Introduction PART ONE GENERAL INFORMATION Chapter 1 Background Information Geography, Climate, Natural history and conservation, History, Government and politics, Economy, People, Language, Religion, Education, Culture Chapter 2 Practical Information When to visit, Highlights, Suggested itineraries, Tour operators, Red tape, Getting there and away, Health, Safety, Women travellers, Travellers with a disability, LGBTQ travellers, Travelling with a family, What to take, Money, Budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays and festivals, Shopping, Arts and entertainment, Photography, Media and communications, Business, Cultural etiquette, Travelling positively PART TWO THE GUIDE Chapter 3 Bishkek History, Getting there and away, Getting around, Safety, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Entertainment and nightlife, Shopping, Sports, Other practicalities, What to see and do Chapter 4 Chui Province Valleys south of Bishkek, Chui Valley, Chong-Kemin Valley, Boom Gorge, Kara-Balta, Suusamyr Valley Chapter 5 Lake Issyk-Kul - North Shore Lake Issyk-Kul, Balykchy, Tamchy, Cholpon-Ata, East of Cholpon-Ata, Karkara Valley Chapter 6 Lake Issyk-Kul South and the Central Tien Shan Karakol, Around Karakol, Trekking south of Karakol, Th e Central Tien Shan, Lake Issyk-Kul's southern shore, Barskoon, Tamga, Bokonbaevo, The southwest shore Chapter 7 Talas Province Talas, South of Talas, West of Talas, East of Talas Chapter 8 Naryn Province Kochkor, Excursions from Kochkor, Lake Song-Kol, Naryn, East of Naryn, Kol-Suu Lake, The Torugart Pass, Naryn to Kazarman Chapter 9 Jalal-Abad Province Jalal-Abad, Kazarman to Jalal-Abad, Kazarman, Saimaluu-Tash, Ortok, Arslanbob, The road to Bishkek, Western Jalal-Abad Province, Lake Sary-Chelek, Arkyt, West to the Chatkal Valley Chapter 10 Southern Kyrgyzstan Osh, Around Osh, Ozgon, The Alay Valley, The Irkeshtam crossing to China, The road south to Tajikistan, Batken Province Appendix 1 Language Appendix 2 Glossary of Kyrgyz Terms Appendix 3 Further Information Index.