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.
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00:00Majestic landscapes, nomads living in yurt camps and silk road remains. This is
00:06Kyrgyzstan. Landlocked between Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and China, its
00:13rustic picturesque mountains and nomadic settlements have won it the nickname the
00:18Switzerland of Central Asia. A short drive from the capital Bishkek, Ala
00:24Archer National Park offers sweeping views of ice-capped ridges and calming
00:29spruce forests. You can hike around the vast park and if you're lucky even spot
00:35a snow leopard. If not, there are plenty of birds and red squirrels to keep you
00:40company. Located 80 kilometres from Bishkek is one of the country's most
00:45prominent silk road archaeological sites. Barana Tower dates back to the 11th
00:51century and towers 26 metres. Surrounding the minaret are several
00:56baubles and memorial statues carved out of a single stone. What makes Kyrgyzstan
01:02unique is how intimately you can enjoy its gorges, waterfalls and magnificent
01:08lakes. The largest being Issyk-Kul, stretching far across the horizon
01:13looking more like a sea than a landlocked lake. Nearby the town of
01:18Cholpon-Ata is home to the petroglyph museum where thousands of etched stones
01:24lie in the open air spanning 42 hectares. Song-Kul is the second largest lake in
01:31the country at 3,016 metres above sea level. It's surrounded by pastures
01:38dotted with white yurts, grazing cattle and stunning mountains. You can approach
01:43a nomad camp and taste koumiz, a fermented dairy drink made from horse
01:49milk. As well as majestic landscapes Kyrgyzstan also has a rich cultural
01:54offering. Dungan Mosque in Karakol is a unique blue mosque built as a place of
02:01worship for Chinese Muslims who fled the persecution of the 1800s. Near it the
02:07Holy Trinity Orthodox Church that dates back to 1869 when the city was a
02:13garrison town. In the village of Kochkor you can learn more about the art of felt
02:18rug making, a tradition passed down from generation to generation. If you're
02:25looking for an off-the-beaten-path destination for your next big adventure
02:30this Central Asian gem is certainly worth a visit.