Mitchell, L: Kyrgyzstan

Introduction VIII part one general information 1 Chapter 1 Background Information 3 Geography 3, Climate 4, Natural history and conservation 5, History 9, Government and politics 21, Economy 23, People 24, Language 28, Religion 29, Education 32, Culture 33 Chapter 2 practical Information 48 When to visit 48, Highlights 49, Suggested itineraries 49, Tour operators 50, Red tape 56, Getting there and away 59, Health 62, Safety 66, Women travellers 68, Disabled travellers 68, Travelling with a family 69, What to take 69, Money and banking 70, Budgeting 71, Getting around 72, Accommodation 74, Eating and drinking 76, Public holidays and festivals 78, Shopping 79, Arts and entertainment 79, Photography 80, Media and communications 80, Business 82, Cultural etiquette 82, Travelling positively 83 pART TWO THe GUIde 85 Chapter 3 Bishkek 87 History 90, Getting there 91, Getting around 93, Safety 95, Tourist information 96, Where to stay 96, Where to eat and drink 101, Entertainment and nightlife 105, Sports 106, Shopping 106, Other practicalities 109, What to see and do 113 Chapter 4 Chui province 121 Valleys south of Bishkek 121, Chui Valley 126, Chong- Kemin Valley 131, Boom Gorge 133, Kara-Balta 134, Suusamyr Valley 134 Chapter 5 Lake Issyk-Kul . north Shore 139 Lake Issyk-Kul 139, Balykchy 144, Tamchy 148, Cholpon-Ata 150, Karkara Valley 160 Chapter 6 Lake Issyk-Kul South and the Central Tien Shan 165 Karakol 165, Around Karakol 175, Trekking south of Karakol 181, Th e Central Tien Shan 183, Lake Issyk- Kulfs southern shore 187, Barskoon 187, Tamga 191, Bokonbaevo 193, Th e southwest shore 197 Chapter 7 Talas province 199 Talas 199, South of Talas 204, West of Talas 204, East of Talas 205 Chapter 8 naryn province 207 Kochkor 207, Excursions from Kochkor 211, West to the Suusamyr Valley 213, Lake Song-Kol 214, Naryn 217, East of Naryn 222, Naryn to the Torugart Pass 223, The Torugart Pass 228, Naryn to Kazarman 231 Chapter 9 Jalal-Abad province 233 Jalal-Abad 233, Kazarman

Laurence Mitchell is a freelance travel writer and photographer and has travelled widely in Central Asia and the ex-Soviet world. He is the author of three other Bradt guides: Serbia, Belgrade, and Slow Norfolk & Suffolk.

'Bradt Guides are expertly written and longer on local detail than any others.' Michael Palin 'Utterly essential...particularly the dos and don'ts and basic phrases.' James Willsher, Times of Central Asia