Travel guide Kyrgyzstan

The "white beards", those bearded old men who can be seen everywhere, chatting, playing dominoes or sipping tea in the shade, are emblematic of Central Asia, and still play an important role in social organization. The aksakal are the living memory, and their opinions still carry weight in local councils.

The celestial horses of the Ferghana Valley are at the origin of the development of the Silk Road. They are the indispensable companions of nomadic warriors (and also of Chinese armies), and have enabled them to dominate the East since antiquity. A Kyrgyz proverb even states that "horses are man's wings".

In Kyrgyzstan, nomadic tradition means that the guest is king. There's a saying that "if an unexpected guest arrives, it's a gift from God; if the guest is expected, it's a punishment from God". Hospitality is all the more frequent the further you are from the cities, and you're sure to enjoy the warmth of yurts in summer.

The headdress worn by Kyrgyz men is different from the skullcaps seen in the rest of the region. This conical felt hat with rolled-up brims is usually white with black patterns. It's a symbol of the mountains, and the aksakal never part with it.

Kyrgyzstan has beautiful high-altitude lakes, remnants of a vanished ocean where the Greek authors used to locate Atlantis. Around Lake Issyk Kul reigns in summer a typical seaside atmosphere ... with water at 18 ° C! More authentic, Song Kul with its turquoise waters reflecting the mountains remains the pearl of the country.

The country is one of the last where you can admire statues of Lenin. The largest are in Bishkek and Osh, but you'll also find them in Naryn and Karakol. As a sign of Kyrgyz friendship with Russia's "big brother", there's not a town that hasn't kept an avenue named after him, even after independence.

Spring is celebrated on March 21 in Kyrgyzstan and throughout Central Asia. Navrouz means "new day" in Farsi. This festival, which symbolizes the awakening of nature, has its origins in Zoroastrianism, and remains one of the country's most important, giving rise to numerous festivities and ceremonies throughout the country.

What Kessel reader hasn't dreamed of attending the great ball of the nomadic horsemen? This game consists of several riders, sometimes hundreds of them, competing for a goat carcass and completing a predetermined course before bringing the carcass back to the "circle of justice". To achieve this, almost anything goes!

These felt carpets can be found as decoration in all yurts. It is THE Kyrgyz souvenir! Try to visit a workshop of manufacture before going to the purchase. You will thus be able to make you an idea of the techniques of manufacture and then why not to place order of the shyrdak decorated with the reasons and colors of your dreams..

Kyrgyzstan boasts many virtuous hot springs: in Cholpon-Ata, Karakol, Djalalabad... In these towns, the Russians built sanatoriums. Some of them have survived as witnesses of their time. Others, like those in Cholpon-Ata, have been renovated and are now highly prized by wealthy Kyrgyz, Russian and Kazakh families.

The tunduk, a circular opening at the top of the yurt, consolidated by two rows of three interlocking pieces of wood and providing natural ventilation and lighting, has become a national emblem. It is featured on the Kyrgyz flag, and can also be recognized as an ornament on many graves in cemeteries.

A traditional nomadic dwelling, the yurt is a felt tent supported by a removable wooden frame. It's known as a ger, a name that originally referred not only to the yurt itself, but also to the place where it's set up and, by extension, to the nomads' homeland. It takes an experienced craftsman an average of 25 days to build a yurt.