Five ideas for guided tours in Kyrgyzstan

• Osh

  The city of Osh, located at the foot of the Pamir mountains, will amaze you with its cultural richness, natural beauty and legendary hospitality. Here are just a few of the must-see places to visit during your stay.
  – The Osh bazaar: Central Asia’s largest market, where you’ll find everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to fragrant spices, colorful carpets, handcrafted jewelry and traditional clothing. You can also sample local specialties such as plov (rice pilaf), manty (meat ravioli) and koumiss (fermented mare’s milk).
  – Babur’s Mausoleum: this is the resting place of the founder of the Mughal Empire, who was born in Osh in 1483. Admire the elegant architecture of the monument, adorned with blue and white mosaics, and soak up the spiritual atmosphere that pervades the site.
  – Sulayman Fortress: a collection of 11th-century ruins that bear witness to Osh’s glorious past. The fortress was the center of political and religious power in the region, and housed a mosque, a madrasa (Koranic school) and an astronomical observatory.

• Jety-Oguz Valley

  When visiting Jety-Oguz, don’t miss the famous rock formations known as the “Seven Bulls“. Standing like silent guardians, these huge reddish rocks are a breathtaking sight. If you’re a keen hiker, don your hiking boots and set off to conquer the surrounding peaks. Climbing Mount Oguz-Bashi rewards you with panoramic views over the entire valley, while a hike to the Broken Heart waterfall plunges you into a fairytale setting.

• Köl Ukök Lake

  This high-altitude lake is located in the Naryn region of southeastern Kyrgyzstan, on the border with China. It’s an ideal place for nature lovers and adventurers.
  To get to Lake Köl Ukök, you need to take a trail through breathtaking scenery. Wind your way through lush green meadows, dense forests and refreshing waterfalls. The lake lies at an altitude of 3040 meters and is 4 kilometers long. It is surrounded by peaks rising to over 4,000 meters.
  Lake Köl Ukök is a haven of peace where you can recharge your batteries and enjoy the silence. You can swim in its turquoise waters, kayak, trek or horseback ride.

• Ala-Archa National Park

  Located around two hours’ drive from Osh, the Ala-Archa park covers an area of over 2000 km2, and is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Here you can go hiking or horseback riding, climb snow-capped peaks, admire waterfalls and crystal-clear lakes, or simply breathe in the fresh, pure mountain air. During your visit, don’t miss the hike to the base camp of Mount Ak-Sai. As you ascend, you’ll be rewarded with magnificent craggy ridges, glaciers and verdant valleys.

• Issyk-Koul Lake

  The Issyk-Kul salt lake, situated at an altitude of over 1,600 metres, is the second largest mountain lake in the world after Lake Titicaca. It offers an exceptional panorama of the snow-capped peaks of the Tian Shan mountains, which surround it like a jewel case.
  Its name means “warm lake” in Kyrgyz, as it never freezes despite its altitude and continental climate. It is fed by over 80 rivers and streams, giving it a remarkable ecological richness. The lake is home to over 20 species of endemic fish, as well as a wide variety of flora and fauna.
  You can also visit the many natural sites that dot the region, such as the Barskoon gorge, the Skazka waterfall and the Jeti-Oguz canyon.
  For water sports enthusiasts, the region is home to numerous beaches along the lake’s shores, including the popular Cholpon Ata on the north shore. For greater peace and quiet, choose Tamchy or Tosor.