Mineral springs of Issyk-Kul are the main wealth of Kyrgyzstan. Resorts of Kyrgyzstan Hot springs of Kyrgyzstan
Mountain resorts are increasingly being used to treat a number of diseases. The main healing factors here are crystal clear air and increased solar radiation. The charm of mountain valleys, picturesque rocks, waterfalls, and the dark blue mountain sky has a beneficial effect on a person’s general condition. It is known that emotional influences, especially in nervous diseases, are often more favorable than other therapeutic factors.
Resort opportunities in Kyrgyzstan allow you to treat many diseases. Useful springs contain such an amount of minerals that their quality is equal to or even superior to the waters of the North Caucasus. One liter of Chatyrkul water contains 3-4 grams of carbon dioxide, and in Kislovodsk Narzan - only 2 grams. The water of the Yassi spring combines the qualities of “Essentuki”, “Arzni” and “Borjomi”.
There are many useful sources in Kyrgyzstan. There are 15 types of mineral waters known on Lake Issyk-Kul alone. There are radon springs, yielding half a million liters per day, and nitrogen-siliceous springs, yielding over four million liters per day.
Lake Issyk-Kul is a unique place with a mountain-sea climate. Many resort factors are combined here - thermal mineral springs, a long duration of sunshine (more than 2500 hours per year), etc. The annual arrival of solar radiation on a horizontal surface with a clear sky is about 143 kcal/cm 2.
Returning along the southern shore of Issyk-Kul from Przhevalsk, few people do not turn off at the twentieth kilometer. Here, in the picturesque Terskey-Alatau gorge, one of the best balneological resorts in Kyrgyzstan is located - Dzhetyoguz (translated from Kyrgyz as “Seven Bulls”). The huge red rocks surrounding the resort really do seem to resemble seven bulls. Dzhetyoguz is famous for its rare combination of high mountain climate, forest air and radioactive thermal springs with a water temperature of 38-44. Summers are cool (average July temperature is +17°), winters are mild. Here, at an altitude of 2300 meters above sea level, on the banks of a stormy mountain river, patients with non-tuberculous inflammation of the joints, stomach and liver diseases are treated. Patients come here from various parts of the Soviet Union.
However, it is necessary to take into account the fact that with increasing altitude the air becomes increasingly rarefied, and this has a strong effect on the body, leading to hypoxia - oxygen starvation. Hypoxia causes palpitations, shortness of breath, headaches, and mental disorders.
Interesting experiments conducted by Soviet scientists have shown that hypoxia can be used to restore and strengthen health. This is done through stepwise acclimatization. Patients are raised first to a small height, then higher. At the Jetyoguz resort it is easy to combine treatment with radon baths and stepwise acclimatization.
Far beyond the borders of Kyrgyzstan, the beaches of Cholpon-Ata and Dolinka are well-protected from the winds. Here is a well-known children's sanatorium in the republic, created during the Great Patriotic War. On the very shore of Lake Issyk-Kul rise the slender white buildings of the Blue Issyk-Kul sanatorium. Gentle sandy shores, plenty of sun, mild maritime climate and the beauty of the surrounding landscape attract vacationers and tourists from all over our vast Motherland. But when coming to these wonderful places, you must remember that sun treatment is not always beneficial for everyone. For cardiovascular diseases, active forms of tuberculosis and some other ailments, prolonged exposure to the sun is contraindicated. The sun of Issyk-Kul is generous, but one should not abuse its generosity. In these places, in the morning and evening hours, ultraviolet radiation exceeds all types of radiation.
In a deep picturesque gorge of the northern slope of the Kyrgyz ridge, 75 kilometers from the capital of the republic, at an altitude of 1775 meters above sea level, the cozy buildings of the Issyk-Ata resort are located. Thermal springs with water temperatures from +20 to +50°, mud and high mountain air give good results in the treatment of brucellosis, some types of stomach, nervous and other diseases.
The all-Union resort of Jalal-Abad occupies a prominent place among the balneological resorts of Central Asia. Its hot alkaline springs have valuable healing properties. Treatment of rheumatism, liver and nervous system diseases, and skin diseases gives remarkable results here. But the resort is especially famous for the treatment of kidney diseases. In this regard, doctors compare Jalal-Abad with the world-famous Cairo resort. From the outskirts of the vast park of the Jalal-Abad resort there is a wonderful view of the river valley. Kugart.
