Kyrgyzstan

Deep within central Asia, Kyrgyzstan’s beautiful mountainscapes, dreamlike rock formations and semi-nomadic culture are gloriously unspoiled. A trip here can be as adventurous as you please: admire 5,000-year-old petroglyphs at Saimaluu-Tash, gallop on horseback through the rugged Ala-Archa Canyon, visit Bishkek’s Soviet-era statues or simply laze on the shores of the vast Lake Issyk-Kul. Now in its third edition, this remains the only English-language guide dedicated solely to Kyrgyzstan. It offers in-depth coverage of historical background, health, safety and transport, plus author recommendations on the best yurt camps and chaikhanas. Join Laurence Mitchell on a magnificent journey through the country’s remote Silk Road villages, ancient conifer forests and rolling alpine meadows.