kyrgyzstan tourist budget

Kyrgyzstan Money Guide: Costs of Living and traveling in Kyrgyzstan in 2024

Kyrgyzstan Money Guide. How much does it cost to travel and live in Kyrgyzstan? How much money do you need for backpacking in Kyrgyzstan? What are the costs of living in Bishkek and Kyrgyzstan? Here’s the complete budget guide to Kyrgyzstan!

Kyrgyzstan is a country that is so beautiful that it defies the imagination. This country is truly one of the most beautiful destinations I’ve ever been to! It’s a land of untouched mountains, lush valleys, crystal clear lakes , and centuries-old nomadic culture.

It’s not hard to understand why I lived and traveled there for a whole year when there were  so many beautiful places to see  and  so many things to do  in this little Central-Asian country.

Kyrgyzstan is a relatively budget-friendly country to travel in, especially if you travel there during summer. You can camp almost everywhere for free and even if you don’t like camping, you won’t pay a lot for spending the night in guesthouses, homestays, and yurts. 

If you’re a budget backpacker, you’ll find a dorm bed in the big cities for $12 a night and you can have a big meal in a restaurant for less than $10.

There are many different ways to travel around Kyrgyzstan. You can make it as expensive or cheap as you want. The most expensive way will be renting a car, the cheapest way will be to travel by public transport. Hitchhiking is also quite common in Kyrgyzstan but keep in mind that the Kyrgyz drivers might ask you for money when giving you a ride.

In this guide, I’ll tell you exactly how much traveling around Kyrgyzstan could cost.

Tip: See my  Kyrgyzstan Travel Page  for a complete overview of all my travel guides and blog posts about Uzbekistan!

Disclaimer: This posts might contain affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase through these links, I may earn an affiliate commission. Thank you for helping to support this website!

Kyrgyzstan Travel Essentials

• 20 things you need to know before traveling to Kyrgyzstan
• The 25 best places to visit in Kyrgyzstan
• The top 28 things to do in Kyrgyzstan
• The 14 best hikes & treks in Kyrgyzstan
• The 9 best horse riding destinations in Kyrgyzstan
• Kyrgyzstan Budget Guide
• Kyrgyzstan Adventure Tours & Kyrgyzstan Tour Planning
• Visa: Required Kyrgyzstan travel documents
• Getting there: Search for flights to Bishkek or Osh
• Where to stay : Find a yurt camp,homestay, hotel, hostel or guesthouses
• Travel Insurance: Choose the best travel insurance for Kyrgyzstan

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Kyrgyzstan Money – What is the currency in Kyrgyzstan?

The  Kyrgyzstan Som (KGS)  is the official currency used in Kyrgyzstan:

• Banknotes circulating in Kyrgyzstan: 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 5000 som
• Coins circulating in Kyrgyzstan: 1, 10 and 50 tyiyn (cents) & 1, 3, 5 & 10 som

I always use the  Xe.com app  to convert and stay up-to-date with the current exchange rates. At this time of writing, the current exchange rates are:

• $1 USD = 95.68 KGS
• €1 Euro = 106.18 KGS
• £1 British Pound = 128.18 KGS

You probably won’t be able to find the Kyrgyzstan currency in your home country. There are many currency exchange offices in Bishkek but the ones with the best exchange rate are  on Manas Avenue, between Sierra Coffee and Chuy Avenue.  Those offices might look small and dodgy but they’re trustworthy.

You can also exchange currency in  Osh .  The best place in Osh to exchange currency is at one of the small exchange offices at the big market called  Kelechek.

USD, EURO, and currencies from the neighboring countries like Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are accepted everywhere, other currencies might be harder to exchange. You can also exchange currency in banks but they usually offer a lower rate and you’ll also need your passport as the banks ask for it.

Tip: Use big 50 or 100 EURO or USD bills and make sure they are crisp and not damaged or wrinkled otherwise the offices will exchange at a lower rate.

You’ll find plenty of ATMs in the cities where you can withdraw KGS and in some cases USD. It’s not possible to withdraw other currencies. Most ATMs only accept Visa. My go-to bank is  Demir Bank  as they accept both Visa and MasterCard and  KICB . Most ATMs have a withdrawal limit of 20.000 KGS or 200 USD. Fees may be added by your home bank.

Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide: 20 things you should know before you go

Are credit cards accepted in Kyrgyzstan

Visa  is the most accepted credit card in Kyrgyzstan and you can use it in most restaurants, shops, and hotels in the larger cities in the country (Bishkek, Osh, Karakol, Jalal-Abad). MasterCard  and other credit cards are accepted in some places in Bishkek and Osh but you’re better off using Visa.

However, cash is still king in Kyrgyzstan  and you should definitely carry enough cash with you to cover your expenses when leaving the cities.

Need Travel Insurance for Central Asia ? I use and highly recommend HeyMondo Travel Insurance . As a reader of Journal of Nomads, you get a 5% discount off your insurance plan!

Is Kyrgyzstan expensive to travel to?

The costs of traveling to Kyrgyzstan depends on when and from where you’re flying. I usually fly from Belgium (Europe) and a return flight from Brussels to Bishkek costs me around €750/ US$820 during high season.

Traveling in Kyrgyzstan is still affordable by Western standards. It’s less expensive than its neighboring countries Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan .

Average prices are $8 for a basic meal, $12 for a hostel bed and $25 upwards for a double room in a decent hotel, and $5 for a 3-hour ride on a mashrutka (public minibus).

The 25 most beautiful places to visit in Kyrgyzstan

Average costs of accommodation in Kyrgyzstan

The cities of Kyrgyzstan offer hotels, guesthouses and hostels. You can stay in a guesthouse or homestay in the small towns and villages. I always use  Booking.com  in Kyrgyzstan as you’ll find a wide variety of hotels, guesthouses and hostels on this platform. I wouldn’t look too much at the star-rating but at the review score (cleanliness etc).

The most popular accomodation in Kyrgyzstan are yurt stays. Nowadays it’s not so easy anymore to find an “authentic” yurt stay, meaning share the yurt with a nomadic family (they still exist tho). More and more yurt camps are being build to accommodate tourists. Most yurt camps are only available from June until September, only some stay throughout the year.

How much does it cost to Stay in a Yurt in Kyrgyzstan

Yurts are the most important symbol of the Kyrgyz culture. They’ve been the homes of nomadic shepherds for thousands of years when they moved around the mountains and valleys. 

Nowadays the Kyrgyz shepherds still live in yurts but only during the summer when the valleys are lush and the pastures full of fresh grass for their cattle. 

If you visit Kyrgyzstan between the months of May and September, you definitely have to spend at least one night in a yurt!

There are many yurt camps in popular places like Song Kul lake   and lake Issyk- Kul  that are built to host travelers. Staying in such a yurt camp nowadays costs around 2250 som ($25) per person, breakfast and dinner included. If you want to “glamp” in a more luxurious yurt camp, expect prices around 8000 som ($90) per yurt.

If you’re traveling independently, you can usually just show up at one of these yurt camps and ask if there’s a place available for the night. Depending on the facilities (meaning if it’s a ‘luxurious’ yurt camp or not), you could have a yurt for yourself or you might have to share one with other travelers.

In some cases, you can book your yurt stay ahead of time through the CBT offices  or even via Booking.com .

Here are some yurt camps on booking.com that I recommend on the Southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul:

• Bel Tam yurt camp  
• Almaluu yurt camp

Another yurt camp I’d recommend is the Feel Nomad Yurt Camp at Lake Issyk-Kul. This secluded yurt camp lies on the shores of Kyrgyzstan’s largest lake and is surrounded by endless canyons. You can stay in a traditional yurt and enjoy activities such as kayaking on the lake, horse riding, hiking and cycling in the area.

There are also still many ‘authentic’ yurt camps that are built to provide a home and shelter to the many shepherd families living in the valleys.

Whenever you go on a trek through the mountains, you’ll come across many of these yurt camps. The families living there are always happy to see a foreigner and will welcome you in their yurt for a tea and a snack.

You can ask the family to spend the night there and they’ll most likely welcome you. This will be the most authentic yurt stay as you’ll be sharing the yurt with the family and get a glimpse of their daily life and activities in the mountains.

You might even learn how to milk a mare and taste the famous ‘ kymyz’ , the fermented horse milk that is a popular drink in Kyrgyzstan. 

T h e 2 8 Top Things to do in Kyrgyzstan

How much does it cost to stay in an economy hotel or hostel in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan has a wide choice of hostels in cities such as Bishkek , Karakol or Osh . They offer mixed and gender-specific dorms at a very low cost, but many also offer private rooms for couples or families for less than a hotel. Expect to have a shared toilet and bathroom. The hostels are relatively cheap and ideal if you travel by yourself in the country and meet fellow backpackers. 

On Booking.com you can already find a bed in a mixed dorm room starting from €10/ $11 a night during the high season (June – September). In the low season, you can find even cheaper options. A private room in a hostel or in an economy hotel (with shared bathroom and toilet) starts at €20/ US$16.

Here are the top hostels I recommend for Bishkek :

• Compass Hostel
• Apple Hostel  

13 Top Things to do in Bishkek – Bishkek Travel Guide

These are the ones I recommend for Osh :

• Lovely Home For You 
• ABS Guesthouse Osh

1 4 Top Things to do in Osh – Osh City Guide

Hostels I recommend for Karakol:

•   Snow Leopard Hostel
• KbH-Karakol based Hostel
• Duet Hostel  

15 Top Things to do in Karakol – The Complete Karakol City Guide

How much does it cost to stay at a guesthouse or hotel in Kyrgyzstan

A private room in a mid-range hotel or guesthouse in one of the few Kyrgyzstan cities costs between €25/ US$28 and €40/ US$43 a night. These rooms have their own bathrooms and breakfast is usually also included in the price.

If you like luxury or if you always wanted to stay at a luxurious hotel but you normally don’t have the budget for it, you can probably treat yourself to one in UKyrgyzstan! You can already find a luxury room in a wellness hotel in Bishkek for €80/ US$85 a night!

How much does it cost to stay at a homestay or guesthouse in the rural areas in Kyrgyzstan

If you find yourself in the rural areas, f.eg. in Arslanbob , Sary Chelek , southern shore of lake Issyk Kul or in the Alay mountains , you’ll mostly find homestays and family-owned guesthouses as lodging options.

A homestay or guesthouse in the rural areas or mountains don’t have the typical luxury of a guesthouse or hotel in the city but you’ll have close contact with your hosts and learn a lot about their daily life. You usually can’t book them online in advance.

The cost for spending a night at a homestay or guesthouse can vary from €20/US$22 to €40/US$44. These rooms usually have a shared bathroom and toilet.

I loved staying in homestays as they gave me the opportunity to experience and learn more about the Kyrgyz way of living.

How much does it cost to camp in Kyrgyzstan

If you have your own tent, you can camp almost everywhere for free in Kyrgyzstan. This stunning destination is a true natural paradise and it’s so easy to just pitch your tent and soak in the pure mountain air.

The best time to camp is between May and September but know that it can still get very cold, even during the summer months, if you’re high up in the mountains. 

In case you didn’t bring your camping gear but you still love to camp for a few days in the mountains, you can always rent camping equipment such as a tent, a sleeping bag, a mattress or a stove in Bishkek via the Trekking Union of Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek, Destination Karakol in Karakol or Visit Alay in Osh.

Their equipment is quite good but if you plan on doing a lot of trekking and camping, I encourage you to bring your own equipment from home.

For the list of all the equipment and gear I recommend for camping in Kyrgyzstan, have a look at my Packing List for Trekking in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia.

The Complete Packing List for Traveling in Central Asia

How much does food cost in Kyrgyzstan

You can eat and drink very well in Kyrgyzstan with only €25/ US$27 per day.

• Breakfast is usually included in the price of your lodging. If not, you can get a good breakfast (with coffee) for already €5/US$5.
• Lunch in a small local restaurant will cost around €8/US$9 per person.
• A 3-course dinner in a mid-range restaurant costs around €20/US$22 per person.
• A soft drink with your meal costs around €0.70/ US$0.7, a beer €1.5/US$1.6 and a bottle of wine €5/US$5.5.

No matter where you are in the world, the cheapest way to eat is always by buying food from the local supermarkets and cooking it yourself. While I was living in Kyrgyzstan, I would buy my groceries in a local supermarket and it saved me a lot of money. Here’s an overview of you’ll pay if you want to buy snacks and drinks at a local grocery store:

• 1L of bottled water: €0.30/ US$0.30
• soft drink (0.33cl): €0.80/ US$0.9
• domestic beer (0.50cl): €1/ US$1
• bottle of wine (0.75cl): €5.50/ US$6
• 1 kg of apples: €0.80 / US$0.90
• 1 kg of bananas: €1.50/ US$1.60

How much does transportation in Kyrgyzstan cost

Getting around in Kyrgyzstan by public transport costs very little. There are shared taxis and marshrutkas (minibus) linking most of the country’s cities and villages.

The only downside is that if you want to travel into the mountains and remote areas, you’ll need to arrange private transport. Hitchhiking  or renting a car are also possibilities. Kel Suu lake , f.eg., can’t be reached by public transport or even by taxi. Rental companies won’t allow you to drive there independently so you’ll need to arrange a private driver.

How much does it cost to travel by public transport in Kyrgyzstan

You can travel by mashrutka, bus and (shared) taxi in Kyrgyzstan. There’s only one train in Kyrgyzstan that travels between Bishkek and lake Issyk Kul but it’s very slow and you’re better off going by transport on wheels.

A marshrutka is a minibus that looks like a van and it’s the cheapest and most popular means of transport for the locals to travel in Kyrgyzstan. It’s very easy to take a marshrutka to get around Kyrgyz cities or to travel between two different towns. However, it’s not the fastest way as they stop everywhere to pick up passengers. In my Travel Guide to Kyrgyzstan , I explain how to take marshrutkas within the major Kyrgyz cities.

The standard price for a mashrutka ride within a city or town is 15KGS . It can be a bit confusing to take marshrutkas since they all have a different number and they don’t follow a fixed schedule.

You can always ask in your hostel or guesthouse which one you need or you could use the apps Bus.kg and Maps.Me . The first app tells you the route of each marshrutka, with the second app you type in the name of your location and destination and it will give you which marshrutkas are going there.

Getting a marshrutka between cities and towns is a bit more expensive. The prices depend on how far you want to go and how popular the route is but the average price is around 500 KGS for a 3-hour ride.

You can get a marshrutka from Bishkek to most of the major cities and towns in Kyrgyzstan at the Western bus station . After paying for your ticket, you’ll receive a receipt that you have to show the driver before you get on the marshrutka. The minibus leaves when it’s full.

Is Kyrgyzstan safe? 15 useful things to know before you go

There aren’t many buses between cities due to the fact that Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country and for safety reasons, the buses are not allowed on the mountain passes connecting the cities.

The only places where you can take a city bus in Kyrgyzstan are Bishkek and Osh. They are generally less crowded than the marshrutkas, slightly cheaper (8KGS) and slower. You pay the driver once you get off the bus.

There is currently only one proper bus that you can take in Kyrgyzstan. It’s called GOBUS and connects Bishkek and Karakol. You can install its app to check the bus schedule and buy tickets. It takes 6 hours to reach Karakol and a ticket between those two cities cost 450 KGS.

The 21 Best Hikes in Karakol and Jyrgalan

Shared taxis in Kyrgyzstan are more expensive (about twice or triple the price of a marshrutka) but a faster way to get around. These taxis are shared with other people and you split the costs so you pay per seat.

Some taxi drivers like to double the rate for unwary tourists so if you don’t want to get ripped off, make sure that you ask your hostel/hotel about the rates or ask the other passengers how much they pay. The standard price for a long distance ride should be between 800KGS and 1500KGS per person.

The best way to get from Bishkek to Osh (or vice versa) if you have time, is by shared taxi. For this 10-hour ride, you pay around 1800KGS per person.

If you want to take a taxi within Bishkek and you can’t be bothered by bargaining for the price, use the Yandex Go app . This app is similar to Uber.

How much does it cost to rent a car in Kyrgyzstan

Renting a car in Kyrgyzstan is very practical if you want to reach remote places such as Song Kul Lake .

You can travel on your own tempo, camp along the way and you’ll see sides of the country that you wouldn’t if you’d be traveling by public transport.

The price of renting a car per day depends on which city you’re renting it from.

If you want to rent a car in Bishkek, I highly recommend renting from Iron Horse Nomads . They have high-quality 4×4 vehicles and can advise you on which routes to take to access remote locations around the country.Their car rental prices start at $80 USD per day.

HOw much does it cost to hire a private driver

If you don’t feel confident driving in Kyrgyzstan, you can always hire a driver and (4×4) car. English-speaking drivers charge about $0.70 to $0.80 per kilometer but you also have to pay for his meals and accommodation if it’s a multi-day trip. Count around $100 per day .

Are you looking for a  customized guided tour  in Kyrgyzstan and/or other countries  in Central Asia ? Do you need help  planning your itinerary ?

Have a look at my   C e n t r a l   A s i a  tour and itinerary planning services !

Hitchhiking in kyrgyzstan

Hitchhiking is quite common in Kyrgyzstan and it’s not unusual to see people standing by the side of the road asking for a ride. One thing that you have to keep in mind though is that people will usually pay the drivers that pick them up for the ride. This means that any private car can potentially become a taxi.

I came up with the formula of paying 5 som per km when hitchhiking in Kyrgyzstan. This is more than what you pay for a marshrutka (public minibus) but less than if you would take a shared taxi. This seemed to work well, most of the time. If you want to hitchhike but you don’t want to pay for the rides, you’ll have to tell the driver before getting in the car.

The Pleasant and Unpleasant Surprises of Hitchhiking in Kyrgyzstan

How much does it cost to take a domestic flight in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is a small country but driving between some of the country’s major cities takes ages as you’ve got to cross many mountain passes. Driving from Bishkek to Osh, for example, takes at least 10 hours.

With really cheap flights between the two cities, the easiest and fastest way to travel between Bishkek and Osh is to take a direct flight. It takes less than one hour to fly from Bishkek to Osh or vice versa.

For domestic flights in Kyrgyzstan, check the website of   Air Kyrgyzstan   and  Air Manas .   You can already find flights between Bishkek and Osh from  $55 USD.

