Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan

Capital City

With a population of just 8,851, Cholpon-Ata is hardly the bustling resort town the brochures would have you believe. The area may attract visitors during the summer, but the facilities are dated and the bureaucracy a persistent headache. Holidaymakers from neighboring countries make up the bulk of tourists, with few demanding foreign travelers willing to brave the town's challenges. While the views of the Tian Shan mountains across the lake are certainly impressive, the appeal of Cholpon-Ata is limited to the most hardy of adventurers.