reading time: 15 minutes

Kyrgyzstan – Unknown Treasure of Central Asia

Have you ever thought about traveling to a country almost nobody you know is even aware that it exists? What would you do if someone you just met at the gym suddenly invited you to visit their family in Kyrgyzstan, a place you couldn’t even pinpoint on a map? Well, that’s exactly what happened to me!

I couldn’t resist the opportunity, so I hopped on a plane and took a ten-hour flight with a guy I had only known for ten minutes. Do I regret it now? Keep reading to find out!

Arriving in Bishkek – A City That Never Sleeps

So imagine arriving at 4 am at Manas Airport in the capital of Kyrgyzstan – Bishkek. Sleepy but buzzing with anticipation, We hopped into a taxi and watched the city wake up during the 30-minute drive to the center. Even in the middle of the night, Bishkek felt alive. Some shops were open, and to my amazement, we even found a restaurant serving full meals at 5 in the morning!

As the sun rose, the city truly came to life with the chaotic charm you’d expect in Central Asia. The heart of this activity? Dordoi Bazaar — the largest market in Central Asia. Forget supermarkets — this is where locals do their shopping. Picture an endless labyrinth of tiny stalls selling everything from foods and beverages of all kinds to clothes, shoes and bags. you can find anything you could possibly imagine. All the little stands together form a unique location you surely never seen before in any country in the world. But watch out! You can easily get lost in this maze of a bazar.

After navigating crowded buses, where people pass their 20 COM fare from hand to hand all the way to the driver, we finally arrived in Kegety, a small village tucked into the foothills of the Kyrgyz mountains.

Kegety Village – A Warm Welcome

A certain calmness hit me when I had the first minutes of my own in that little village. Surrounded by a surreal circle of mountains with layers of even more dramatic peaks behind them. After all the thoughts i had about what would await me on that journey, i felt honestly safe in the home of my new won friend Eridan. His family was friendly but cautious. They did not speak any other language than their own, but with Eridan’s translations, we got to know each other step by step.

A spread of fresh bread, buttery cream, biscuits, and baklava covered the table. But the real highlight? The best black tea I’ve ever had. Here’s where things got interesting — I made the mistake of adding both milk and jam to my tea. Eridan’s mother nearly lost her mind! Apparently, it’s either one or the other — never both. Lesson learned. think she prevented me from dying or so.

Life in Kegety – A Community Built on Support

Eridan’s family has five kids. The youngest, just five years old, was glued to his phone, playing Roblox all day — modern technology knows no borders!

The oldest brother was not living at home anymore. He worked as a chef for the president of Kyrgyzstan. When Eridan told me first i didn’t believe him until i saw the framed certificate on the kitchen wall. The reason i did not believe him was, that he was full of shit and the more we got to know each other, the more he fooled around with me.

His middle brother was 13 years old and after school he helped his parents working in their store. Once a week he managed the store completely solo while their parents went to the Dordoi Bazaar in Bishkek making groceries for the following week. The store was their main source of income. So they would negotiate all day long on the Dordoi Bazar and then sell pretty much anything you can think of in their little Kegety Store.

The house they live in was built by Eridan’s grand father and his friends. The sense of community in Kegety was unlike anything I had experienced. Neighbors help each other without asking questions or finding excuses. I noticed that especially on the day before Eridan’s father celebrated his birthday. The whole family worked all day to clean the yard and garden for when the guests arriving on the day after. All day long people from the village came unannounced to help a few hours, drink some tea and having a chat. Some brought chairs the other one brought a Yurt which we had to built up, so he also brought some friend who would help. In the end we were 8 guys building the tent. Eridan, his brother, me and five random other guys who were so friendly. Of course they could not stop telling me, as a German, how much they love Audi, BMW and Mercedes.

Also they are really kind to everyone that is new in their community. Even outside of Eridan’s home, I felt incredibly welcomed. One morning, I went for a walk while the others were still sleeping. A stranger my age crossed the street just to shake my hand and greet me with a friendly “Salam!” That simple gesture made me realize how warm and hospitable the people here are.

At first, Kegety might seem simple, grey, and not really welcoming, a place still echoing its Soviet past. But look closer, stay a little longer, and you’ll realize — this village has everything it needs, and soon, it starts feeling like home. The Kids have a sports building with a gym inside and a big hall where they mostly do Judo with a trainer. That evening, Eridan and I faced off in a Judo match. Despite being 10kg heavier than him, I lost — twice. Turns out that the technique is the most important factor in Judo. I think I was also just too tired from the flight ;D. They also have a full sized football pitch and additionally a soccer field with football goals with basketball hoops. Kyrgyz citizens have a deep-rooted connection to sports, a legacy from their Soviet heritage, where athleticism was an important part for belonging to the community.

