Central Asia Guidebook

Uzbekistan has a rich history and culture, and, of course, as any independent state, Uzbekistan has a national currency – Uzbek Soum (sometimes transliterated as sum or s´om) (UZS).

Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country, 90% of its territory is occupied by mountains. The majestic snowy peaks conquer people’s imagination with their beauty and attract brave travelers and extreme lovers from all over the world, creating excellent conditions for the development of mountaineering and mountain tourism.

What do you know about Kyrgyz traditions? These people with ancient nomad culture and unique lifestyle still conserve a lot of traditions that have been preserved since the times when Kyrgyz nomads lived in tribes. Some nomadic traditions can be very ambiguous and even shocking for the western mentality. For example, there is an ancient tradition of bride kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan that is still alive today. It is called “ala kachuu” which means “grab and run”.

Have you ever tried to find a book about Kyrgyzstan in English? Kyrgyzstan, as well as the rest of Central Asian countries, has a very rich history and culture, a lot of traditions and a unique lifestyle that was described by many authors. However, very few books were translated to foreign languages.