7 B e s t H i k e s i n O s h a n d t h e A l a y M o u n t a i n s i n K y r g y z s t a n

How much does horseback riding in Kyrgyzstan cost

If you’re traveling independently and f.eg. rent a car, you can organize your own horseback trip directly at a yurt camp.; The price for organising a horse trip at a yurt camp starts at $15 for a horse per person per day and $25 for the horseman (they won’t let you go horse riding without a horseman to accompany you).

If you need transport to the place, joining a tour or using the services of a local agency will be the least stressful way to do it. Everything is taken care of including accommodation.

The cost of an organized horse riding tour will then be higher as it included private transport, meals, lodging if it’s a multi-day trip, etc. It also depends on the destination. A 3-day horse riding tour to Son Kul lake , f.eg., starts from $400 for 2 people.

The complete guide to horse riding in Kyrgyzstan with 9 the best horse riding destinations

How much does hiking in Kyrgyzstan cost

The costs of a hiking trip in Kyrgyzstan depends on what you need. Here’s an overview of how much it costs to hire a guide and/or a porter, buy hiking permits and rent equipment.   

There are a few areas where you will need to buy a permit to visit ( a few mountain regions neighboring Kazakhstan , China and Tajikistan ), and some National Parks require an entrance fee.

If you are not using the services of a guide or a porter and if you have your own camping gear, all you will end up paying for is food. That being said it is still possible to hire a guide or porter or rent equipment if you need to in Bishkek , Karakol or in Osh .  

Hiring a mountain guide to go trekking in Kyrgyzstan is not always necessary, however, some of the trails are very remote and can be quite dangerous. You’ll definitely have a lot more advantages of traveling and trekking with a guide (and it’s safer!).

These guides know the mountains like the back of their hands and they usually take the responsibility of setting up camp and cooking so it could be worth hiring one if you have no experience in doing such things.

The average price for renting a guide starts from $50 per day but this does not include his meals, accommodation (if it’s a multi-day trek), transport to the mountains, the rental cost of the equipment, and food you might need during the trek.  

Another thing worth considering is that guides ( and porters) are generally from the areas where the trekking route goes and therefore have extensive knowledge of that region.  

In my Kyrgyzstan trekking guide , I give a full overview of the costs of trekking in Kyrgyzstan in case you want to hire a guide and/or a porter, rent a horse, buy hiking permits, and everything else you’ll need for an awesome hiking adventure in the mountains. 

The Complete Trekking Guide to Kyrgyzstan with the best day hikes and treks

If you would like to organize a trek to the mountains with a local guide, you can always contact me and I’ll bring you in touch with them! You could also join one of my Adventure Tours to Kyrgyzstan next summer to go on some of the treks described further down this post with other travelers from all around the world! 

Would you love to go on an epic adventure on foot, on horseback or by 4×4 to the most beautiful places in Kyrgyzstan with a small group of adventurous travelers?

Check out my 6 Fantastic Kyrgyzstan Adventure Tours!

How much do I need to tip in Kyrgyzstan

It’s not expected to leave tips at a restaurant as the service is automatically included in the bill. However, this is not mentioned on the menu and a lot of foreigners get confused or think they’re scammed once they receive the bill. They think they’re being overcharged but if you look at the bottom of the bill, you see that  a service fee of 10 to 15%  has been added to the total costs.

You also don’t have to tip the staff at hotels and guesthouses. The only circumstances where tips are expected – although it isn’t mandatory – is when you’re going on a guided tour. I usually give a 10% tip to the driver/guide/assistant guide.

How much money should I take to Kyrgyzstan

Here’s how much money you need for a trip to Kyrgyzstan (flights not included!) when you’d travel around the country by public transport, eat at local mid-range restaurants, stay at mid-range guesthouses or hotels and entrance fees to sites of interests –  extra activities such as horse riding, private transport and guides not included:

• 7 days in Kyrgyzstan: €400 – US$450
• 10 days in Kyrgyzstan: €600 – US$650
• 14 days in Kyrgyzstan: €800 -US$850

Costs of living in Kyrgyzstan

This is a small extra section for digital nomads or expats interested in living in Kyrgyzstan for a while. I’ve covered the costs of food and transport above, and here’s how much it would cost to rent a place long-term in the country. When I lived in Kyrgyzstan for nearly a whole year, I rented an apartment right in the city center of Bishkek that functioned as my home base.

Bishkek is the capital of Kyrgyzstan but it’s an extremely safe and peaceful city. All expenses considered, apartments in Kyrgyzstan are relatively affordable.

My apartment had one bedroom, a living room, a kitchen, a separate bathroom, a toilet, and a very good internet connection. I paid 300 USD a month  for the apartment and about 25 USD  for utilities(gas, water, wi-fi) in 2017 – 2018. 

My suggestion is to look for housing before or after the high season (May – September) as the prices will be lower. The following prices are an average of what you can typically expect to pay for an apartment in Kyrgyzstan, according to Numbeo :

• Apartment (1 bedroom) in city center: $450 USD per month
• Apartment (1 bedroom) outside of center: $320 USD per month
• Apartment (3 bedrooms) in city center: $800 USD per month
• Apartment (3 bedrooms) outside of center: $550 USD per month

For monthly utilities (electricity, heating, water, etc.), you’ll pay around USD$30. Cable internet with unlimited data will cost you around USD$12 per month and a mobile phone plan with calls and 10GB data around US$8 per month.

How to renew your visa for Kyrgyzstan

I hope this guide gave you some good insights about how much your trip to Kyrgyzstan will cost. I’m wishing you a great journey and if you have any questions or updates, please let me and other travelers know in the comments below!

Related Posts

The best way to get from Tashkent to Osh and from Osh to Tashkent, crossing the Dostyk border (Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan)

Best Tips and complete Packing List for Traveling in Central Asia in 2024 – When to go and what to wear when visiting Central Asia

• 8 beautiful lakes in Kyrgyzstan

9 places to visit in Kyrgyzstan in spring and autumn, including best hikes

Hiking in Kyrgyzstan: The 21 best Jyrgalan and Karakol Trekking Trails

15 Best Things to do in Karakol Kyrgyzstan

More kyrgyzstan travel resources.

• The Complete Travel Guide to Kyrgyzstan
• The 14 best hikes in Kyrgyzstan
• The 25 most beautiful places in Kyrgyzstan
• 15 useful safety tips for Kyrgyzstan
• The complete packing list for Kyrgyzstan
• 28 Things to do in Kyrgyzstan
• 13 Top Things to do in Bishkek – City Guide
• How to visit the Osh Bazaar in Bishkek
• 14 Top Things to do in Osh – City Guide
• 15 Best Things to do in Karakol – City Guide
• The 21 best hikes in Karakol and Jyrgalan
• Tash Rabat Travel Guide
• The complete travel guide to Kel Suu Lake
• The complete travel guide to Arslanbob
• How to visit Sary Chelek Lake and Nature Reserve
• Top things to do around Issyk Kul Lake, a one week itinerary
• Facts and legends of the Burana Tower
• Everything you need to know about horse riding to Song Kul lake
• A comprehensive guide to skiing in Kyrgyzstan
• 6 reasons why you should visit Kyrgyzstan in winter
• Visit Kyrgyzstan in winter by using this 10-day Kyrgyzstan winter itinerary
• Here are the 7 best hikes in the Alay Mountains near Osh
• Use this day-by-day itinerary to hike independently to Ala Kul lake
• Hike independently to Son Kul lake by using these 2 itineraries
• 8 great day trips and hikes near Bishkek
• Ready steady goat! An insight into Kok Boru, Kyrgyzstan’s unusual national sport
• Meet the Golden Eagle Hunters of Kyrgyzstan

2 thoughts on “Kyrgyzstan Money Guide: Costs of Living and traveling in Kyrgyzstan in 2024”

Hi, have a distant thought of travel in Kyrgyzstan. Wondered what was your budget for a whole year? each person/2 people 🙂

Hi Martin, it’s difficult to give you an exact budget for a whole year as it depends on the trips you take and whether or not you’re renting something as a base. In case you’d rent an apartment in Bishkek, only eat out once a week and do all your trips solely by taking public transportation (so no car rental or guided trips), you’d be fine with a budget of €500 – €600 per month.

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KYRGYZSTAN TRAVEL GUIDE

What would become modern Kyrgyzstan was annexed by Russia in 1876 and became an independent country with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. It has the most liberal tourist visa policy in Central Asia and one of the more progressive post-Soviet governments in the region.

Kyrgyzstan is one of the friendliest, warmest and most hospitable countries in Central Asia. The Kyrgyz welcome you into their country and homes with true nomadic spirit: for the nomads living in the mountains, life has not really changed since the days of caravans trailing along the Silk Route.

Kyrgyzstan has been called The Land of the Tian Shan – Oasis on the Great Silk Route because of its importance as a trading post between Europe and Asia. Though the country is still struggling to find its feet after the break up of the Soviet Union, modern Kyrgyzstan has done much to promote tourism.

• Capital : Bishkek
• Currency : Kyrgyz som (KGS)
• Area : 198,500 km2
• Population : 6,316 million (2018)
• Language : Kyrgyz, Russian
• Religion :Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%
• Electricity : 220V/50Hz, European plug

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BEST TIME TO VISIT KYRGYZSTAN

Kyrgyzstan has four distinct seasons:

• Winter (December-February) - During this time, temperatures can drop to well below freezing and heavy snowfall is common, making it ideal for winter sports such as skiing.
• Spring (March-May) - The weather starts to warm up, and the snow begins to melt. This is a great time to visit as the scenery is beautiful with the snow-capped mountains and the colorful flowers starting to bloom.
• Summer (June-August) - This is the warmest season, with temperatures reaching up to 35°C (95°F) in some parts of the country. It's the perfect time for hiking, trekking, and other outdoor activities.
• Fall (September-November) - The weather starts to cool down again, and the leaves on the trees change color. This is also the time when traditional Kyrgyz festivals take place.

It's worth noting that Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country and the weather can vary greatly depending on the altitude and region you are visiting.

The best time to visit Kyrgyzstan depends on what you plan to do during your visit. If you plan to go hiking or trekking in the mountains, the best time to visit is from June to September when the weather is warm and dry. If you plan to enjoy winter sports, then December to March would be the best time to visit. In terms of cultural events, the traditional Kyrgyz festivals like the "Nomad Games" and "Kyrgyzstan Manas" happen in September.

KYRGYZSTAN WEATHER SYNOPSIS

The climate in the Kyrgyz Republic is as varied as the country’s topography and can be classified into four major zones, each with distinctive characteristics. The valley-sub-mountain zone (from 900-1,200 m) experiences hot summers, snowless and temperate winters, and almost zero precipitation. The mountain zone (from 900–1,200 to 2,000–2,200 m) is characterised by a temperate climate, which has warm summers and cold, snowy winters. The high-mountain zone (from 2,000–2,200 to 3,000–3,500 m) is cooler in the summer and has relatively cold, snowless winters, with temperatures ranging from well below zero to 16°C. The nival belt zone (from 3,500 m and higher) has a polar climate and is covered by numerous snowfields and glaciers.

SEASONS AT A GLANCE

Most destinations have different times of the year when they’re more or less popular with tourists. 

Peak Season

Shoulder Season

Off Peak Season

HOT MONTHS:

Moderate months:, cold months:, wet months:, dry months:, best time for, snow sport in kyrgyzstan.

The snow season in Kyrgyzstan can start as early as November and last until April at the higher altitudes. The best months for skiing are January and February. 

Kyrgyzstan is a cheap skiing destination when compared to ski resorts in Western Europe. Kyrgyzstan is emerging as a hidden gem for snow sports enthusiasts. With its vast, rugged landscapes and the majestic Tian Shan mountains, the country offers a variety of winter activities, including skiing and snowboarding. 

The ski resorts like Karakol and Jyrgalan provide well-groomed slopes for all skill levels, and the region's extreme continental climate ensures light, fluffy snowfalls, perfect for powder skiing. 

For those seeking adventure beyond the groomed trails, Kyrgyzstan's backcountry skiing options are abundant, promising a unique and thrilling experience in the untouched snow.

HIKING & CYCLING IN KYRGYZSTAN

The best time for outdoor activities in Kyrgyzstan is from June to September. Most hiking trails are closed outside of these months. Kyrgyzstan offers a treasure trove of hiking opportunities, with its vast and varied landscapes. 

From the breathtaking Ala-Kul Lake Trail, which is often referred to as a mirror to the sky, to the ancient forests of Arslanbob that offer a historical journey, the country is a hiker's paradise. 

The Karakol Valley presents an encounter with the wild, and the remote trails provide a sense of solitude amidst nature. With 90% of its territory above 1,500 meters, Kyrgyzstan's rugged terrain is ideal for adventurers seeking to explore untouched natural beauty.

BEACH OPTIONS IN KYRGYZSTAN

Kyrgyzstan may not be the first country that comes to mind when thinking of beaches, but it does offer unique lakeside shores worth visiting. For instance, Chatyr-Kul Lake, despite its high altitude, provides a serene beach experience. Visitors can enjoy the simplicity of yurts for accommodation and embrace the tranquil surroundings. This spot is ideal for those looking to combine a beach visit with the adventure of exploring Kyrgyzstan's beautiful landscapes.

SURFING IN KYRGYZSTAN

Kyrgyzstan, known for its stunning mountainous terrain, is not typically associated with surfing opportunities due to its landlocked geography. 

However, for those passionate about water sports, Kyrgyzstan offers beautiful alpine lakes where windsurfing is gaining popularity. Issyk-Kul, the seventh deepest lake in the world, provides a unique experience for adventure seekers looking to ride the wind on its clear waters. 

While traditional surfing may not be feasible, the country's natural beauty and emerging water sports scene offer a different kind of thrill for enthusiasts.

KITESURF IN KYRGYZSTAN

Kyrgyzstan, with its stunning mountainous terrain, offers unique opportunities for adventure sports, although it's more renowned for activities like horseback riding and trekking. 

However, for kitesurfing or windsurfing enthusiasts Issyk-Kul Lake presents a promising option. This high-altitude lake, known for its deep blue waters, is the second-largest saline lake in the world and provides a picturesque setting for windsurfing and kitesurfing. 

While it may not be a traditional wind sport destination, the growing interest in water sports could lead to more opportunities in the future. For the most current information and opportunities, checking local adventure sports forums or contacting tour operators in the region might be beneficial.

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KYRGYZSTAN TRAVEL COSTS

The cost of traveling to Kyrgyzstan can vary widely depending on various factors such as your travel style, duration of stay, accommodation preferences, activities planned, and where you're traveling from. Here are some key expenses to consider:

Transportation: Flights: The cost of airfare to Kyrgyzstan will depend on your departure location, the time of booking, and the airline you choose. Flights from neighboring countries in Central Asia or Russia might be cheaper compared to flights from Europe or North America. Prices can range from a few hundred dollars to over a thousand dollars for a round-trip ticket.

Visa Fees: Visa requirements vary depending on your nationality. Some nationalities may be eligible for visa-free entry or visa-on-arrival, while others may need to apply for a visa in advance. Visa fees, if applicable, can range from $30 to $100 or more.

Accommodation: Accommodation costs vary depending on your preferences. Budget travelers can find hostels or guesthouses for as low as $10-20 per night, while mid-range hotels typically range from $30-50 per night. Luxury accommodations can cost $70-150 or more per night.

Food and Dining: Food expenses can vary depending on where you eat and your dietary preferences. Street food and local restaurants offer affordable options ranging from $1-10 per meal, while dining at Western-style restaurants may cost $10-25 or more per meal.

Transportation within Kyrgyzstan: Public transportation such as buses and marshrutkas (shared taxis) is affordable, typically costing $1-5 per ride. Taxis for shorter rides within cities may range from $2-10. Renting a car can cost $30-50 or more per day, excluding fuel.

Activities and Excursions: The cost of activities and excursions in Kyrgyzstan can vary widely depending on the type and duration of the activity. Entrance fees to museums and sights are generally low, ranging from $1-10. Guided tours and outdoor activities like trekking or horseback riding can range from $20-100 or more per person.

Additional Expenses: Other expenses to consider include travel insurance, SIM cards with data for communication, souvenirs, tips, and any unforeseen expenses.

Overall, a budget traveler can expect to spend around $30-50 per day, while mid-range travelers may spend $50-100 per day or more, depending on their preferences and activities. Luxury travelers can expect to spend $100 or more per day. It's essential to budget wisely and plan ahead to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable trip to Kyrgyzstan.

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Kyrgyzstan travel tips.

Here are some travel tips for visiting Kyrgyzstan:

Make sure to have a valid visa before traveling to Kyrgyzstan.

Bring warm clothing, as temperatures can drop significantly in the mountains.

Learn some basic Russian or Kyrgyz, as many locals may not speak English.

Bring cash, as credit card acceptance is limited outside of major cities.

Research the cultural customs and dress appropriately when visiting rural or religious sites.

Pack a first aid kit, as medical facilities can be limited in rural areas.

Respect the local wildlife and follow guidelines for responsible trekking and camping.

Consider hiring a guide to help navigate the country and make the most of your trip.

GETTING AROUND KYRGYZSTAN

In Kyrgyzstan, you have several options for local transportation, ranging from public buses and marshrutkas (shared taxis) to taxis and renting a car. Here are some common modes of local transport:

Public Buses operate in major cities like Bishkek and Osh, providing an affordable way to travel within city limits. However, routes may be limited, and schedules may not always be reliable.

Marshrutkas (Shared Taxis) are minivans or minibusses that operate on fixed routes between cities and towns. They are a popular and inexpensive mode of transportation for both locals and tourists. Marshrutkas can be crowded, but they offer flexibility and frequent departures.

Taxis are readily available in urban areas and can be hailed on the street or booked through ride-hailing apps. Negotiate the fare before starting your journey, or ensure the meter is used if available. Taxis are more expensive than buses or marshrutkas but offer convenience and comfort, especially for shorter distances.

Renting a Car is an option for travelers who want to explore Kyrgyzstan independently, especially in rural or remote areas where public transportation may be scarce. Several rental agencies operate in major cities, offering a range of vehicles from economy cars to 4x4s suitable for off-road driving. Be aware of road conditions and consider hiring a driver if you're not comfortable driving in mountainous terrain.

