If you’ve been following the articles I write for Beyond Expeditions (BE), you’ll already know that I specialise in interviewing clients of BE and writing article features for them. And if this is the first time you’re reading my articles here, great to meet you here with my words!

This time, I’m interviewing Andrew, a traveller who explored Kyrgyzstan on a recent group expedition with us!

Andrew is a remarkably simple man. His responses to my questions were consistently short and sweet, and always gets directly to the point he wants to make. And guess what; this man took some pretty amazing POV videos during his time in Kyrgyzstan, that I will be inserting throughout this article so that you get to ‘live’ through his eyes, and get a glimpse of what you would see too if you were to join one of Beyond Expeditions’ Kyrgyzstan trips.

This article will bring you through Andrew’s POV as he went through the trip; both verbally and visually. And when you put what your eyes and mind capture together? Kyrgyzstan with Beyond Expeditions may just be the next destination for you to travel to.

As always, getting to know the traveler featured in this article is essential. After all, their unique personality and journey shape the opinions they offer, providing us with a more nuanced and objective view of their experiences.

What are three words you would use to describe yourself as a person? Do elaborate on each selected word!

“Easy-going: I think that I'm pretty chill with most things, and I've got a pretty good variation of interests (scenery, food, chilling by/in the pool or sea, city stuff like shopping) that I'm able to accommodate most of my friends' needs on a holiday.

Optimistic: I'm an ‘at-least-the-glass-has-water’ guy.

Foodie: I'll always have a list of 'must try' food items/places/recommendations whenever I travel!”

Out of curiosity, I probed Andrew a little further here.

“In what ways do you see these three ‘traits’ of yours influencing the way you experienced this trip to Kyrgyzstan with BE?”

“Well, I chose to view & reflect on the trip as an overall pleasant and positive experience in spite of some of the less enjoyable moments.” Andrew continued to explain what he meant; “There was beautiful en route scenery and opportunity to explore the breadth of the country (despite the tiring long drives), and constantly being close to nature (despite the tricky toilet situations at times).”

“What was the most challenging part of this trip for you?”

I wanted Andrew to be honest, and he was. “The long car rides daily were definitely not ideal. Although there was beautiful scenery along the way, it felt a tad rushed, and the fatigue from the long rides also made it difficult to fully soak in the beauty of the sight.”

By now, hearing this wasn’t surprising for me because I do know that long car rides are often necessary in order to get our clients to certain gorgeous destinations. What I’m often most curious about is how each client uniquely chooses to overcome the challenge.

“How did you try to overcome the fatigue you got from the long rides?”

“Naps on the buses, appreciating the scenery along the way.”

See what I mean? His answers cut straight to the point, and leave no further questions to be asked! I loved it, and I particularly loved how his ‘solutions’ here were easy to execute and allowed him to maximise his experience of what he enjoyed most; the ‘beautiful en route scenery’.

“Prior to this trip, how would you describe the kind of travel you prefer?”

“I generally prefer to travel to places that are off the beaten path, hidden gems that are frequented more by the locals, and places with beautiful natural landscapes and sceneries. The Beyond Expeditions trip to Kyrgyzstan was right up my alley as Central Asia was a beautiful destination that is not yet heavily frequented by tourists. I also liked the small group size as it allowed greater flexibility along the way.”

Ah, no wonder he’s here with Beyond Expeditions.

“What was the best part of this trip for you? Also, were there any parts of the trip that moved you deeply?”

“Definitely the beautiful scenery - mountain ranges, valleys, plains, and lakes…”

Andrew is truly a lover of natural beauty.

“...And on the other hand, getting a first-hand glimpse of former Soviet nations was also an interesting experience.”

I clarified what he said. “What do you mean by ‘first-hand glimpse of former Soviet nations’?”

Andrew replied, explaining how “(f)ormer Soviet nations have always been quite a mystery to me, and it was a very insightful experience to be able to walk along the streets lined with Soviet-era buildings, kind of like taking a walk back in time.”

