The trip to Uzbekistan usually starts with a question ‘how to get there?’ Uzbekistan is located in the very center of Central Asia, surrounded by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. Moreover, it is a double landlocked country, the only one but Liechtenstein in the whole world, which means that there is no sea, no ports, and to reach the nearest sea port you need to cross borders of at least one more country.

Trains arrive in Uzbekistan, though their quality remains quite low. The busiest rail routes run through Kazakhstan to Russia and mainly serve local people who are not too demanding for the quality of service as they prefer cheaper options. Also, it takes about three days to ride from Moscow, so using trains in the warm season can be quite an ordeal as the trains have no air conditioners.

The only feasible option, therefore, is to come to Uzbekistan by plane. There are now many international airlines who operate flights to the country, such as Turkish Airlines, AirBaltic, Russian Aeroflot, Czech Airlines, Koreana, Asiana Airlines etc. The national air carrier, Uzbekistan Airways or ‘Uzbek Khavo Yullari’ is the sole national air company in the country.

Uzbekistan Airways was founded after independence in 1991 and gained a reputation of a reliable and quality carrier with a good safety record. The airways operate a fleet of Russian-made and modern western aircraft. The western planes are mainly used for international routes. The company operate flights to major world destinations including Europe, Northern America, and Asia.

You can purchase a ticket to Uzbekistan from a variety of air companies, but inside the country for domestic routes there is only one: the Uzbekistan Airways. Because of that, they offer significant discounts when you purchase an international flight plus a local flight. For example, many travel itineraries are designed based on a circular route: Tashkent-Samarkand-Bukhara-Khiva and then back to Tashkent. The ending part of such a tour would usually include a flight from Tashkent to Urgench (Khiva), which you can purchase along with the international tickets.

This obstacle often makes people unhappy as they fail to book Uzbek Airways through their travel agent. Fortunately, there is a solution to this problem: you need to find a local agent in Uzbekistan who would purchase tickets for you locally and then send it to you by regular mail if you prefer hard copy tickets, or just by email. Luckily, the Airways have recently introduced e-tickets and now the ticket can be sent to you by email as a scan.

Kyrgyzstan boasts a number of spectacular mountain lakes. It is possible to travel through spectacular mountain scenery and experience the traditional life of the Kyrgyz while staying in yurts. There are also opportunities for spectacular horse treks and hikes throughout. Lake Issyk Kul, which means “hot lake” in the Kyrgyz language, is situated in the northern Tian Shan mountains in eastern Kyrgyzstan. It is the tenth largest lake in the world by volume and the second largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea. Although it is surrounded by snow-capped peaks, it never freezes; hence its name.

The lake’s southern shore is dominated by the ruggedly beautiful Teskey Ala-Too Range of the Tian Shan mountains. The Kyungey Ala-Too Range of the Tian Shan runs parallel to the north shore. A number of small towns surround the lake. These fell on hard times after the break-up of the USSR, but now hotel complexes are being refurbished and simple private bed-and-breakfast pensions (guest houses) are being established for a new generation of health and leisure visitors. For those who like a beach holiday, Lake Issyk Kul offers beaches surrounded with beautiful mountains.

Lake Issyk Kul is 182 kilometers long, and up to 60 kilometers, and covers an area of 6,236 square kilometers. Located at an altitude of 1,607 meters, it reaches 668 meters in depth. It is also the site of an ancient city from 2500 years ago, and archaeological excavations are still going on. Over 100 rivers and streams flow into the lake; the largest are the Djyrgalan and Tyup. It is fed by springs, including many hot springs, and snow melt-off. The lake has no current outlet, but some scientists reckon that, deep underground, lake water filters into the Chu River. Kyrgyzstan can offer adventure travel at its best. This is an unspoilt country where you can still enjoy simple pleasures in relative solitude. Make the most of it now. In the next few years, the tourism industry will develop, and there will be many more visitors to this beautiful country.