Shared Taxis , known as " Tazalyk ," are a common mode of transport between cities and towns, especially in rural areas where marshrutkas may not operate. Passengers share the cost of the journey, and the taxi departs once it's full. Shared taxis are faster than buses but may be cramped and less comfortable for long journeys.

Hitchhiking is a common practice in rural areas of Kyrgyzstan, where formal transportation options may be limited. It's relatively safe and culturally accepted, but exercise caution and use your judgment when accepting rides from strangers.

When using local transport in Kyrgyzstan, it's essential to be flexible, patient, and prepared for varying levels of comfort and reliability. Additionally, consider the time of year and weather conditions, as road conditions can change, especially in mountainous regions.

SIGHTS & HIGHLIGHTS OF KYRGYZSTAN

Kyrgyzstan is a country of stunning natural beauty, with diverse landscapes that include snow-capped mountains, lush valleys, pristine lakes, and vast steppes. Each region offers its own unique attractions and highlights. Here are some of the main regions worth visiting in Kyrgyzstan and their highlights:

Issyk-Kul Region:

Issyk-Kul Lake: Known as the "Pearl of Central Asia," Issyk-Kul is one of the largest alpine lakes in the world. Visitors can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and water sports during the summer months.

Karakol: A charming town near Issyk-Kul Lake, Karakol is a gateway to the surrounding mountains and offers opportunities for trekking, skiing (in winter), and exploring cultural sites like the Russian Orthodox Church and Dungan Mosque.

Jeti-Oguz: Famous for its "Seven Bulls" and "Broken Heart" rock formations, Jeti-Oguz is a picturesque valley ideal for hiking, horseback riding, and camping.

Tian Shan Mountains:

Ala Archa National Park: Located near Bishkek, Ala Archa offers stunning alpine scenery, hiking trails of varying difficulty levels, and opportunities for birdwatching and wildlife spotting.

Chon-Kemin Valley: A beautiful valley surrounded by mountains, Chon-Kemin is known for its horseback riding tours, homestay experiences, and traditional Kyrgyz hospitality.

Naryn Region:

Song Kul Lake: Situated at an altitude of over 3,000 meters, Song Kul is a high-mountain lake surrounded by expansive meadows where nomadic herders graze their livestock. Visitors can stay in yurts, experience traditional nomadic culture, and enjoy horseback riding and hiking.

Tash Rabat Caravanserai: A well-preserved 15th-century stone caravanserai located in the Tian Shan Mountains, Tash Rabat served as a resting place for Silk Road travelers. It's a fascinating historical site accessible via a scenic drive and short hike.

Osh Region:

Osh: One of the oldest cities in Central Asia, Osh boasts a rich history and vibrant bazaar. Highlights include Suleiman-Too Sacred Mountain, which offers panoramic views of the city, and Jayma Bazaar, a bustling market selling local goods and crafts.

Arslanbob: Known for having the world's largest walnut forest, Arslanbob is a scenic area ideal for hiking, horseback riding, and exploring waterfalls and fruit orchards.

Pamir-Alai Mountains (Batken Region):

Sary-Chelek Biosphere Reserve: A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Sary-Chelek is home to a pristine mountain lake surrounded by forests and wildlife. Visitors can hike, swim, and explore the reserve's diverse ecosystems.

Kyzyl-Oi: A tranquil village nestled in the mountains, Kyzyl-Oi offers opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, and experiencing traditional Kyrgyz village life.

TRAVEL ITINERARY FOR KYRGYZSTAN

For first-time visitors to Kyrgyzstan, here are suggested one-week and two-week itineraries that encompass some of the country's highlights:

ONE WEEK ITINERARY:

Day 1-2: bishkek.

Arrive in Bishkek, the capital city of Kyrgyzstan.

Explore Ala-Too Square, Victory Square, and Oak Park.

Visit the State History Museum and the Osh Bazaar for a taste of local culture.

Enjoy the vibrant nightlife and dining scene in Bishkek.

Day 3-4: Issyk-Kul Lake

Travel to Issyk-Kul Lake, stopping at Burana Tower and Konorchek Canyon along the way.

Relax at Issyk-Kul Lake, swim, sunbathe, or try water sports.

Visit the petroglyphs at Cholpon-Ata and the Ruh Ordo Cultural Complex.

Day 5-6: Karakol

Head to Karakol and explore the town's Russian Orthodox Church and Dungan Mosque.

Take a day trip to Jeti-Oguz and hike to the "Seven Bulls" rock formations.

Visit the Issyk-Kul Nomad Museum and enjoy local cuisine.

Day 7: Ala Archa National Park

Return to Bishkek and take a day trip to Ala Archa National Park.

Hike one of the park's trails, enjoy a picnic, and take in the stunning mountain scenery.

Depart from Bishkek or extend your stay as desired.

TWO WEEK ITINERARY:

Follow the same itinerary as the one-week itinerary for exploring Bishkek.

Day 3-4: Ala Archa National Park

Spend an extra day exploring Ala Archa National Park, perhaps trying a different hiking trail or enjoying more outdoor activities.

Day 5-6: Issyk-Kul Lake

Spend an additional day at Issyk-Kul Lake, exploring more of its beaches, villages, or trying additional water activities like sailing or kayaking.

Day 7-8: Karakol and Jeti-Oguz

Extend your stay in Karakol to explore more of the town and its surroundings.

Take a day trip to Altyn Arashan hot springs for a relaxing soak and scenic hike.

Day 9-10: Song Kul Lake

Journey to Song Kul Lake and spend a couple of days experiencing nomadic culture, staying in a yurt, and enjoying horseback riding and hiking.

Day 11-12: Tash Rabat and Naryn

Travel to Tash Rabat Caravanserai and explore this historical site.

Continue to Naryn and explore the town's bazaar and nearby attractions.

Day 13-14: Osh and Suleiman-Too

Fly or drive to Osh, one of the oldest cities in Central Asia.

Explore Suleiman-Too Sacred Mountain, the city's bazaars, and enjoy local cuisine.

Depart from Osh or extend your stay to explore more of southern Kyrgyzstan.

These itineraries offer a mix of cultural exploration, outdoor adventure, and relaxation, providing a comprehensive introduction to the diverse landscapes and cultural heritage of Kyrgyzstan.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN KYRGYZSTAN

When visiting Kyrgyzstan, there are numerous incredible sights and activities to experience, reflecting its rich cultural heritage and stunning natural landscapes. Here are some of the best things to see and do in Kyrgyzstan:

Trekking and Hiking: Explore Kyrgyzstan's vast network of hiking trails, ranging from easy day hikes to multi-day treks through mountains, valleys, and alpine meadows. Popular trekking destinations include the Ala Archa National Park, Tian Shan Mountains, and the stunning trails around Issyk-Kul Lake.

Nomadic Culture and Yurt Stays: Experience traditional Kyrgyz nomadic culture by staying in a yurt, the portable dwellings used by nomadic herders. Many communities offer homestay experiences where you can learn about nomadic traditions, participate in daily activities, and enjoy authentic Kyrgyz hospitality.

Issyk-Kul Lake: Relax and unwind at Issyk-Kul Lake, one of the largest alpine lakes in the world. Enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and water sports during the summer months, or simply admire the breathtaking scenery of crystal-clear waters surrounded by snow-capped peaks.

Song Kul Lake: Visit Song Kul Lake, a high-mountain lake located at an altitude of over 3,000 meters. Stay in a yurt camp, experience the traditional nomadic way of life, and enjoy horseback riding, hiking, and stargazing in this pristine natural setting.

Historical and Cultural Sites: Explore historical and cultural sites such as the Burana Tower, a minaret dating back to the 11th century; the ancient city of Osh with its bustling bazaars and Suleiman-Too Sacred Mountain; and Tash Rabat Caravanserai, a well-preserved Silk Road outpost in the Tian Shan Mountains.

Adventure Sports: Indulge in adrenaline-pumping activities such as whitewater rafting on the Chuy River, paragliding over the breathtaking landscapes of Ala Archa National Park, skiing and snowboarding in winter resorts like Karakol, and rock climbing in the Ala Archa and Chong-Kemin valleys.

Wildlife Watching: Discover Kyrgyzstan's diverse wildlife by visiting natural reserves and national parks such as Sary-Chelek Biosphere Reserve and Chon-Kemin National Park. Look out for rare species like snow leopards, ibex, Marco Polo sheep, and a variety of bird species.

Cultural Festivals: Attend cultural festivals and events to experience Kyrgyz music, dance, and traditional sports such as kok-boru (a traditional horseback game) and eagle hunting competitions. The World Nomad Games, held biennially, showcase the rich cultural heritage of nomadic peoples from around the world.

WHAT TO EAT IN KYRGYZSTAN

When visiting Kyrgyzstan, you should try some of the following traditional dishes:

• Beshbarmak : This is the national dish of Kyrgyzstan and is made of boiled meat (usually mutton or horse), served with thin noodles and a sour cream sauce.
• Lagman : This is a popular dish of hand-pulled noodles, meat, and vegetables. It can be served in a soup or stir-fry.
• Plov : This is a rice dish that is typically made with meat and vegetables. It is a popular dish in Central Asia and is often served at special occasions.
• Kyrgyz-style dumpling s: These dumplings are called "manti" and are similar to Chinese dumplings, but are typically filled with meat or potatoes and often served with a sour cream sauce.
• Shashlik : This is a popular grilled dish that is made with skewers of meat, usually lamb or beef.
• Kyrgyz-style bread : The bread is made with a variety of grains, such as wheat, barley, and corn, and is often served with meals.
• Kyrgyz-style yogurt : the yogurt is made from mare's milk and is often served with meals.
• Kyrgyz-style tea : The tea is made with a special blend of black tea, milk and salt, it is a staple in the Kyrgyz diet and is often served with meals.

It's important to note that meat is a staple in Kyrgyz cuisine, so vegetarians may find it difficult to find meat-free options.

LGBTQ IN KYRGYZSTAN

WHERE TO STAY IN KYRGYZSTAN

For a first-time visit to Kyrgyzstan, it's recommended to base yourself in Bishkek, the capital city, due to its central location, transportation connections, and abundance of attractions. Here's why:

Where to stay in Bishkek:

Bishkek is the cultural, economic, and political center of Kyrgyzstan, offering a blend of Soviet-era architecture, bustling bazaars, and green parks. Explore attractions like Ala-Too Square, Osh Bazaar, and Victory Square.

Budget : Capsule Hotel Technocave is a budget-friendly option offering dormitory-style accommodations with shared facilities, located in the city center near major attractions.

Mid-range : Smart Hotel Bishkek provides comfortable rooms and modern amenities with a convenient location in the downtown area, close to shops, restaurants, and public transportation.

Luxury : Hyatt Regency Bishkek offers luxurious accommodations with upscale facilities, including a spa, fitness center, and rooftop pool with panoramic views of the city.

Tip : Visit Bishkek during the summer months (June to August) for pleasant weather and outdoor activities, and consider booking accommodations in advance, especially during peak tourist seasons like the World Nomad Games.

Where to stay in the Issyk-Kul Region:

Issyk-Kul is the largest alpine lake in Central Asia, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and pristine landscapes, offering opportunities for swimming, hiking, and horseback riding.

Budget : Bel Tam Yurt Camp offers budget-friendly accommodations in traditional yurts with basic facilities, located near the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul.

Mid-range : Karven Four Seasons Resort provides comfortable rooms and resort-style amenities with direct access to the beach and recreational activities.

Luxury : Hyatt Regency Lake Issyk-Kul Resort offers luxurious accommodations with upscale facilities, including a spa, fitness center, and private beach access.

Tip : Consider visiting Kyrgyzstan during the shoulder seasons (spring and autumn) for milder weather, fewer crowds, and better rates on accommodations and activities.

For hassle-free bookings, use platforms like   Booking.com  for competitive rates or   Holiday Swap  for unique homes worldwide. Ensure to book in advance, especially during peak seasons, and align your preferences with nearby activities such as surfing, snorkeling, or cultural exploration.

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Kyrgyz’ what?! A complete travel guide for Kyrgyzstan.

• By Sarah Steiner
• Updated On April 6, 2024

Making plans for travel to Kyrgyzstan doesn’t register on every travellers bucket list…

But why not?

After visiting Mongolia we were certain; the nomadic herder culture is one of our favourites in the world! The horsie-ness and vastness nomadic herder culture entails, suits us and our style of travel. It’s wild. It’s remote. And it’s still very real.

The chance to visit Kyrgyzstan definitely meant stepping away from the mainstream. And we couldn’t wait to get there…

Travel to Kyrgyzstan

• About Kyrgyzstan
• Fear of the ‘Stans
• Best time to visit

Places to visit in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyz hospitality.

• Travel to Kyrgyzstan with kids
• Getting around
• Connectivity and wifi

Accommodation in Kyrgyzstan

Where we stayed.

• Read more about travel to Kyrgyzstan

About Kyrgyzstan, quickly

• Capital: Bishkek
• Land area: 199,951 km 2
• Population: 6,533,500
• Official language: Kyrgyz
• Co-official language: Russian
• Religion: 90% Islam, 7% Christianity, 3% other
• Drives on: Right
• Calling code: +996
• Time zone: Universal Coordinated Time  ( UTC+06:00 )
• Outlets: Plug Type C, F (220 V / 50 Hz)

Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous, landlocked country. It is bordered to the north by Kazakhstan , Uzbekistan to the west and southwest, China to the east and Tajikistan to the southwest.

Fear of travel to the ‘Stans

Let’s be honest; first thoughts of the ‘- stan ‘ poses connotations that bring fear. History and media presents a certain image abroad, and for the seven countries in Asia that end with the suffix ‘Stan, our first reaction is not instinctively smooth.

But the word stan actually means  land in the Persian language of Farsi; a word for “place of” or “country”. Moreover it’s a bit like the suffix of names in English titles such as Eng land , Scot land , Switzer land .

And rightly so. Central Asia is a region of diverse geography and land with a lot of fascinating history behind it.  And I admit, we didn’t tell our family we were heading to Central Asia until we were actually there. Namely because we didn’t want to be put off when they freaked out on hearing the word ending with ‘Stan.

But don’t let it put you off. It’s ok for families to worry about us. That’s their prerogative and that’s ok.

Definitely don’t miss out of the land of travel and adventure in the ‘Stans. Travel to Kyrgyzstan is incredible.

Visas for Kyrgyzstan

The good news for travel to Kyrgyzstan is that it’s visa-free for a growing number of passports.

Passport holders from 69 different nations are not required to obtain a visa in advance for travel to Kyrgyzstan for travel up to the length of 30, 60 or 90 days. It is also possible for a lot of those nations to arrange a visa on arrival for an extended stay of up to 90 days.

If you aren’t one of the countries to qualify for visa-free entry, you can apply through an e-visa system or in person at a Kyrgyz embassy. You can apply via  the E-visa government website .

• Tip: Always check for updated details of visas before you travel to Kyrgyzstan .

Best time to visit Kyrgyzstan

Unlike Uzbekistan just over the border, the usual tourist season for Kyrgyzstan travel is the high summer.

Summertime is also the holiday time for Kyrgyz nomads and therefore the time when summer pastures are full of yurts. Even semi-nomads who live life in the cities during the year go to the mountain summer pastures during the school holidays and warmest times of the year.

Aside from that, fruits and vegetables are ripe and the weather is as warm as it gets.

Yurt camps set up in summer pastures offer yurt stays from mid-May to mid-September (and trust me, it’s getting cold up in the Tien Shan mountains by early September). After their holidays the camps are slowly packed away and the families move back to the cities.

In the cities however, summertime is hot. Temperatures in Osh and Bishkek get up to over 40°C. This is due to the distance in the cities from any large bodies of water (remember, Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked country).

The largest lake is Issyk Kul, which becomes a popular summer beach destination in Kyrgyzstan. It is even (just) warm enough to swim here (whilst surrounded by surreal snowcapped mountains in the distance).

Kyrgyz language

In Kyrgyzstan, the Kyrgyz language is co-official with Russian. In the cities Russian is the predominant language (especially in Bishkek), but in the smaller towns and rural areas the main language used is Kyrgyz.

Kyrgyz is a Turkic language with a written alphabet using Cyrillic.

A few Kyrgyz basics

• Hello: Salamatsuzbu
• Hello (informal): Salam
• Thank you: Rahmat
• How much is it?: Kanchadan?

A lot of Kyrgyzstan travel will have you feeling like you are quite literally in the middle of nowhere.

For the days we weren’t in Bishkek, every day we ended up somewhere random and unheard of. The landscape challenged us. Not only because it is so different from our previous months of travel in East Asia , but because it is a challenging landscape in itself.

However, this is exactly why travel in Kyrgyzstan is so appealing.

Because out of the city, people are living in this landscape as they have done for generations…

In Kyrgyzstan, we spent time in:

• Chong-Kemin National Park

Song Kol Lake

Kyrgyzstan’s capital city has a population of around one million people.

However, as a culture Kyrgyzstan is known for its rich nomadic history. So it makes sense then that the urban areas of Kyrgyzstan don’t showcase the best of what the country has to offer.

Bishkek is no exception.

Picture huge tree-lined streets, boulevards and very Soviet style architecture. It’s easy to get lost in the serious bustle of Bishkek, and slightly tricky to find a local place to eat.

But like it or lump it, Bishkek most commonly serves as the gateway to the amazing outdoor activities and vistas of Kyrgyzstan.  

Plus, as far as Kyrgyzstan travel, the country has the most liberal tourist visa regime in the area of Central Asia, so the chances are you’re going to visit. And it’s worth making the most of it…

Things to do in Bishkek

• Osh Bazaar: This is the biggest and most colourful market in Bishkek and a great place to start exploring the city from. You can find anything here: pastries, cooked food, dried fruit, vegetables, souvenirs and cheap Chinese knock offs.
• Panfilov Park: This is a very Soviet style amusement park that gets busy with locals. Part of the park is ticket-entry only, but there is also a spacious play area and free playground for kids.
• Ala Too Square: Another unmistakably Soviet style feature of Bishkek, this was built to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Kyrgyz Soviet Republic. It’s marginally interesting to visit and another chance to soak in all the Soviet influence that is such a huge part of the city history.
• Eat: Bishkek isn’t honestly the most relaxing place to wander aimlessly, but if in doubt you can focus on finding a good place to eat. Beshbarmak is the Kyrgyz national dish; a soup and noodle bowl that is worth hunting out if you are there.

