Must See

Ala Archa National Park

Enjoy views over high peaks, large glaciers and lush water meadows, in this attractive alpine nature reserve, less than one hour's drive from Bishkek. This beautiful park offers spectacular scenery for trekking and skiing and is home to more than 170 different animal species. Catch a glimpse of eagles, bears, lynx, wild boar, wolves and - if you're lucky - spotted snow leopards.

Bishkek

Situated in the fertile Chui river valley at the foot of the Tian Shan mountains, this neat largely-Soviet built city has a spacious atmosphere akin to Almaty in neighbouring Kazakhstan. Visitors will find the State Art Museum, the Chernyshevsky Public Library and the Kyrgyz State Opera and Ballet Theatre along the broad tree-lined road that runs between the railway station and the city centre (Ulitsa Sovietskaya). Other highlights include the Zoological Museum, the Lenin Museum, the History Museum in the Old Square (Stary Ploshad) and the Kyrgyz Drama Theatre.

Although the centre is polluted by growing fleets of cars, the outskirts resemble a Ukranian village, with pretty Slavic houses set in gardens of apricot and apple trees.

Burana Tower

The Burana Tower is a large minaret in the Chui valley, about 80km east of Bishkek, near the town of Tokmok. The tower is all that remains of the ancient city of Balasagun, a city that was established by the Karakhanids at the end of the 9th century. It was originally 45 metres (148 ft) high, but an earthquake in the 15th century destroyed the top half of the tower, reducing it to its current height of 25 metres (82 ft). An external staircase and steep, winding stairway inside the tower enables visitors to climb to the top. There is also a museum at the site, which contains historical information, along with artefacts found at the site and in the surrounding region.

Lake Issyk-Kul

Also known as Ysyk Kol (literally, 'warm lake'), Issyk Kul is the world's second-largest alpine lake. Situated 1,600 m (5,249 ft) above sea level, this saltwater lake never freezes over, despite its high altitude. There is a spa town, Cholpan-Alta, located on the north of the shore; this was once a retreat for the Communist Party elite, but is now open to all visitors.

At the southeast end of the lake is the town of Kara-Kol, with attractive tree-lined streets and houses. Its small old core contains an impressive wooden mosque, built without metal nails by the Uighur people, and a wooden Orthodox church that was used as a stable during Soviet times. Just 16 km (10 miles) outside the town is the health resort of Ak-Soo with hot mineral springs.

At the western end of the lake lies the town of Balykchy, which formed part of the Silk Road that ran from Bishkek to Kahgar in China, via the Torugart Pass. This major trekking route is now served by increasing numbers of adventure tour companies. Eighteen kilometres from Balykchy is the town of Ulan, from where scuba-diving enthusiasts may dive to see the 12th-century town that lies 2 to 3 metres (6 to 10 feet) below the lake's surface.

Behind the lake are the Terskay Ala-Too Mountains, an unspoilt wilderness populated only by nomadic shepherds during the summer. The area is home to a number of popular trekking routes, such as the one that runs to Medeo, outside Almaty (Kazakhstan), four to six days away.

Osh

Kyrgyzstan's second city, Osh, is located in the south of the country, on the Uzbek border. It is a lively place, with the largest and most crowded bazaar in all of Central Asia. The 3,000 year old city is home to the biggest mosque in the country (situated beside the bazaar) and the 16th century Rabat Abdul Khan Mosque.

A hill in the middle of the city, the Suleiman Gora, offers a splendid view over Osh and its environs. Legend has it that the Prophet once prayed here, and it has thus been a site of pilgrimage since the 10th century. The hill looks somewhat like a pregnant woman lying on her back, and childless women come here in the hope that they may conceive. A cave in the mountain is the site of a museum containing a collection of archaeological, geological and historical finds and information about local flora and fauna.

East of Osh is the Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve, which includes the stunning Lake Sary-Chelek, whilst north of Osh is the town of Uzgen where there is a 12th century mausoleum that is supposed to have contained the body of the Kyrgyz hero Manas.

Silk Road

This ancient trading route stretches from northern China to the ports on the Caspian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. It was used by silk merchants for more than a millennium, until its decline in the fourteenth century. The portion that runs through Kyrgyzstan offers amazing alpine scenery that includes Issyk-Kul Lake (see above) and the Tian Shan mountain ranges. A popular, if somewhat challenging, trekking route runs from Bishek and Kashgar (China) via the Torugart Pass.