History, Nature and Kebab – The First Adventure

Besides sports there is also a lot about delicious food in this country. The next morning, breakfast was waiting, and to my surprise, it was the same meal we had the night before: Pilaf, a delicious mix of rice, vegetables, and chicken, alongside a tomato-onion salad and the best carott salad i’ve ever filled my stomach with. Oh, I can still recall this sweet taste. For any reason there is always an endless supply of bread cakes and muffins. And of course there is no kyrgyz household without loads of tea.

After fueling up, we did some cleaning in the yard for Eridan’s parents, who went to the bazar in bishkek to stock up their little Kegety Shop. Then we could finally leave for our first adventure in the kyrgyz nature. We got picked up by a friend of Eridan with his car and went to a beautiful waterfall. The journey took us past rushing rivers, surreal mountains, and scattered yurts, dotting the landscape like in a ottoman fairy tale. On the road we had some kyrgyz sweets and ice cream.

The Burana Tower in Balasagun was our next destination. Legend has it that a King built it for his daughter after losing all his other children to poisonous spiders. He locked her in the top room, believing the spiders couldn’t reach her. Obviously, he didn’t know that spiders can climb walls, but hey — it was the 11th century, and “Spiderman” hadn‘t been invented yet! Originally 45 meters tall, the tower now stands at 21 meters, thanks to an earthquake. But let me tell you, the extensive view from the top is still amazing.

Going further we got really hungry. In Germany Doner Kebab is a big thing and the debate about how to do it right is wild and ongoing. You can get the best and real ones only in Berlin. Here, Eridan introduced me to the Kyrgyz Doner which was probably double in size for only 200 COM (2€). The fact, that the meat was grilled over an open fire gave an exceptional taste to it. The vegetables were surprisingly fresh and there were fries in it. For 2€ this was one of the best i‘ve ever had. At least on the same level like in Berlin.

Hard Work For Birthday Preperations

The 2nd day we started early in the morning preparing the house and especially the yard for Eridan‘s fathers Birthday. I was so excited to be part of this unique experience, especially since I was about to witness how they traditionally celebrate an occasion like this. First, we cleared the yard, removing rubbish and making space for the yurt that would be set up later that day.

At noon, it was time for preparing the food, which means slaughter two sheep. I had known this was coming, and I was both nervous and curious about what the experience would be like. They even jokingly asked if I wanted to help, which I had thought about for the past day. But when it came time, I realized they were just teasing me — there was a professional who had come specifically for the task. Eridan led me to the barn, where he carefully selected the sheep for the feast. He handed me the sheep by its rear leg, and despite my nervousness, I walked it to where it was tied up. It felt really weird. The sheep was trying to fight back the whole time until it was tied up. As if it knew, that now it is too late and accepted it’s fate. Before the slaughter, we took a moment to pray, hands open and eyes to the sky. Then, with precision, the throat was slit, and the blood ran down the gravel hill.

It was a very different scene from what I had imagined. Everything, including the sheep, was calm, and the slaughterer was gentle and respectful in his actions. The entire moment was so surreal, and I will never forget the experience.

Later that day, Eridan surprised me with something I never expected: my very first horseback ride. He called a friend to bring a horse and then showed me how to get on. It’s moments like these that make traveling with a local so special — Eridan truly wanted to give me the best possible experience.

After loading everything onto the truck, we drove to a local waste site. It wasn’t what I expected — just open land surrounded by garbage — but it offered a beautiful view of the Kyrgyz mountains with a sunset that made the whole scene surprisingly peaceful.

When we drove back i thought we were finally done for the day. I was already joking about i’m being a ‘German slave‘ for Eridan’s family in Kyrgysztan. He found that really funny. So funny that he drove by his family’s house and went to another friend with me. Guess what? More work! It was already 7pm, I hadn’t eaten, and I was exhausted — but the yurt wasn’t gonna build up itself. So we started to transport everything to Eridan’s yard and built it up there. Probably 5 guys from the naighbourhood plus his brother were helping and it was a lot of fun in the end. When the yurt was finally complete, we lit a fire inside and it was so cozy.

The next day, the long-awaited celebration finally began. Our morning started with an incredible breakfast, prepared by Eridan’s oldest brother — who just happens to be a chef for the Kyrgyz president. The spread was a perfect mix of cultures and flavors: French toast, fresh fruits, biscuits, simit, sucuk, tomatoes, and, of course, Eridan’s mother’s famous carrot salad.

After breakfast, i helped fixing and cleaning the stove where the sheep was cooked. Eridan’s mother did some fried dough pillows in the yard next to the yurt where Eridan’s brother prepared the most of the food. The rest of the dishes were brought by guests, and by the afternoon, the table was overflowing with food. It was a feast like I had never seen before!

