I’ve been to over 50 countries, but this lesser-visited Central Asian gem was one of my favorites

• My friend and I traveled to Kyrgyzstan, a Central Asian country between China and Kazakhstan.
• The capital city was clean and quiet, and the more remote areas of Kyrgyzstan were stunning.
• During our trip, we stayed in yurt camps, tried local meals, and hiked into the gorgeous mountains.

When my friend Jessie invited me to travel with her to Kyrgyzstan, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to find it on a map.

But as someone who’s been to over 50 countries and is always up for a new adventure, I quickly booked my flight to join her.

Located between the northwestern part of China and the southeastern part of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan isn’t a country we typically learn about in geography class as young Americans.