Central Asia. The 5 -Stans. A region of wild mountains, hospitable nomads, and endless bumpy marthrutka rides. It’s one of the best hiking regions in Asia, or even the world for that matter, but don’t expect much in the way of infrastructure or signage – prepare to be self-reliant and sort out all the logistics yourself.
Pick up most recent Lonely Planet: Central Asia guidebook to start planning your trip.
Kyrgyzstan: Ak Suu Transverse Trek Кыргызстан: Ак Суу Трансверсе The Ak Suu Transverse trek is the peak hiking experience in Kyrgyzstan’s Ak-Suu region, starting from the small ecotourism village of Jyrgalan and crossing the whole of Ak-Suu to end at the Soviet-era health resort at Jeti-Oguz, crossing along the way […]
Kyrgyzstan: Shatyly Panorama Кыргызстан: Панорама Шатылы Shatyly Panorama is a short but rewarding viewpoint hike from the Boz-Salkyn Valley (near the town of Bokonbaevo) to an overlook with incredible views of the South Shore of Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-Kol Lake. Barely even long enough to call it a hike in Kyrgyzstan, we […]
Tajikistan: Kulikalon Lakes Hike Таджикистан: Куликалонские озера The straightforward Kulikalon Lakes Hike, a three-day route in the Fann Mountains, is among the most popular treks in Tajikistan (particularly those outside of the Pamirs). Starting and ending at trailhead alplagers (mountain huts) and taking in several beautiful strings of mountain lakes, […]
Kyrgyzstan: Ratsek Hut Кыргызстан: хижина рацека A classic hike for climbers and trekkers in Kyrgyzstan, the trek to Ratsek Hut (хижина рацека in Russian) is for many local mountaineers the first step on holidays to climb the peaks that surround the Ak-Sai Glacier, for which the Ratsek Cabin is a […]
Kyrgyzstan: Chon Kaindy Valley Kyrgyzstan’s Chon Kaindy Valley (sometimes transliterated as Chong-Kaindy of Chong-Kaingdy instead) is not among the well-known trekking routes in the Chuy Oblast surrounding Bishkek, and therein lies much of the appeal. There are no epic peak panoramas, but an abundance of beautiful verdant nature away from […]
Kyrgyzstan: Ak Kol Loop Hike This Ak Kol Loop route begins and ends in the quaint log-cabin village of Ak-Kol in Naryn oblasts’ rarely-visited Jumgal region. Though access to the village isn’t easy (requiring a private transfer from the nearest village at Chaek), the surroundings are beautiful and the village […]