Climb Kyrgyzstan…

After taking a hike in the Tian Shan mountains this summer while in Kyrgyzstan doing research on Islam, I contacted my old rock climbing buddies back in the States to convince them to hop on a plane and join me in Bishkek — since the climbing options in Kyrgyzstan are out of this world. It turns out I was on to something — visa-free travel and fossil-packed rock have recently made Kyrgyzstan the new climbing hotspot. Another advantage: people in Kyrgyzstan are among the friendliest in the world. While trekking through Ala Archa National Park, I was invited by almost everyone I passed by to sit down and join in their picnic fun…

Of course, rock climbing high cliffs always comes with risks — which I was reminded of when my guide and I hiked up to a cemetery of alpinists from around the world. Regardless of the risks inherent in any climbing endeavor, Kyrgyzstan offers many new and exciting routes to climb for daring adventurers. While climbing the cliffs of Kyrgyzstan is the current rage, I’m now trying to persuade my rock climbing partners back home to come visit me here in Oman — since the Sultanate has some incredible rock climbing of its own…