Central Asia's longest hiking trail is expanding by over 600 miles - here's how to check it out for yourself
When you think of hiking destinations, Kyrgyzstan probably isn't one of the first places to come to mind. But, perhaps it should be. This little-visited nation now boasts the largest hiking trail in Central Asia, and it's only getting bigger.
By the end of this summer, the 1,243-mile (2,000km) Kyrgyz Nomad trail will be more than 600 miles (966km) longer, passing more ancient glaciers and iconic peaks.
Launched in 2024, this mammoth trail aims to entice trekkers to Kyrgyzstan with miles of unspoilt wilderness and breathtaking natural beauty. It connects 18 long-distance treks and passes through multiple states (oblasts) as hikers travel from north to east or vice versa.
Kyrgyzstani authorities are now expanding the trail to offer visitors even more opportunities to explore. Nine new long-distance sections will branch off from the main trail in the historic Arpa Valley.
The new routes pass through the alpine valleys and high-altitude villages of the Tien Shen and Pamir mountains, where you're likely to encounter locals who rely on hiking tourism for their income.
Marc Foggin, CEO of the Plateau Perspectives charity which supports mountain locals, told National Geographic: "Beyond all the extraordinary landscapes and the natural and cultural heritage that a long-distance trail such as KNT can open up for travelers; it can, and should, also serve the interests of the local mountain communities."
The Kyrgyz Nomad Trail isn't for inexperienced hikers.
Aside from the hundreds of miles of rugged wilderness, there aren't any companies that offer guided tours of the full trail, so you'll have to do a lot of the planning for yourself.
There are seldom direct flights from the US or Western Europe to Kyrgyzstan, so you may have to stop off at a nearby country or two on the way. The good news is that you probably won't need a visa, as visitors from the US, Canada, the EU, and the UK can visit without one for up to 60 days.
Public transportation in rural Kyrgyzstan is very limited, so you'll have to hire private transportation to the trailhead in the Chatkal Valley.
The best time of year to visit is from June to September, when weather conditions are warm enough to trek comfortably. It's likely to be hot, so make sure to prepare well in advance with the right clothing and plenty of water.
You'll also need a dependable backcountry tent. A mountain-ready model like Alpkit Jaran 3 is durable enough to fend off the elements without weighing you down while you trek.
A great pair of hiking boots, like the La Sportiva TX5 GTX, is also a must. These sturdy backpacking boots offer plenty of protection and sizable lugs to keep you upright on uneven terrain.
For more backpacking advice, check out our expert guide.
The best hiking shorts: tested and rated for summer adventures
The best hiking pants: don't let winter slow you down with our top trail trousers
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘National Geographic' Documentarians List Their 11-Acre Santa Cruz Ranch for $4.3 Million
Frans Lanting and Chris Eckstrom, a husband-and-wife creative team who have produced stories for National Geographic, travel to some of the most stunning locations on the planet. But it's their Santa Cruz estate, which they've owned for three decades, that may be their favorite spot of all. 'We have documented many of the most beautiful places on our planet for National Geographic,' Lanting said in a statement. 'But every time we come back from abroad, we marvel at the place we call home.' More from Robb Report Larry Ellison's Old McLaren F1 Could Fetch $23 Million at Auction Inside a $14 Million Greenwich Manor That Oozes Old-World English Grandeur Soho House Just Opened a Wellness-Focused 'Farmhouse' in Ibiza Despite this, the couple is listing their property—dubbed Rancho Refugio—for $4.3 million, with Tim Allen at Coldwell Banker Realty holding the listing. Over the years, Lanting and Eckstrom have transformed the 11-acre spread into a home for not just themselves but also more than 150 species of plants and animals, such as coyotes, deer, and rare birds. RELATED: This Coastal California Home Was Designed for a Family of Surfers The centerpiece of the nature-focused retreat, just five minutes from Highway 1 and 90 minutes from San Francisco, is the two-bedroom, two-bath main residence. The contemporary Craftsman was inspired by the work of Greene & Greene, the influential early 20th-century Pasadena-based architecture firm well known for their Arts & Crafts style. Natural accents adorn the home, including century-old redwood beams across the ceiling, stained pine flooring, and Douglas fir and maple touches. A gas fireplace anchors the living room, adjacent to the chef's kitchen with granite countertops. The primary suite, meanwhile, includes a bathroom where the soaking tub looks out on the Pacific Ocean. A courtyard connects the main house to a two-bedroom guest house with its own kitchenette, laundry, and library shelving. A smaller and more contemporary caretaker's studio is a stone's throw