One of the most common questions I receive from people who visit my website is: “so, what’s the most incredible place you’ve been to?” A question akin to “what’s your favorite book?” or “who’s your favorite painter?” And honestly, I don’t love that question — there’s simply too much beauty in the world to choose just one place, one book, or one artist.

But Sary Mogol is easily one of the most remarkable mountain towns I’ve ever visited — I never imagined a place so completely encircled by high-altitude peaks. Just a few kilometers off the Tajik border, Sary Mogol sits at 3,000m and was our first stop in Kyrgyzstan, after a long journey on the Pamir Highway.

At sunset, the mountains would blaze with light, as if the sun were setting all around at once.

Government support in Central Asia is often limited, yet Sary Mogol has gradually developed over the years — largely thanks to foreign investments and donations from tourists who, like me, were captivated by the place and wanted to see it thrive. Today, the town has a surprisingly effective irrigation system (not pictured) that runs throughout. I was struck by its resilience, especially given that winter lasts around six months, with temperatures plunging to -20°C.

The locals, incredibly kind, were curious about us, while remaining very reserved.

From Sary Mogol, you can admire Peak Lenin, which rises to 7,134 meters on the Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan border, and is the second-highest point of both countries. If you’re into high altitude adventures, it happens to be the easiest 7,000m+ peak to summit.

The town seemed to follow its own quiet rituals — every evening, children would lead the cows back into their enclosure.

The Kyrgyz hat is a fashion statement we could not miss, and our guide was kind enough to gift us one. A perfect fit for Ricardo:

Until next time! 👋