Let's be real, if you're considering Kyrgyzstan, you're after pure, uncut adventure—and adventure you will find! Picture hiking through martian-like-canyons, skiing in ex-Soviet mining towns or defrosting your limbs in an almost sadistically hot thermal spring. Combine this with picture-perfect mountains in every direction, and you'll be ready to remote-quit your job and begin your new nomadic existence! (Don't worry, JFC, I definitely didn't consider that.)

For anyone who can make an earlier trip in the fall work, you can visit the jewel of Kyrgyzstan: Kel-Suu lake. Sure it's a day's drive to Naryn, a gorgeous little city nestled into the mountains, and then yet another day in a 4x4 vehicle on roads-that-are-not-quite-roads, while drifting past herds of yak, wild horses, and frolicking golden marmots. But in this case, the stereotype checks out: it truly is about the journey, not the destination. 

I recommend renting a 4x4 from Travel Land in Bishkek, and buying GPS tracks (much of the country is offline) before you head out into the wilds. 

If you're like me, you may be thinking it's time to ditch your morning coffee in favor of some tangy, ever-so-slightly alcoholic kymyz. Don't forget to send us a postcard along with your thoughts and/or tasting notes ;-)

And hey, if this is all sounding a liiiiittle too adventurous for you, you can never go wrong with a lil' Tbilisi...