Should I Visit Kyrgyzstan? 6 Reasons Why You Should! [2024]

The mountainous country of Kyrgyzstan sits in the Central Asia region as an undiscovered gem. Although the country can seem intimidating first, it won’t be long before you fall in love with its dreamy landscapes, welcoming people and unique blend of cultures. Wondering if you should visit Kyrgyzstan? Here’s 6 reasons why you should.

Broken Hearts Viewpoint, Ala Archa National Park

RELATED: Staying in Kyrgyzstan’s Best Hotel, Orion Hotel Bishkek, Should I Visit Samarkand or Bukhara? and Should I Visit Zermatt or Grindelwald?

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1. It’s Asia’s Switzerland

Kol Tor Lake, Kyrgyzstan

If you’ve ever been to Switzerland or have seen its dramatic mountains in pictures, you would know that it is one of the most beautiful countries in the entire world. Well, Kyrgyzstan definitely gives Switzerland a run for its money.

Just like Switzerland, Kyrgyzstan’s lush green fields, blue lakes and tall mountains are nothing short of stunning – and there’s something for everyone. Hikers of all levels can easily get to Ala Archa National Park, just a 40-minute drive from its quirky capital of Bishkek.

Looking out at Broken Hearts View Point in Ala Archa National Park

From here, beginner hikers can get to the scenic Broken Hearts View Point, while more advanced hikers are treated to more difficult trails, such as the Kashka-Suu to Boyrok hike, or Ala Archa Alpagaer to Komsomolets trail.

Ala Kul Lake, Kyrgyzstan

Adventurous looking to embark on multi-day hikes should also look into taking on Lenin Peak, Ala Kul Lake, Kol-Ukok Lake and Kel-Suu, all of which offer breathtaking vistas at the end of your journey.

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2. It’s Home to The World’s Most Beautiful Lakes

Issyk-Kul Lake, Kyrgyzstan

Many people don’t know this about Kyrgyzstan, but it’s also full of lakes with crystal-clear blue water. Kyrgyzstan is a country filled with lakes perfect to take a dip in. I visited the enchanting Kol Tor Lake on a day hike from Bishkek, and was blown away by such striking scenery that was only a short distance away from the capital.

Beautiful Kol Tor Lake, just a short distance away from Bishkek

Enjoying the blue waters of Kol Tor Lake

Other lakes that are equally, if not more stunning, include Ala Kul, Issyk Kul, Song Kol and Kel-Suu.

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3. Immerse Yourself in Nomadic Culture

You’ll find many yurts in the Kyrgyz countryside, like these

Kyrgyzstan is one of the last places on earth where you can really immerse yourself in nomadic culture and heritage. Historically, Kyrgyz nomads lived by raising sheep, horses and cattle, and would move between seasons by horseback.

Kyrgyzstan is one of the last truly nomadic places in the world

During your trip to Kyrgyzstan, you can watch an Eagle hunting show, experience a nomad yurt homestay and go horseback riding through mountains, just like the nomads do.

A commune of yurts in Kyrgyzstan

A yurt is a portable, round tent that is made up of skins, felt and tent poles. Kyrgyz nomads would set yurts up in 1-2 hours while traveling through the country. When visiting the inside of a yurt, I was really surprised at how warm it was inside.

The interior of a yurt (you can visit this yurt at Burana Tower)

It’s quite amazing how these yurts were able to keep the nomads well-insulated through even the frostiest of winters. You’ll see yurts all over Kyrgyzstan if you manage to escape the cities, as you can almost certainly found them around the countryside. I would highly encourage a homestay with a nomad family so you can learn all about what the nomads do.

Example of a typical yurt in Kyrgyzstan

For a slice of history, you should also visit Burana Tower, a large minaret just 80km east of Bishkek. Established at the end of the 9th century and completed in the 11th century, the Tower is one of the oldest minarets in the world, as well as one of the oldest architectural constructions in Central Asia.

Burana Tower is one of Central Asia’s architectural constructions

Tombstones of travellers passing through the Silk Road around Burana Tower

This site used to be a common crossing point used during the Ancient Silk Road era. Around the grounds of Burana Tower, you’ll also be able to see tombstones of travellers, dating back centuries. There’s also a small museum you can enter where you can learn more about the artefacts around the site, as well as the history of the surrounding region.

Ralph at Burana Tower

View from the top of Burana Tower

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4. Smiling, Friendly Locals

I found the people of Kyrgyzstan to be extremely friendly and welcoming. Even though there were a couple of instances when I struggled to communicate with them, the locals would always be willing to help me with a smile. Through broken Russian and hand signals and the patience of locals, I was able to get my points across just fine.

The capital of Bishkek (seen from above) was full of friendly people

The people of Central Asia were generally very friendly, and Kyrgyzstan was no different. There were no frosty attitudes or anything of that nature – I always felt warmly accepted by the locals in Kyrgyzstan.

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5. Kyrgyzstan is Safe!

Asher at Ala Archa National Park

Many travellers are often sceptical about coming to Kyrgyzstan because of its so-called ‘poor safety rating’, but I’m here to debunk that right off the bat. I too visited this country with caution, especially after reading official Government warnings about all kinds of crimes that could happen. Thankfully, from my experience, I didn’t find any of this to be true. Like I said, Kyrgyz people were friendly, welcoming and helped me out on several occasions. It is a safe country to visit, even for families.

Closer look at Burana Tower

There is police presence everywhere, and I’ve been told to law low while they’re around. The country does have a bit of an issue with corruption (although this shouldn’t affect your stay), so try to blend in with locals if you see them around you.

Locals in Bishkek

I didn’t run into any problems while visiting the country, and at no point did I feel unsafe at all. One thing I will point out is that the condition of some of the roads in the countryside are rather poor and unmaintained, so I wouldn’t recommend driving a car here – hire a driver or go on a tour instead!

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6. It’s Incredibly Affordable

Between accommodation, food and activities, I found Kyrgyzstan to be an incredibly inexpensive destination to visit. Meals at 5-star restaurants cost less than 15USD, while local meals (that you could find in a food court at a shopping centre, for example) cost less than 3USD sometimes.

The trail to Kol Tor Lake was also filled with mountainous scenery

I usually stay in 3-4 star hotels when I travel, and in Kyrgyzstan, I found that you could stay in one of these for under 40USD a night. Taxi’s and transportation services are also cheap in Kyrgyzstan, although I would personally recommend using Yandex Taxi, which is a rideshare service (similar to Uber) that you can use in surrounding countries such as Armenia, Georgia and Uzbekistan. Often, you’ll find that rides around town will cost you less than 2USD when using the Yandex App.

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Bonus – Kyrgyzstan is home to one of my favourite hotels

Chilling out in my room at Orion Hotel Bishkek

During my trip to Kyrgyzstan, I got to stay in one of the best hotels in the country, the Orion Hotel Bishkek. My stay was wonderful, so check out that blog post if you’re looking for a luxury hotel to stay in, at only a fraction of the price.

Pool area at Orion Hotel Bishkek

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Should You Visit Kyrgyzstan? Yes, definitely!

Yes, you should visit Kyrgyzstan!

So hopefully I’ve helped you answer any doubts or questions about visiting Kyrgyzstan. If you’re asking yourself if you should visit this alluring country, here’s your sign! Don’t wait too long to visit as I have a sneaking suspicion that it’s only a matter of time before other travellers catch on. I myself can’t wait to visit again, someday soon.

Made the decision to visit Kyrgyzstan? Let me know if you have any questions about Kyrgyzstan below!

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