Central Asia 2024 – Blog

And they’re off!!! Our group are on their way to Dubai for a quick stop before carrying onto Bishkek…..

A stopover in Dubai, where group members found an amazing range of ways to enjoy their day stopover, including some great bargain taxi tours! Of course no stop in Dubai is complete without a meander through the Gold & Spice Souks.

First day in Bishkek and we had a fascinating visit to a local market, then home in time to wander in the park beside our lovely hotel, where magnificent horses roamed (?)   A splendidly formal welcome dinner rounded off the day.

Wednesday morning was a magically clear day for a trip to the mountains. A superb lunch at a very upmarket restaurant, where (women!) group members lined up for the loo along with a bride in a huge white crinoline confection (how did she manage)?  

In the afternoon our guide gave us an excellent introduction to Kyrgyz culture at the historical museum, followed by a walk through some of Bishkek’s beautiful parks and public spaces.  A great day was rounded off with dinner in a modern yurt, serenaded by a Kyrgyz group and finishing with delicious ice cream served in a yurt basket!

Today we had a stop at an historic look-out tower before a lunch stop at a welcoming family home, where we were fascinated with a demonstration of felting skills, as well as a lovely home cooked spread.   In the afternoon we had the chance to watch the skills of teams of horsemen battling to get a 25 – 30kg goat carcass into a goal at the end of a 120m playing area.   Their skill was amazing.   A bus ride on the very impressive trans Asian highway built by the Chinese brought us to our layside resort for the night.