• Note: Osh Bazaar is notorious for pickpocketing. I haven’t any photos from inside the bazaar as didn’t take my camera or phone out on any visit.

We still can’t decide if Gavin had his small, reusable-cutlery bag snatched from his backpack or if we just lost it while staying in Bishkek. Keep your valuables safe.

That aside, we only had two days in Bishkek but it felt like enough.

We had jobs to do including finding an English-speaking witness to sign paperwork we needed to send home, and a post office to send them by mail. That kept us sufficiently busy in Bishkek and less touristy to be fair.

General vibes are of a busy city with sights to see if you are looking and have the time. And if you don’t, then get yourself out of there and on to the rest of Kyrgyzstan…

Chong Kemin National Park

Chong Kemin National Park covers 500 hectares of land in the north of Kyrgyzstan, in an area once known as Chong Kemin River Valley. 

Setting out from Bishkek, Chong Kemin is often the first stop on a tour for a night in rural Kyrgyzstan. And most tours include a stop of the ancient Burana Tower on the way.

We found Chong Kemin to be a beautiful area. Landscape within the park starts from desert-like stretches of flat, vast land, winding up into the hills through coniferous forests, mountain-scapes and glacial fed rivers.

We stayed our first night out of the city at a guesthouse somewhere in the park. And even to this day we still don’t know exactly where we were.

Cellphone reception cuts out at the base of the park, before winding up into the hills past vast farms and herds and herds of horses. We stopped in a village to ask a passing horseman for directions, because even our driver hadn’t been there before.

Chong Kemin is blissfully off the beaten track alright.

Things to do in Chong Kemin

• Hiking in the National Park: Chong Kemin has a range of different hiking trails in the park. Or, like us, you can put on your hiking shoes and explore from the homestay.
• Horse riding: Our homestay in Chong Kemin was surrounded by horses. We went to sleep with the sound of horses in the paddock outside and woke up with one right at the window.
• Get adventurous, try something new: Our kids were in awe of the young boys practising with a homemade bow and arrow. If you aren’t in a hurry, take the time to try something different. I mean, how often do you get the chance to try archery in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan?
• Burana Tower: Not technically in Chong Kemin, but on the way. Burana Tower is  large minaret in the Chuy Valley. The tower was built during the 11th century (though it has been partially restored) and claims fame as the earliest architectural wonder of Central Asia.

Experiencing nomadic herder life in Kyrgyzstan is one of our best travel experiences to date. Song Kol is an alpine lake in the Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan, just over 3000m above sea level.

Albeit cold, but stunning.

Song Kol Lake is one of the highlights of Kyrgyzstan travel.

Things to do at Song Kol

• Horse riding: Horses are the livelihood and heart of nomadic Kyrgyz herder culture. You can ride along the shore line or trek up into the surrounding foothills of Song Kol.
• Stay in a yurt: There is nothing quite like the smell of a yurt fire burning from the warmth of your yurt home for the night. Waking up in the hills of Kyrgyzstan is a dreamlike tick for the bucket list.
• Hiking: Song Kol is beautiful and peaceful. There are plenty of options to enjoy short or long hikes.
• Help out: Learn to make curd and cream from fresh milk, and help collect water for the camp on donkeys.
• Try kymyz: This is the Kyrgyz national beverage of fermented horse milk.

It is strong and sour to taste, and mildly alcoholic but it’s deemed to be healthy and good for digestion. Perhaps healthier than vodka and cognac at least (which also seems to be a popular beverage with Kyrgyz people here!).

• Read all about our stay at Song Kol Lake with a nomadic family here .

Issyk Kul Region

Issyk Kul is an ancient lake in Kyrgyzstan, estimated to be 25 millions years old and the second largest alpine lake on the planet. (Pretty cool, right?).

The lake is surrounded by the snowcapped Tian Shan mountain range which is uncannily beautiful (and ironic, if you are arriving from anywhere desert-like in Central Asia).

Things to do in Issyk Kul Region

• Lake Issyk Kul: Want to go swimming in Kyrgyzstan?

No, seriously. If the weather is warm enough, the lake is Kyrgyzstan’s most popular summer ‘beach’ destination. (Don’t let the snow capped mountinas in the distance put you off too much!).

Karakol seems to have it all. It is a smallish town in eastern Kyrgyzstan. Most often it is known as a starting point for day hikes in the Tien Shan mountains and a base to see some of Kyrgyzstans most famous natural scenery.

It is in a unique location geographically, with China to the east and the rest of Central Asia to the west, in an area that was once part of Turkestan. Not only is there Chinese influence in the cuisine and culture of Karakol, but you can see the vestiges of Soviet influence again, in architecture, cuisine and culture.

Jeti Oguz and Fairytale Canyon are near to Karakol and can easily be done as day trips.

Things to do in Karakol

• Hiking: Karakol is considered the gateway to the Tien Shan mountain range, famous for beautiful alpine multi day hikes. There is also a range of short day walks (many in Jeti Oguz) without going to far from Karakol.
• Jeti Oguz: If you are in Kyrgyzstan with kids and/or not planning for long hikes, Jeti Oguz is a great choice for a day trip from Karakol. It is only 40 minutes drive from town.
• Seven Bulls : A striking rock formation. There are short walks along the river and up to a great lookout point.
• Dungan Mosque: The Dungan mosque was built between 1907and 1910 by a group of Chinese Muslims—known as Dungans.

The mosque is beautiful and eye-catching, with bright colours and patterns. But what is most interesting is that the wooden mosque is constructed entirely without the use of nails.

• Karakol Bazaar: Karakol Bazaar is interesting because due to its location, sellers originate from a range of Kyrgyz, Russian, Dungan, Uzbek, Uighur and Kalmak backgrounds.

Obviously, we have a thing for bazaars in Central Asia! But you can’t help but be drawn in by the bustle and energy of an Asian market. (Plus, the boys found extremely cheap knock-off Bakugan cards and thought it was the best bazaar ever. Not an authentic travel tip I know, but it’s worth sharing, just in case).

• Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral: Another cultural sight of Karakol that differs again from the norm.

The first church in Karakol was built from stone in 1869 but was destroyed by an earthquake. The current cathedral is built out of wood on a brick base.

Food in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyz food is similar to it’s surrounding neighbours (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan).

In restaurants and roadside cafes, choices can often be simple and limited in variety.

And in summary, traditional Kyrgyz food is based around horse, mutton, and beef meat, as well as various dairy products. (And spoiler alert; Kyrgyzstan travel as far as food is concerned, is a different kind of adventure itself!). Meat is usually served on top of pasta or noodles, inside dumplings, or with potatoes.

There isn’t a lot more choice than that, but we didn’t find anything we really didn’t like. And meals are always served with a pot of hot tea.

Some of the most popular Kyrgyz foods include:

• Beshbarmak : Horse meat (or mutton) boiled in broth, served over soft homemade noodles.
• Chuchvara : Meat dumplings served in soup.
• Kuurdak: grilled mutton, fat and onions served on flat pasta noodles.
• Monti: meat, onion and fat filled steamed dumplings.
• Samsy: similar to a samosa, these are pockets of meat and onions.

Samsy is a great snack choice from a roadside stall or bakery-style cafe in the city. (aka: a staple food traveling in Kyrgyzstan with kids).

• Lagman: meat, vegetables and noodles served in a broth. (A cross between laksa and noodle soup?).
• Ashlam-fu : A spicy lunch dish made with cold noodles, vinegar, and eggs. This one didn’t grow on us but it is supposedly a refreshing cold lunch dish to eat in summer.
• Kurut : Small snack balls made of dried sheep’s cheese or fermented yogurt. Sounds worse than it is, and I was put off after eating them in Uzbekistan. But , kurut doesn’t taste too bad as a snack with a cold beer sitting in the sunshine outside a yurt…
• Shashlyk kebabs : Cubes of meat on skewers cooked over embers. 
• Plov : Rice dish made with mixed boiled or fried meat, onions, carrots and garlic (similar to Indian pilau).
• Lepeshki: Kyrgyz bread served with almost every meal.

Food choices in Kyrgyzstan with kids

Kyrgyz cuisine doesn’t offer too much choice, which made it fairly easy to find food the kids were happy to eat. They even found some things they really enjoyed (a travel-win!).

Some Kyrgyz foods our kids enjoyed:

• Samsy: similar to a samosa, these are pockets of meat and onions. Samsy is a great snack choice from a roadside stall or bakery-style cafe in the city. (aka: a staple food traveling in Kyrgyzstan with kids).
• Bread (lepeshki): Round and flat breads are commonly served with most meals.

• Side note: a lot of the time the tables are laid with small bowls of treats and sweets included as part of the lunch spread. And the dinner spread. Even sometimes with breakfast. (Don’t worry about finding Kyrgyz food kids will eat!).

Kyrgyzstan travel with kids

When you think of telling people you are planning to visit Kyrgyzstan with kids, first responses are liikely the same. Where ? Albeit there isn’t a lot of information online about Kyrgyzstan travel with kids, so this response is somewhat justified. And we too felt a heightened parental nervousness prior to travel.

Arriving in Bishkek surrounded by the solemn Soviet style of city architecture doesn’t exactly scream welcome to Kyrgyzstan with kids …

But, the good news is that as soon as you head out of the city, travel with kids feels as it does anywhere else; like a new adventure.

Kyrgyzstan is a very welcoming country. We were humbled and welcomed by other families who were genuinely pleased to see us traveling in Kyrgyzstan with kids. We traveled around the rural areas with a driver, and felt safe in the country with kids.

The landscape of Kyrgyzstan is exciting and varied; perfect for children. Our kids loved the freedom of being outdoors.

At Chong-Kemin they easily made themselves at home making homemade bows and arrows with local kids.

In Song Kol they were in awe of the local boys riding horses and donkeys and jumped at any chance to spend time with them. And at Issyk-Kul they swam in the biggest of Kyrgyzstan’s lakes and watched kids practising training with an eagle.

Experiencing that kind of nomadic lifestyle in Kyrgyzstan with kids really is the most incredible opportunity for learning and adventure.

Hospitality in Kyrgyzstan is one of the best stories from our travels. Kyrgyz people are somewhat shy on meeting, but welcoming without question.

Don’t be concerned by the language barrier. We found that even without language we found we could understand and enjoy meeting locals and especially learning about the nomadic lifestyle of Kyrgyzstan.

It feels like a real honour to be welcomed into the homes of nomadic families, farmers, herders and Kyrgyz families.

And one of the best things about travel to Kyrgyzstan with kids is that Kyrgyz people love children. The boys were given sweets and biscuits everywhere we went. Families we met and stayed with welcomed them and genuinely seemed to be thrilled to have them play with their kids.

In Karakol, we spent four days in between Bokonbaevo and Kazakhstan, and met our drivers family. He ended up giving his boy a day off school especially to hang out with us. We couldn’t speak as little Russian and they spoke English, but we went out for dinner with the whole family and his wife even gave us all haircuts!

Hospitality in Kyrgyzstan is definitely an asset of Kyrgyz traditions.

Travel to Kyrgyzstan – Money

The local currency in Kyrgyzstan is called the  som . It exists in bills and coins, with the largest denomination of note 5000 KGS (about $65 USD).

ATM’s are common in the cities and larger towns, but definitely carry cash with you to Song Kol as the nearest town is half a days drive away.

• Tip: At bigger hotels in Bishkek and other cities you might be able to pay by card, but at smaller guesthouses you will be expected to pay in cash.

Licensed money exchange booths (marked  obmen valyot ) will exchange US dollars and other major currencies. In Karakol we found a money-changer next door to a bank to exchange Kyrgyz som for Kazakh tenge .

• Tip: It is always a good idea to carry US dollars on you for travel in Central Asia.

Bargaining is common in Kyrgyzstan. It’s definitely worth negotiating when buying souvenirs at the bazaar as prices are often initially inflated for tourists. (We learnt this the hard way trying to buy souvenirs at Osh Bazaar).

Travel to Kyrgyzstan – Budget

Heres the catch. In theory, backpacking or travel to Kyrgyzstan on a budget is doable. Quite doable in fact. However, in our case we were travelling Kyrgyzstan with kids and we didn’t quite know what to expect.

We booked ahead to confirm a tour with a CBT office and this isn’t cheap. But it made it easy, and accommodation, meals and transport were included in the price for the days we were on the tour.

As a guide for budget travel to Kyrgyzstan , here are some of the costs we found:

• Samsy/streetfood snack: 50 som
• Bottle of water: 40 som
• Domestic beer: 150 som
• Entry to Burana Tower: 150 som per adult
• Roadside cafe lunch meal: 100-150 som
• Restaurant meal in Karakol: 600-1200 som
• Hotel in Bishkek: US $50-70

Communications: Phone and wifi

Kyrgyzstan has two main telecommunications operators; Megacom and Beeline. Mobile internet is not expensive with either provider, and tourist/short-stay packages are available.

Wifi is available in accommodation in the city, and we found good wifi in Karakol as well. 3G is available in the larger towns, although very spotty driving between sights along the south side of Issyk Kul. Roaming on an international sim should work in Kyrgyzstan as well.

Kyrgyzstan has a wide range of accommodation options. Looking online for hostels in Bishkek, you will find everything from budget range dorm-style hostels to top end hotels. We stayed in a total of five different yurtstays/homestays and guesthouses during our time in Kyrgyzstan. I booked the accommodation in Bishkek and Karakol online through booking.com. The yurt stays and homestay in Chong-Kemin were booked for us by Kyrgyz Tourism , based in Bishkek.

Staying in a yurt stay means basic accommodation, but the best thing about any homestay in Kyrgyzstan is that is likely includes breakfast and sometimes even dinner.

• Bishkek: Hotel Koisha
• Chong-Kemin/Boo Jeptes Area: Homestay
• Song-Kol Lake: Yurtstay
• Bokonbaevo: Yurtstay
• Karakol: Jamilya Eje’s Guesthouse

Hotel Koisha in Bishkek is a great place to start. The family room has two seperate rooms and a private bathroom. And you wouldn’t guess it from the outside, but the hotel has a huge courtyard, kitchen, outdoor kitchen and BBQ area, and indoor/outdoor common space.

The hotel is only 100m from Osh Bazaar, and affordable at US $38 per night for a family room. I would recommend Hotel Koisha as a good choice for arrival in Bishkek. It made day one for us in Kyrgyzstan with kids feel safe and smooth.

In Karakol, Jamilya Eje’s Guesthouse was a great find. We stayed four nights, relaxing in between our Kyrgyzstan tour and starting our next leg over the border to Kazakhstan . The quadruple room is a decent size with a double bed and two single beds. Cost: US $55 per night. Dinner is available in the restaurant room most nights. Breakfast is included. The guesthouse is in walking distance of playgrounds in Karakol and the main Karakol Bazaar.

Getting around Kyrgyzstan

The main ways to travel within Kyrgyzstan are by private taxi, marshrutkas (shared taxi van) or bus.

In Bishkek and Karakol we used taxis to get around. Taxis are cheap and it is easy for your hostel or hotel to call and book a taxi if you need to go somewhere. On the street you can wave down a registered taxi vehicle and negotiate a fixed price for a ride.

Marshrutkas are a a form of shared taxi, most commonly a minivan and are the most common form of transport. They act as buses, departing from central stations in the larger towns and cities and bus stops in rural areas. Some are scheduled but most line up and wait until they are full before departing.

• Tip: In a smaller marshrutkas is you pay for all four seats it will essentially act a private taxi).

We booked a driver for our time in Kyrgyzstan through Kyrgyz Tourism , based in Bishkek.

• Tip: I recommend you email Aisha at Kyrgyz Tourism who is amazing to deal with.

She answered all of my questions and was fantastic in understanding and adapting a tour that would suit us to get around Kyrgyzstan with the kids.

One challenge in our travels to Kyrgyzstan

High altitude temperatures at Song-Kol lake mean it gets COLD! Early September is technically summer, but it hits zero degrees at night time.

Arriving in Kyrgyzstan having traveled for months prior in South East and East Asia, we were traveling light and had only been in temperate climates. (Not to mention arriving directly to Kyrgyzstan travel after the past few weeks sweltering in the Karakalpakstan desert and taking an overnight train across the desert in Uzbekistan !).

We knew Song-Kol Lake would take us to the highest point of our travels for the year and in truth we were fine. The kids had long pants and layered up with singlets, long sleeves, jumpers, and light jackets.

Our host Mum at our yurt camp even came in during the night to re-stock our yurt fire with cow poo. BUT , we could have been better prepared.

Our driver lent me a warm jumper to wear under my light jacket, and I have to be honest – I was so appreciative!

If we went again…

Now with hindsight, if we went again we would head to the op-shop in Bishkek to stock up with warm clothes BEFORE hitting sub-zero temperatures at Song-Kol lake.

There are plenty of op-shops in Kyrgyzstan (they get knock-offs and near-new labelled clothing directly from South Korea ), but we didn’t think of that before heading out of the city.

Stock up with jackets or jumpers first!

Useful links for travel to Kyrgyzstan and beyond…

These are the companies we use while traveling fulltime as a family and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel. 

• Booking.com  – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. And it’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally. (We love their flexible cancellation policy!).
• Skyscanner – This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner!
• GetYourGuide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world. It includes everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
• SafetyWing  – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country. 
• World Nomads   – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home). Make sure you have insurance for your Kyrgyzstan travel and adventures!

Read more about traveling in Central Asia

• What makes Silk Road flatbreads so fabled? 
• Uzbekistan: A complete travel guide to Uzbekistan. 
• The greatest gift of travel: We found it in Uzbekistan. 
• Taking an overnight train to Nukus, Karakalpakstan. 
• Border crossing: Karkara, Kyrgyzstan to Keten, Kazakhstan.
• Visiting human disaster at the disappearing Aral Sea in Muynak.
• 9 Kyrgyz foods to try (plus one that’s optional).

