June to September is summer in Kyrgyzstan, and it is hot and dry throughout. It is the best time to visit in terms of temperature and rainfall, and the wild meadows and mountain scenery seem to roll on forever. Bishkek sees temperatures between 15 to 32 °C (59-90 °F)over the summer with virtually no rainfall. It is a great time to visit Issyk-Kul Lake in the Tian Shan mountains in the country’s northeast. Issyk-Kul literally means ‘warm lake,’ and as the name suggests it never freezes, despite being surrounded by snow-capped mountains. For locals it is the pearl of the country, if not central Asia, and the cool water and breezy air make a comfortable climate ideal for enjoying the lake’s beaches and nearby mountain ranges. Hiking trails are open at this time of year, many choosing to trek across the country’s many mountains. However, it is said that people are born riding horses in Kyrgyzstan, and the adventurous prefer to travel this way,following the trails of nomadic herders, stopping off at clear lakes for horses to drink, and to go for a cooling swim in the summer heat.