Kyrgyzstan

Laurence Mitchell is a travel writer and photographer with an interest in forgotten places, border zones and territories in transition. After completing a degree in environmental science and pursuing a varied career that has included teaching English in rural Sudan, clerical work and surveying historic farm buildings, he retrained as a geography teacher, which he pursued for 12 years before swapping it for the uncertainties of full-time travel writing and photography. As well as writing guidebooks for Bradt including Serbia, Norfolk (Slow Guides) and Suffolk (Slow Guides), he has also written for a range of publications that include Walk, hidden Europe, Geographical, Discover Britain and Russian Life. He is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers and the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild. His website can be found at www.laurencemitchell.com and blog at http://eastofelveden. wordpress.com.

Introduction
PART ONE GENERAL INFORMATION
Chapter 1 Background Information
Geography, Climate, Natural history and conservation, History, Government and politics, Economy, People, Language, Religion, Education, Culture
Chapter 2 Practical Information
When to visit, Highlights, Suggested itineraries, Tour operators, Red tape, Getting there and away, Health, Safety, Women travellers, Travellers with a disability, LGBTQ travellers, Travelling with a family, What to take, Money, Budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking,
Public holidays and festivals, Shopping, Arts and entertainment, Photography, Media and communications, Business, Cultural etiquette, Travelling positively

PART TWO THE GUIDE
Chapter 3 Bishkek
History, Getting there and away, Getting around, Safety, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Entertainment and nightlife, Shopping, Sports, Other practicalities, What to see and do
Chapter 4 Chui Province
Valleys south of Bishkek, Chui Valley, Chong-Kemin Valley, Boom Gorge, Kara-Balta, Suusamyr Valley
Chapter 5 Lake Issyk-Kul - North Shore
Lake Issyk-Kul, Balykchy, Tamchy, Cholpon-Ata, East of Cholpon-Ata, Karkara Valley
Chapter 6 Lake Issyk-Kul South and the Central Tien Shan
Karakol, Around Karakol, Trekking south of Karakol, Th e Central Tien Shan, Lake Issyk-Kul's southern shore, Barskoon, Tamga, Bokonbaevo, Th e southwest shore
Chapter 7 Talas Province
Talas, South of Talas, West of Talas, East of Talas
Chapter 8 Naryn Province
Kochkor, Excursions from Kochkor, Lake Song-Kol, Naryn, East of Naryn, Kol-Suu Lake, The Torugart Pass, Naryn to Kazarman
Chapter 9 Jalal-Abad Province
Jalal-Abad, Kazarman to Jalal-Abad, Kazarman, Saimaluu-Tash, Ortok, Arslanbob, The road to Bishkek, Western Jalal-Abad Province, Lake Sary-Chelek, Arkyt, West to the Chatkal Valley
Chapter 10 Southern Kyrgyzstan
Osh, Around Osh, Ozgon, The Alay Valley, The Irkeshtam crossing to China, The road south to Tajikistan, Batken Province
Appendix 1 Language
Appendix 2 Glossary of Kyrgyz Terms
Appendix 3 Further Information
Index