We hope you enjoyed our Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide and feel inspired for the adventure of travel to Kyrgyzstan! Leave us a comment if you have any questions about Kyrgyzstan travel. We truly enjoyed it and hope you do too!

Wondering about itineraries?  Questions about schooling?  See our Family Travel Guides and FAQ here . 

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1 thought on “Kyrgyz’ what?! A complete travel guide for Kyrgyzstan.”

Hey there, author! I just finished reading your travel guide on Kyrgyzstan, and I couldn’t resist dropping a comment. First off, let me say, wow! Your article is like a virtual tour of this incredible country. It’s clear that you have a genuine passion for exploring new places, and that enthusiasm shines through every word.

Your detailed descriptions of Kyrgyzstan’s landscapes, from the rugged mountains to the serene lakes, had me daydreaming about my next adventure. And your practical tips, like the advice on local cuisine and the importance of respecting the culture, are invaluable for anyone planning a trip there. I also loved the personal anecdotes you sprinkled throughout the article; it made me feel like I was right there with you, experiencing everything firsthand.

I’m seriously considering Kyrgyzstan as my next travel destination, all thanks to your inspiring article. Keep up the fantastic work, and please keep sharing your adventures with us! Can’t wait to see where you’ll take us next. Safe travels!

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Caravanistan

The Silk Road Travel Guide

All countries in Central Asia have a lot of natural capital, but none manage to present it as well as Kyrgyzstan.

The main tourism highlights are accessible and inexpensive, it’s easy to get away from the few places where tourists congegrate and authentic experiences of nomad life, post-Soviet life and animal life can be had at every step. Ecotourism projects are running smoothly: hiking, horse riding and yurtstays can be arranged easily with the benefits going to those who need it the most.

With visa-free travel now available for citizens of most wealthy countries, and better flight connections with Europe and the Far East, Kyrgyzstan is poised to become the new darling of the outdoor community, if it isn’t so already.

Table of Contents

• Explore Kyrgyzstan’s stunning mountains on foot , on horseback or on skis
• Stay in a yurt, meet the locals and get to know their semi-nomadic ways
• Watch a game of kok boru or see eagle hunters at work
• Chill out at a beautiful mountain lake like Song Kol , Issyk-Kul or Sary-Chelek
• Have a bowl of kymis (fermented mare’s milk)

Those are 5 quintessential experiences you are likely to have in Kyrgyzstan. It’s just a sample, though. We explore some more ideas in our list of 46 great things to do in Kyrgyzstan .

Itineraries

It makes little sense to try and propose a standard itinerary for Kyrgyzstan; hiking and staying in a yurt can be done in any part of the country, so it really just depends on your preference with regards to comfort, accessibility, other tourists and the landscapes on offer.

Also note: people with their own bicycle, motorcycle, jeep, or those with a tour company driver, will find it much easier to get off the beaten track compared to backpackers relying on public transport and shared taxis.

The map above highlights the most common tourist routes across Kyrgyzstan. The blue routes are accessible by public transport, for the red routes you need to have your own wheels, or get a driver.

If you are looking to book a horse ride or a yurt stay on the spot, this can be done in each of the towns on the map, the main tourist nodes of Kyrgyzstan.

Song Kul (4) is a bit special. It’s not the place to book anything, as there is no signal on this high mountain lake, but besides its status as a major attraction, it can serve as a kind of roundabout to cross from east to west. Backpackers relying on public transport usually go from the east of the country to the western Osh (6) / Pamir-Alay (7) area via Bishkek (1). It’s a long way overland, so the Osh-Bishkek flight is a popular alternative.

More independent travelers can use the lonely red routes.

North and East Kyrgyzstan

Bishkek is the capital of Kyrgyzstan, its biggest city and main transport hub. It’s unlikely to be the main reason you wanted to visit Kyrgyzstan, but it can teach you a lot about Kyrgyzstan’s recent past and tumultuous present.

The Issyk-Kul region east of the capital is the next logical move in many itineraries. Here you can find what Kyrgyzstan is all about in a small, easy-to-access area. Alpine lakes and mountain peaks, white water fit for rafting. Broad jailoo pastures with shepherds, horses and yurts.

With 1 or 2 weeks time, there’s no need to look any further if you are looking for a trekking holiday with a cultural touch.

To cool down from all the hiking and horse riding, Issyk-Kul has beaches. Karakol and Kochkor are the 2 main gateway towns to the lakes and mountains beyond.

Between the plains of the north and south, it’s all mountains in Central Kyrgyzstan . There are no big population centers here, only small towns and villages, and shepherd yurts on the high meadows in summer.

In the east, the Naryn region has not seen the same level of interest among hikers as other parts of Kyrgyzstan. The central Kazarman area is also one you have all to yourself.

Song Kol Lake on the other hand, smack-bang in the middle of the country at an altitude over 3000 m, is one of Kyrgyzstan’s biggest tourist draws. It is a beautiful area with glamping possibilities for those who enjoy it. If you don’t like the yurt camps on the lake shore, you can explore the surrounding mountains. Just follow the sheep trails.

On the western side of the lake, Suusamyr’s lower altitude green hills are known to produce top-of-the-range meat and dairy products.

• Southern Kyrgyzstan

At the edge of the Ferghana Valley, Osh , Kyrgyzstan’s southern capital, has been playing an important role in travel itineraries since the days of Silk Road caravans. Placed centrally between China and Tajikistan’s Pamir Highway to the east, and valley towns like Andijan, Khujand , Ferghana and Kokand to the west, it’s difficult to miss.

As a busy bazaar town, Osh is a good place to prepare for the next leg of your journey. But it can also teach you a lot about the history of Central Asia, and Kyrgyzstan’s current social and political challenges.

Beyond Osh, the mountains beckon once more. The Pamir-Alay range south of Osh gives travelers a taste of Tajikistan’s Pamirs. You can stop over for a night to admire 7134 metre-high Peak Lenin on your way to Tajikistan, or take a tent and spend 3-5 days (there’s always room for more) on foot or on horseback in some of Kyrgyzstan’s highest and most beautiful mountain territory.

Heading north towards Bishkek, Arslanbob  is a fixture on the tourist route, thanks to a splendid homestay network in a wonderful setting. Between Arslanbob and Bishkek, there are detours for the more persistent, like the quiet beauty of the Suusamyr region, the Talas area , homeland of national hero Manas or the national park surrounding Sary-Chelek lake .

Off the beaten track

First-ascent climbers, dedicated trekkers, independent kayakers, hard-nosed cyclists and long-haul horse riders: Kyrgyzstan is your oyster. If you’re not outdoorsy but would like to simply experience Kyrgyzstan away from the famous sights: you can find a homestay anywhere. You just have to arrive; before you know it, you have become part of village life.

A rail connection exists between Bishkek and Moscow, and with Tashkent in summer. Bishkek is the country’s flight hub. Osh also hosts international flights. Several local companies offer inexpensive flights between Osh and Bishkek ( forum Q&A ).

For all other places: if you do not have your own means of transport, you will be dependent on minibuses (marshrutkas) and (shared) taxis to take you places within Kyrgyzstan. They leave when full. If you want more comfort or leave earlier, pay for the other seats.

Ride-hailing and taxi apps are available.

Driving Kyrgyzstan is a great way to get around, and car and motorbike rental is a booming business – book in advance if you are coming in summer. There are some great routes for cyclists too.

For cross-border transport, see Kyrgyzstan’s border crossings and the transport guides for Bishkek and Osh .

Winter transport

As soon as winter falls over Kyrgyzstan, many places hidden behind high passes become very difficult to reach over land because of snow. The passage to Osh and the  Irkeshtam and Torugart  passes to China can get blocked because of heavy snowfall or avalanches. Snow is cleared quickly on these main roads, but take possible delays into account when planning a winter trip. Song Kol and the Naryn-Jalalabad road are difficult to access in winter.

Mudslides in spring are not a problem, unlike in Tajikistan. Between May and October all parts of the country are usually easily accessible.

• Self-drive in Kyrgyzstan
• Trains in Kyrgyzstan
• Cycling in Kyrgyzstan

Practical details

Have a look first to see if you need a visa for Kyrgyzstan . It is a pretty safe country, all things considered, with traffic as the main danger. We discuss possible concerns for various types of people in detail on the safety in Central Asia page .

Health-wise , there are a few things you could worry about: diarrhea, smog, altitude sickness, tick-borne encephalitis and rabies.

Generally speaking, food in the region is unhealthy and of little variety, based primarily on meat, fat, pasta and dairy products. Few tourists become fans of the tastes of Central Asia. Unless you are a vegan, you should at least try kymys  (fermented horse milk) and kurt (salty cheese balls) in Kyrgyzstan, though. We discuss your options as a picky eater .

Exchanging money and using ATMs is easy in Kyrgyzstan. Paying by card, less so. Buying a sim card and getting mobile internet is also not an issue at the moment, and internet is almost fully accessible without VPN. More details in our articles on money and banking and communications .

For orientation , Maps.me and 2GIS are often better than Google maps. If you are a reader, have a look at  our favourite books on Kyrgyzstan .

The best time to visit Kyrgyzstan is the winter season from December to March, and the short summer during July and August.

In winter, you can ski or go horse riding while staying in yurts looking out over snow-blanketed landscapes with not a tourist in sight. In summer, all passes are snow-free for hikers, tourist events are held, and yurts are set up by shepherds.

The shoulder season is not the best time to be in Kyrgyzstan.

In spring (April-June) the snow has disappeared from the ski slopes, but the high passes are still covered, severely limiting your trekking options. The winter ski yurts are gone but the shepherd yurts of summer only set up in July and August.

Autumn (September-November) is the same. The yurts have gone, and the snow has started covering the passes, but not the slopes.

This is the time to visit  Uzbekistan ,  Kazakhstan  and  Turkmenistan  – the perfect weather to explore their deserts, steppes and cities. A more detailed seasonal breakdown can be found at When to visit Kyrgyzstan , and our Kyrgyzstan events calendar .

Budget and accommodation

Kyrgyzstan has very affordable travel services. Count on 2-3$ for a basic meal, 5-10$ for a hostel bed, 10-15$ for a yurtstay with half board, and a double room in a decent hotel starting at 25$.

Villages have homestays, mountains have yurtstays. Cities have hotels and hostels aplenty, as long as you are not looking for a luxury experience. We give some more tips for finding the right place in the accommodation chapter .

We go in depth on the budget question at the Kyrgyzstan travel budget page .

Tours and tour operators

We work together with a select few tour operators in Kyrgyzstan that, each in their own way, have developed the procedures, network and infrastructure to keep quality of service consistently high, even with the wide array of interests from the Caravanistan audience.

Talant is probably the best-connected, best-informed man in tourism in the south of Kyrgyzstan. He’s done a lot to develop the talents of youngsters in Osh and the Alay mountains.

Sergey’s team is our go-to for high-end jeep tours of Kyrgyzstan; he is always coming up with creative ways to surprise his guests.

There is also Vlad for car rental .

Have a look at our  Kyrgyzstan tour template suggestions for ideas, or simply send us  your own ideas for a customised tour .

Delve deeper

Find out more about Kyrgyzstan’s different regions.

• Issyk-Kul region : Issyk-Kul and the mountains surrounding it have everything you need for a great outdoor holiday with a cultural touch.
• The North : Bishkek and the mountains around. No one goes to Talas (yet).
• The South : Osh is the second capital and the gateway to China, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Arslanbob is a highlight. Beyond, there’s more stunning mountain scenery.
• The Center : A huge mountainous area. Song Kul is the star attraction. Beyond, much more mountains, lakes, yurts and jailoos.

More country guides

• Turkmenistan
• Afghanistan

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• Things to do
• Accommodation
• Budget estimates , communication & banking
• Visas & border crossings
• When to visit & events calendar
• Self-driving
• Northern Kyrgyzstan
• Central Kyrgyzstan
• Issyk-Kul region

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Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide

Updated May 2024 ,  The Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide was originally written in April 2018

Kyrgyzstan is a highlight for many travelers that head to Central Asia with its alpine sceneries, fascinating culture, and its relaxed visa policies for many countries. Not to mention Kyrgyzstan is an easy and fairly inexpensive destination to visit thanks to  community based tourism  projects.

The Kyrgyz Republic sits smack in the middle of Central Asia at the crossroads of the ancient Silk Road. The entire country is pretty mountainous with nearly 90% of its land being dotted with the Tien Shan Mountains. So if you want a taste of nomadic life, high altitude peaks, and warm traditions, Kyrgyzstan is the perfect trip for you.

Here is what you’ll find in this Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide:

Need Travel Insurance and Evacuation Services for Kyrgyzstan?

Start shopping for travel insurance plans over at  IATI Insurance . Readers of the Adventures of Nicole get a 5% discount off your plan.

The Adventures of Nicole partners with Global Rescue to offer the world’s leading medical evacuation and security advisory services. To travel with peace of mind, shop evacuation coverage at Global Rescue .

Need some visual inspiration?  34 Photos That Will Make You Book a Ticket to Kyrgyzstan

Practical Information

The official currency of Kyrgyzstan is the  Kyrgyz Som  ( KGS ). The current exchange rate ( May 2024 ) is:

$1 USD = 89.30 KGS

ATMs are widely available in Osh and Bishkek. Many ATMs dispense both KGS and USD.

Tipping isn’t something that’s widely taken off in Kyrgyzstan, although people who work in the tourism sector will probably expect a tip. Restaurant bills will typically add a 10-15% service charge onto the bill as well, so tipping in restaurants is not usual.

Kyrgyz and Russian are the official languages of Kyrgyzstan. Uzbek and Tajik are spoken in the Fergana Valley. You can find Dungan speakers scattered about the country in Sokuluk, Ivanovka, Karakol, Osh, and Bishkek. 

I highly recommend learning some basic Russian and/or Kyrgyz phrases, as well as learning to read the Cyrillic alphabet. Grab the  Lonely Planet Central Asia Phrasebook  to help you learn some useful phrases on the road.

Islam is the dominant religion in Kyrgyzstan with 80% of the population practicing the religion. Christians, of mostly Russian Orthodox faith, make up 17% of the population and 3% of the country’s people practice all other religions. The majority of Kyrgyzstan’s Muslims are non-denominational.

Plan the perfect trip: A two week Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan itinerary

What To Wear

As Kyrgyzstan is mostly an Islamic country, conservative dress is the best practice especially in rural parts of the country. Women do not have to cover their hair, and you will see many Kyrgyz women without any sort of head covering out and about. The only time you need to cover hair is when entering a mosque.

In cities like Bishkek and Osh people wear clothing seen in many other western cities.

How long to spend in Kyrgyzstan is largely up to you and what your plans are. Many nationalities get 60 days visa-free giving you roughly two months to explore.

One of the nice things about Kyrgyzstan is that it’s not huge and many of the hotspots most who visit Kyrgyzstan want to see are easily reached by public transport (shared taxi or marshrutka).

Summer is by and far the most popular time to visit. From June to September is when alpine treks are the most accessible. Kyrgyzstan can also make for a great winter destination with several ski resorts around the country.

The most common way for getting around in Kyrgyzstan is by shared taxi (marshrutka). These are 15 passenger minibuses that leave when full and pick up people along the way, so sometimes they get quite crowded. There are some shared taxis and 4×4’s that will act as shared taxis as well.

Hitchhiking is simple in Kyrgyzstan, however, you’ll probably have difficulty finding a free ride as most anyone with a car in Kyrgyzstan is a taxi driver. So do expect to pay something if hitchhiking.

Most enter the country by plane through  Osh  or  Bishkek , or by land from  Kazakhstan ,  Uzbekistan ,  Tajikistan , or  China . You can read up on Kyrgyz border crossings (as well as the whole of Central Asia) on  Caravanistan . Make sure to check the  forums  for information from recent travelers.

Note that as of 2022 all Tajik-Kyrgyz border crossings are still closed to foreign travelers owing to the Vorukh Conflict.

Kyrgyzstan has the most relaxed visa policy of all of Central Asia with many visitors being able to visit visa-free.

Check out the  Central Asia Visa Guide  for more info

Kyrgyz food is similar to its Central Asian neighbors, very meat-centric, and can be somewhat bland in taste to some. Generally, food isn’t a highlight of traveling Kyrgyzstan or the region, but that isn’t to say that there’s no good food in Kyrgyzstan.

A great way to introduce yourself to Kyrgyz food is at the Osh Bazaar in Bishkek, where you can find just about any Kyrgyz food being served up.

The best meal I ever had in Kyrgyzstan was a  feast put on by a Dungan family in Karakol  (you can also find great Dungan dishes at Dordoi Bazaar, just outside Bishkek).

In Bishkek and Osh, you can expect to find Kyrgyz dishes as well as International food served up at restaurants. Outside cities you can expect to find a lot of the following foods.

For the best food in all of Kyrgyzstan read why  Foodies Should Flock to Karakol

• Plov – Essentially a plate of greasy fried rice that is dished up all over Central Asia. Typically will have mutton or beef, shredded carrot, and garlic fried up in it. Sometimes you’ll see it with onions, peppers, garbanzo beans, and more.
• Non – Non is a flatbread that accompanies just about every meal in Kyrgyzstan. You can buy fresh non with pretty designs in bazaars in the cities and towns.
• Baursok – Delicious little fried pieces of bread commonly served as an appetizer.
• Manti – Manti are dumplings served up all over Central Asia, Russia, Caucasus, and Western China. Typically they are stuffed with spiced meat and onion, sometimes even some other vegetables. Sometimes you can find manti being served with mashed potato or even pumpkin for a change and for those vegetarians and vegans wanting to visit this corner of the world.
• Besbarmak – boiled meat and noodles with an oniony sauce served over it that is typically eaten with your hands.
• Shashlik – Skewers of meat, typically mutton or beef cooked over a grill. Widely available throughout Central Asia. Sometimes you can find chicken or even veggie shashliks.
• Kuurdak – Usually made of mutton, mutton fat, and onions. Kuurdak translates out to ‘roasted fried’ in Kyrgyz.
• Shorpo – A Central Asian soup of meat broth from mutton or beef, spices, and various vegetables- usually potato and onion.
• Lagman – A Chinese noodle dish that is very popular in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Xinxiang, and Kazakhstan and considered a national dish of the Uyghur and Dungan peoples.
• Ashlan Fu — A spicy, cold noodle soup brought to Kyrgyzstan by the waves of Dungan people who escaped over the mountains from China over the years.
• Kurut – Dried yogurt balls you’ll find sold all over the country.
• Kumis – An alcoholic drink of fermented milk.
• Fruits – In summer try melons, strawberry, raspberry, cherry, apricot, plum, and nectarine.

