Kyrgyzstan: The Switzerland of Central Asia

Kyrgyzstan, a landlocked country sandwiched between Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and China, is a destination largely undiscovered by mass tourism, which is part of its appeal. Its rustic, picturesque mountains, nomadic settlements and majestic landscapes have won it the nickname of the Switzerland of Central Asia.The wide streets of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia, are lined with tall trees under which community gardens offer a sanctuary of peace between often gridlocked roads. Families, young mums with prams and joggers share the sidewalks, where life is soundtracked by aspiring musicians, occasional horns and Kyrgyz pop music blasting out of empty model trains which circle the park. The bustling capital of this former Soviet country is my first brief stop on the Exodus 10-day Kyrgyzstan Walking Explorer tour. The excursion will see me and a group of seven (the trips are capped at 12) scale pine-laden mountains in search of lakes, and stay in a yurt camp at 3,000 metres above sea level. We will learn about the diversity of the Kyrgyz culture through mosques and orthodox churches in the city of Karakol.