Telling you about 15 beautiful and environmentally friendly places that you should visit.
Kazakhstan
Burabai
The territory of the Burabai National Park is called Kazakh Switzerland.
In the steppe there are dense birch and pine forests with century-old trees, mountain ranges. The area is famous for a large number of lakes with clean and cool water, as well as a rich variety of flora and fauna.
Residents and tourists collect medicinal herbs here, and in medical resorts they practice the method of healing with the help of koumiss.
Most of the representatives of flora and fauna were listed in the Red Book, among them 800 species of plants and 300 animals.
Rakhmanov Keys
The Rakhmanov Keys are located in the heart of the Altai Mountains. There is a Bukhtarma reservoir here — the only place in Kazakhstan where you can use ferry services.
There are mountain lakes in the local Katon-Karagai National Park, and several waterfalls nearby.
Due to its remote location and lack of accessible roads, this place has preserved its pristine nature. People come here for peace and relaxation from urban realities.
Ulytau
Ulytau, translated as "great mountains", is the historical center of the Kazakh people.
Saigas, wolves, wild boars, foxes, korsaks, ground squirrels, marmots, hares, geese, ducks and rare species of animals live here.
Almost eight thousand hectares are covered with forest. The height of Ulytau Mountain reaches 1181 meters. There are many fishing ponds on the territory.
Tourists come to Ulytau to get acquainted with the history, culture and geography of the settlement of the peoples of the East and Eurasia. Local yoga tours are also attracted.
Mountain spring water has healing properties that are known outside the country.
Kyrgyzstan
Son-Kul Lake
Son-Kul Lake is one of the largest alpine lakes of the Tien Shan. The name translates into Russian as "the last lake".
The place is a popular object of ecological tourism. The virgin pastures around the lake and the protected area attract.
In summer, yurts for vacationers are sheathed on the shore of Son-Kul — yurt camp. They are treated to a national Kyrgyz drink — koumiss. It is served in dishes made of cow and sometimes camel skin.
Arslanbob Walnut Forest
Arslanbob — the "king of the forest" — is one of the oldest and largest walnut arrays on Earth. It belongs to the protected areas of Kyrgyzstan.
Numerous walnut, pistachio, almond, cherry plum, pear and about 130 plant species grow on an area of 700,000 hectares. Each tree yields from 150 to 400 kilograms of nuts every year.
Kyzyl-Tuu
Kyzyl-Tuu is located on the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. This is a village with about 1800 inhabitants. Most are engaged in the manufacture of a traditional Kyrgyz dwelling — a yurt.
Kyzyl-Tuu is a popular place among travelers. Every year there is a festival of traditions and customs of the Kyrgyz people — "Kiyiz Duino", where thousands of people come.
Not far from the village there is a therapeutic Salt Lake, it is often compared to the Dead Sea in Israel.
Uzbekistan
Aydarkul Lake
Aydarkul is a beautiful turquoise sea in the Kyzylkum sands. Located in the northeastern part of Uzbekistan, the neighborhood is inhabited by only 345 families.
On the shores of the lake, birds listed in the Red Book, such as curly pelican, small cormorant, red-throated kazarka, piskul, white-eyed dipper, have taken shelter.
Hundreds of tourists come here to fish from all over the country. There are many types of fish here: carp, barbel, asp, pike perch, catfish, bream, chehon, snakehead, marinka.
The pristine nature of Kyzylkum is famous for its fauna and the gallery of ancient rock art in the Sarmysh Gorge, which is under UNESCO protection.
Tudakul
Tudakul is a lake that replaces the sea for residents, not far from Bukhara.
On the basis of the reservoir there is an Uzbek-American enterprise "Aqua Tudakul", which is engaged in the cultivation of fish.
For a comfortable stay there is everything: beaches, sun beds, a volleyball court. Harmless marmots can walk around with tourists.
