Kyrgyzstan & Tajikistan: High Pamir Explorer
17 days starting on Sat 7 Jul 2012The Pamir Highway is undoubtedly one of the world’s most stunning roads and yet few Westerners have ever travelled its length, lying as it does...
Group Tours in Kyrgyzstan
Starting in July 2012
Kyrgyzstan: Celestial Mountain Action Adventure
16 days starting on Sat 28 Jul 2012On this multi-activity adventure we will take an incredible helicopter ride over some of the most spectacular glacier systems in the world,...
Starting in August 2012
Kyrgyzstan: Ride The Mountains of Heaven
14 days starting on Sat 11 Aug 2012For anyone with an interest in horse riding, our horse treks in Kyrgyzstan are simply the best adventures we do. Riding high into the amazing Mountains of Heaven, following in the footsteps of...
Silk Road: Wild Mountains, Fabled Towns
17 days starting on Sat 11 Aug 2012Kyrgyzstan & Uzbekistan - Spending ten days in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, staying in yurts with the family of the famed eagle hunter musician, the nomads of Son Kul and the shepherds of Tash Rabat...
Starting in September 2012
Silk Road Odyssey
23 days starting on Sat 1 Sep 2012Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan & Uzbekistan - This unique Wild Frontiers tour takes you on an epic cultural journey along the Old Silk Road through some of Central Asia’s most spectacular...
Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide
Bishkek
The capital of Kyrgyzstan is Bishkek, an attractive modern city with wide avenues, set against the backdrop of snow capped mountains with an abundance of green spaces. In 1825 the Khan of Kokand established a clay fort here called Pishpek. Following the Russian Revolution, the town was renamed Frunze after the famous Bolshevik general who was born here. It reverted to its original name Bishkek in 1991 following Kyrgyz independence.
Lake Issyk Kul
Lake Issyk Kul meaning "warm lake" is the second largest mountain lake in the world. Measuring 182km long by 58km wide, the lake is heated from below by volcanic activity and never freezes even in the depths of winter. In the summer the water temperature reaches 25-28 degrees centigrade (warmer than the air) and you can swim in the clear blue waters enclosed on all sides by the snowy peaks of the Tien Shan Mountains. Most of the resorts are on the north shore of the lake and the area between here and Almaty in Kazakhstan is excellent trekking territory.
Karakol
Karakol is the administrative centre of Issy-Kul province and a good base from which to explore the lake. It was founded in 1869 after the commander of a nearby garrison realised that with its mild climate and fertile soil it was well suited for settlement. Today the town is famous for its surrounding apple orchards and there is a very good Sunday market. Things to see include the Chinese mosque, which was built entirely without nails by Chinese artisans in 1920, and the Holy Trinity Cathedral. There are also good walks to be had in the valley of the Karakol River.
Naryn
The province of Naryn is a territory of wild beauty with alternating white peaks, valleys and gorges and an abundance of wildlife. Despite the rugged terrain, the Central Tian Shan has been inhabited since ancient times and numerous rock drawings and burial sites testify to the fact. It was also a main caravan route on the Silk Road and one can visit the beautifully preserved 15th century Tash Rabat caravanserai. The largest lake in Naryn province is Lake Song Kul. Surrounded by snow-capped peaks, the lake's colour changes from violet to dark blue to pink, depending on the time of day. The highest lake is Lake Chatyr Kul around which the spectacular Torugart Pass runs all the way to the Chinese Border.
Jety Oguz Canyon
Twenty-five kilometers west of Karakol is the Jety-Oguz Canyon. These red sandstone cliffs are said to resemble bulls and the name itself means 'Seven Bulls'. It is said that these splendid animals grew to huge proportions because of the lush pastures in the valley. There is a village nearby and walks can be taken into the canyon. Below the cliffs is one of the few surviving Issy-Kul spas. It was built in 1932 and there are a variety of pools and treatment rooms.
Son Kul Lake
Lake Son Kul is an alpine lake and the second largest lake in Kyrgystan. It is situated in the Northern Province on a high mountain plateau. The shepards of the Kochkor, Naryn and At Bashi regions often use the green mountain meadows surrounding the lake for their summer pastures. There are a wide variety of herbs and grasses in the surrounding area as well as 66 species of water foul which make their homes on the lake.
Tash Rabat
Sheltering in the lee of a black granite cliff, in what must surely be one of the prettiest valleys in the country, this ancient Silk Road caravanserai, constructed of dark stone with a huge arched entrance, domed roof and corner turrets, appears like some ancient eastern castle, a mythical outpost from some long forgotten legend. Before it, sweeping out of sight behind a sheer ridge is a wide green valley, dotted with yurts and hundreds of animals: horses, cattle, yaks and sheep. With a friendly family to stay with in cosy, well-equipped yurts, wonderful walks and rides in the mountains around, a visit to Tash Rabat is one of the highlights of any trip to Kyrgyzstan.
Osh
Osh is Kyrgyzstan's second largest city. It is one of the region's most ancient towns with a history stretching back to the 5th century BC and legends tell of it being founded by all sorts of people from King Solomon to Alexander the Great. It was a major hub on the Silk Road. Today it has a strong Uzbek feel which is unsurprising as 40% of the population are Uzbeks. The huge daily Jayma Bazaar is one of Central Asia's best markets, it is spread out along the river and is at its busiest on Sunday. Just outside the town is a rocky outcrop known as Solomon's Throne. It's long been a place of Muslim pilgrimage as Mohammed is supposed to have once prayed here.
