New routes on a recreational trail system in Kyrgyzstan will further open up the region to independent travellers, making it simpler for trekkers to navigate the incredible mountains, lakes and pastures of the Central Asian country on their own.
Discover Kyrgyzstan, with the support of USAID, has completed the initiative to mark a trail system to connect a nearly 300km span between trekking hubs Kochkor and Karakol, and the border to neighbouring Kazakhstan just beyond.
The 20 individual routes, which cover over 800km of marked trails, enable independent travellers to explore the diversity of Kyrgyzstan's mountainous landscapes and see authentic local culture. Many of the high-altitude jailoo pastures that link the Issyk-Kol region's mountain valleys are home to yurt camps in which nomadic shepherds live through the summer to graze livestock, and in which travellers can engage with local lifestyles and sleep in remote yurt homestays.
While Kyrgyzstan is already a popular travel destination for independent trekkers, lack of information on available routes has, in the past, limited tourists to a small number of popular routes radiating from Kochkor and Karakol. These new trails, which complement existing options, traverse mountain passes over 4000m and the many small alpine lakes that dot the Kyrgyz countryside.
The new routes are centred around four central trekking hubs, two of which are already popular bases for adventure travellers and two of which are growing backpacking destinations. Information on trekking routes and hire of outdoors equipment, horses, and mountain guides are available from Discover Kyrgyzstan or at local destination management organization (DMO) offices in Kochkor, Bokonbaevo, Karakol, and Jyrgalan.
The initiative is the result of a partnership between the national Discover Kyrgyzstan destination marketing organization and regional DMOs to encourage growth in the tourism sector, with support by the USAID Business Growth Initiative project. The initiative is expected to continue throughout the summer in other regions of the country, with routes in Naryn and Osh regions project for completion in July and August.
By Stephen Lioy
