Kyrgyzstan

When to go

At lower elevations, spring and autumn are probably the best seasons to visit weather-wise - in particular April to early June and September through October. In spring, the desert blooms briefly, while autumn is harvest time when the markets fill with fresh produce.

Summer is ferociously hot in the lowlands, but July and August are the best months to visit the mountains. Cold rains begin in November and snow soon closes mountain passes. The ski season at the Upper Ala-Archa Mountain Ski Base lasts from December to April. Winters are bitterly cold.

Travel Warning: Caution Advised

Kyrgyzstan is on the whole a safe place to visit. However, travellers should avoid demonstrations, as political tensions do exist and protests can become violent. Demarcation of the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border is in dispute and anyone crossing the frontier should only use official checkpoints, as some areas may be mined.