What did I say? Short, sweet, direct.

It was intriguing and refreshing for me to experience this.

I wanted to bring the conversation deeper into the self, and thus this next question ventures towards emotions.

“What were the biggest emotions you felt, as you went through the trip?”

“The awe of the majesty of nature and the serenity of the mountains, grasslands, lakes & streams.”

Nature lovers, given how much Andrew has been bringing up the beauty of what he saw in Kyrgyzstan… I truly believe it’s your time to come experience this natural haven too.

“How might this trip have changed the way you think or live your life, even if a little differently?”

“Sun protection is very important hahaha - I was surprised that some of the Kyrgyz nomads/farmers looked several decades older than their actual age!”

This response made me laugh. Reminds me of Zoe and her taking on karaoke after her return from Beyond Limits 4, which greatly shocked her husband because she hated karaoke before the trip! And also Chai Tyng’s overcoming of germaphobia during her Eagle Festival expedition in Mongolia, such that she went from being extremely particular about toilet cleanliness, to being willing to use dirty public toilets after returning from her trip. Having written numerous interview feature articles, the pattern is clear; whether they realise it or not, travellers who come onboard Beyond Expeditions’ trips tend to have their lives changed in significant ways, relevant to their chapter in life now.

Has this trip inspired you to do anything afterwards?

Turns out, Andrew is now inspired to explore other Central Asian nations!

“Any specific areas in Central Asia that you're eyeing for your next trip?”

Kazakhstan and Mongolia are up next on Andrew’s list.

Well…Perfect. Because both are destinations that Beyond Expeditions offers too. Check them out here on our ‘Outbound Tours’ page!

What else about this trip stood out for you, that you would like to remember/ share with people who will be reading your article feature?

Andrew’s response warmed my heart.

“The wonderful Kyrgyz people we met along the way, and our amazing guide Bermet & driver Omurbek. They were truly very hospitable and often went out of their way to keep everyone comfortable & happy! This trip would not have been as enjoyable without them.

Other memorable moments were the beautiful horse rides through the valley and to Lake Kel Suu - really felt like I was in a Lord of The Rings movie scene, and the horses were surprisingly comfortable to ride on.”

I don’t know about you, but Andrew’s response here was really relatable for me, because I find that the people I get to meet and spend time with during a trip are what makes up the bulk of my travel experience. My best travel experiences have been the ones where I got to meet fellow travellers and locals whose friendliness added a touch of comfort and warmth to my time there, and with whom I have connecting conversations with. To see Andrew having experienced that on this trip with Beyond Expeditions, it does bring a smile to my face.

And horses! Of all the interviews I’ve conducted with past clients, the time they got to spend with horses often come up as one of their top few favourite parts of the trip!

Now, onto the last question for Andrew;

If you could describe your current impression of what Beyond Expeditions has to offer in one sentence, what would it be?

“Fuss-free, off-the-beaten-path travel experiences to Central Asia.”

Once again; short, sweet, and the message is loud and clear.

This interview with Andrew renewed my impression of what it means to hold a simple, meaningful conversation.

I’m going to end this article with a question for you.

A simple one, as an ode to Andrew.

Which part of this entire conversation stood out most to you; and why?

Take time to listen to your own answer. It will help you understand more about what you prioritise when it comes to travelling, and guide you towards choosing a destination or an organised trip that will hold most meaning for you.

If you find yourself keen on exploring what Beyond Expeditions has to offer, here are some articles I’ll suggest for you to catch up on:

I’d interviewed four female travellers about their experience with BE, and this is where you get to tap into four unique experiences just from these two articles

(Read the first one here, and the second one here.)

I’ll also insert the itinerary articles for Kyrgyzstan here, the very expedition featured in this article, and also for the two Central Asian destinations that Andrew wants to head to next (Kazakhstan, and Mongolia). Take your pick!

Falling in Love with Central Asia: One Man's Kyrgyzstan Journey