away, with a full kitchen and bath, plus a fun sleeping loft accessible by ladder. Among the structures, there's a hot tub that looks out on the meadows, a wildlife pond that attracts frogs and birds, and more than 2,000 square feet of decks, pathways, and paved terraces for taking in all of the outdoors. For those looking to build on Lanting and Eckstrom's work on the property, there's a garage/workshop and a detached greenhouse for seasonal cultivation and propagation. Currently, the on-site habitats include seasonal wetlands, redwood forest, oak woodland, and coastal prairie, with much land still available for whatever you may want to do with of Robb Report The 10 Priciest Neighborhoods in America (And How They Got to Be That Way) In Pictures: Most Expensive Properties Click here to read the full article. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
3 Fall Costco Travel Deals You Can't Afford To Miss
Travel prices tend to dip towards the end of the summer as kids go back to school and time off becomes more limited. For travelers who love a deal and prefer fewer crowds, the fall is a great time to see new places. National Geographic reports that domestic flights are around $100 cheaper on average after Labor Day when compared to peak summer prices. Combining a cheaper flight with a travel deal from a retailer like Costco can help you save significant cash on your vacations. Explore More: For You: Here are some examples of limited-time Costco Travel deals to consider. Many of the deals offer resort credits, instant savings, waived resort fees and even digital Costco gift cards. Hawaii at the Hilton Waikoloa Village® The Hilton Waikoloa Village® is a stunning 62-acre resort located on the Kohala Coast of Hawaii Island. The resort has a gorgeous lagoon, beach, pools, and even a 175-foot waterslide. For a limited time, Costco offers members a $250 resort credit and waives the daily resort fee. The vacation package also includes a rental car, which you can use to explore the island. Costco members rate this hotel a 4.3 out of 5 and mention the spacious resort, dolphins in the lagoon and the wonderful family atmosphere. The price for the vacation package in the fall for a family of four for five nights was approximately $2,500, not including airfare or meals. Prices will vary depending on dates, room type and rental car selection. Trending Now: London, Paris and Rome Costco currently offers a limited-time package that takes guests to London, Paris and Rome for a nine-night (or more) vacation. Costco's perks include $300 in instant savings, daily breakfast and a $400 London tour credit that travelers can use to see a variety of London's historic sites. The entire tour package includes a minimum of three nights in London, three nights in Paris and three nights in Rome. A huge perk is that a private driver will pick up passengers at each airport and bring them back. Rail tickets to Paris and flights to Rome are also included. Hotels are rated between three and four stars, and all include daily breakfast. The Rome hotel includes a bottle of wine in the room upon arrival and a complimentary room upgrade. Prices for two traveling nine nights in the fall were approximately $4,200, not including flights. Total prices depend on when you travel and whether or not you want to add additional nights. Mexico For a limited time, Costco is offering travel deals to three Hilton hotels in Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta and Cancún. Every hotel is an all-inclusive resort and offers $250 in instant savings, as well as digital Costco shop cards. Purchase your vacation at a discount now and use it over the next few months. One option, the Hilton Vallarta Riviera, offers ocean views, two pools, a kids' club, a spa, and seven different restaurants. Travelers praise the beautiful location, numerous activities and excellent food. Prices for a five-night trip during the winter for a party of two were around $1,650, not including airfare. Travelers can upgrade and spend more for private airport transfers or rooms with a full ocean view. More From GOBankingRates 5 Ways Trump Signing the GENIUS Act Could Impact Retirees6 Popular SUVs That Aren't Worth the Cost -- and 6 Affordable Alternatives This article originally appeared on 3 Fall Costco Travel Deals You Can't Afford To Miss
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Tracking Namibia's desert rhinos in the storms of a decade
