Officially the Kyrgyz Republic (Кыргызская Республика), Kyrgyzstan (Кыргызстан) is a nation defined by its natural beauty. Joyously unspoilt mountainscapes, stark craggy ridges, and rolling jailoos (summer pastures) are brought to life by seminomadic, yurt-dwelling shepherds. Add to this a well-developed network of homestays and visa-free travel, and it’s easy to see why Kyrgyzstan is the gateway of choice for many travellers in Central Asia.