While there is plenty to do in Bishkek, the main reason many people choose to study there is to experience the breathtaking landscape of Kyrgyzstan’s countryside. The SRAS program organizes hiking excursions to Ala-Archa and around Issyk-Kul, but there are also free weekends when you can hike independently to lesser-known areas. My friend Allie and […]

Barclay’s Pub 52 Baatik Baatyr Street 17:00-24:00 Entrees around $8-10 Barclays is a very nice sports bar located just a block away from the London School. This is definitely one of my favorite places to hang out with friends because the atmosphere is lively with a wide array of sports being shown. I’ve been able […]

Fitness House 7:00-23:00 67/1 Baatik Baatura Street $30 per month Although I have many hobbies, my favorite pastime for the last seven years has been lifting, especially powerlifting. When I came to Bishkek, I was honestly worried that it would be difficult to find a decent gym, or at least a decent gym near my […]

Top Team Jiu-Jitsu Training Sessions are at different times I trained M/W/F 7:00-9:00 P.M. Located on Geological Street (It’s the first alley on Baatik Baatura after you pass Vefa walking from the School) When I first arrived in Bishkek I decided that I’d like to continue my martial arts training. I had done a few […]

Horse Trekking in Kyrgyzstan Glaciers and Vodka Baths A Review of Kyrgyz Summer Adventure, an SRAS educational program One of my absolute favorite things about travelling is the sensations one experiences when waking up and falling asleep in a foreign country. While not thoroughly confusing, it is disorienting enough to give one a pleasant reminder […]

National Kyrgyz Horse Games / Националные конно-спортивные игры Address: Ипподром near Cholpon-Ata on Issyk-Kul Free This year elections for the Issyk-Kul region were coming. This does not affect life much as a temporary student in Kyrgyzstan except that it means that the Бир Бол political party set up the Horse Games with free entrance for anyone! […]

Sun City 2 Chuy Ave/просп. Чуй 2 Day Pass 650 som ($13) www.sun-city.kg Don’t get me wrong: I love summer. But the mercury’s been hovering around 95 degrees in Bishkek the past two weeks, and everyone’s desperate for a way to beat the heat. Luckily, Bishkek has its fair share of pools. Some can best […]

Trekking Union of Kyrgyzstan / Cоюз пешеходного туризма Кыргызстана Website: tuk.kg Location: Kiev Street 168 Phone: 0556 10 19 33 Email: trek@elcat.kg Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 9-5pm, Thursday: 9-7pm, Saturday: 10-12pm (equipment rentals only) When moving to a foreign country, it is always difficult figuring out how to do the things you want to do. […]