Kyrgyzstan has long been a favorite travel destination for nature-lovers seeking an off-the-beaten path destination. But with so much to see, where do you start! The country is divided into seven regions, each with natural beauty and interesting landmarks. Note, the capital city of Bishkek, and Kyrgyzstan’s second-largest city, Osh, are administered as independent cities, and are technically separate from the regions surrounding them (even though the region surrounding Osh is also called “Osh”). In this blog, I’ll take you through each of the seven regions outside of the two independent cities. If you’d like to learn more about Bishkek and Osh, or are planning a trip to Kyrgyzstan, check out our Kyrgyzstan Destination Guide !
Chüy
This is the region surrounding Bishkek, so if you plan to be in the capital, you will likely drive through Chüy. This is one of the few areas of Kyrgyzstan with flat land and good soil, making it one of the country’s main agricultural regions. Chüy is also home to one of Kyrgyzstan’s few popular architectural landmarks- Burana tower. This 11 th century minaret is surrounded by a small field of balbals - Kyrgyz grave markers with a unique carving of human features on them.
Osh
The Osh region is a popular destination for travelers as this is where the Pamir highway terminates. It is also the most heavily populated region. For adventure lovers, Osh region is where intrepid trekkers can hike to Lenin Peak’s base camp (the summit itself is on the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan). For history lovers, one of the biggest archeological attractions in the Osh region is the minaret and mausoleums of Uzgen.
Naryn
Naryn is the largest region of Kyrgyzstan, but also the least populated, though the population that is there is 99% Kyrgyz- a rarity in Central Asia! This stunning region is full of mountains and alpine pastures, and is dominated by animal herding. One of the main attractions in Naryn is Song Kol lake- which is a stunning alpine lake that is surrounded by grazing cows, sheep, and horses in the summer months. In recent years, yurt camps here have flourished and there are a ton of options these days.
Another unique but rarely visited in Naryn is Tash Rabat. This is a 15 th century caravanserai where the rooms are shaped like yurts but made of stone. This is an extremely Kyrgyz bit of silk road history! However, it can take a long time to drive there, so it is best when combined with other stops in Naryn like Kel Suu lake, Salkyn-Tor National Park.
Batken
This region is in the most southwest corner of Kyrgyzstan and skirts the Fergana Valley. This region is in a very unique section of the Central Asia border lines. It is surrounded on 3 sides by Tajikistan with a section of Uzbekistan to the north. There are also many Uzbek and Tajik enclaves and exclaves. It is one of the less-traveled regions of Kyrgyzstan, but one of the most unique because of this.
The Batken region is also home to one of the world’s rarest flowers- the Aigul flower. It blooms nowhere else in the world and for only two weeks out of the year. The stalks of the flower are almost a meter tall, with a bright red-orange cluster of flowers that bloom upside down, and are said to bring luck and happiness to those fortunate enough to see it.
Issyk-Kul
The Issyk-Kul region is home to, of course, Issyk-Kul- the world’s second largest alpine lake, after Lake Titicaca. The lake’s surface area is 6,236 square kilometers (2,408 sq mi) and the water is cool and clear. Yurt camps next to the edge of the water are very common these days. This region is also home to the stunning natural wonders of Seven Bulls Canyon (Jeti-Oguz) and Fairytale Canyon (Skazka) with their unique red-orange rock formations, and Altyn Arashan Gorge (or Golden Spa) with its gorgeous views and natural hot springs.
Issyk-Kul is also one of the main eagle hunting regions of Kyrgyzstan and has some of the most skilled hunters of Central Asia. You can arrange to watch the hunters train their eagles and even try your hand at holding the eagle yourself!
Jalalabad
Like the rest of Kyrgyzstan, Jalalabad is filled with natural beauty and mountain views. One of the highlights of this region is the Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve, which was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1978. There are seven lakes in this reserve with Sary-Chelek being the largest. There are trails winding around all of the lakes with stunning nature and wildlife throughout.
Toktogul reservoir is one of the other popular sites of this region. It was created in the Soviet era and is filled by the flow of the Naryn river, which is a vivid turquoise river that winds next to the main highway you’ll take through this region. Chichkan Gorge is another beautiful area. It is lush and full of green, making for wonderful hiking. When in Jalalabad, make sure you buy some walnuts, as this region is known for its ancient walnut forests!
Talas
The Talas region is a source of pride for those that live there! That is because it is the alleged birthplace of the nation’s mythic hero- Manas. You will see a giant statue of the epic hero as you enter the region. Talas is also full of glacier-covered mountains, beautiful lakes and waterfalls. Besh-Tash Valley is one of the popular natural destinations. For history lovers, Kirov reservoir has a very interesting feature- a giant Lenin head coming out of the dam’s wall.
Thinking of planning a trip to Kyrgyzstan? Check out our central asia tours here. We can also plan a private tour including any of the sites mentioned in this blog and more! Send us an email at [email protected] .
