Karakol
Occupying an archetypal 1887 Russian house, this museum has a few Scythian bronze artefacts, local tools and musical instruments. Taxidermists' victims…
Must-see attractions in Kyrgyzstan
Karakol
In addition to the standard monument of Victory on a plinth, memorialising the end of WWII, Karakol's Victory Park also includes an interesting monument…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
Though small, the craggy mountains that back these two high-altitude lakes make for an impressive scene; as does the long look back down from their shelf…
Karakol
Developed under the initiative of the Destination Karakol public association, this area of nicely maintained land alongside the Karakol River has benches,…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
Locals pack picnics and head 20km up the huge Barskoön Valley to the Barskoön Waterfall, where kymys is sold from summertime yurts near a defaced…
Osh
Centred on the 1909 St Michael's Cathedral, this large park off the central square is worth a wander to see monuments dedicated to WWII soldiers,…
Kyrgyzstan
Herders from the Chuy Valley and beyond gather early on Sunday to sell livestock at this weekly market. Come early, as it's mostly wrapped up by 10am…
Karakol
A tip-tilted triple roof, carved-layered eaves and wooden exterior pillars give this colourful 1910 mosque the look of a Chinese Buddhist temple…
Osh
If you're in Osh on a Sunday morning, hundreds of sheep, donkeys, horses and cattle go on sale at this traditional livestock market. Some may find the…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
The large open-air stadium east of the centre is host to occasional concerts and events, but really comes to life every two years as the base for sports…
Osh
This 16th-century mosque is believed to be one of the oldest structures in the city, and though the ornate wooden doors to the 'Old Mosque' compound are…
Kyrgyzstan
Following the Besh-Tash River for 30km, the highlight of this 32,000 sq km national park is a large turquoise lake at the end of the valley. Keep your…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
The still waters of this quiet mountain lake reflect the surrounding forests, and the trail up looks out over splendid views of the surrounding valleys…
Osh
One of the most impressive Lenin statues still standing in all of Central Asia appears to be objecting to the massive Kyrgyz flag flapping in front of him…
Bishkek
This bazaar built primarily of repurposed shipping has shrunk somewhat since Kyrgyzstan joined the Eurasian Customs Union, but is still an atmospheric…
Kyrgyzstan
As the highway towards Baetov and Kazarman tops a small pass to the west of the city, look for a dirt road turnoff that leads to a viewpoint of the city…
Kyrgyzstan
Painting and sculpture from a collection of Kyrgyz artists, primarily those who originate in Naryn. There's also a small gift shop off the lobby.
Bishkek
Packed with amusements and carnival rides, this city-centre park is particularly pleasant and popular with local families on summer weekends.
Kyrgyzstan
Kochkor's town livestock market is open on Saturday mornings. Some will find the conditions here exotic, others distressing.
Issyk-Köl Oblast
North of the centre is an extensive field of glacial boulders, many with pictures scratched or picked into their surfaces. Some of these petroglyphs date…
Bishkek
This modest museum forms a concrete shell around the thatched cottage that was allegedly the birthplace of Mikhail Vasilievich Frunze (1885–1925), for…
Bishkek
Run by the son of the legend himself, this was once the working studio of Kyrgyz National Artist Gapar Aitiev. It will be of interest to visitors with a…
Bishkek
Commemorating the 40th anniversary of the end of WWII, this monument is designed to evoke three symbolic yurt struts curving above an eternal flame. It…
Bishkek
The seat of government in Kyrgyzstan, the sidewalk out front of this Stalinist Modern construction is also the site of regular protests organised by local…
Bishkek
Dedicated to the 'Queen of the Alay', this 19th-century stateswoman and tribal leader was famous in Kyrgyzstan long before being featured in a 2014 film…
Kyrgyzstan
The 60m Belogorka Waterfall is one of the most impressive in the Bishkek area. The surrounding valley is dominated by a sharply pointed spike of mountain…
Kyrgyzstan
This memorial complex, the name of which means 'Grave of Our Fathers' in Kyrgyz, commemorates a mass grave in which the bodies of 137 local intelligentsia…
Kyrgyzstan
A string of souvenir stalls leads to this 23m waterfall. Though the falls themselves are only worth a quick look, you can escape the summer crowds by…
Kyrgyzstan
Dedicated to Kyrgyzstan's very own 'Queen of the Alay', Gulcha's ethnography and history museum is most notable for exhibits on the local female chieftain…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
Rumoured to cure everything from upset stomach to infertility, the many springs that dot the Manjyly-Ata site have been the site of pilgrimage since at…
Kyrgyzstan
Though the current mausoleum is a 2012 rebuild, it marks the remains of an important religious figure from the Fergana region. Historically known as Shams…
Osh
The one-room Dom Babura is a 1989 reconstruction of an historic prayer-room whose tradition dates back to 1497. In that year the 14-year-old Zahiruddin…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
Cut by a raging river, this 22-kilometre valley north of Grigorievka contains three small alpine lakes. It's quite popular with domestic tourists on day…
Bishkek
All but disappeared now, this historic Кузнечная крепость (Blacksmith's fortress) site was the location of an early-1800s Kokhand fortification, built…
Osh
What appears to be a gigantic Georgian lady's bonnet protrudes from a southwestern crag of Suleiman Too. This marks the exit hole of a cave within which a…
Kyrgyzstan
The man, the myth, the legend – Manas. This Manas-themed complex 12km east of Talas city celebrates the life and death of the great leader. Built in 1995,…
Kyrgyzstan
Three restored mausoleums here date to the 11th and early-12th century Karakhanid dynasty, when Uzgen was one of four regional capitals of the empire that…
Issyk-Köl Oblast
Just before you arrive at the Jeti-Ögüz resort from the north, the partly-wooded back side of the Seven Bulls ridge appears to be a single splintered hill…
Kyrgyzstan
This thin 89m ribbon of waterfall is not an especially memorable site, but there's a certain fascination watching the throngs of local summer tourists …
Kyrgyzstan
Following the rough road past the Tagai Guesthouse, an easy 30 minute walks winds past the local kok boru field and then up this hill with views out over…