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Damaraland is certainly a large area (18,000sq miles) and it's definitely in a hot region (current temperature 31C). But where I'd expected lunar landscapes speckled with the occasional succulent, there are rolling hills swathed in softly wafting grass. Where I'd imagined blue skies untroubled by a single cloud, there are cumulonimbus boiling overhead and thick sheets of rain barrelling across the horizon. I'd pictured a world that had no ambitions beyond 'beige' on the colour chart. This is every shade of green, from the near neon of a tennis ball to the silvery subtlety of a sage leaf. 'It's crazy special,' says Bernadro Hillary Roman as I climb into an open-sided Land Cruiser behind him. 'For 14 years, we've had a massive drought. This place normally looks like a rock garden.' I meet goateed guide Bernadro — better known as Bons — at a sandy airstrip in the Palmwag Concession, a protected conservancy of 2,100sq miles in northwest Damaraland. It's several steps beyond the middle of nowhere. Bouncing beneath the clouds in a tiny Cessna, I'd seen signs of life fade the further north the plane travelled from the Namibian capital of Windhoek: first the settlements disappeared, then the trees, finally the roads. Below, enormous rock formations rippled out of the flat earth like petrified sea monsters. Like most people, I've made the journey for one reason: to see a critically endangered species that has learnt to survive in this normally hostile and arid environment. 'We have the world's largest population of desert-adapted black rhino here,' Bons says, driving towards our camp, sunglasses perched on his head. 'And we have a 99.99% success rate of finding them.' Bons has worked as a guide for Desert Rhino Camp since 2010 and knows the concession better than most. 'I grew up 11 miles away, this is my backyard,' he tells me as the rain starts, so faint at first I have to hold out my hand to be sure I feel it. 'Even if you put a bag over my head, I would know where we are.' He doesn't get a chance to demonstrate. Soon after our arrival at Desert Rhino, the skies darken, the wind picks up and the throaty growl of thunder rumbles across the plains, seeming to rebound off the surrounding mountains and pinball around the camp. The rain is quickly torrential. Puddles turn to little streams. Little streams turn to small lakes. We're marooned, hiding in our canvas safari tents like desert Noahs as the waters rise. Life on Mars There's little sign of the storm the following morning. A few clouds skim the horizon in the inky pre-dawn light and the earth is dark and damp, but the water has entirely drained into the porous soil. What I take to be the cartoon-like croak of a frog is, according to Bons, the dual calls of two Rüppell's korhaans — slender, beige birds found in regions with little rain. As the sun rises, turning the grass golden, they form a tiny orchestra, joined by the looping whistle of a Benguela long-billed lark and the cheerful twitters of sparrow-larks. The plan for the day is to join Palmwag's rangers and — with luck — follow them to some of the 17 or so black rhinos within driving distance of the camp. The rangers had set off a couple of hours earlier to get the search underway. 'The trackers track the rhino and we track the trackers,' says Bons with a characteristically mischievous grin. 'It's hard for them though — the rain will have washed away any footprints.' We spend the morning trundling along tracks that weave across the concession, each turn revealing another epic landscape — an endless parade of grass-covered hills filing to the horizon, punctuated by sandstone cliffs and giant outcrops of red basalt. Yellow mouse whiskers and purple carpetweed flowers poke up between the rocks, splashing the desert with colour. The minty smell of wild tea carries on the breeze. 'Usually this looks like Mars,' says Bons. 'If a guest from the last 10 years saw pictures of it now, they would need to see a doctor.' Prominent in the landscape is the plant that allows black rhinos to survive in a more typical year. The drought-resistant Euphorbia damarana, or Damara milk-bush, contain a latex sap that's poisonous to most animals, including humans, but not rhinos, sustaining them in the absence of other sources of food. Deadly toxins are not the only horror concealed within the bush: hundreds of spider-like armoured crickets cling to its spiky fronds, likely feeding on the latex to make themselves unpalatable to birds. As we continue through Palmwag, Bons frequently stops to peer through binoculars, his naked eye having picked up evidence of other life in the desert, much of it drawn in by the abundant grass. Among them are the retreating backsides of springboks, zebras and oryx keen to get as far away from us as possible. A closer encounter comes after we slosh through the fast-flowing water and thick mud of the normally dry Uniab River. An Angolan giraffe stands on the other side, his jaw working at the leaves of a mopane tree as he gazes impassively at us. We have little time to gaze back. The Land Cruiser's radio crackles with a message from the rangers — they've found rhinos. We set off in their direction with some urgency and are soon driving past heaps of megafauna dung, the trackers' 4WD in our sights ahead. Beyond them are the rhinos — a female in front, a small calf sticking close by and a large male ambling in their wake. 'The trackers will tell us where to go, and we follow on foot,' says Bons, his voice hushed. 'We want the rhinos to experience the least human disturbance. We don't want them used to jeeps — you can imagine how vulnerable they are to poachers then.' The team motions us over and instructs us to walk behind them in single file and to stay silent. 'We need you to blend in,' ranger Denso Tjiraso whispers. 