*If you’re a vegetarian plan to eat A LOT of potatoes, non, tomatoes and cucumbers. Kyrgyz eat a lot of meat, actually more than almost anywhere else on Earth. With that said, it’s not impossible to travel to Kyrgyzstan as a vegetarian or vegan but it will be difficult at times. I traveled Kyrgyzstan with a vegan and a vegetarian on my first trip, they survived.

Where To Go In Kyrgyzstan

The most popular places to visit in Kyrgyzstan are Bishkek, Osh, Issykul, and Song Kul. There are tons of trekking ( and horse-trekking ) opportunities in the country that you could easily stay the entire 60 days of your entry and still have more to do.

Bishkek & Around

If you are only visiting Bishkek on a brief trip to Kyrgyzstan there are several things you can go do around Bishkek to fill up your time. Naturally with Bishkek being the capital city, it is also the largest in the country.

Bishkek  isn’t the most exciting city, but that’s a part of its charm. Traveling extensively in Central Asia can be exhausting, so the fact that Bishkek doesn’t have 1,001 attractions makes it a great city to relax in.

A few things to check out while in Bishkek include Osh Bazaar, Ala-Too Square, Dubovy Park, and the State Historical Museum (whenever it opens up again). If you haven’t gotten your fill of Lenin Statues in Central Asia there is one located right behind the State Museum (he used to reside in Ala-Too Square until 2003). There are several other parks within the city, as well as a couple of western-style shopping malls.

Check out:  10 Things to do in Bishkek

Make sure and pay a visit to Osh Bazaar while you’re in Bishkek as it’s a great place to try out local Kyrgyz dishes. Popular Central Asian restaurants to try in Bishkek are  Navat  and Chaikhana Jalalabad. If you’re tired of the typical Central Asian fare, grab some great Korean food and coffee at  Chicken Star , a pizza from  Dolce Vita , or Pur-Pur for Georgian food.

For places to stay in Bishkek I can personally recommend Viva Hotel, and Hotel Asia Mountains 1.  Hotel Asia Mountains 1 , is located a bit south of Chuy Avenue but is in a quiet neighborhood near the train tracks. The same owners have another similar hotel called  Hotel Asia  nearby. Another highly recommended hostel in Bishkek is the  Apple Hostel .

Where To Stay In Bishkek

Budget Apple Hostel |  Booking.com  |  Hotels.com  |

Midrange Salut Hotel |  Booking.com  |  Hotels.com  |

Splurge Hotel Asia Mountains 1 |  Booking.com  |  Hotels.com  |

Just a quick 30 km drive south of Bishkek will take you to Ala Archa National Park. There are several treks that can be done ranging from day trips or longer. There is an 80 KGS entry fee for foreigners at the park gate.

There are marshrutka that leave from  Osh Bazaar , look for  Marshrutka #265 . It will take you to the park gate in the summertime (outside summer it usually stops about 7 km before in Kashka-Suu). Marshrutka #265 to Kashka-Suu will set you back 30 KGS (each way), but if you are wanting to go to the park gate and it doesn’t appear that the marshrutka will continue on, you can usually talk the driver into taking you there for another 50 KGS.

The first marshrutka from Osh Bazaar departs around 8 am, and the final one returning from Ala Archa departs at 5:30 pm. You can also arrange a taxi for 2000 KGS, which can be split amongst other travelers.

Alamedin Valley & Tyoplye Klyuchi

A great alpine valley perfect for a day or overnight trip from Bishkek. There is no entry fee to visit the valley. On the walk out to Alamedin Valley just after the end of the road, you can make a stop for Tyoplye Klyuchi for a soak in the mineral baths (150 KGS pp).

Sokuluk Canyon

Take  Marshruka #367  from the Osh Bazaar in Bishkek (25 KGS), and then find a taxi in Belogorka Village (750-1,000 KGS) to reach Sokuluk Canyon. The canyon is known for its 60 meter waterfall.

The not-so-famous leaning tower. Burana Tower is an 11th-century minaret that stands (leans) about 24m high. Originally Burana (then Balasagun) was the ancient Sogdian capital.

Take  Marshrutka #353  from the Bishkek’s East Bus Station to Tokmok Village for 40 KGS. Once in Tokmok, find a taxi driver to take you to/from Burana (plan to pay no more than 300 KGS roundtrip).

The entrance fee is 150 KGS for Burana Tower, open 9 am-5 pm. Don’t miss the field of balbals from the 6th-10th centuries. Balbals are ancient Turkic gravestones that bear some similarity to North American Totem Poles. Burana can be easily visited as a day trip from Bishkek, or as a stop en route to Issykul.

Plan a day trip to  Burana Tower & The Sunday Tokmok Animal Market

Northern Issykul

Issykul is the second largest alpine lake in the world behind Lake Titicaca. The Lake never freezes due to its small percentage of salinity and thermal activity underneath, which is why it was given the name Issykul, meaning ‘hot lake’ in Kyrgyz. The northern coast of Issykul has numerous places of interest for most tourists.

Chong-Kemin Valley

With great trekking and beautiful sceneries, Chong Kemin Valley will be well worth the visit. Chong Kemin is one of Kyrgyzstan’s national parks and runs 80 km in length. Several treks can be done in Chong Kemin ranging from day hikes to 6+ days.

Activities to do in Chong Kemin Valley include trekking to Jasy Kul, Kul Kanur, or Kul-Tor; white water rafting, bicycling, horseback riding, and steaming it up in an old Soviet-style banya.

You can take a marshrutka from the East Bus Station in Bishkek to the village of Kaindy in Chong Kemin Valley for 120 KGS. You can book homestays in Chong Kemin Valley through  CBT  (Community-based Tourism in Kyrgyzstan). There are guesthouses available in  Tar Suu  starting at 1,780 KGS per night per person.

There is a 3 day, 2 night trek that can be done from Baikishi-Jailuu to Kul Kanur and Kul Tor lakes up through 3400m Tamchy Pass to Achyk Tash Jailoo and finally to end at Tamchy Village, just 35 km west of Cholpon Ata.

Cholpon Ata

By summer Cholpon Ata is Kyrgyzstan’s premier beach resort. The main activities to do around Cholpon Ata is swimming in Lake Issykul, jet skiing, and relaxing.

The main attraction for most tourists are the petroglyphs dating back to the late Bronze age. From Cholpon Ata center walk up Akmatbay Ata to the end of the asphalt and veer left onto Almakuchov and walk past the iron gate.

Marshrutka in the summer connect Cholpon Ata with Bishkek several times per day from Bishkek’s East Bus Station to the Avtovokzal in Cholpon Ata for 250 KGS. Marshrutka bound for Karakol leave from the Karakol Bus Stand for 120 KGS.

There is a wide range of accommodation choices in Cholpon Ata,  shop them here .

The first three  World Nomad Games  took place just outside of Cholpon Ata in 2014, 2016, and 2018. This biennial event is basically the olympics of Central Asian nomads. The first  World Nomad Games  took place in 2014 and has grown in popularity over time.

The 2020 games (now postponed to 2021 due to the pandemic) will be held in Turkey, location TBA. But, if the World Nomad Games ever return to Cholpon Ata, its a spectacle not to be missed. I was blown away by the 2018 games.

Where To Stay In Cholpon Ata

Budget Issykul Visit |  Booking.com  |

Midrange Sunny Beach Hotel |  Booking.com  |

Splurge Kapriz Issykul Resort |  Booking.com  |  Agoda.com  |

Chong Ak-Suu Valley

35 km east of Cholpon Ata is village of Grigorievka. The main highlight here is to leave north from the village to Chong Ak-Suu Valley. In the summertime you will find yurtstays along the valley and horse trekking is a popular activity.

Karakol itself isn’t the most exciting town, but it is a great place to base yourself between trekking or skiing destinations in the area. If you happen to be in Karakol on a Sunday, do pay a visit to the Animal Market that takes place from dawn until 10 am with locals selling livestock.

Other popular spots around Karakol to check out are the Holy Trinity Cathedral, the Dungan Mosque, and the Ak-Tilek Bazaar.

Make sure and sample some Dungan foods at the Ak-Tilek Bazaar, and if you’d like to go to a Dungan house to experience a family dinner definitely opt to set up a dinner tour with  Destination Karakol here . Trust me, the 1,400 KGS per person is well worth the experience as I found Dungan food to be the absolute best dishes I had in Central Asia.

Plan your visit:  The Karakol Travel Guide + 13 Things To Do In Karakol

Drool over  Karakol’s Best Dishes  & plan your food tour of the city

From my own personal experience, I can recommend  Hotel Amir  and  Memo’s Guesthouse for accommodations. You can shop for additional Karakol accommodations  here .

Karakol is a transport hub on Lake Issykul. Several buses, minibusses, and shared taxis per day depart Karakol along the northern shore to Bishkek (300-600 KGS) and stopping in Cholpon Ata (100-300 KGS).

From Karakol along the southern shore to Balykchy buses, minibusses, and shared taxis stopping in/near Bokonbayevo, Barskoon and Tamga depart a few times per day.

Transport to Balykchy should cost between 200-400 KGS, Barskoon (80-200 KGS), and Tamga (80-200 KGS).

Karkara Valley

A visit to Karkara Valley is a perfect stop for those traveling between Karakol and Almaty via the border post at Kegen. There’s no public transport, so you will need to arrange drivers (on either side of the border).

Karkara Valley can be used as a base camp to visit South and North Inylchek Glaciers, Khan Tengri Peak, and Pobeda Peak.

Activities include trekking, horseback riding, watching migratory birds, mountain biking, and more. If you happen to be in the valley in late August, definitely check out the Shepherd’s Festival near Char-Kurduk village where you can watch eagle hunting and horse sports. Note that the area is usually open from May until late October.

Read about how you can cross the Karkara Border between Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan  here

Altyn Arashan & Ala-Kul Nature Reserve

Altyn Arashan is a settlement set in the stunningly beautiful Anyior Valley that is easily accessed from Karakol. There are numerous hot springs developments in the valley that can be used for 200 KGS.

There are plenty of trekking opportunities in Altyn Arashan, including the 5 hour trek to reach the face of Palatka Glacier. Another great trek is from Altyn Arashan up and over Ala-Kul Pass to reach Ala-Kul Lake and beyond to the gate of Ala-Kul Nature Reserve.

There is a 250 KGS entrance fee per person for the Ala-Kul Nature Reserve, and a 100 KGS fee per tent per night.

To reach Altyn Arashan you can do so by arranging 4×4 transport to either bring you to Altyn Arashan for 400 KGS, or take the  Marshrutka #350  from Karakol that drops you at Ak-Suu Sanitorium and trek the remaining 14 km between Ak-Suu Sanirotium and Altyn Arashan (the road is one of the worst on Earth and trekking takes about the same amount of time as driving).  Marshrutka #101  runs between Karakol and the gate of Ala-Kul Nature Reserve. There are rooms for rent in Altyn Arashan.

If you want to get off the beaten path when you’re already traveling an off the beaten path country like Kyrgyzstan, then Jyrgalan is the perfect place to explore.

Trekking into the beautiful valley, unique cultural experiences, and Kyrgyz yurtstays all await you here in Jyrgalan. If you want to find out more and arrange treks, tours, and more in the Jyrgalan area, head to  Destination Jyrgalan  to start planning.

Southern Issykul

Southern Issykul is less touristed than the northern side of the saline lake. The south is equally as scenic, but will have a more deserted feel to it, especially in the summer.

This is Switzerland meets  Utah  if that could ever exist. With green alpine forests and burnt red rock cliffs,  Jeti Oguz  is definitely one of the most striking parts of Kyrgyzstan. Visiting Jeti Oguz can easily be visited from Karakol as a day trip, or can be made into a multi-day trek to connect with Altyn Arashan and Ala-Kul.

Don’t miss the ‘Seven Bulls’- the rock formation Jeti Oguz was named after. Broken Heart is another famous sight from Jeti Oguz. Continue from Jeti Oguz to arrive at Kok-Jaiyk, the valley of flowers which will have you thinking you really are in alpine Europe as you trek across the valley of flowers.

If you want to sleep in Jeti Oguz but don’t want to tent it, try  Emir Guesthouse . There is also the Sanatorium that will set you back 800 KGS for a double. 

Marshrutka #371  runs between Jeti Oguz Village and Karakol several times per day for 100 KGS. There is another,  Marshrutka #355  that runs between Korort and Karakol usually leaving in the morning from Korort. Getting a car to take you between Jeti Oguz Village and Korort will only cost 120 KGS for the entire car, and 1,000 KGS between Jeti Oguz Village and Karakol if you don’t want to wait on the marshrutka.

Plan your own visit to Jeti Oguz  here

Barskoon Valley

The little village of Barskoon is a great jumping-off point into the Barskoon Valley, Tamga, and Tosor. If you’d like to arrange horse treks into Barskoon Valley you can easily arrange them from the village.

There is a waterfall worth checking out in Barskoon Valley. The road out here can get quite dusty from the nearby goldmine.

Turn off the main road at the Soviet-era plane (trust me, you won’t miss it) and drive about 2km in to reach Tamga. One of the most fascinating things about Tamga is visiting the cemetery in the town, with a stunning backdrop of the Teskei Ala-Too Mountain Range in the distance.

Tamga is a great jumping-off point for trekking and horse trekking adventures into the Teskei Ala-Too Range. You can arrange 1-3 day treks to Ochincheck Lake and Tamga Gorge, and even a 4 day trek to Chakury Kul. A good option to sleep as well as arrange horse and trekking trips from is the  Teremok .

Skazka Canyon

Red and orange eroded spiny rocks with Issykul in the distance is the attraction to Skazka Canyon, nicknamed Fairytale Canyon. You can easily walk back from Skazka Canyon to nearby Tosor as they’re only about 3.5 km apart, but walking from Tosor to Skazka without a local guide isn’t recommended.

For those wanting to stay beachfront, Tosor is an alternative to Tamga, and just a few km apart. Try  Eldos-Ata Eco Hotel .

Bokonbayevo

Bokonbayevo is southern Issykul’s largest town, but the main reason most tourists pay a visit is to meet an eagle hunter ( the same can be said about nearby Kaji-Sai).If you happen to be around the area in mid-August it would be worth it to make the stop for the Birds of Prey Festival at the yurt camp. Try  Meiman Ordo Yurt Camp  if planning to spend the night. Treks can be arranged from  Bokonbayevo  into the nearby mountains as well.

Central Kyrgyzstan

Central Kyrgyzstan is one of the best regions for exploring Kyrgyzstan’s Central Tien Shan and Teskei Ala-Too Mountains. Tourism in the area is centered around Lake Song Kul, which is a highlight for many traveling in Kyrgyzstan.

Kochkor isn’t much to look at itself but is a great jumping-off point to the nearby mountains as well as Song Kul.

Do make a stop in at Altyn-Kul to purchase felt and handmade crafts from around the Naryn Oblast. You can even get a demonstration of how the women make the felt and even try your hand at it. Altyn-Kul is located right next to  Kochkor’s CBT office .

A mirror-like lake surrounded by green summer pastures, yurt camps, Kyrgyz horse riders, and jagged peaks. Song Kul is the postcard picture that people know of Kyrgyzstan. The yurt camps are around Song Kul from mid-July to mid-September and outside that time the lake is a ghost town.

Be aware that snow can fall any time of year at Song Kul. There are several routes into Song Kul, so you should choose according to your plans and what you’d like to do out there.

The easiest access to the lake is from Kochkor by car. If planning to trek in independently arriving from Kyzart Tuz-Ashu, and from Klemche. Other hikers will opt to trek in from Kyzart and Jumgal, but a local trekking guide is recommended through here. If planning to stay in Kochkor try  Gues thouse B&B , the family is very friendly and makes good meals.

You can shop other  Kochkor  accommodations here.

If you happen to be in the region in July or August and you’re looking for an alternative to Song Kul, Kul Ukok is a great option. The trek to Kul Ukok can be done on horseback or on foot if wanting to arrange a guide you can set one up through CBT in Kochkor.

The trek begins from Kupke which can be reached by taxi from Kochkor for 150-200 KGS to arrive at the trailhead, which is just past Isakaev Village. You can expect to reach the beautiful glacial lake in 6-8 hours depending on your speed and fitness level.

Kyzyl-Oi is a Kyrgyz mountain village of red clay homes surrounded by jagged peaks. It’s a good jumping-off point for trekking, horseback riding, and river rafting in the Ala-Too Mountains.

Kumbel Pass, Balyk Kul, and Char Valley are a few of the excursions you could go on from here. Check out  CBT Kyzyl Oi  for more information and to set up homestays. Elvira’s Homestay in Kyzyl Oi is recommended.

There’s not much in way of must-see sites in Naryn, but it’s a good place to arrange adventures into the mountains and lakes nearby. It’s also a good place to meet other travelers to split costs on activities or transportation as it is a hub for those headed for Osh via Kazarman, Tash-Rabat, and the Tourugart Pass into China.  Search Naryn homestays and hotels here .

To get out of Naryn you’ll find minibus and shared taxi headed for Bishkek (400-600 KGS), Karakol ( 400-600 KGS ), and Kazarman (800-1100 KGS). If you plan to head to Tash-Rabat you’ll need to charter your own taxi (which can obviously be split amongst a group of travelers) for about 3,500 KGS. There is a  CBT office in Naryn  where you can arrange tours, treks, homestays, and cultural experiences.

Kazarman is set with a picturesque backdrop around the not-so-picturesque buildings in town. The main reason most stop in through Kazarman are those getting between Naryn and the Fergana Valley, as well as those headed to Salimaluu Tash.

Usually, Kazarman is only reachable in the summer months as heavy snow blocks both passes connecting it to Naryn and Jalalabad.