The resort resources of mountainous Kyrgyzstan are far from being fully utilized. The construction of resorts is growing from year to year. In the coming years, holiday homes, sanatoriums and resorts in Kyrgyzstan will be able to accommodate more than 60 thousand vacationers. In the near future, Kyrgyzstan will become the country's third all-Union health resort.
The Ak-Suu mineral water deposit is located in the gorge of the same name, 80 km away. southwest of the village of Belovodskoye. The local mineral water belongs to the low-mineralized carbonate, hydrocarbonate magnesium-calcium narzans, and in its chemical composition it is similar to the mineral water of the famous Siberian resort of Dara-Suna.
The Alamudun mineral water deposit is located 30 km away. from Bishkek in the gorge of the same name at an altitude of 1200-1600 m above sea level. A well drilled to a depth of 507 meters brought thermal mineral water with a temperature of +53 C to the surface of the earth. Currently, the sanatorium-preventorium "Teplye Klyuchi" operates here, which is also an active recreation center - numerous trekking routes through the surrounding mountains begin from here.
The Issyk-Ata mineral and thermal water deposit is located 77 km away. southeast of Bishkek, in a narrow gorge at an altitude of 1800 m. The Arashan resort operates here with numerous hot springs and muddy mud. In addition, there is a source of clean drinking water with a specific smell, which is also used to treat chronic diseases of the digestive system.
Among the balneological resources of the Chui Valley, an important place is occupied by the Kamyshanovskoye and Lugovskoye weakly mineralized hydrogen sulfide deposits of medicinal mud. Nowhere else in Central Asia are there such a number of medicinal water outlets in such a limited space, surrounded by such marvelous nature.
Almost within the boundaries of Bishkek there is a modern “Cosmonaut Sanatorium” with its own thermal spring.
Lake Issyk-Kul is incredibly beautiful. The Russian traveler P.P. Semenov-Tien-Shansky, who visited the lake, compared it with Lake Geneva in Switzerland, and gave preference to Issyk-Kul. Since ancient times, Issyk-Kul has been considered enchanted by the local population. Before Russian settlers arrived here at the end of the 19th century, almost no one swam or fished in it. The greater transparency of the rivers flowing into the lake and the bright sun change the color of Issyk-Kul water from soft blue to dark blue tones, depending on the place and time of day. There are about 20 picturesque bays and bays. The swimming season lasts 6 months. The water temperature in summer reaches +24 C, in winter - +4 C. Crystal clear water, mineral springs, combined with a mountainous and at the same time mild, almost sea climate, create unique conditions for a resort holiday with mud and thermal treatment.
Cholpon-Ata is a resort town on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul. Here it is worth visiting excursions on a boat on the lake, going to the mountains, making a daily trek through the most beautiful mountainous places to Almaty, there are also helicopter excursions with an overnight stay in the mountains. Very popular among tourists are the Altyn-Arashan hot springs, lying at an altitude of 3000 m in a beautiful open alpine valley, the huge and quiet Karkara summer pasture in the upper part of the valley, the fantastic red cliffs of the Dzhety-Oguz canyon and excellent trekking trails in Terskey Alatau (Terskey-Ala-Too), south of Karakol. The best time to visit Issyk-Kul is September, although trekking in the mountains is best done between July and August.
Lying at the eastern end of the lake, it is the main city in the region and the best "base" for exploring the lake region, Terskey Alatau and the central Tien Shan.
In the modern world, one of the types of active recreation and travel is tourism, which provides people with the opportunity to use their free time and the economy with profit. Tourism in Kyrgyzstan until today it remained in the shadow of other sectors of the national economy. Its impact on the economy is insignificant. The market for tourism services has not yet strengthened; one might say that it is still in its infancy. And yet, analyzing the reports of the National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic, we can come to the conclusion that in the near future tourism will become a profitable sector of the economy. For example, in 1995, the state treasury received $4.7 million from foreign tourism, and in 2000 - $10 million. In many countries where tourism plays the role of a stimulator of domestic and world trade, it provides up to half of the gross national product. In Kyrgyzstan this figure is less than 1%. (Data from the Committee on Tourism, Sports and Youth Policy of the Kyrgyz Republic).
