Central Asia - Kyrgyzstan (Chapter)

This is the Kyrgyzstan chapter from Lonely Planet's Central Asia guidebook.

Like some kind of Central Asian Shangri-la, Kyrgyzstan’s soaring peaks and rugged ranges form both barriers and borders. And like James Hilton's mythical landscape, once entered it can be difficult to leave.

• join a horse trek high into the mountains and across summer pastures to see the Kyrgyz countryside at its best
• visit the bizarrely un-freezable Lake Issyk-Köl
• take in some breathtaking scenery on a trek out to Altyn Arashan’s steaming hot pools
• haggle your way from one stall to the next, like centuries of Silk Road traders before you, in Osh’s bazaar, which locals claim is older than Rome

Coverage includes: Itineraries, Climate, History, Current Events, People, Religion, Arts, Environment, Food & Drink, Directory, Transport, Bishkek & around, Lake Issyk-Köl & the Central Tian Shan, Tamchy, Cholpon-Ata, Grigorievka & the Ak-Suu Valley, Karkara Valley, Karakol & around, Barskoön & Tamga, Kadji-Sai & around, Bokonbayevo & around, The Central Tian Shan, Bishkek to Naryn, Karakol to Naryn, Kochkor & around, Lake Song-Köl, Naryn & around, Naryn to Jalal-Abad, Naryn to Torugart, Torugart Pass, Bishkek to Tashkömür, Lake Sary-Chelek, Arslanbob, Jalal-Abad, Özgön & around, Osh, Osh to Irkeshtam, Alay Valley and Southwestern Kyrgyzstan.