. Still the only dedicated English-language guide to the country, thoroughly updated by experienced travel writers . Kyrgyzstan's popularity is on the rise (doubling to 7 million, 2015-22), especially with travellers seeking an adventurous outdoor holiday . Along with neighbouring Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan is now visa-free for almost all travellers - making a multi-country Central Asia tour increasingly popular About Bradt Travel Guides ? Founded in 1974, Bradt is now the largest independent guidebook publisher in the UK with over 200 titles in print ? Authentic guides, written by expert authors who really know their destinations. ? Comprehensive, practical information with a particular focus on wildlife, culture and sustainability ? For more information, follow us on X, Instagram and Facebook, or visit bradtguides.com

Bradt's Kyrgyzstan remains the only English-language guide dedicated solely to this astounding country, described as 'the Switzerland of central Asia' and regarded by many as the most beautiful nation in the world. This new, thoroughly updated fifth edition extends its detailed coverage of everything this intriguing, little-known but easily accessible country has to offer, including trekking, mountaineering, horse riding, historical sites, festivals and Kyrgyz culture. Lying deep within central Asia, Kyrgyzstan's beautiful mountainscapes, dreamlike rock formations, Silk Road monuments and semi-nomadic culture are gloriously unspoiled. Most of Kyrgyzstan's mountain ranges belong to the Tien Shan system, the legendary Celestial Mountains of Chinese folklore, whose highest peak is Jengish Chokusu (formerly Pik Pobedy), which stands at 7,439m on the Chinese border. A trip here can be as adventurous as you please: gallop on horseback through the alpine meadows that surround 3,016m-high Lake Song-Köl; go trekking in the mountain valleys that lie south of Karakol; admire 5,000-year-old petroglyphs at Saimaluu-Tash; visit leafy Bishkek's Soviet-era statues; track down thrilling wildlife (including snow leopard and Siberian ibex); or simply laze on the shores of the vast Lake Issyk-Kul, whose beaches snuggle beneath towering mountains. Alternatively, visit Arslanbob (a charming Uzbek village and resort surrounded by the world's largest walnut forests); shop in the huge bazaar at Osh; drink kumys (made from fermented mare's milk); or watch the Central Asian equestrian sports of ulak tartysh (essentially polo, but with a goat carcass) and kyz-kumay (horseback kiss-catch). New elements of this fifth edition include the network of community-based tourism operators that can help with competitively priced accommodation, transport and horse hire; new skiing and snowboarding offerings that promote Kyrgyzstan as a year-round destination; details on whitewater rafting and paragliding; advice on border crossings; and greater detail about Köl-Suu (Kel-Suu) Lake in Naryn and the remote Batken province. With in-depth coverage of historical background, health, safety and public transport, accommodation information covering all options from low-cost to luxury, feature boxes offering insights into Kyrgyz culture and society, plus personal recommendations on the best yurt camps and chaikhanas, Bradt's Kyrgyzstan is the ideal companion for a successful trip.