The development of the world tourism industry annually brings in revenues of about $3 trillion, including about $3,000 billion coming from international tourism. In general, foreign exchange earnings from tourism increased 145 times between 1950 and 1999. The practice of developments and forecasts of specialists from the World Tourism Organization (WTO) show that the tourism market is becoming more specific, the systems of its connections and communications are becoming more adapted. The need for tourism development planning has increased. Judging by the above events, the level of socio-economic development of Kyrgyzstan depends to a large extent on the successful formation of the tourist and recreational complex.
Tourism has already received full recognition in official government decisions. The President of the Republic A. Akaev in his work “On the strategy of socio-economic development of the Kyrgyz Republic and urgent actions” considers tourism as one of the priority industries that brings foreign exchange income to the structure of the national economy of the republic.
At the same time, Academician T. Koichuev assigns an important role to the recreation and tourism industry, which is profitable and receptive to market conditions, in the rise of the national economy and gaining recognition of the world market. This industry is capable of developing various industries in the republic: jewelry, souvenirs, etc.
Sovereign Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous republic. There are favorable natural-climatic, therapeutic-recreational, aesthetic, cultural-historical and other opportunities that can attract international tourists and climbers for recreation and treatment. Tourists and recreationists take into account the characteristics of the mountain landscape, mountain climate, duration of sunshine, the richness and diversity of flora and fauna, natural opportunities for mountain sports, hunting, fishing, mountaineering and related profiles (for example, climatic therapy in combination with kumiss therapy).
The mountain landscape of the republic is complex and extremely diverse. The lowest altitude of the territory above sea level is 539 m, and the highest is 7439 m. More than 93% of the territory is occupied by mountains and only 7% falls on valleys and plains. A characteristic feature of the landscape is the alternation of high mountains and intermountain basins, sultry deserts and dry mountain steppes, alpine and subalpine meadows on Arctic glaciers. The landscape attracts tourists and recreationists almost all year round and creates opportunities for the future development of tourist and recreational complexes.
Exceptionally diverse climatic conditions associated with mountainous terrain contributed to the formation of a large amount of mineral and thermal waters, medicinal muds, different in physical and chemical composition and content of balneological microelements. The average annual duration of sunshine ranges from 2500-2800 hours (the figure in Moscow is about 1600 hours). The stable summer season begins in May. In the valleys the average summer temperature is 20-25 degrees, in the valleys of average height 15-17 degrees.
The organization of types and forms of tourist and recreational activities should depend on the set of natural resources the territory of mountainous Kyrgyzstan has.
Research of modern regional features of tourism and recreational potential, forecast of long-term development of sectors of recreational complexes, are based on materials from scientists of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic. I propose dividing the republic into tourist and recreational areas.
Issyk-Kul resort and tourist region
The presence of an ice-free lake creates climate features that have no analogues in other regions of Kyrgyzstan, therefore the Issyk-Kul resort and tourist area is a generally recognized and actively visited resort area by residents of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Russia and other CIS countries. In addition to the above, it is distinguished by its extraordinary beauty. The Russian traveler P.P. Semenov-Tien-Shansky, who visited the lake, compared it with Lake Geneva in Switzerland, and gave preference to Issyk-Kul. The snow-white peaks surrounding the lake rise to 4500-5000 meters, protecting it from the penetration of cold air from the north and hot air from the deserts of Central Asia. The water surface, open all year round, makes the climate somewhat milder and warmer compared to the climate of other areas located at the same latitude. On the coast of Lake Issyk-Kul, the average annual duration of sunshine reaches 2880 hours, while at the resorts of Crimea, located somewhat further north in latitude, it is equal to: in Sochi - 2253, in Yalta - 2250, Evpatoria - 2440 hours. Even in such southern cities of Transcaucasia as Yerevan and Tbilisi, it is 2627 and 2053 hours, respectively. In the summer months, sunshine lasts up to 300 hours, and the maximum value of total radiation is 1.67-1.68 cal/cm2. min. For comparison, we point out that the maximum values of total radiation in Sochi are 1.47, and in the famous resort of Davos (Switzerland) - 1.59 cal/cm2. min. The water in the lake is salty, the total mineralization of Issyk-Kul water, according to the latest data, is 6.02/g/kg, - no lower than the salinity of sea water. Approximately the same mineralization is in the eastern part of Lake Balkhasha.