The rest of the day was just fooding, dancing and also playing some football with probably all the children of the village. There were around 20 kids so myself and Eridan also turned into kids again! It was beautiful weather and at some point Eridan’s father sneaked me a few shots of vodka, a little secret between us without Eridan knowing. In Kyrgyzstan most people are muslims with a strong belief. Eridan prays five times a day, first thing in the morning too. As you might know muslims are not allowed to drink but Eridan obviously took it more serious than his father.

Never mind. By 5 p.m., I was at that perfect level of tipsy where everything just feels right, so I decided to take a walk while the party continued. I just wanted to have a quiet moment for myself to appreciate the state of mind and the journey i experience right now. Then the best thing happened to me. As I wandered up a small hill, taking photos, something incredible happened — about a hundred cows suddenly appeared, moving in a massive wave towards me. They split around me, passing on both sides, as if I was part of the landscape. It was surreal. On my way back, two shy little girls approached me, giggling nervously. They asked for a photo with me, like I was some kind of celebrity. To them, I probably was — tourists rarely make it to their tiny village. That moment, their excitement, their pure curiosity — it’s something I’ll never forget.

As the night fell, the party kept going until Eridan’s university friend from Bishkek arrived to pick us up. Eridan had to catch his flight that night, but I still had two days left in Kyrgyzstan. I spent the night in a hostel, where I noticed something strange—time seemed to stretch here. The days felt so long, as if each one was packed with a lifetime of experiences.

The next morning, after a slow and peaceful start, I found myself chatting with a Kyrgyz woman in the hostel kitchen. I asked her what I should do in Bishkek, but our conversation took a turn when she mentioned she was from Lake Yssyk Kul — my next and final destination.

Curious, I pulled up Google Maps while we were still talking and asked if there was a bus that could take me there. So i packed my stuff around 9 in the morning and tried to find my way to the station she told me about. It was in fact hard to find because google maps was no help so i had to asked myself through. Most people here don’t speak English so it was not easy to communicate. You must either speak Kyrgyz or Russian. Turkish can sometimes help. Thank God people here are so nice they want to help you so bad, they try until they understand you. With a mix of hand gestures, broken Turkish, and my phone’s translation app, I eventually found my way. When I reached the bus station, the rest was easy. There were several mini busses, or how they call them: ‘Marshrutkas’. I had memorized the name of my stop “Cholpon-Ata” repeating it to myself at least 30 times back in the hostel. So I went from driver to driver, simply asking: “Cholpon-Ata?” Finally, I found the right one. The price? Just 400 COM for a four-hour journey—about 4€. In Germany, a trip of that distance would have cost me at least ten times more.

The ride itself was breathtaking. As we made our way through the vast Kyrgyz landscape, the mountains grew taller, the valleys deeper, until finally, we reached the massive expanse of Yssyk Kul. Covering an area of 6,236 square kilometers, it is the second-largest mountain lake in the world. Despite temperatures dropping as low as -20°C in winter, the lake never freezes, thanks to its depth and the warm springs at the bottom. No wonder its name means “Hot Lake.

Standing on its shores, looking at the endless stretch of blue, I knew — this trip was worth every single dime i paid to much for the flight, because i booked so spontaneously. Now i didn’t care about it anymore because due to my experiences here, i feel so much richer. No money in the world could buy that!

A Journey Into the Unknown – And Why You Should Take It Too

This was just my first impression of life in Kyrgyzstan — and I was already hooked. The stunning landscapes, the rich traditions, and the incredible hospitality made me feel at home in a place I never imagined visiting.

Would you take a chance on a destination like this? Stay tuned for my next post, where I’ll dive deeper into everything you need to know before traveling to Kyrgyzstan! I’ll break down:

✅ How to get around like a local – From navigating the chaotic Marshrutka system to finding the best routes for exploring the country.
✅ Must-visit places beyond Bishkek – Hidden gems, untouched nature, and why Lake Yssyk-Kul should be on your bucket list.
✅ Cultural insights – What you should (and shouldn’t) do when staying with locals, plus what you can learn about yourself staying in this country.
✅ Budget breakdown – How much does a trip to Kyrgyzstan really cost? Spoiler: It’s way more affordable than you think!
✅ Unique experiences you can’t miss – Sleeping in a yurt, horse trekking in the mountains, and trying traditional Kyrgyz dishes.

If you’ve ever dreamed of visiting Central Asia, or you’re just looking for a travel experience far off the beaten path, you won’t want to miss this! 🌍

In case you‘re still unsure about travelling to an unknown place like this, make sure to check out exploreaaholic on instagram