If you look at a map of Kyrgyzstan, you cannot miss Lake Issyk Kul, the largest lake in the country, located in its northeastern quadrant. The lake is roughly 182km long by 61km wide, and at its deepest, it reaches a depth of 702 meters.
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.
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.
Sunken Pass is the pass through the mountains which separate the small village of Kul-Tur with the valley on the other side of the mountains to its south. It can be entered through the Kul-Tur Jailoo, and can be trekked on foot or by horse.
Every Sunday morning from 5:00am to 10:00am, people from all over north-eastern Kyrgyzstan flock to Karakol with their livestock to participate in the Karakol Animal Bazaar. The bazaar is filled with sheep, cows, goats, horses and hagglers, and it is quite a site to see.
Altyn Arashan (Golden Spa in Kyrgyz) is a hot-springs hotel located in a high mountain valley above Karakol. Don't let the term "hot-springs hotel" fool you - this isn't your typical spa.
Kyrgyzstan isn’t exactly a great place for finding convenient public toilets. As we drove from Balykchy towards our destination of Karakoo, we found ourselves desperately in need of a pit-stop.
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.
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.
Tuz-Kul is a salt lake (the name literally means 'salt lake' in Kyrgyz) located less than a kilometer from the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. Locals claim that floating in the salt lake will cure all of your ills, and while that is debatable, you'll certainly float.