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131/2, Kievskaya St., Bishkek 720001, Kyrgyz Republic
Tel: + 996 312 311814
Fax: + 996 312 611170
E-mail: tours@celestial.com.kg, celest@infotel.kg
www.tours.kg, www.celestial.com.kg
About Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan, (or the “Kyrgyz Republic”, to give it its proper name), is a small, landlocked, mountainous, country in the heart of Central Asia.
The country is crisscrossed by massive mountain ranges, which divide the country into quite diverse regions – offering different forms of landscape, climate, wildlife and culture. Over ninety percent of the country is over 1500m – and can be classified as mountainous. The country boasts several peaks that are over 7000m high, including Khan Tengri, Peak Pobeda and Lenin Peak.
Lake Issyk Kul is the second largest mountain lake in the world – ringed by the imposing Terskei and Kungey Ala Too mountain ridges. Son Kul is an impressive mountain lake set on an isolated, treeless, mountain plateau and in summer provides lush grassland for the nomad Kyrgyz to pasture their flocks of sheep and herds of horses, yaks, and even the occasional camel.
There are several parks and nature reserves, established to help preserve the delicate ecological balance, and protect the variety of wildlife which includes eagles, bears, wolves, deer, Marco Polo sheep and snow leopards – including Ala Archa, Issyk Kul, and Sary Chelek.
Over the centuries, several different civilizations have populated the land: from the ancient Saks around the 8th Century BC, (who clashed with the armies of Alexander the Great), through the empires of Genghis Khan and Tamerlane, to assimilation into the Russian empire in the eighteenth century and the Soviet Union in the twentieth. Recently it has achieved the status of an independent state – and even experienced its own “Colour Revolution”.
Sitting astride many of the routes which made up the Great Silk Road, the local population experienced a mix of religion, culture and cuisine … which can still be experienced to this day. Although little actually remains of the great Silk Road cities, the Burana Tower, the Uzgen complex, and the caravanserai of Tash Rabat offer a glimpse of what they must have looked like. 
More modern cities exist … including the capital Bishkek, (with all the features one would expect to find in a modern capital city); Osh, (which is thought to been a city over 3000 years ago); Karakol, (a former Cossack garrison town, with colonial style houses, a thriving Sunday animal market, fascinating Russian Church and fine Dungan mosque).
The traditional culture of the nomadic Kyrgyz is still reflected in many aspects of modern life. There are many symbols which the Kyrgyz use to identify themselves, ranging from: the tunduk, (found in the yurt - a traditional felt tent-like structure used as housing by nomadic shepherds); the Al Kalpak, (a white felt hat worn by Kyrgyz males), the komuz, (a three stringed musical instrument fashioned out of apricot wood); to the shyrdak and ala kiyiz, (traditional felt carpets with stylized patterns).
The traditional lifestyle of the nomadic Kyrgyz included a distinctive style of music; the Manas epic poem recited by a manaschy; hunting with eagles, a variety of traditional games and numerous forms of crafts. Several cultural festivals are held at various places throughout the summer and it is also possible to organise concerts and demonstrations at various places throughout the countr