Kyrgyzstan: A Gem of Central Asia

Home to the heavenly Tien-Shen mountains, Kyrgyzstan boasts some of the most strikingly beautiful landscapes on Earth.

Jalal-Abad Trek

16 June - 01 July

$2700

Terskey Traverse

06 July - 22 July

$2880

KYRGYZSTAN: COUNTRY PROFILE

KEY INFORMATION

Population: 7.2 million

Religion: Islam (Sunni)

Capital city: Bishkek

Spoken languages: Russian/Kyrgyz

Geographical area: 200,105 km Mountain ranges: Tien-Shen and Pamir mountains

Ethnicity: Kyrgyz (78%), Uzbek (14%), Russian (3%), Dungans, Tajiks, Germans

OVERVIEW

Kyrgyzstan is a small landlocked Central Asian nation, bordered to the North by Kazakhstan, the East by China, the West and South by Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The Kyrgyz people are historically a nomadic population, with their ethnic origins descending from Turkic and Mongol populations.

More recently, since Soviet occupation until 1991, the country has migrated away from their nomadic origins, and are now divided between two ways of life: that of the urban metropolises such as Bishkek, and the old ways. While the Kyrgyz people have urbanized to a certain point over the past several decades, there still remains a large volume of semi-nomadic people populating the mountains, living in traditional yurts (or "Gers" as they are known in Mongolia,) and grazing the land with their stock.

The Kyrgyz nomads are an excellent example of complete mastery in backcountry living; they not only survive, but they also thrive in these harsh places, and have discovered many techniques, using the minimal resources they have, to enjoy a variety of luxuries in the wilderness.

When to Visit

Cuisine

Culture

Visas

Safety

Language

Currency

Ecology

History

Women

BEST TIME TO VISIT

June-September

Kyrgyzstan's climate is largely continental, meaning they have four seasons and experience temperature extremes in both directions. Cities often reach 40 celsius through the summer months, and -40 in the winter. Because of this, the trekking season is limited for the most part from June until September, when snow is mostly absent, and passes become accessible.

Due to Kyrgyzstan's immense diversity and wide array of micro-climates, the optimal trekking months in Southern Kyrgyzstan are May and June, as this is when the pastures are lushest and filled with wild flower. In the south snow typically melts out by late May. In the spruce forested North however, the ideal trekking months come a bit later - in July and August, as the mountain ranges off the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul tend to be wetter and colder.

At Great Goat Expeditions, we have planned our fixed date itineraries accordingly to ensure our groups catch the landscapes when they are at their most pristine and accessible.