Ruby, who has traveled independently through more than 30 countries, says: if you're young and full of energy, have plenty of time for sign language, a small budget, the patience to bargain and tap away at a translation app, and you're happy to face all kinds of unknowns, then of course you can travel Kyrgyzstan on your own!
But before you go, you'd better know these four things.
1. The language barrier
The main languages are Kyrgyz and Russian, and even in the capital English doesn't get you very far. Sign language rarely solves the real problems you meet on the road.
2. Rough roads
As soon as you head into the mountains, apart from the main road running north to south, it's mostly gravel tracks. Distances are long and routes are complicated, so a professional driver makes travel much less stressful.
3. Hiking safety
Temperatures in the mountains swing widely, and everything is new to you. A guide lets you enjoy yourself fully and learn about local culture along the way.
4. Little information and few resources
This is one of the hardest parts of independent travel: there may be dozens of ways to get from A to B, but every local tells you something different, and just communicating often takes a lot of time.
Ruby's advice: if you don't want to figure everything out alone, forming a small group with friends makes it much easier.
