Temir-Kanat: rural villages, mountains and pastures

Temir-Kanat is a village in north-eastern Kyrgyzstan which is home to a thousand inhabitants and is located at an altitude of about 7,550 feet. Not far from the village, numerous nomad camps offer the possibility of staying overnight in traditional yurts, as a convenient base for exploring the surrounding environment on foot or on horseback, among a landscape dominated by majestic mountains and deep valleys.

The village is located about 4-5 hours by car from the capital Bishkek, along a paved road and, given the very modest costs, visitors may just use a taxi. However, it will be difficult to find the facilities where to stay overnight, as they are usually not available on-line, so it may be better to book a full package through a local operator who is in direct contact with the yurt camp.

The best (and perhaps the only) season to visit Temir-Kanat is summer, when temperatures are pleasant and allow people to enjoy outdoor life to its fullest. It must however be considered that during this period the rains are not rare and therefore it's better to stay at least 2-3 nights, to have a sufficient buffer in case of bad weather .

The yurts (the typical "mobile" homes of the nomads in Central Asia), are very basic but comfortable, and heavy blankets are provided for the cool or cold nights at such altitudes. Meals are cooked by the local family and include a good variety of traditional Kyrgyz dishes.

Now let's take a look at some Temir-Kanat photos taken at the yurt camp where we stayed...

The mountains south of Temir-Kanat exceed 13,000 feet and have peaks with perennial snows and imposing glaciers.