A couple shared taxis depart in the morning for Jalalabad on most days taking about 4 hours for 600 KGS. Shared taxis to Bishkek leave in the mornings for 1200-1500 KGS, taking about 12 hours. Cars bound for Naryn don’t leave every day, usually only 1-3 per week. A seat in a shared taxi will usually go for around 800 KGS and take about 5 hours.

If you don’t have time to spare and it looks like the shared taxi isn’t going to fill you can always pay the full 3200 KGS to charter the entire car. You can arrange homestays in Kazarman via  CBT Kazarman .

Sailmaluu Tash

Sailmaluu Tash is one of Central Asia’s best collections of petroglyphs. You will need to buy an entrance ticket to the park from the Sailmaluu Park office in Kazarman for 100 KGS.

Usually, the trip to Sailmaluu Tash is done as a long day trip from Kazarman with a two hour 4×4 ride (each way) and then a steep 6-hour hike to reach the petroglyphs. You can arrange a guide as well as transport through  CBT in Kazarman , Guides typically go for 1,000 KGS for the trip.

The Kyrgyz Fergana Valley

The Kyrgyz Fergana Valley will feel like a completely different country from Bishkek and Issykul for those that have begun their Kyrgyz travels in the north or east. The Fergana Valley can be a bit tumultuous at times when tensions rise between the Kyrgyz, Uzbek, and Tajiks that all inhabit this region with haphazardly drawn borders.

You’ll likely notice that the Kyrgyz Fergana Valley is much hotter than the remainder of the country and has a less Russified feeling and appearance.

Osh  is mainly a jumping-off point for travelers headed to take on the  Pamir Highway  south into  Tajikistan , those headed toward either China or  Uzbekistan , or for further trekking adventures south into the Alay Valley, or into the Fergana Valley. With that said there are a few sites of interest around Osh to keep you occupied for a couple of days.

Osh is Kyrgyzstan’s second-largest city and has over 3,000 years of history. A few things not to miss while in Osh are: Suleiman Too- the impossible to miss craggy mountain smack in the middle of the city with a museum, the Dom Babura, and giving panoramic views of Osh from the top.

The Bazaar, one of the largest in all of Central Asia and the best place to pick up just about anything. The Lenin Statue in the middle of the city is one of the largest in all of Central Asia. And of course, there is the Sunday Animal Market where shepherds bring sheep, goats, cows, and donkeys to sell.

If you’ve been traveling Central Asia for some time and want something different, try Izyum. They have a huge international menu, my favorite is the butter paneer. If you’re looking for a good Central Asian restaurant try Ala-Too. It’s more of a chaikhana style restaurant, I recommend ordering the laghman. You won’t be disappointed.

Plan your stay in Osh with my  Osh Travel Guide

Where To Stay In Osh

Budget Sunny Hostel |  Booking.com  |  Agoda.com  |

Midrange Silk Way Boutique Hotel |  Booking.com  |  Hotels.com  |

Splurge Jannat Resort Osh |  Booking.com  |  Agoda.com  |

For cheap accommodations with a friendly and helpful staff stay over at  Sunny Hostel . For those with a slightly higher budget, you can opt for the comfortable  Silk Way Boutique Hotel . Shop more  Osh accommodations here .

Note that when leaving Osh there are several bus stations and taxi stands that transport departs from. To read a more thorough guide to transport in Osh, and the rest of Kyrgyzstan,  head here .

Jalalabad is Kyrgyzstan’s third-largest city. The only reason that brings most to Jalalabad is a stopover between Kazarman and Osh, Osh and Arslanbob, or Osh and Sary Chelek. You can shop  Jalalabad accommodations here .

The draw to Arslanbob for most tourists is trekking and horseback riding into the Babash-Ata mountains, as well as being home to the largest walnut forest in the world. Arslanbob is mostly an overgrown Uzbek village giving you the opportunity to experience shepherding and rural life.

You can arrange different activities and homestays through  CBT Arslanbob . You can reach Arslanbob by marshrutka from Osh directly for 200 KGS, they depart at 8:30 am and 2:10 pm, but I would recommend arriving at the bus station early. They leave from the new bus station on the northern outskirts of Osh.

If you are coming from Jalalabad you will need to take a marshrutka to Bazarkurgan, and then another from Bazarkurgan to Arslanbob, the entire joinery shouldn’t cost more than 120 KGS.

Sary Chelek

Sary Chelek  is a beautiful mountain lake in the Kyrgyz Fergana Valley that can be reached in about a day from Osh. There is an Osh to Arkit  direct marshrutka  that leaves from Osh’s new bus station on the northern outskirts of the city at 7:45 am every day for 370 KGS. I recommend arriving at the bus station by 7 am, because the day I went the bus did leave early.

You will need to either pay an extortionate amount of money for a taxi from Arkit to Sary Chelek, hitch a ride on one of the passing UAZ dump trucks, or hike the road to the shore of the lake. There are CBT homestays in Sary Chelek, or you can plan to camp at the lake (there is a fee). From Sary Chelek it is possible to do trekking further into the nature reserve.

Read: How to  Visit Sary Chelek

There’s not much to note about Batken, aside from it being the border for the Kyrgyz/Tajik Fergana Valley where you’ll cross to reach Khujand.  Minibus #537  departs Osh for Batken for 300 KGS from the Batken minibus stand at 7:15 am, 8:30 am, 10 am, and 12 pm typically.

Southeastern Kyrgyzstan

The corner of Kyrgyzstan nearing the Chinese border.

Koshoykurgan

Usually is only visited as a quick stop en route between Naryn and Tash Rabat. Koshoykurgan is home to what remains of the walls from the powerful 10th-century city.

Tash Rabat is a small 15th-century caravanserai that was once an important stop along the Silk Road. Tash Rabat can be used as a base for treks into Chatyr-Kul and Kul-Suu, although a border zone permit will need to be arranged through CBT Naryn at least 5 days in advance to trek to both these locations.

There is a yurt camp in Tash Rabat that you can usually sleep at. It is possible to rent horses and ride to Chatyr-Kul and Kul-Suu.

Chatyr-Kul is an alpine lake located near the Chinese border.

A 6-hour hike from Tash Rabat will bring you to the top of the ridgeline overlooking the lake, and another 2 hours down will bring you to the Chatyr-Kul Yurt Camp at the shores of the lake. You can arrange to stay at the yurts at the lake by speaking to the owners of the yurts in Tash Rabat. 

In order to visit Chatyr-Kul, you must obtain a border permit from CBT Naryn , which takes about 5 business days (1,000 KGS) for them to process. All you will need to do is contact  CBT Naryn  and send a copy of your passport info page and they will arrange the permit and have it waiting for you at CBT you arrive. It is possible for 1,700 KGS to get a permit issued in about 1 business day.

Kul-Suu is a lovely turquoise lake set in a rocky canyon near the border with China, that is fairly off the beaten path.  

In order to visit Kul-Suu, you must obtain a border permit from CBT Naryn , which takes about 5 business days (1,000 KGS) for them to process. All you will need to do is contact  CBT Naryn  and send a copy of your passport info page and they will arrange the permit and have it waiting for you at CBT when you arrive. It is possible for 1,700 KGS to get a permit issued in about 1 business day.

The best way to get to Kul-Suu is by getting a taxi to Tash Rabat, then combining a trip to Chatyr-Kul Pass and Kul-Suu, using the Tash Rabat Yurt Camp as a base. You can make a day trip up to Chatyr-Kul Pass and back to Tash Rabat one day and then another day trip to Kul-Suu and back. To arrange trips and tours to Kul-Suu contact  CBT Naryn .

Alay Valley

The Alay Valley is the last bit of Kyrgyzstan before the Tajik border and onto the  Pamir Highway  with views of the ominous Peak Lenin situated right on the border between the two countries. Using Sary Tash as a jumping-off point into the region there are plenty of opportunities for yurt stays, camping, trekking, horseback riding, and more.

Sary Tash is a small village with great views of the mountains all abound and sits at the crossroads of the Irkeshtam Pass into  China , the  Kyzyl-Art Pass  into  Tajikistan , and the road north onto  Osh  and  Bishkek . There isn’t much in Sary Tash per se, but there is a decent trucker style cafe as you pass through town that will take payment in Chinese Yuan and Tajik Somoni (sometimes they can even exchange money).

Shared taxis bound for Osh depart most days for 350 KGS, the Irkeshtam border for 300 KGS, and taxis toward Sary Mogul for 700 KGS.

Head to Sary Mogul, just 30 km west of Sary Tash to take in views of Peak Lenin and around, as well as organize trekking to Tolpur Kul, and trips to Peak Lenin base camp, and more. If going beyond Lake Tolpur, you are supposed to get a border zone permit for 2,054 KGS, which can be arranged by  CBT  or trekking agencies.

Much like the Chinese border zone permit, these can take time to process, so best to get in contact well in advance so that you can pick up the necessary permit.

Peak Lenin is the highest peak in the Pamir-Alai Range, and one of the most accessible and popular 7,000 meter summits in the world. Most who do summit Peak Lenin do so from the Kyrgyz side of the border because it is more straightforward and there aren’t the fees you’d incur if climbing the Tajik side.

Note that you are supposed to have the border zone permit to visit Peak Lenin or the base camp at Achik Tash, so arrange that with  CBT  to avoid any troubles.

Trekking Kyrgyzstan

The trekking opportunities in Kyrgyzstan are endless. Here are just a few of the treks that can be taken in the country and links to more information on them.

Around Bishkek

• Ala Archa National Park  1-2 day treks.
• Alamedin Valley  1-2 day treks.
• Altyn Arashan to Ala Kul  3-5 day trek.
• Archa Tor Pass  3-5 day trek.
• Keskenkija Loop in Jyrgalan  4 day trek. There are also other treks to take on  Jyrgalan .
• Chong Kemin Valley  1-6 day treks
• Karkara Valley to Inylchek Glacier  10 day trek.
• Ak-Suu Traverse  6+ day trek that starts near to Jeti Oghuz.
• Jeti Oguz  Several 1-7 day treks.
• Tamga Gorge & Ochinchek Lake  1-3 day trek,  Tamga Guesthouse  can arrange horse trek or local guide.
• Tamga to Chakury Kul  4 day trek,  Tamga Guesthouse  can arrange horse trek or local guide.
• Kyzart to Song Kul  2-4 day trek.
• Kyzart-Tuz-Ashu to Song Kul   1-2 day trek.
• Klemche to Song Kul  2 day trek.
• Jumgal to Song Kul  2 day trek.
• Kochkor to Kul Ukok  2-3 day trek.
• Kyzyl Oi to Balyk Kul  1-2 day trek.

Fergana Valley

• Arslanbob to Kol Mazar  4 day trek.
• Arslanbob Waterfalls  1-2 day trek.

Alai Valley & Southeast Kyrgyzstan

• Tash Rabat to Chatyr Kul  1-2 day trek.
• Tash Rabat to Kul-Suu  1-2 trek.
• Sary Mogul to Tulpar Kul or Peak Lenin Base Camp ( Achik Tash )  1-2 day trek.  Note that you can actually drive to Tulpar Kul and Achik Kul .
• Peak Lenin Base Camp ( Achick Tash ) to Advanced Base Camp 2   2-4 day trek, not including the time needed for acclimatization.
• Summiting Peak Lenin  Roughly 21 days to reach the top of Peak Lenin and return.

Kyrgyz Festivals & Events

• Uzbek Cuisine Festival – Held in mid-July in Jalalabad, celebrating traditional Uzbek cuisine.
• Yak & Horse Games Festival– Held in late July in Sary Mogul. Come watch ulak-tartysh, kyz-kuumai, tyin-enmei, and er-enish games. Sample traditional Kyrgyz cuisine as well.
• National Horse Games– Held in late July in Song Kul. Watch on as athletes compete in Kyrgyz horse games in the high pasture.
• National Horse Games Festival– Held in late July in Kyzyl Oi. Watch on as horse games are competed and learn about Kyrgyz traditions.
• Birds of Prey Festival– Held in mid-August in Bokonbayevo. Watch golden eagle hunting demonstrations, sample Kyrgyz cuisine, and see work from some of Kyrgyzstan’s best artisans.
• World Nomad Games– Held in early September in Cholpon Ata for the last three games (they are held every other year). This was Kyrgyzstan’s largest event celebrating nomadic sport and culture but will be held in Turkey in 2020, location TBA.

These are rough estimates based on different styles of traveling.

1,710 KGS/$25 USD per day

This is assuming you will be staying in hostel dorms and homestays, using marshrutka, eating at local chaikhanas and taking unguided treks.

2,738 KGS/$40 USD per day

Staying in decent double rooms in cities and yurt or homestays in rural areas, traveling by shared taxi, and taking guided treks periodically.

6,845 KGS/$100 USD per day

Sleeping in boutique hotels when possible, eating at finer restuarants, traveling by private car hire, or taking a tour of the country.

Packing List

Here are a few items I recommend for traveling in Kyrgyzstan.

• The  Inreach Explorer+ . A GPS & SOS beacon, that can also send and receive text messages. Can be handy if planning on doing more remote treks and/or mountaineering. Delorme/Garmin offers some good monthly plans when in use.
• A  solar charger  can be a great way to keep your electronics and batteries charged when hiking around in areas where you may go a bit without electricity.
• An  external battery pack  can also help you out in a pinch when batteries are dead and you’re in the middle of nowhere.
• I use the  Osprey Ariel 65L backpack and recommend Osprey’s products because of their guarantee. Shop backpacks  here !
• A tent is handy if you plan to do any trekking, or are planning to cycle or hitchhike the Pamir Highway. I use the  MSR NX Hubba-Hubba solo tent  and love it.
• A sleeping bag can prove useful if you’re going to be doing any camping, especially at higher altitudes and in the fall or spring. I use a  Nemo sleeping bag  cold rated to 20ºF/-7ºC.
• A good pair of hiking boots. My personal favorite is the  La Sportiva Nucleo High GTX  hiking boot.
• If planning on trekking/camping and you like to enjoy a warm meal I recommend a  lightweight cooking camp set .
• I personally use the  Katadyn water filter . Tap water in the entire country is unsafe for drinking and natural water sources can be contaminated.
• A  headlamp  will come in handy!
• Don’t forget the sunscreen! Don’t let the cold fool you.
• Mosquito Repellant can prove handy in springtime at lower elevations, although I’ve personally never run into many bugs out here in my late summer and fall adventures.
• The Bradt Kyrgyzstan Guidebook and the Lonely Planet’s Central Asia Guidebook  can come in handy, as well as their  phrasebook .

Internet & Mobile service

You can expect to find decent working wifi in most hotels and hostels in Kyrgyzstan’s cities. Mobile service is surprisingly good, I use O! when traveling in Kyrgyzstan as they have cheap data plans.

In general, Kyrgyzstan is a safe country to travel in. Likely your biggest dangers will be hazardous driving, being injured while horseback riding, or having an accident in the mountains while on a trek.

Theft does happen, but it’s not an incredibly common occurrence. There is some corruption present in the country and you may be bribed or hassled by border guards or police (although, I’ve not personally ever had a run-in with these problems on either of my trips into Kyrgyzstan).

There are reports of police extorting bribes out of tourists (typically men) at Osh Bazaar in Bishkek.

Have Any Questions About This Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide?

Ask your Kyrgyzstan travel questions in the comments section below.

Planning a visit to the other ‘Stans? Read:  A Beginner’s Guide to Central Asia Travel

More Posts from Kyrgyzstan:

A Simple Guide To Central Asia Visas

The Best Road Trips In The World

34 Photos That Will Make You Book A Ticket To Kyrgyzstan

7 Tips For Solo Female Travel In Central Asia

Why Foodies Should Flock To Karakol, Best Karakol Restaurants & Food

A 10 Day Pamir Highway Itinerary including the Wakhan Valley

The Karkara Border Crossing Between Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan

10 Things To Do In Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

A Beginner’s Guide To Central Asia Travel: Discover The Silk Road

A Two Week Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan Itinerary

Crossing Kyzyl Art Pass Between Tajikistan & Kyrgyzstan

5 Things To Do In Osh, Kyrgyzstan + Travel Guide

How To Get To Burana Tower & The Tokmok Animal Market

A Quick Guide To Jeti Oguz, Kyrgyzstan

How To Visit Sary Chelek, Kyrgyzstan

Karakol Travel Guide + 13 Things To Do In Karakol, Kyrgyzstan

Marco Poloing Around: The Long Way to Italy, Via Afghanistan

12 thoughts on “kyrgyzstan travel guide”.

Hi! Where would you recommend in Kyrgyzstan for a non-hiker (short hikes at most) in October?

Hi Stephanie, I’d recommend Ala Archa National Park as there are some nice little day hikes there if looking to remain closer to Bishkek. Otherwise I would definitely recommend going out to Karakol as there are plenty of day hikes to do in the area that can be reached usually with a short drive.

Kyrgyzstan has the most liberal visa policy of any Central Asian country, making travel to the country easier and more straightforward than ever. Upon arrival, citizens of a number of countries (mostly Western or developed nations) are granted a 30- or 60-day visa. This country, territory, or region should not be visited. Your personal safety and security are jeopardized. If you are already there, consider leaving if it is safe to do so.

Nice article with useful details !!!

Hi I want to Travel this year in September, and Kyrgyzstan is opening borders https://pegas-adventure.com/tours This company informed me anyone crossed border this summer. Please if you’re crossed, please inform me

Hi Alex, I did see an article just this morning stating that Kyrgyzstan had opened its borders to 31 nationalities. It did sound like those trying to get from Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan have been turned away at border crossings though from what I read here , but I have not heard yet on others trying to enter, so it is hard to say if you will be able to enter or not (in theory if you’re on the 31-country list you should be able to). I’d also recommend keeping an eye on the Caravanistan Forums for other travelers updates on the matter.

Hi Nicole, Thanks for a great post. I am going to Central Asia in April (to Astana) and I am wondering which countries to visit in 17 days that I have there. I’ve always wanted to go to Kyrgyzstan mountains, but I am aware that this is not the best time. Would you still recommend going and if yes in which area? Alternatively, I was thinking about Uzbekistan and area around Almaty. Many thanks!

Hi Aga, I’d say Uzbekistan is probably a better bet in April (heat isn’t boiling yet). Kyrgyzstan is doable though if you’d like to get into the mountains it could be a bit messy! Almaty and it’s surroundings are beautiful and you can easily spend a week or more exploring around there.