'We are in their environment and we want them to be unaware of you.' Our attempts to blend in and stay silent fail almost immediately. Edging down a rocky slope, we dislodge layers of shale, which slide and clatter beneath our feet. The three animals turn and look — they're very much aware of us. At the bottom, we all stand and stare at one another, caught in a Mexican standoff with a hundred metres between us. The rhinos finally relax, conscious of our presence but apparently untroubled — the adults return to the grassy lunch at their feet, ears cocked in our direction, while the baby slumps in the shadow cast by her mother. Along with Denso, trackers Hofney Gaseb and Richard Ganuseb pull out notebooks and cameras, recording the animals' condition and sketching distinctive features that help identify them. In front of us, I learn, are Tuta, daughter Kasper and interloper Arthur, who's likely hanging around in the hope of mating. Survey over, we quietly retreat, leaving them to find some shade as the mercury rises. Good weather for rhinos Guests at Desert Rhino Camp are able to have such unique experiences thanks to a project it runs with Save The Rhino Trust Namibia (SRT). For over 21 years, they've worked with the three communities within the conservancy, leasing land from them and sharing profits from the camp, as well as encouraging them to help with conservation efforts and to report any signs of poaching. SRT also trains and equips Palmwag's rangers, recruiting many of them from those same local villages. I meet the trust's director of field operations, Lesley Karutjaiva, as he's returning to his headquarters in the concession and Bons and I are out on a meandering drive. Leaning on his 4WD, neatly dressed in green shirt and trousers, he tells me that the SRT has trained 71 rangers, and anti-poaching efforts are improving. 'We have around 200 rhinos here,' he says as thunder rattles around us. 'But 500 would be a good number.' The deficit is not down to poachers. 'Our last good rain was in 2011,' Lesley explains. 'During extreme drought we lose many calves — the mothers don't have enough food to produce milk.' In better news, he tells me, Palmwag has received so much rainfall this year, it should see them through for another five. With theatrical good timing, the storm that has been threatening all afternoon finally breaks, raindrops hammering around us with sudden ferocity. Lightning spasms across a sky slashed red with the rays of the setting sun. 'Oh, this is very good weather for rhinos,' Lesley says with a broad smile as we retreat to our vehicles. 'We are all very happy.' The rest of my time in Palmwag produces further very good weather for rhinos, and further rhino sightings. We spot Tuta, Kasper and Arthur as they plod along a dry river bed in the soft evening light, and again as they enjoy a roaming buffet of wild grasses on an early-morning stroll through the hills. Each time, they eventually catch our scent on the wind and take off for the horizon with a surprisingly dainty little trot. The concession's low-intervention approach towards the wildlife on its land means the animals remain unhabituated to both vehicles and humans, and their natural instinct is to run away from both very quickly indeed. But it's not a common strategy in the reserves of northern Namibia, as becomes clear almost immediately at my next stop. Coming into land after an hour-long, corkscrewing flight east from Palmwag, I already feel transported to another world. Nature swaggers here, lavishing the land with thick clumps of trees, the whitest sandy soil and vast turquoise pools of water. Humans have added the decorative touches of arrow-straight roads and fences. It's a 10-minute drive from the airstrip to the gates of Onguma, a privately owned reserve of more than 130sq miles on the edge of Namibia's landmark Etosha National Park. Those 10 minutes provide a bumper pack of wildlife sightings. A family of banded mongooses tumble and play metres from the vehicle; a male wildebeest strides nonchalantly past, so close I might lean out and touch him; a small herd of oryx, horns rising like spears, graze at the edge of a clearing; and a lilac-breasted roller perches on a termite mound as kori bustards strut through the grass behind. Nothing is running away here. Walk on the wild side I soon learn that close encounters are something of a theme at Onguma. While the reserve prioritises the welfare of its animals above all, it allows its human guests plenty of opportunities to quietly observe them at near quarters. At the exclusive lodge of Camp Kala, each of the four suites sits on a raised walkway overlooking a water hole, with hyenas and elephants coming in to drink as guests watch from their plunge pools. A custom-built Land Cruiser with a 'star bed' built over the cabin allows couples to spend the night out in the open, listening to the grunts of nearby lions as the Milky Way dazzles overhead. And a hide set partly beneath ground level allows its occupants to peer out at zebras and giraffes standing oblivious just metres away. The accommodation I'm heading to, however, has been open for barely a month, and the wildlife in the area is not yet accustomed to the new residents. With the sun setting and the bullfrogs croaking, my perennially cheerful guide Liberty Eiseb and I bump along a track towards Trails Camp. Liberty stops the vehicle to point out boot prints left in the sand beneath us by Onguma's anti-poaching unit, who patrol in pairs at night. Beside them are the tracks of a leopard. 