With deepening, salinity increases to 18 g/kg. In addition, Issyk-Kul is rich in healing mud, which consists of lagoon, coastal and underwater deposits. Abundance of greenery, ecologically clean mountain-sea air, beautiful beaches, kumys-therapeutic sanatoriums, therapeutic mud, horseback riding or walking through picturesque gorges, fishing, swimming and boating - all these combinations are extremely unique and excellent for development tourism in the area.
Chui tourist and resort area
It has a great advantage over other regions of the republic, located at the same absolute altitude. The region is located in the northwestern part of the republic, the area is 20.19 thousand km2 (less than 10% of the territory of the republic). The valley is crossed by river beds flowing from the crest of the Kyrgyz ridge. They are beautiful with narrow gorges for short rest. The Chui tourist and resort area is divided into the following tourist sites: Alamedin, Ala-Archa, Burana, Issyk-Ata, Shamshy, Chon-Kemin, Ak-Suu. Bishkek is an educational and at the same time distribution hub of the entire system. Burana is a historical and cultural site. Shamsa is a specialized national hunt. Chon-Kemin - sports and recreation complex and equestrian tourism. The remaining facilities are multifunctional and can be used for a wide range of activities, both for short-term and long-term recreation at any time of the year.
On the northern slopes of the Kyrgyz Ala-Too, which belongs to the Chui tourist-resort region, there is an extremely sharp mosaic of territorial natural complexes without much difference in boundaries among themselves. In the low and middle mountains, where the main recreational recreation facilities are located, there are dissimilar mountain ecosystems in the form of chains rising one above the other, covered with spruce forests, juniper forests and meadows. In these climatic zones favorable for the human body, the main resources of medicinal mineral springs, medicinal mud, warm springs, elements of biological origin (adrashman), medicinal herbs, etc. are located. Mass recreation and tourism are possible throughout the year. Here the climate is milder, summers are cooler, the average temperature does not exceed +18-20 degrees, winters are warm, the most comfortable for relaxation. Within Bishkek there are main objects, such as: Ala-Archinsky National Natural Park; Mountaineering camp Ala-Archa; ski and sports camp site Chon-Tash; sanatorium “Cosmonauts” with a thermal spring, Chunkurchak and others. At these sites it is possible to accommodate tourist and recreational facilities for winter recreation: ski lodges, mountain skating rinks with cable cars and winter thermal swimming pools.
In addition to those listed, in the Chui region there are attractive natural gorges Kara-Balta, Aspara, Ak-Suu, Djilamish, Ala-Archa, Alamudun, Issyk-Ata, Kegeti, Shamshy, Chon-Kemin. In the Chon-Kemin Gorge, the Kemin National Natural Park has been organized and operates with the functions of sports and recreation, mountain, water and equestrian tourism.
The landscape and geological conditions of the Chui tourist-resort area determine the presence of medicinal mineral waters of various physical and chemical compositions. These include the Ak-Suiskoye mineral water deposit, which is located in the gorge of the same name, 80 km southwest of the village of Belovodskoye, Moscow region. Ak-Suu mineral water, like other mineral waters, belongs to low-mineralized carbonic, hydrocarbonate magnesium-calcium narzans, and in their chemical composition they are similar to the mineral water of the famous Siberian resort Dara-Suna.
The Alamudun spring mineral water deposit is located 30 km from Bishkek in the gorge of the same name at an altitude of 1200-1600 meters above sea level. A thermal water well drilled at a depth of 507 meters brought mineral water with a temperature of 53 degrees to the surface of the earth.
On the basis of thermal waters, the sanatorium-preventorium “Teplye Klyuchi” is currently operating for 100-125 beds, with the prospect of expanding it to 600 beds.
The Issyk-Ata mineral and thermal water deposit is located 77 km southeast of Bishkek, in a narrow gorge at an altitude of 1800 meters above sea level. There is also a health resort here - the Arashan resort with numerous hot springs and muddy mud. In addition, there is a spring clean source of drinking water with a specific smell for the treatment of chronic diseases of the digestive system. The main promising issue of rational use of Issyk-Ata mineral waters is the construction of new sanatoriums and therapeutic pools that meet the requirements of modern international standards.
Among the balneological resources, an important place is occupied by the Kamyshanovskoye and Lugovskoye low-mineralized, hydrogen sulfide deposits of medicinal mud, which are used in health institutions in Bishkek and the Arashan resort in the Kant region.
