Souvenirs
After each tour you want to bring something typical for the country you visited. It can be just a small bauble or maybe something more practical that you can wear or use at home. You also want to make a present to your family and friends. But the most difficult is to choose the right things in the right places. So here is some info to guide you in Kyrgyzstan.
If you wish to buy some souvenirs, you can buy the leather / wooden / felt ones. These are the main materials used in making traditional souvenirs. Depending on where you come from, it might be even practical! For example, felt hats, scarfs and sleepers are ideal for cold winter. They are not just souvenirs, they are very popular among local people.
In Bishkek you can buy them in ZUM store on the 4th floor. There is a wide range of whatever you want. If you need to save money, you can go to Osh bazaar where traditional staff is cheaper. But this is a typical market with tight rows and pickpockets, crowded and noisy. So it is not as comfortable as malls. At the same time this is something you won't see at home. That is why it is up to you to make a choice depending on what you prefer during your tour in Kyrgyzstan.
Also if there is Kochkor village in your itinerary, you can visit there a family that offers felt show (where you learn how to make traditional carpets) and very nice shop with lots of things made by women of cooperative. There is also a small museum of antiquities.
To conclude, we would like to tell you that if you see something that you really like, don't hesitate and take it. Maybe you won't find anything like that during your travel and will regret about the purchase you didn't make.
Have a wonderful trip and bring souvenirs to remember your adventures in sunny Kyrgyzstan!
