Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
z
Roof of the World
Fetival
Badakhshani music, dance,
film and handicrafts from
across the region make
this the mountain cultural
festival of the year, with
a stunning backdrop at
Khorog in the Tajikistan
Pamirs.
z
National Horse
Games Fetival
Kyzyl-Oi village in Kyr-
gyzstan's Suusamyr Valley
celebrates the summer
pastures with games of
ulak-tartysh
(
buzkashi
),
horseback races, wrestling,
traditional music and food.
It's generally the third
Saturday of July.
on horse races, equestrian
games, handicrafts and
Manas
(Kyrgyz epic)
recitals.
z
Birds of Prey
Fetival
Visit Bokonbayevo, on the
southern shores of Issyk
Kul lake, to see hunting
displays with golden ea-
gles, folklore music and
traditional ceremonies.
Great for photos. Third
Saturday of August. (p272)
z
FourE Fetival
This alternative lifestyle
festival (www.ecofest.kz)
brings together three days
of yoga, art, workshops
and ethnic and spiritual
music in a different loca-
tion outside Almaty each
year.
z
Independence
Day, Kyrgyztan
August 31 brings parades,
music concerts and tradi-
tional horseback games to
Bishkek's hippodrome, to
celebrate the anniversary of
Kyrgyzstan's independence
from the USSR in 1991.
Uzbekistan, with the larg-
est event in Tashkent's
Mustaqillik maydoni
(Independence Sq; p146).
September 9 brings
similar festivities to
Tajikistan.
October
Another great month in
lowland areas, with cool air
and sunny skies, though
the mercury is starting to
drop in the mountains and
northern Kazakhstan.
z
Independence
Day, Turkmenitan
October 27 and 28 bring
a two-day public holiday
to the desert republic,
marked by military pa-
rades and much pageantry,
with the biggest displays
in Ashgabat.
Augut
Summer continues to
sizzle in the lowlands as
the mercury hits 40°C.
The good life is up in the
mountains, with August a
great month for trekking at
higher altitudes.
3
Sharq Taronalari
Music Fetival
The 'Melodies of the Ori-
ent' Festival in Samarkand,
Uzbekistand, hosts a col-
lection of 50 concerts by
Central Asian and world
musicians, with fantas-
tic locations such as the
Registan as a backdrop. It's
held every other year (next
one 2015).
z
At Chabysh
Horse Fetival
This lively festival of horse
games in Murgab, in
Tajikistan's eastern Pamirs,
happens on the second
weekend in August. Count
December
As Central Asia shivers in
sub-zero temperatures, the
winter sports season kicks
in at ski resorts, notably
Chimbulak in Kazakhstan.
z
Independence
Day, Kazakhtan
Concerts, parades, confer-
ences and exhibitions mark
the last of the year's Inde-
pendence Day celebrations
on 16 December.
September
A great month to visit
almost anywhere.
Temperatures are still
pleasant in the highlands
but the worst of the
summer heat is over in
the oases. Markets burst
with fruit.
z
Independence
Days, Uzbekitan &
Tajikitan
September 1 sees nation-
wide celebrations in the
capital of each region of