'This is probably the leopard that comes into camp when we are sleeping,' he says. 'I hear it every night at 4am.' I can hardly blame it for calling in — Trails Camp is a mini Eden tucked within an acacia woodland, from where guests typically head out on walking safaris. Lantern-lit pathways lead to four safari tents, each with a wooden hot tub at the front and an outdoor shower at the back. When darkness enfolds the bush, the Southern Cross and Scorpio shine bright in the firmament of stars above. 'Here you get silence and you get adventure,' says Liberty with some glee before we both turn in for the night. After an undisturbed sleep, I find him sitting by the fire in the muted pre-dawn light, a blackened tin kettle sat within the embers. 'You see the bushman's TV is already on,' he says, gesturing to the flames. 'It always tells a good story.' He heard the saw-like calls of the leopard as it padded through at 4am and 5.30am. 'The animals need to get used to the camp, but they will,' he continues. 'The big leopard will soon be sitting in the trees around us.' With breakfast soundtracked by turtle doves crooning from those same trees, I could get used to the camp myself, but the bush waits for no one, and I set off with guide Tristan Lewis for a day's exploration. We're soon driving through a landscape pocked with water holes, with makalani palms towering above. Wildlife teems around us — the heads of giraffes appear above the umbrella thorns; elephants cross in front of us and instantly melt into the bush; African grey hornbills pick at termites; leopard tortoises bumble along the track; spotted hyenas skulk through the grass. 'Morning drives are my favourite,' says Tristan, his traditional safari uniform of beige shirt and shorts accessorised by a neat little moustache. 'Everything's fresh, everything's waking up.' Like Palmwag, Onguma has seen unprecedented rainfall, and it's changed the behaviour of the animals on the reserve. 'We usually have a little migration with the rain,' Tristan tells me as we stop to watch a herd of impalas chewing on grass, their black eyes fixed on the vehicle. 'Breeding groups go east because that's where the first rains usually fall. But they're finding rainwater everywhere now, so all the patterns are messed up.' The rain has messed up some of the tracks, too, and Tristan occasionally has to coax the Land Cruiser through deep, water-filled channels in the mud, or turn back and find another route. We're on the lookout for a pride of lions seen near the reserve's border with Etosha when one particularly troublesome puddle finally defeats us. After radioing in for a replacement vehicle, Tristan points to a pair of male white rhinos grazing some way in the distance. 'It's not so bad being stuck when you're stuck by rhino,' he says. 'Shall we go for a walk?' He collects his rifle and we quietly creep towards them over sandy soil scattered with lion paw prints. 'We've spent hours and hours with these rhinos,' Tristan whispers as we draw closer. 'We know their behaviour is relaxed. They're not like black rhinos — black rhinos are a handful.' We're 60 feet away when the two males finally become aware of our presence. Tristan motions me to crouch down and be quiet. 'They know we're here, now we give them time to decide what to do,' he says softly as they stand facing us. 'You can see they're curious.' After a few minutes trying to figure us out, one cautiously pads in our direction, head down, ears rotating. He's so close I can hear him breathing when Tristan slowly rises — the rhino instantly canters away. Over the next 30 minutes, the pair repeatedly amble towards us, only moving away when Tristan gently shifts his position. 'They're comfortable with us but we don't want them too close,' he murmurs, watching as they graze. 'They're wild animals and we want them to stay wild.' It soon feels completely natural to sit quietly in the sand, passing the day with animals each weighing up to 2.5 tonnes and sporting impressively long and pointy horns. 'It's nice when they let you into their space and they're not threatened by you,' Tristan says when the rhinos eventually decide to move on. 'You can share this incredible time with them.' It's a parting gift from the rains of Namibia — a vehicle stuck in the mud, a moment of pure magic. As we wander, slightly giddy, towards the guide who's come to pick us up, I'm reminded of something Bons had said to me as we sheltered from a storm in Palmwag: 'The rain is very good for everything — for nature, for animals, for us.' Published in the September 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK).To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only). Solve the daily Crossword
