Leyla, glad this article brought back good memories! Kyrgyzstan is also very close to our hearts and we hope to be able to return to the mountains at some point. Tajikistan is also quite special, especially the Pamir Mountains. The Pamir Highway road trip is one of our favorite road trip experiences.

Hi Radrigo,
Great to hear that you are interested in visiting Kyrgyzstan! The 3-day trek from Karakol – Ala Kol Lake – Altyn Arashan is of medium difficulty. If you are used to walking a lot and have some experience at altitude then you should be fine. As to your question of a trek on foot vs. horseback riding, that’s a personal preference. We prefer trekking on foot, but we also know people who prefer going by horseback as they find it less strenuous and it’s a different type of adventure. However, horseback riding tours are usually more expensive than treks on foot as they require horse rental, so if cost is a concern then perhaps a regular trek might fit your budget better.

Li, the prices with Destination Jyrgalan are the same whether you book it in advance or when you arrive. July and August are usually high season, so if you want to be sure to have your guide and everything confirmed and secured then I would recommend sending them an email in advance to start the process. However, if you want more flexibility with your schedule then you can wait until you get to Kyrgyzstan, but you may have to adjust the dates of your tour based on availability. The Ak Suu Traverse trek does look pretty amazing so I hope you have a chance to do the trek!

Hi Josephine,
We have visited Kyrgyzstan before in December and it is a beautiful time as all the mountains are covered in snow so everywhere you look is like a winter wonderland. The main roads in the country — e.g., to/from South Shore of Lake Issyk-Kul and Karakol — are open and it’s no problem to get around. But, some of the smaller roads to villages might be a bit more challenging depending upon the snowfall. If you enjoy skiing you should try out the ski resort just outside of Karakol or go to Jyrgalan (60 km away) for freeride skiing and snowboarding. There are a couple of yurt camps near Bakonbaevo along the South Shore if Issyk-Kul that are open in the winter and have saunas attached to the yurts. Quite a cool experience. If you go, let us know how your experience is in the winter!

i m Swiss, so i love snow, but road migth be difficult to pass or the mountains not accessable?

best regards

Hi Alison,
Great to hear that you are planning a big trekking trip to Kyrgyzstan next summer! I would suggest perhaps a combination – arranging some things with CBT in advance and some things to organize on the ground. If there are specific multi-day treks that you definitely know you want to do then I would contact the local CBT or DMO office in advance to secure whatever support you need from them – guides, trekking/camping gear, accommodation, etc. I suggest this as in high season it can happen that they run out of local guides or trekking gear. However, for day hikes or smaller treks you can probably organize all of that on the ground. This would provide you with some flexibility in your schedule in case you want to move some things around. Have a great trip!

Kyrgyzstan will not check your vaccination book when you enter the country. However, it is best to have vaccinations like Hepatitis A and Typhoid. CDC is a great source of travel health and vaccination information for countries: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/kyrgyzstan