk Road adventure.

Read more insights from our Exodus experts here.

Kyrgyzstan Map

You’re in safe hands! At Exodus, every single one of us is passionate about travel and adventure. Together our staff and tour leaders have visited more than 171 countries, and come from a range of backgrounds as diverse archeology and mountain rescue. We have the hands on experience to help when you need it, and from the moment you pick up the phone to the moment you land, we’re here to take the hassle out your holiday. We’ll meet you at the airport, get you safely from place to place, and provide you with the right kit to tackle your chosen adventure.

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