KYRGYZSTAN

Following the break-up of the USSR, Kyrgyzstan soon earned a reputation as the most hospitable and least repressive of the newly emerged central Asian republics. Unlike some of its neighbors, it has actively encouraged foreign tourism and has pursued a policy of supporting community projects with an emphasis on adventure tourism. It remains extremely cheap and offers excellent value for the services and experiences it offers which include trekking, mountaineering, horse riding and wildlife-watching.