I fell in love with Kyrgyzstan on my first visit back in 2011. I’ve since returned a further 3 times, and every time I have had new and unexpected experiences. There are few places in the world where you can really feel like you are doing and seeing things that are unique. I can’t think of another country quite as special as Kyrgyzstan. The people are warm and welcoming, and every CBT homestay made me feel like I was part of the family. I have joined in with family celebrations, learned to make Kyrgyz dishes while helping out in the kitchen, and met very special people who are now my friends. From my first visit, CBT have always made sure that I have exactly the holiday that works best for me, always taking into consideration my personal travel style, making suggestions for places I might like, and matching my interests to the sights and experiences that make a visit to Kyrgyzstan unforgettable. I have listened to Kyrgyz storytellers, trekked in the mountains, held an eagle, met a shaman, visited historically significant sites, watched the rough and tumble of horse games, and marvelled at Kyrgyz craft makers. And I will never find an experience so profoundly serene as camping in a mountain yurt and listening to water lapping at the shore of Lake Song Kul, as a pack of horses gallop nearby.
There is no easier decision to make. Visit Kyrgyzstan. Be part of this secret place before the rest of the world knows about the majesty of its mountains, the beauty of its lakes, and the extraordinary history and culture that has shaped its people. Kyrgyzstan is beautiful to see and to snap at with your camera, but to really experience Kyrgyzstan, you must embrace what it is to be Kyrgyz. CBT homestays are the best way to live like the locals, and take Kyrgyzstan into your heart. Once there, it will be impossible to remove.