Kyrgyzstan is a mountain lover’s first choice in Central Asia, only equalled by its neighbour Tajikistan. Here big mountain ranges like Pamir and Tian Shan cross swords at 7000 meters, while the shepherds compete with snow leopards and the yeti for a place to live on the steep mountain slopes. Kyrgyzstan’s shepherds are so-called semi-nomads. During the winter they live in small village houses – and in the summer they move to the high lands with their sheep, goats, yaks and camels, where they stay in yurts or small tents. Like the Mongolian people, the Kyrgyz love fermented mare’s milk (Kymus), which they believe is healthy for them. The photos here are from three different trips in the 1990s.