Talas tourist area
Compared to other regions of the republic, it is poorly developed in socio-economic terms. With the transition to market relations, his comprehensive study of environmental measures, improvement of the environmental situation, social infrastructure, recreational and other resources began. The Talas region forms a separate part of Northern Kyrgyzstan, occupying 11.5 thousand sq. km. (about 6%) of the area of the republic with a population of 198.6 thousand people (about 5% of the total population).
The climate of the Talas Valley is characterized by great continentality with hot, dry summers and relative winter cold and the availability of hot summer winds from the desert of neighboring republics, and winter cold from Siberia. This feature is predetermined by its northern location. Unlike the Chui tourist and resort area.
In general, the favorable climatic regime of the Talas tourist and recreational region creates conditions for the development of tourism. Events dedicated to the 1000th anniversary of the Manas epic determined the further development of international tourism in this area. Guests from near and far abroad are convinced that there are wonderful places to relax here. Such as the gorges of the rivers Talas, Uch-Koshoy, Besh-Tash, Korumdu, etc., where in the near future it is possible to build hotels, sanatoriums, resorts, holiday homes, tourist camps, camps for local and foreign tourists. The further development of the tourism economy of the Talas region will be determined precisely by the presence of complexes of natural and recreational resources, such as unique gorges, rivers, lakes, forests, mineral waters, healing mud, natural caves, waterfalls, mountain climate, etc. Here you can organize for vacationing tourists visits to national yurts with a treat to the medicinal drink kumys, hunting for wild animals and animals, and fishing in small lakes located within transport accessibility. In the future, for the development of international tourism, it is necessary to form the material and technical base of tourist and recreational facilities, improve the infrastructure of the service sector, and after the completion of all these activities, tourists can be received, which will become an additional source of replenishment of income for the treasury of our republic.
There are several challenges to realizing this potential.
*Training of highly qualified personnel, marketers for organizing and conducting promotional events, guides, tour guides, travel agents, instructors, tour guides, tourism managers with knowledge of foreign languages to serve foreign tourists. To train the above specialists, there is a good educational base and conditions in professional lyceums in the Issyk-Kul, Chui, and Jalal-Abad regions. Personnel trained in the universities of our republic with a specialty in tourism work in the upper echelons of management and management, and personnel trained in the vocational education system work in the levels of the tourist service sector.
*An important task is the creation of a modern material and technical base and service infrastructure that would meet international standards. With the transition to a market economy, part of the existing tourist and recreational facilities in Kyrgyzstan (sanatorium and resort institutions, tourist and sports centers and other facilities) were privatized, and the remaining part, built in the 50-60s, has a weak material and technical base and does not meet world standards standards of comfortable accommodation for vacationers and visiting tourists, which affects the reduction in their number. If we analyze digital data, then in 1990 the total number of visiting tourists in Kyrgyzstan was 464 thousand people, and in 2000 it decreased to 446 thousand people, of which about 41.1 thousand were foreign tourists.
In the future, in order to attract the attention of tourists, it is necessary to build new sanatorium-resort and health-improving recreational facilities, modern hotels with all amenities and 4-5 star hotels to meet the needs of tourists and vacationers. This requires the creation of a modern material and technical base, the development of the service sector and its infrastructure, and the organization of marketing and advertising services. Tourist and recreational facilities left over from the times of the socialist system, with a weak material and technical base, must at least be preserved at their current level.
At the second stage, it is advisable to implement measures aimed at improving the recreation system and expanding its capabilities. At this stage, it is appropriate to build a cable car in the area of the village of Orto-Sai to the Chon-Tash sports base, viewing platforms for viewing the city in the area of the village of Chon-Aryk, a funicular in Chunkurchak, and the arrangement of a short-term water recreation area at the Ala-Archa reservoir and at the Chumysh dam , creation of a developed network of campsites, hotels, cultural and commercial services. Thus, after establishing organizational work in the field of tourism, it will be possible to attract vacationing tourists as an additional source of replenishment of income for the treasury of our republic, not only from nearby regions, but even from Central and East Asia, whose population is interested in unique corners of nature, architectural memorable, cultural and historical places and ethnographic museums - Gumbez of Manas, Babur, Sulaiman (Sulaiman Too), Uzgen architectural complex, Burana Tower and other landmarks of Kyrgyzstan.
