Jane’s travelogue

The Village of Kara Suu

The tiny village of Kara-Suu is located just outside the somewhat larger village of Kochkor, just off the main road connecting Naryn with Lake Issyk-Kol. While there are not many ammenities to be found in this tiny place, the scenery is spectacular, and it is a great place to begina horse-trek.

The village of Kochkor

The small village of Kochkor is located on the main road between Lake Issyk-Kul and the city of Naryn. It's a great place to relax for a weekend if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

CBT Kochkor / Altyn Kol Shop

Located in the center of the small village of Kochkor, CBT Kochkor will arrange homestays, horse-trekking, hikes and more for those interested. Additionally, they work in cooperation with the Altyn Kol group, which provides a place for local women to sell their handmade traditional felt goods, specifically shyrdaks, traditional Kyrgyz rugs.

Tash Rabat

Tash Rabat is a stone fortress/caravanserai dating from either the 13th or 15th century (depending on the source), which was once a prominent stop on the silk road. Tash Rabat is only about 60km from the city of Naryn; however, due to the quality of the roads, the trip takes about two and a half hours.

Koshoy Korgon

The ruined citadel of Koshoy Korgon, is located just outside of the village of Kara-Suu. Not much is known about this fortress (at least according to my guidebooks, anyway) but it dates from roughly the 10th century, and was probably Karakhanid.

Naryn Mosque

In recent years, Saudi Arabian benefactors have paid for the construction of mosques throughout the country of Kyrgyzstan. Most are nothing architecturally special.

The hills above Naryn

The Kyrgyz city of Naryn is located in a valley, and is surrounded by easily accessible hills, foothills and mountains - an excellent place for either a liesurely stroll or a strenuous hike.

Ala Archa National Park

Ala Archa is a large national park in Kyrgyzstan, located in the mountains and valleys surrounding the Ala Archa river, roughly 30km south of Bishkek.

Sawtooth Wilderness

The Sawtooth Wilderness located in central Idaho is a breath-taking 217,000 protected acres of jagged mountain peaks and high alpine lakes. The nearest town is Stanley, Idaho.

Sweet Sixties

Cafe Sweet Sixties is a wonderful little cafe in central Bishkek, located at the corner of Molodaya Gvardia and Kievskaya. They serve tasty Mexican, American and Italian food, have a full bar, and offer live music seven nights a week.