Central Asia Tourism news

Kyrgyzstan Opens Alternative North–South Highway for Summer Traffic Kyrgyzstan has officially opened the alternative North–South highway connecting Balykchy, Kazarman, and Jalal-Abad for seasonal traffic from 1 June to November 2026. The 433-kilometer route is one of the country’s largest infrastructure projects and significantly reduces travel time between northern and southern

Kyrgyzstan bans electronic cigarettes and vaping products The purpose of this Law is to ensure the protection of the health and well-being of citizens from the use of electronic cigarettes with nicotine-containing liquid. The law prohibits the import, circulation and use of electronic cigarettes in the territory of the Kyrgyz

Kel-Suu Lake Disappears Again Kel-Suu Lake in Kyrgyzstan’s remote Naryn region is currently reported to have no visible water as of May 25, 2026, with recent traveler updates describing the site as a dry, empty basin. Instead of the famous turquoise alpine lake, visitors are finding a vast open valley

Ring railroad opened in Uzbek Fergana Valley A ring railroad connecting Margilan, Kokand, Namangan and Andijan in the Uzbek part of Fergana Valley has been opened. This regional train connection greatly improves the travel options between the major cities of Fergana Valley. From Kokand, there is a further connection to

New Fast Train Between Tashkent and Khiva Starting May 1 A new high-speed train (Afrosiyab) connection between Tashkent and Khiva will begin operating on May 1, significantly improving travel between the eastern and western parts of Uzbekistan. The fast train will cut the travel time by nearly half to about

Direct Flights Between Tashkent and Osh Centrum Air recently launched a new direct flight service connecting Tashkent International Airport and Osh Airport, making travel between Uzbekistan’s capital and southern Kyrgyzstan much easier.  Starting in April 2026, the airline operates two direct flights per week, usually on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and the