Audley in Kyrgyzstan
Bishkek, the leafy capital, makes a pleasant entry or exit point, and Lake Issyk-Kul, a great inland sea and renowned beauty spot, is now open to the wider world after being a favourite haunt of Soviet rulers.
Many visitors will pass through quickly following the Silk Route from Kashgar to Uzbekistan, but for those with the time to look closer, horse trekking and yurt-stays offer access to pristine wilderness areas alive with eagle, deer, wolf and bear and the chance to experience a traditional way of life, unchanged over the ages.