An Instagrammer has shown off the stunning train journey for which VIP tickets only cost £8, but it is in a country that you probably haven’t considered visiting before. The most popular countries for Brits to visit include the likes of Spain, Portugal and Greece. However, some venture further afield to explore the road less travelled and oftentimes, it pays off with amazing views, authentic experiences and unique memories.
One Brit who has explored some of the more overlooked destinations in the world is Kate Woodley, who goes by @kateacrossborderss on Instagram. In a recent video, she documented one of her adventures in an underrated Asian country, praising the amazing views she experienced and the low price she got it for. Katie found herself in the central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan, where she took a train between two cities and described it as a journey “you need to take”.
In a recent Instagram video, she showed the journey she took between Bishkek, which is the capital city of Kyrgyzstan, to Balykchy, a town on Issy Kul, a scenic lake in the country.
In the clip, we see her travel past glorious mountain views and through sweeping stretches of green and gold. What’s even better is that the journey, which takes around four hours, costs the equivalent of £8 for VIP.
“You need to take this train,” she told viewers. “I originally saw this train on Instagram, probably the same as you are now, and knew I had to take it while I was in that country.
“There was barely any information online, and booking the tickets involved translating a pretty sketchy Russian website.”
She continued: “Something like this in Switzerland would cost €150+. The sofas were super comfy, the views were insane and the bathrooms were some of the fanciest I’ve ever seen. You could buy food and drink on board, and they even had complimentary blankets if you got a bit chilly!”
Kyrgyzstan is a largely overlooked country in Central Asia, wedged between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China. According to the Kazinform International News Agency, the country is seeing a growth in visitors year on year. It was reported that more than 8 million people visited the country in 2024, which was a slight increase compared to previous years.
Perhaps the biggest draw to this largely overlooked country in Asia is its natural landscapes, with stand-out spots including Ala-Archa National Park and Issyk-Kul Lake.
At these places, popular activities include staying overnight in yurts, horseback riding and kayaking. When it comes to the capital city, some of the best things to do in Bishkek are the State History Museum, Osh Bazaar, Kanorcheck Canyons and the Central Mosque.
While Kyrgyzstan grows in popularity for international tourists, the UK Foreign Office does offer some warnings for those considering going there. It says: “There continues to be an assessment that terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Kyrgyzstan. Due to increasing regional tensions in the Middle East, Israeli and Jewish-linked sites could be targets for terrorists in Kyrgyzstan.”
It adds: “Demonstrations happen regularly in Bishkek and elsewhere across the country. Most demonstrations are peaceful but occasionally turn violent, sometimes with little or no warning. On 17 and 18 May 2024, 41 people were injured in Bishkek in Kyrgyz protests against South Asian migrant workers and students.”
