Baku, January 8, AZERTAC

The American travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler has named Karakol city of Kyrgyzstan the true adventure capital of Central Asia, according to the Kabar News Agency.

In the article on January 7, “25 Best Places to Visit in 2025”, Karakol was included in the list of must-see places. The city, located on the shores of Issyk-Kul Lake, is recommended to travelers as an ideal place for active recreation, as well as cultural and culinary diversity.

“Karakol is undeniably remote-about 93 miles from the Kyrgyzstan-China border—but the December reopening of Karakol International Airport is set to make it more accessible than ever. The area has traditionally been a draw for intrepid adventurists. From the rugged Tien Shan mountains to the expansive Issyk-Kul lake, hiking, horse riding, kayaking, and paragliding are just some of the activities on offer here. In addition, Karakol Ski Base is the highest ski resort in Central Asia, at an altitude of 1.8 miles. A new ski resort, Three Peaks, will debut in 2026, in partnership with French ski specialist Société des Trois-Vallées, drawing even more winter sports enthusiasts to the region.

But adventure is only part of Karakol’s appeal. The city is home to Uyghur, Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Kalmak, Dungan, and Russian communities, translating to unsung cultural treasures like wooden “gingerbread” houses, cold ashlan-fu soup, and the architecturally wondrous Dungan Mosque, which reflects the Buddhist roots of the Chinese artisans who built it in 1907, with a pagoda in place of a minaret,” the magazine wrote.