Omorbek Turmanbetov, Ph.D., CES NAS KR
Dokturbek Mursakmatov, applicant for the Center for Economic Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic
The best time to travel to Kyrgyzstan and travel around the country is September. In the first autumn month, pleasant autumn warmth reigns throughout almost the entire country without precipitation or midday heat.
In the summer, the temperature in the Fergana Valley rises to +35 degrees, so if there are no contraindications, you can plan a trip in the summer. At this time, you can go to the high-mountain pastures of the jailoo, take hiking and horseback riding tours in the foothills, and plan ascents.
The main healing factors of health resorts in Kyrgyzstan are mountains with crystal clear air and increased solar activity.
Picturesque landscapes of mountain valleys, cliffs and waterfalls have always had a beneficial effect on the psychosomatic state of a person, so it is not surprising that the main sanatorium centers of the country are located in the Tien Shan and Pamir mountains. After all, this is where the famous Lake Issyk-Kul is located. In terms of water transparency, it is second only to Baikal, and in depth it ranks seventh in the world. Due to the high salt content, the lake does not freeze even in winter.
There are many legends around the lake, including the famous tale of the stones of Tamerlane and treasures in the flooded cities, the tale of the relics of St. Matthew the Apostle and numerous local legends. But first of all, tourists are attracted by local beaches, since Issyk-Kul is the main beach resort of the country.
The season here begins at the end of May and lasts until the first days of October, until the temperature in the lake drops below 22 degrees.
Health improvement areas
There are 15 types of mineral springs on Lake Issyk-Kul alone. In terms of their composition and water quality, they are not inferior to, and in some ways even superior to, the famous mineral waters of the North Caucasus.
One liter of the famous Chatyrkul water contains 2.5 grams more carbon dioxide than in Kislovodsk Narzan, and the table water of the Yassi spring in Kyrgyzstan combines the properties of the famous Borjomi, Arzni and Essentuki.
The areas closest to the lake are an exclusive sanatorium and resort zone in Kyrgyzstan. The local climate is mountain-sea, offering tourists many options for recreation. On the southern shore of the lake in the picturesque Terskey-Alatau gorge is the best balneological resort in the country - Dzhetyoguz.
Translated from Kyrgyz it means “Seven Bulls”. Indeed, in the gorge there are seven huge red rocks in a semicircle surrounding the resort. Here, at an altitude of 2300 meters above sea level on the banks of a mountain river, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, severe liver diseases and non-tuberculous inflammation of the joints are treated.
The method of treating diseases is also unique - stepwise acclimatization combined with hydrotherapy. Patients are gradually raised to higher and higher altitudes, where the air becomes increasingly rarefied, thereby hardening the body and increasing resistance through short-term hypoxia.
Near the lake, in a deep, picturesque gorge of the Kyrgyz mountain range, there is the famous thermal resort of Jalal-Abad. Here, several dozen hot springs with water temperatures ranging from 20 to 50 degrees come to the surface.
Thermal waters are widely used to treat brucellosis, diseases of the nervous system and some types of gastrointestinal diseases. Alkaline hot springs are used to treat and prevent rheumatism, skin diseases, as well as liver and kidney diseases.
If you want to combine wellness with a beach holiday, go to the other side of Issyk-Kul, to the beaches of Cholpon-Ata and Dolinka. They are reliably protected from the winds and offer guests a mild maritime climate with moderate humidity and plenty of sunny days. The most famous children's sanatoriums and resort areas in the republic are located here.
Just 200 meters from the shore of Issyk-Kul there is a local natural attraction - the salt lake Kara-Kol. Due to the high content of mineral salts, the density of the water is comparable to the famous Dead Sea in Israel.
People come here to the estuaries with healing silt mud and famous clays - black, green and blue. They are extremely useful for treating skin diseases, as well as restoring the musculoskeletal system after injury or surgery.
To visit health resort centers in Kyrgyzstan you will need an identity card. A visa is not required for citizens of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, and for Russians it is possible to enter the country using either a foreign passport or a Russian passport.
For children under 14 years of age, it is necessary to provide a birth certificate, and if the child is traveling without parents (for example, with a grandmother), then a power of attorney from them. To undergo treatment in sanatoriums in Kyrgyzstan, you will need to have a sanatorium card or an extract from your medical history.
All medical staff speak excellent Russian and English, so there will be no language barrier. For treatment of children, it is necessary to provide certificates of previous vaccinations and epidemiological conditions.
