We're taking you to Almaty, Kazakhstan, where we attended the TBEX travel creators conference and explored the city and the Tian Shan mountains around it! We share some of the best highlights of Almaty, Kok Tobe, the Green Bazaar, Ayusai waterfall hike and Alma-Arasan hot springs, Shymbulak and the best Kazakh food - including horse meat! - we ate along the way.

Highlights of this Almaty episode:

• How to get to Almaty

• Where to stay in Almaty

• Where and what to eat in Kazakstan

• Sky Lounge & Vista at the Ritz-Carlton

• Kok Tobe: bob carts, Ferris wheel & eagle photoshoot

• Rakhat chocolate store

• Green Bazaar

• Panfilov Park & Zenkov (Ascension) Cathedral

• Arbat Street

• Le Petit Chef dinner experience

• Ayusai (Bear Valley) waterfall hike

• Alma-Arasan Gorge & Hot Springs

• TBEX conference & opening night party

• Color analysis

• Arasan Spa experience

• Arba Wine tasting

• Shymbulak gondolas to Talgar Pass

Hotels in Almaty we recommend:

• Rahat Palace - where we stayed; big atrium, pool, hot tub, sauna & steam room

• The Ritz-Carlton, Almaty - home of the Sky Lounge, Vista, and Le Petit Chef

• InterContinental Almaty by IHG

• Holiday Inn Almaty

Stay connected with an e-SIM from Gigsky or Airalo.

Check out our Kazakhstan Viator Experiences for all activities we recommend and even some we wanted to do but couldn't get to.

Find a great flight deal with Thrifty Traveler Premium's flight deals — including business class award redemptions. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.

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Shop: Trip Itineraries & Amazon Storefront

Connect: YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram and contact us at travelsquadpodcast@gmail.com to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

Contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Travel Squad Podcast!

We're taking you to Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, and sharing everything you need to know before you go! We cover the city's Soviet-era landmarks, the stunning Turkish Central Mosque, Osh Bazaar, where to eat, and the travel tips that made our first days in Central Asia a breeze.

Highlights of this Bishkek episode:

• How to get to Bishkek & from the airport to your hotel

• Tips for visiting Bishkek (cash, e-SIMs, Yandex Go, tipping & more)

• Where to stay in Bishkek

• Bishkek Central Mosque (Turkish Central Mosque)

• Victory Square

• Oak Park & the Open-Air Sculpture Museum

• Vladimir Lenin Statue

• State Historical Museum

• Panfilov Park

• Ala-Too Square & the changing of the guard

• Osh Bazaar

• Dinner at Papuri (Georgian khinkali!)

Hotels in Bishkek we recommend:

• Sheraton Bishkek — booked with Marriott points, great home base before and after the tour

• Ak Keme Hotel

• Orion Hotel Bishkek

Book a Private Airport Transfer from Manas International Airport to your hotel — it's about 45 minutes into the city.

Check out our Kyrgyzstan Viator Experiences for all activities we recommend and even some we wanted to do but couldn't get to.

Find a great flight deal to Bishkek with Thrifty Traveler Premium's flight deals. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.

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Shop: Trip Itineraries & Amazon Storefront

Connect: YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram and contact us at travelsquadpodcast@gmail.com to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

Contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Travel Squad Podcast!

We're taking you off the beaten path to Kyrgyzstan, and sharing an unforgettable private 4-day tour around Issyk-Kul Lake! We cover the canyon hikes, horseback riding, an eagle hunting show, yurt camping, and hot springs that make this Central Asian gem worth the trip.

Highlights of Kyrgyzstan:

• How to get to Kyrgyzstan

• Where to stay in Bishkek

• Burana Tower

• Konorchek Canyons hike (Boom Gorge)

• Horseback riding in Chon-Kemin National Park

• Eagle hunting show in Bokonbaevo

• Yurt camp & swimming in Issyk-Kul Lake

• Skazka (Fairy Tale) Canyons

• Barskoon Gorge & waterfall

• Jeti-Oguz (Seven Bulls) Gorge

• Ak-Suu Hot Springs

• Karakol's Holy Trinity Cathedral & Dungan Mosque

• Semenov & Grigoriev Gorges

• Ruh Ordo Cultural Center & boat tour on Issyk-Kul

• Cholpon-Ata petroglyphs

Hotels in Bishkek we recommend

• Sheraton Bishkek — booked with Marriott points, great home base before and after the tour

• Ak Keme Hotel
• Orion Hotel Bishkek

Book a Private Airport Transfer from the airport to your hotel, and check out the exact 4-Day Issyk-Kul & Chon-Kemin Private Tour and Eagle Hunting Show we booked.

Check out our curated list of other Kyrgyzstan Viator Experiences we recommend and even some we wanted to do but couldn't get to.

Find a great flight deal with Thrifty Traveler Premium's flight deals. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.

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Shop: Trip Itineraries & Amazon Storefront

Connect: YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram and contact us at travelsquadpodcast@gmail.com to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

Contains affiliate links, thanks for supporting Travel Squad Podcast!