Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous nation where the Tien Shan range dominates the horizon and nomadic traditions remain very much alive. The alpine meadows of Karkara, the shores of Issyk-Kul — one of the largest mountain lakes on earth — and felt yurt camps offer travelers a rare window into a horse-and-herding culture that has endured for centuries.

Bishkek's tree-lined boulevards and Soviet-era squares sit in contrast to the Burana Tower, a minaret dating to the 10th–12th centuries that marks the ruins of the ancient Silk Road city of Balasagun. Between honey farms, petroglyph museums and mountain passes, Kyrgyzstan rewards travelers willing to venture off the main caravan routes.