Most tourists arrive in Kyrgyzstan by plane to the airports of Bishkek and Osh. These are the two largest cities in the country with developed transport infrastructure.
The most convenient way to get to a hotel, sanatorium, resort or other city in the country is by bus or minibus. There are good railway connections with the suburban areas of the two capitals and the cities of Jalal-Abad, Batken, Kara-Balta, Balykchy and Tokmak. A train ticket will cost half as much, but the travel time will be twice as long as by bus or minibus. The best way to get around the city and region is by taxi - they are very inexpensive.
Kyrgyzstan is an Islamic country. 80% of the population are Muslims and only 20% are Orthodox Christians. However, other than the floating dates of major religious holidays, you don't have to worry about anything. Tourists should observe a dress code only when visiting mosques - covered shoulders, knees and head for women, it is recommended to refrain from transparent chiffon in religious places. Otherwise, Kyrgyzstan is a secular and modern country without stereotypes about norms of behavior between men and women.
In some sanatoriums and boarding houses, hot water is not supplied around the clock, but according to a schedule several times a day. If this is important, then it is better to clarify this point in advance.
How to get to Kyrgyzstan
Aeroflot airlines and the local airline Air Kyrgyzstan depart from Moscow to Kyrgyzstan four times a week. The flight takes about four hours. Flights from St. Petersburg are organized twice a week and the travel time takes just over five hours. If you wish, you can choose a direct flight to Bishkek or an option with a transfer in Novosibirsk to get directly to Osh. All flights from Ukraine and Belarus have a transfer in Moscow, Tashkent or Almaty.
History of the region
Kyrgyzstan is not the most famous destination among domestic tourists. And completely in vain! This is the pearl of the Asian countries closest to us, rich in natural attractions and traditional oriental flavor.
Few people know, but modern Kyrgyzstan has no equal in the variety of recreation options - ski resorts in the heavenly mountains of the Tien Shan and Pamirs, health resorts on the shores of the pristine Issyk-Kul Lake and on thermal springs, magnificent beaches and elite SPA hotels in Bishkek , numerous tourist routes through national parks and reserves.
Lovers of oriental flavor will appreciate the traditional life and way of life of Kyrgyzstan. This country generously and colorfully demonstrates Asia in all its glory: famous equestrian competitions, colorful yurts and colorful felt carpets, exquisite bracelets and the finest temple jewelry, delicious Osh pilaf and kumiss, colorful bazaars and fragrant spice markets, the mysterious riches of Genghis Khan and the treasures of ancient Asian empires
Today, the tourism infrastructure of Kyrgyzstan is ready to provide tourists with the necessary comfort and level of service so that acquaintance with the legendary culture and history leaves only pleasant impressions.
Tourists can begin their acquaintance with Kyrgyzstan immediately in the capital. Bishkek is not just the largest city in the country, where Kyrgyz, Asian, Russian and Persian cultures are intricately mixed, but also the oldest caravanserai at the intersection of several directions of the Great Silk Road.
Despite its location in a desert region at the foot of the Tien Shan, the city is surprisingly green and flourishing thanks to its numerous parks. Panfilov Park and Oak Park, Erkindik Avenue and Young Guard Boulevard, Kemal Ataturk Park - almost every district has shady gardens and alleys planted with silver poplars and oaks. Guests of Bishkek should definitely visit the ancient and most vibrant Osh bazaar, the Historical Museum and the Museum of National History, the ancient cemetery Khan's Graves and the Chon-Aryk Botanical Garden.
Tourists are better off admiring traditional Islamic architecture in the city of Osh, the southern capital of the country. Here it is worth seeing the madrassas of Alymbek Paravanchi and Mukhamedboy Byurk khal Muratbaev, a complex of medieval baths, Shahid Tepa and Sadykbai mosques, made in the traditional Fergana style.
Osh is the most ancient city in the country, more than three thousand years old. In addition, it is traditionally considered the gateway to the mountains. Osh is surrounded on three sides by mountain spurs, and in the central region rises Mount Sulaiman-Too, more than 100 m high. This is the historical and cultural center of Osh, most of which is included in the Great Silk Road Museum-Reserve.
The country's largest historical and archaeological open-air museum is also located here. From Osh it is most convenient to start climbing the Pamir and Tien Shan ridges, go on an excursion to the unique karst waterfall Abshir-say and the Chil-Mayram and Chil-Ustun caves.