My name is Aktilek, I’m 25 years old. For several years now, I’ve been traveling across Kyrgyzstan, gradually discovering its regions. During this time, I’ve managed to visit almost all parts of the country and see just how diverse its nature can be within a relatively small area.

Journeys That Began in the Mountains

I’m originally from the Issyk-Kul region. As a child, my summer holidays often took place on the jailoo – far from cities, among the mountain pastures of nomads. These trips became my first close encounters with the mountains and largely shaped my attitude toward travel.

I’ve always enjoyed hiking. I try to experience routes on foot because when you move slowly, without rushing, you don’t see the landscape as a single whole. Instead, details emerge – light, shadow, a narrow trail, the sound of water. This is often how you discover lesser-known places that aren’t mentioned in guidebooks.

Over time, I felt a desire to share what I was seeing – first with friends, then with people I didn’t know. That’s how my Instagram came about. Today, I regularly share my travels and the nature of Kyrgyzstan on social media.

Despite its size, Kyrgyzstan is incredibly diverse. Canyons and waterfalls exist alongside high-altitude lakes, coniferous forests, glaciers, and sharp mountain peaks. Sometimes the scenery changes so dramatically in a single day that it feels as if you’ve crossed several countries. Every journey gives me new energy and renews my desire to keep moving forward.

Kel-Suu

This lake is one of the most famous locations in Kyrgyzstan. Most visitors come here in summer, when the road is accessible.

In winter, the place looks completely different: the frozen surface of the water, sheer cliffs, and near-total silence create a sense of isolation. It often reminds me of Lake Baikal.

Ala-Archa

Ala-Archa National Park is located not far from Bishkek. In winter, when the city lacks fresh air, I come here simply to walk, to be quiet, and to breathe. Winter feels entirely different here.

Kol-Ukok Lake

Located in the Kochkor district at an altitude of about 3,100 meters, the lake freezes at the beginning of winter. Through the clear ice, you can see fish moving beneath the surface. This year, I managed to see the lake completely locked in ice for the first time – a sight that stays with you for a long time. In summer, the landscape changes beyond recognition.

I always pay special attention to the people I meet in the mountains. In one of the photographs, there is a Kyrgyz shepherd in the Kok-Kyya valley in the Naryn region. The altitude here exceeds 3,000 meters, and in winter the temperature drops to minus 30 degrees Celsius.

These people and these places remain an essential part of how I see the country and its nature.