Mountain villages of Farish district
The mountain villages of Asraf, Uhum, Hayat, Majrum, and Sentyabsai are located on the southern slopes of the Nuratinsky ridge.
Each village is located in a mountain gorge and is removed from the highway.
Here tourists practice hiking along mountain trails from one village to another. Local residents work daily in the villages — they cultivate the land, prepare animal feed, repair houses, prepare yogurt, and engage in traditional women's needlework. They are hospitable and invite passers-by to drink Uzbek tea at home.
The owners of the houses were trained as part of the European Project to support Rural Communities in Tourism. Each house has two or three rooms with an area of up to twenty square meters, which accommodate up to six tourists.
Each house has a garden with fruit trees. Food is prepared from products on firewood in special hearths. Traditionally, yogurt made from cow's, sheep's or goat's milk is served before lunch or dinner. Tourists are allowed to milk goats.
Tajikistan
Kayrakkum reservoir in the vicinity of Khujand
The Kayrakkum reservoir is one of the natural attractions of the Sughd region. This artificial lake was created to install hydroelectric power plants and regulate the flow of the Syr Darya. Residents of the country often call it the "Tajik Sea".
The waters are rich in fish — pike, carp, catfish, pike perch, bream, birds also come here, which annually travel from the north of Asia to India and other countries. There are orchards along the shore.
The Kayrakkum reservoir is a popular place for recreation. Along it there are sanatoriums, recreation areas and children's camps. This is a great place for swimming and fishing.
Pamir
Pamir is a mountainous remote region. The place is included in the world ranking of "100 global sustainable destinations".
The word "Pamir" was interpreted as "the roof of the world", since to get there, you need to climb only up all the way. Pamir is surrounded by mountains and rocks. There is clean air and tall poplars are located here — the most popular tree in the Pamirs.
The Garm Chashma hot spring is located at an altitude of 2800 meters above sea level. In Soviet times, people came here to cure a number of skin diseases.
Pamir Botanical Garden has collected 20 thousand plants from all continents. Among them are Amur velvet, cork wood, black Austrian pine and a unique collection of roses.
Hodja-Obigarm
Khoja Obigarm is known for its hot mineral radioactive waters. It is located in the gorge of the Hissar ridge.
People come here to improve their health with nature, fresh dry mountain air and thermal siliceous sulfate-chloride sodium-calcium waters.
Another important factor for visiting Khoja-Obigarma is the climate. The local resort is considered the pride of Tajikistan. The state presents it to travel agencies, advertising agencies and the media.
Turkmenistan
"Avaza"
Avaza is a national tourist zone, which was created with the aim of turning a deserted coast into a seaside metropolis, the tourist center of the whole of Central Asia. The name translates as "the edge of singing waves".
There are sanatoriums, boarding houses, cottage towns, a seawater desalination plant on the territory. There are also paths for cycling.
By 2020, it is planned to fully complete the construction of the Turkmen "Avaza". The tourist complex will be able to offer tourists gastronomic, military-historical, wine tours.
The Gates of Hell Darvaza
The Darvaza gas crater is known to tourists under the dramatic name of the Gates of Hell. Here, in the middle of the desert, fire erupts from the ground. The flame has been burning for more than 40 years, reaching a height of 10-15 meters, so it is dangerous to approach it close. Despite this, tourists come to the crater every day.
Darvaza is very different from many natural places around the world in that there are no paid parking, pedestrian paths, fences and stalls selling souvenirs. There is only a desert around, and there is not a soul for many kilometers.
Koytendag
Koytendag is an agrarian region that lies in the Amu Darya Valley near the slopes of the Kugitangtau Mountains. The climate here is mild. Residents grow cereals and cotton.
There is a Koytendag Nature Reserve in the mountainous zone. It is rich in such natural and archaeological monuments as mountain lakes, Cap-Kutan and Karluk caves, dinosaur tracks, gorges and valleys.
Khojapil, the plateau of dinosaurs, is located nearby. Khojapil is translated from Turkmen as "holy elephants".