Arslanbob Village
Situated 1,600 metres above sea level on the south-facing slopes of the Ferghana range, Arslanbob boasts striking mountain scenery, friendly locals and the most prized walnuts in the country. Alexander the Great is said to have brought back large quantities of nuts from Central Asia, but had to give them up once he reached Greece as a payment to the boatmen who transported his troops. The population is predominantly Uzbek and Arslanbob is considered to be rather conservative, as it it close to may Muslim holy sites and due to its isolation from the rest of the country.
Mountains of Heaven
The Tien Shan, or Celestial Mountains, are quite simply one of the most beautiful mountain ranges on earth. Though perhaps not as immediately dramatic as the mighty Himalaya or Karakoram, the colour, variety, shapes and simple wildness of the Tien Shan will still have you buzzing with wonder. But what makes a trip into these mountains so special isn’t just in the views, it lies in the fact that here you really feel as though you are among them, a part of them, not simply staring up at far-away peaks. Living with nomads in their yurts or camping by wild rivers in forests of pine, for the most part many miles away from ‘civilisation’, after a few days in the Tien Shan will feel like a nomad yourself!
Kyrgyzstan Travel Information
Visa Information
UK Passport holders require a visa to visit Kyrgyzstan .
Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the end of your trip, and it must have at least one blank page for each visa required. Please ensure the passport details we hold for you are correct.
Please note it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa documentation when starting your trip. Country entry regulations can alter daily and it is always best to check with the relevant embassies for any changes.
You can use a visa company such as:
Travcour (UK)
Tempo House
15 Falcon Road Battersea
London
SW11 2PJ
Tel: 020 7223 5295
Fax: 020 7738 2617
Email: info@travcour.com
Website: www.travcour.com
If you are travelling on a non-UK passport, please contact your nearest consulate/embassy for up to date visa information.
Insurance:
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours.
You should be aware that many standard insurance policies may not cover you adequately for all aspects of a Wild Frontiers trip and so we strongly recommend that you purchase a suitably designed insurance policy.
One such policy is the "Wild Frontiers" policy underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE " firm reference 202803), which is available to EU residents (which excludes Norway & Switzerland) through our website or via the insurance company direct on 0845 345 3456. Under this policy there are two different levels of cover available.
Standard policy: a comprehensive travel insurance policy that provides cover for all Wild Frontiers activities, including trekking up to 6,000m. This policy does not provide cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel.
Elite policy: provides the same comprehensive level of cover as the standard policy. In addition the Elite policy also provides cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel. The policy will not provide cover for any claims arising from or relating to the reasons why the FCO is advising against travel.
If purchasing the Elite policy you also have the option to extend the cover provided by the policy to include cover for claims arising from a terrorist act in an area where the FCO is advising against travel. You can add this cover to your policy when purchasing online or over the telephone.
These policies are only available to those travelling on a Wild Frontiers holiday.
For more information and to purchase your policy online please visit the Insurance section of our website.
The cover is underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE), and is arranged by Travel & General Insurance Service Limited. Both companies are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Wild Frontiers Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Travel & General Insurance Company plc, details of which can be found at the FSA's website www.fsa.gov.uk.
To contact them please visit their website at www.travel-general.com or call 0845 408 0583.
Health and Vaccinations:
There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Kyrgyzstan, although you should be up-to-date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. We recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.
We also recommend:
• A dental check-up prior to travelling.
• You inform us of any pre-existing medical conditions or medication.
To be on the safe side you can also check on www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk
Tour Leaders
Amanda Drake
Born in London, Amanda’s joy in travelling was first awoken at age 4 when her family relocated back to Sydney, Australia (her first memory is of... Read More
Jonny Bealby
Growing up in England, Scotland and Canada, Jonny developed a passion for travel and upon finishing college journeyed extensively in Australasia and the Far... Read More
Richard Dunwoody
Richard Dunwoody was 12 when he started riding racehorses and rode in his first race as an amateur in 1982. He turned professional two years later and won... Read More
Dominico Mocchi
Dom has been running horse treks in Asia for more than ten years. A great friend of Jonny's, with the same enthusiasm and love for the countries in which he... Read More
Mette Steen
Our most experienced Ethiopia, Yemen and Wakhan guide, Mette has spent the past 18 years traversing the African continent with side trips to Middle East and... Read More
Holly Hunt
At three years old on the West Coast of Ireland Holly decided she wanted to live with lions in Africa.
By 27 she had held addresses on the foothills... Read More
Mark Steadman
Mark's adventurous parents had swapped the crowded streets of South London for the sandy beaches of South Australia, before his fifth birthday.
By... Read More
Dhala Campbell
Named after a Yemeni fort and pass, Dhala was brought up in Scotland and spent her childhood mucking about on horses.
The travel bug started when... Read More
Marc Leaderman
Narrowly escaping the "lawyer, doctor or accountant" stereotype career that is the fate of many London sons, Marc taught English in Romania & Japan... Read More
Max Wood
Max was born in Yorkshire and brought up in Lancashire. After studying at university in Coventry he realised that there was much more in this world to... Read More
Chris Daubney
After studying environmental science Chris set off to Tanzania to work on conservation and local community projects. A year of working in remote camps... Read More
Sara Harris
Sara’s family were involved in Scouting so in her youth she was regularly dragged off hiking and camping, which instilled a love of the outdoors from... Read More
