EXPIRIENCES
GUEST
STORIES FROM
THE JOURNEY
Every journey leaves something behind — a place that stays in your memory, a meal you still remember, a conversation with a local family, or a landscape that takes your breath away. For us, the most meaningful measure of a journey is how it makes you feel and what you carry home with you.
From first-time visitors discovering Kyrgyzstan to experienced travellers looking for something genuinely different, our guests have experienced the country through its mountains, nomadic traditions, local food, warm hospitality and everyday life. Here are some of their stories — in their own words.
AMANDA & SEBAS
“We came to Kyrgyzstan expecting incredible landscapes, mountains and a very different kind of travel from what we are used to in Europe. But what surprised us most was the sheer scale of the country. In some places, the mountains looked incredibly close, almost as if you could reach them in a few minutes — and then you realised how vast the landscape really was and how far away they actually were. It gave us a completely different sense of space.
Our time around Issyk-Kul, Bishkek and Chunkurchak was wonderful, but Son-Kul was the experience that stayed with us the most. Spending the night in a traditional yurt, surrounded by endless pastures, horses and enormous mountains, felt completely unreal. We shared local meals, tasted traditional Kyrgyz food and experienced a much simpler rhythm of life — waking up to the landscape, spending time outdoors and watching the light change across the mountains. We expected beautiful scenery, but we didn't expect to feel so immersed in it.
What made the journey special was that it went beyond sightseeing. We experienced the landscapes, the nomadic traditions, the food and the warmth of the people in a very natural way. Son-Kul gave us that rare feeling of being somewhere completely different — far from the noise and pace of everyday life. We came expecting a beautiful adventure and left with memories of a place that felt genuinely authentic and unforgettable.”
Spain
10 DAYS
BELEN,MARTA, ESTER & MELISSA
“We have travelled to many different parts of the world, so we were curious to discover somewhere that felt genuinely new to us. Kyrgyzstan was exactly that. From riding horses through Chong Kemin to exploring Ala-Archa and driving around Issyk-Kul, every day brought a completely different landscape. The scale of the mountains, the open valleys and the feeling of space were something we had not experienced in quite the same way before.
We travelled in April, which made the journey even more special. There was still snow covering the mountains, creating an incredible contrast with the spring landscapes below. One of our favourite surprises was being able to spend a night in a traditional yurt on the jailoo near Issyk-Kul. We shared local food, spent the evening together and woke up surrounded by mountains. It was a completely different way of travelling — much more connected to nature and local life than a typical trip.
What stayed with us most was the combination of extraordinary nature, genuine hospitality and delicious local food. Bishkek gave us our first introduction to the country, but once we travelled into the mountains and around the lake, we really felt the difference. We came as experienced travellers looking for a new destination, but Kyrgyzstan still managed to surprise us. It gave us the feeling of discovering somewhere before everyone else — and that is exactly what made the journey so memorable.”
Spain
10 DAYS
RAUL & ELI
“We came to Kyrgyzstan as close friends of Indira and, from the very beginning, our experience felt much more personal than a traditional trip. Rather than simply visiting places, we were welcomed into family life and had the opportunity to experience Kyrgyz traditions from the inside — sharing meals, meeting people, discovering local customs and seeing how everyday life is lived. For us, the people, their warmth and generosity became just as important as the places we visited.
We then travelled together to Issyk-Kul, where the landscapes completely changed the rhythm of the journey. The Semenov and Grigoriev Gorges were among the places that impressed us most — enormous valleys, forests, rivers and mountains that seemed to continue endlessly. We also spent time at Supara Chunkurchak, surrounded by nature, and were struck by how quickly you can leave the city behind and find yourself in such peaceful, spectacular surroundings.
One of the things we enjoyed most was discovering Kyrgyzstan through its food and local products. We tasted traditional dishes, learned about local ingredients and even met local beekeepers, where we bought and tried the honey produced in the region. It was wonderful to be able to understand where the products come from and meet the people behind them. What we will remember most is not one particular place, but the feeling of being welcomed into the country — experiencing its traditions, food, people and landscapes as guests rather than simply as tourists.”
Spain
10 DAYS
