Kyrgyzstan is considered to be one of the last countries in the world with an authentic taste of nomadic life. Through centuries Kyrgyz people have been carrying traditional lifestyle based on their cattle breeding and ethnographical roots. Their life is strongly interwoven with legends and national heroes of the past. Most of semi-nomadic families still follow a tenor of life established by their ancestors. Supplemented with amazing mountain landscapes, friendliness of people and bright colors of traditional Asia this trip will immerse you in the outstanding environment of the nomad’s land.

Nomads follow the footsteps of their ancestors into alpine pasturelands, where visitors can join them for an authentic taste of their itinerant life. History is engraved in every fortress, tower and petroglyph dotting the landscape, which serve as silent reminders of the land’s dramatic past. Horses, donkey carts, well-worn buses and sleek new vehicles vie for country roads, while friendly Kyrgyz display their unique culture through a tapestry of soulful songs, colorful felts and time-honored traditions.

If your curiosity is piqued, use this Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide to become acquainted with this tiny nation and to answer your questions regarding Kyrgyzstan tourism.

Location:  Kyrgyzstan is located in Central Asia, bordering Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest, and China to the southeast. Most of the country is mountainous, with the Tian Shan range taking up most of the central part of the country. This makes Kyrgyzstan a spectacularly beautiful place for hiking and relaxing in nature. Even though Kyrgyzstan is far from the ocean, the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul make for an ideal beach vacation. The landlocked climate means that summers can be quite hot, averaging around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) in the cities, making swimming and mountain escapes necessary, while winter brings snow and cooler temperatures (averaging around freezing), perfect for skiing and other winter sports. Visitors can also experience the famous hospitality of Central Asia, and immerse themselves in Kyrgyz culture. The world’s longest epic poem, the Epic of Manas, plays a prominent role in Kyrgyz culture, and is featured on many landmarks and monuments.

Area: 199 900 sq km

Population: Approximately 7 million

Ethnic composition: The nation’s largest ethnic group are the Kyrgyz, a Turkic people, who comprise 74.1% of the population. Other ethnic groups include Russians (5.0%) concentrated in the north and Uzbeks (14.8%) living in the south. Small but noticeable minorities include Dungans (1.1%), Uyghurs (0.9%), Tajiks (0.9%), Kazakhs (0.6%), and Ukrainians (0.1%) and other smaller ethnic minorities. The country has over 80 ethnic groups.

The Kyrgyz have historically been semi-nomadic herders, living in round tents called yurts and tending sheep, horses and yaks. This nomadic tradition continues to function seasonally (see transhumance) as herding families return to the high mountain pasture (or jailoo) in the summer. The sedentary Uzbeks and Tajiks traditionally have farmed lower-lying irrigated land in the Fergana valley

Political structure: The 1993 constitution defines the form of government as a democratic unicameral republic. The executive branch includes a president and prime minister. The parliament currently is unicameral. The judicial branch comprises a supreme court, local courts and a chief prosecutor. Kyrgyzstan is a unitary parliamentary republic.

Administrative and territorial divisions:  Kyrgyzstan is divided into seven regions (Kyrgyz: облустар). The regions are subdivided into 44 districts (Kyrgyz: аймактар, aymaqtar;). The districts are further subdivided into rural districts at the lowest level of administration, which include all rural settlements (aýyl ökmötü) and villages without an associated municipal government.

Capital: Bishkek is the political, economic, and administrative center of Kyrgyzstan, as well as being a place of historical and cultural significance. The city is home to many government offices, diplomatic missions, and representatives of international organizations. Bishkek was founded in 1878, and has been the capital since 1926. Alongside government ministries and embassies are many parks and cafes, as well as museums and shopping centers. As of 2015, around a million people called Bishkek home.

Languages: The main official language is Kyrgyz, though Russian has also been recognized as an official language. Many business and political affairs are carried out in Russian, though Kyrgyz is very widely spoken across the country and is now the language of parliament. Uzbek, though not an official language, is prevalent in the southern part of the country. Kyrgyz is written with a modified Cyrillic alphabet. Students have the option of going to Russian, Kyrgyz, or Uzbek schools.

Kyrgyz is a Turkic language, and is mostly closely related to Kazakh and Karakalpak, and more distantly related to other Turkic languages, like Turkish, Uzbek, Turkmen, and Uighur. Many people in Kyrgyzstan are bilingual or multilingual.

Currency: The Kyrgyz som (KGS) is the official currency, and it divides into 100 tyiyn. Banknotes in circulation are in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, and 5000 som, while coins are in denominations of 1, 3, 5, and 10 som. Tyiyn are rarely seen and used.

Religion: Roughly 80% of the population is non-denominational Muslim, with another 15% following Russian Orthodoxy, and the rest following other religions. However, religious beliefs are not particularly prevalent in daily life, and instead are part of the culture and are tied to ethnicity and tradition. Religion, particularly Islam, is starting to play a larger role in public and political life, especially as interest grows in religion and spirituality after independence from the atheist Soviet Union. The government of Kyrgyzstan is secular, though it does monitor and impose some restrictions on religious organizations.

Standard time zone: Kyrgyzstan Time (KGT) is the time zone of Kyrgyzstan. It is +6:00 hrs ahead of Universal Coordinated Time (UTC+06:00). Kyrgyzstan does not observe daylight saving time.

Electric power: Kyrgyzstan operates on a 220V supply voltage, which is within the 110-240V range that the dual voltage appliance operates on.