I’m happy I came across your blog. I have wanted to visit Central Asia for quite some time now and I think 2019 will be the year. This page on Kyrgyzstan has been so so helpful.

I hope you enjoy Kyrgyzstan, I actually am about to head back in a couple weeks myself. Let me know if you have any questions

Hey Nicki, Im glad to have stumbled across your blog and photos. Thank you for returning my email so quickly the other day, and directing me to this guide here. Has been very helpful, my only problem is now I need to decide what all I want to do. I plan to go in August, can’t wait!

Hi Trent, I hope you have an amazing time in Kyrgyzstan! Let me know if you have more questions.

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Kyrgyzstan Price Guide. Prices in 2022

Many travelers who visit Kyrgyzstan often ask questions such as: “How much money should I take with me?”, “Are consumer prices high in Kyrgyzstan?”, “How much does it cost per day?”, “Is food expensive here?”, “Do I need a SIM card here?”.

Today we will answer all these questions so that each of our travelers is fully aware of these details.

How much money should a tourist take with him when traveling in Kyrgyzstan?

For 2022, the minimum budget for one day in Kyrgyzstan is 12 USD per person. For this amount, a tourist will be able to book an inexpensive hostel in Bishkek, take two public transport tickets, and also eat 2 times in a local canteen.

If the tourist wants to spend the night in a more comfortable room, travel by taxi, and visit local restaurants, then the price for one day will be about 50 USD per person.

Kyrgyzstan is considered one of the most budgetary countries. Here you can not only visit the best places for a small amount, but also taste unforgettable national dishes of huge portions with exquisite meat.

How much does an internet package cost?

Kyrgyzstan is considered one of the countries where the Internet is very cheap.

In Kyrgyzstan, mobile communication services are provided to the population by three telecom operators: O!, Megacom and Beeline. Each company is making efforts to increase the number of its subscribers.

Therefore, in each of the regions of Kyrgyzstan, you can find that somewhere the locals use the Beeline mobile operator, somewhere Megacom, and in some areas the majority of the locals use O!

Let’s find out what popular traffic plans exist for each of the mobile operators:

• 145 KGS – 10 GB of internet, 5 minutes of calls to any mobile operators, free calls to O!
• 285 KGS – Unlimited internet for 7 days, 60 minutes of calls to any mobile operators, free calls to O!
• 395 KGS – 30 GB of Internet for 30 days, 15 minutes of calls to any mobile operators, free calls to O!
• 495 KGS – Unlimited internet for 30 days, 60 minutes of calls to any mobile operators, free calls to O!

2 . Megacom

• 80 KGS – 500 MB of internet every day for 7 days, 10 minutes of calls to any mobile operators, free calls to Megacom, free 100 SMS to Megacom operator!
• 225 KGS – 500 MB of internet every day for 30 days, 10 minutes of calls to any mobile operators, free calls to Megacom, free 100 SMS to Megacom operator!
• 300 KGS – Unlimited internet for 30 days, free calls to Megacom, free 200 SMS to Megacom operator!
• 120 KGS – 5 GB of internet for 7 days, free calls to Beeline, free SMS to Beeline!
• 285 KGS – 20 GB of internet for 30 days, unlimited for such APPs as WhatsApp, ZOOM, Telegram, Skype, Google Classroom, Kelbil
• 490 KGS – 30 GB of internet for 30 days, 60 minutes of calls to any mobile operators, free calls to Beeline!

Upon arrival, each of the travelers has the opportunity to purchase a SIM card of any mobile operator at the airport for free.

If a tourist wants to stay in Kyrgyzstan for more than a month, we recommend connecting a corporate tariff plan that provides 40 GB of free Internet for a month, as well as free calls and SMS. The cost of such a traffic plan is 250 KGS (3.1 USD).

Accommodation costs

Accommodation in Kyrgyzstan is very cheap, but it also depends on the location of the area.

In small towns, the minimum cost of accommodation in hostels is from 350 KGS (4.3 USD) and up per night. In the capital, one night stay in a hostel is 550 KGS (6.8 USD).

Let’s look at the cost of living in large and small cities of Kyrgyzstan.

Bishkek is the capital of Kyrgyzstan, so the prices for accommodation here are more expensive than in other cities:

• The most budget option is hostel accommodation – from 550 KGS (6.8 USD) per person / per night
• Guest houses – from 700 KGS (8.7 USD) per person / per night
• Apartment rental – from 1100 KGS (13.75 USD) per person / per night
• 3 star hotels – from 1600 KGS (20 USD) per person / per night
• 4 star hotels – from 2400 KGS (30 USD) per person / per night
• 5 star hotels – from 5800 KGS (72.5 USD) per person / per night

Osh is the second largest city in Kyrgyzstan, it is also called the southern capital, for this reason, Osh has almost the same accommodation prices as Bishkek.

• Hostels – from 350 KGS (4.4 USD) per person / per night
• Apartment rental – from 1000 KGS (12.5 USD) per person / per night
• 4 star hotels – from 2800 KGS (35 USD) per person / per night
• 5 star hotels – from 6400 KGS (80 USD) per person / per night

3. Jalal Abad

Jalal-Abad is the third largest city of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, located in the south of the country in the foothills of the Tien Shan Range at an altitude of 763 meters above sea level.

Despite the fact that prices in Hostels and guest houses are more expensive than in big cities, living conditions are better here.

• Hostels – from 600 KGS (7.5 USD) per person / per night
• Apartment rental – from 900 KGS (11.2 USD) per person / per night
• 4 star hotels – from 3600 KGS (45 USD) per person / per night
• 5 star hotels – from 6800 KGS (85 USD) per person / per night

In other regions of the country, you can stay in guest houses – 900-1000 KGS (11.2 – 12.5 USD) per person / per night

In Kyrgyzstan you can also experience the life of nomads and spend an unforgettable night in a Kyrgyz yurt.

Yurts are usually located in remote areas of Kyrgyzstan. The cost of living in a standard yurt – 1500 KGS (18.7 USD) per person / per night.

In addition to standard yurts, you can also spend the night in a modern yurt, which is located in the Chunkurchak gorge. The cost of living in a modern yurt – 4500 KGS (56.2 USD) per person / per night.

Food Prices

By visiting Kyrgyzstan you can taste dishes prepared from incredibly tasty meat for a small amount of money.

In 2021, the head of the National Union of the Russian Federation for the Production of Meat recognized the meat of Kyrgyzstan as the most delicious in the world. The reason for the exquisite taste of meat is the plants in the mountainous areas where the animals feed.

The minimum amount of one lunch in local establishments in Kyrgyzstan is 120 KGS (1.5 USD). The cost of one teapot of tea is 30 KGS (0.37 USD). The minimum cost for local bread, also called “Nan”, is 15 KGS (0.18 USD).

If you come in a group, then you can order 1 kilogram of pilaf (a national dish of rice and meat), this is enough for a group of 8-10 people. The cost of one kilogram of pilaf is 1400 KGS (17.5 USD).

Also, for lovers of sour-milk products in the cities of Kyrgyzstan, almost through every street you can meet Shoro-ezheshka (It’s a popular word for a woman seller aged 30 and older) who sells such cold sour-milk drinks called “Maxim Shoro”. The cost of a glass of 0.5 liters is 28 KGS (3.5 USD).

Tourists who rent apartments and want to cook meals at home often do not know where to buy vegetables, fruits and other types of food.

Let’s look at the places where any foreigner can go to buy food:

       1. Supermarket “Globus”

Globus stores are one of the largest retail chains in Kyrgyzstan with the lowest pricing policy.

At the moment, the Globus chain of stores has 37 stores. Of these: 6 hypermarkets, 25 supermarkets, 3 Express stores and 3 Bereke stores.

      2. Hypermarket “Frunze”

The Frunze hypermarket chain has been pleasing the Kyrgyz people and foreign guests with the opportunity to make pleasant purchases for 7 years already. During this time, it has expanded to 26 stores in Bishkek, Osh, Jalal-Abad, the villages of Novopavlovka and Manas.

      3. Grocery store “Narodny”

“Narodny” is a national chain of stores in Kyrgyzstan, founded in 2002. At present, the Narodny chain of stores consists of 39 convenience stores. There are 34 stores in Bishkek and one each in the cities of Kara-Balta (Novo-Nikolaevka), Kant, Tokmok, Cholpon-Ata, and Bosteri.

Transport prices

From November 1, 2021, public transport prices have increased in Kyrgyzstan. The last time prices were changed was in 2012.

The increase in fares is due to higher fuel prices as well as higher prices for auto parts.

For 2022, the cost of one trip on public transport is: 15 KGS (0.18 USD) on a minibus (local transport minibus) and 11 som (0.13 USD) on a trolleybus.

Taxi prices are 70 KGS for landing and 12 KGS for each kilometer traveled.

If you want to travel from north to south, taxi prices from Bishkek to Osh are 1,700 KGS (21.2 USD) per person. There is also a more convenient way to get to southern Kyrgyzstan is by air, the cost of a one-way ticket is 2300 KGS (28.7 USD).

Despite the fact that recent events have had a very strong impact on the economy of Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan is still considered a country with a high level of happiness.

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Kyrgyzstan Itinerary: The Perfect 10 and 21 Day Itineraries

• Last Updated: January 10, 2023

Everything you need to know to plan your Kyrgyzstan itinerary for trips between 10 and 21 days!

This stunning expanse of land smashed between the other four Central Asian nations and China is one of the most stunning in the world.

The majority of travellers often visit Kyrgyzstan as part of a larger trip across Central Asia and as a result will budget a hefty chunk of time to play with.

Over the last few years, the number of visitors has grown considerably. This has improved the tourist infrastructure, as well as further opening up parts of the country that were previously inaccessible.

Kyrgyzstan is country that draws its visitors back again, and again. So whatever you can’t do this time, put them in your back pocket for next time.

We’ve put together 2 itineraries for 10 days and 3 weeks that will be of use to any traveller regardless of how long you plan to visit Kyrgyzstan . 

Table of Contents

Travel Time

East and/or west, day 1 – bishkek, day 2 – travel to jyrgalan via karakol, day 3 – hiking in jyrgalan – bulak ashuu day 1 , day 4 – hiking in the jyrgalan – bulak ashuu day 2 , day 5 – hiking in the jyrgalan – bulak ashuu day 3, day 6 – karakol – jeti oguz , day 7 – travel to kochkor for a horse trek, day 8 – song kul horse trek – day 1 , day 9 – song kul horse trek – day 2, day 10 – song kul horse trek – day 3, day 11 – kol ukok trek – day 1 , day 12 – kol ukok trek – day 2, day 13 – travel to arslanbob via seasonal road, day 14 – explore arslanbob , day 15 – explore arslanbob, day 16 – osh, day 17 – travel to sary-mogol, day 18 – hike to lenin peak base camp – day 1 , day 19 – hike to lenin peak base camp – day 2, day 20 – back to osh, day 21 – fly to bishkek, 10 day kyrgyzstan itinerary, day 2 – bishkek – day hike in ala archa , day 3 – travel to karakol , day 4 – karakol – hike to altyn arashan , day 5 – karakol – return from altyn arashan, day 6 – karakol – hike to jeti oguz , day 7 – kochkor – song kul, day 8  – kochkor – song kul, day 9 – kochkor  – song kul , day 10 – bishkek, day 2 – travel to arslanbob, day 3 – hiking in arslanbob, day 4 – hiking in arslanbob, day 5 – hiking in arslanbob, day 6 – travl to osh, day 7 – travel to sary mogol, day 8 – hiking to lenin peak base camp, day 9 – hiking back to tulpar lake, day 10 – back to osh and head home, the perfect kyrgyzstan itinerary – things to consider.

Before we dive deep into these Kyrgyzstan itineraries, there are a few things you need to consider depending on how much time you have.

Read Next: Looking for other awesome things to do in Kyrgyzstan ? Check out our post on all the activities you don’t want to miss!

Journeys in Kyrgyzstan can be long. In some areas, roads may not be in great condition (this is especially true if crossing from the east to the west or vice versa).

But the mountainous terrain can significantly increase even the shortest distance. 

Therefore when putting together any Kyrgyzstan itinerary it’s important to budget a day where possible for long journeys.

Additionally if planning on taking marshrutka the entire way it’s good to anticipate these journeys to take longer than advertised. Vans may not leave until full, they may be picking up and dropping off things en route, or they may break down.  

Kyrgyzstan is a beautiful country worth every bit of time that you have. If you are able to commit to our 21-day itinerary then you won’t have to decide whether to explore the eastern or western part of the country.

However, if your time is limited then this is something you will need to decide on. Roads span to the east and west from Bishkek.

However, going from the east to the west in other parts of the country relies on a seasonal 4wd road. Therefore the chances of being able to go to both ‘sides’ of the country on a short trip are pretty unlikely. 

Kyrgyzstan Itineraries

If possible, we recommend that you try and budget to spend 3 weeks in Kyrgyzstan. This will give you the best experience and leave you wanting for nothing more than to come back again.

But with 10 days you can do a whirlwind tour that will give you a taste of Kyrgyzstan and give you an idea of what you’ll want to revisit on a return trip.

We’ve broken down our 10-day Kyrgyzstan itinerary recommendations into an eastern and western itinerary.

The being said, here are our 3-week and 10-day Kyrgyzstan itinerary recommendations.

3-Week Kyrgyzstan Itinerary

With 3 weeks in Kyrgyzstan, it is possible to explore both the eastern and western sides of the country.

However, this itinerary would only work in the summer as the roads linking the western and eastern halves of the country are closed during the winter months. 

With three weeks in Kyrgyzstan, you will be able to take on numerous multi-day hikes, so you may wish to bring camping gear with you, especially for some of the less well-known destinations. 

I have jam-packed this itinerary. However, I will recommend alternatives where possible.

Naturally, you can replace some of the parts here with recommendations from the 10-day itinerary as you see fit. 

There is quite a lot of hiking here, so make so you take rest days if you need it!

The entry point for most people into Kyrgyzstan is the nation’s capital, Bishkek . There are few cool sights to check out that will keep you occupied.

Get your fill of food other than manti, plov, shashlik and lagman. As good as they are you will be eating a lot of them over the next 3 weeks!

For Day 2, get down to the bus station and hop on a marshrutka heading to Karakol. You will need to get to the bus station early as marshrutka will fill up prior to departure.

Upon arriving in Karakol your best to get to Jyrgalan will be a private taxi. This is likely to be $20-30 depending on your negotiating skills.

There are numerous trekking and hiking options in Jyrgalan. However, this 3-day route in Jyrgalan comes highly recommended. It’s an absolute beauty.

Here are a few posts we have on the best hiking in Jyrgyalan:

• Day Hikes in Jyrgalan
• Keskenkija Loop

The second day is a little easier than the first. Check out this post for more information on all of the details for this hike!

This is the shortest day in this hike. When you get back to Jyrgalan, take a taxi or marshrutka back to Karakol. 

You may want to spend the day resting. However, the day hike to Jeti Oguz is both spectacular and not too challenging on the knees.

Bring a picnic and find a spot overlooking the stunning jailoos.

Or alternatively, you could skip this and head to Kochkor a day early to give you more time later on in this Kyrgyzstan itinerary.

From Karakol, you can hop on a marshrutka to Kochkor. However, make sure you get to the bus stop at least 30 minutes before it’s due to leave to ensure you will be able to get a space. 

It is better to have booked the horse trek in advance if possible. This can be done through your guesthouse or the CBT in Kochkor.

We booked it through our guesthouse, Kochkor Family Guesthouse and cannot recommend them highly enough!  

Get ready to ache like you have never ached before! You will have some spectacular scenery on the first day. However, that is just a warm-up for day 2.

The scenery on the second day of the trek as you cross passes down to the lake itself is absolutely spectacular. Once you get to the yurt camp on the lake’s edge you can hike in the hills surrounding it. 

After getting back to Karakol, make sure you take it easy, as you will be rather achy. 

READ MORE: Plan your whole trip to Kyrgyzstan using our comprehensive Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide !

This spectacular 2-day trek begins a 15-minute drive from Karakol. The yurt camp is about 4 or so hours from the trailhead.

You can then hike onto the lake, Kol Ukok on your first day, return to the yurt camp and then hike back the next day. Or you can hike up to the lake and back on day 2, which was what we did. 

The reason for this was the weather was supposed to the be better on day 2 (incidentally it ended up being sunny on both days). 

Heading to the lake we got up just before sunrise, around 5:30 am, and started the trek to the lake itself.

The first couple of hours are not particularly spectacular. However, after the final climb, the lake appears before you, and it is worth the aches and sweats.

Hike along the lake’s edges for some spectacular mountain views beyond the lake. It is possible to carry on. However, you would need more time and your own camping equipment. 

Here is where we move over to the western side of the country. The most direct route is via a seasonal road to Arslanbob, home to the world’s largest walnut forest. If this isn’t open there is a much longer route that goes back around Arslanbob. 

Getting to Arslanbob is likely to very likely to require you to take a public taxi. It is best to try and book this as early as possible. 

Spend a couple of days exploring Arslanbob at your own leisure. There are a number of excellent day hikes in the area.

Despite its elevation, there is a lot of green here

Take another day to hike and explore Arslanbob and then travel to Osh in the afternoon/evening.

The journey to Osh is between 3 and 4 hours, if leaving in the early afternoon a marshrutka should be fine.

However, if going later than that then a private taxi will probably be your best bet.

Welcome to Kyrgyzstan’s second city. It is overlooked by Suleiman Too, a five peaked rocky crag, that seems to keep a watchful eye on you wherever you go. The city has is traditionally more Central Asian feel than Bishkek.

The bazaar in the heart of the city is one of Central Asia’s largest and is well worth a visit.

From Osh head to Sary Mogol to take on the trek to Lenin Peak Base Camp, which is not as challenging as you might think. 

Travel to Sary-Mogol can be a little tricky from Osh. However, we have an article on hiking to Lenin Peak Base Camp , which will be really useful.

Hike to Tulpar lake and onto the base camp itself. There are two base camps, the second being the advanced base camp which is further on.

If you have the time, gear and fitness then this is very possible. And it is possible to hike this route without a guide. 

On your second day hike back to Sary-Mogol with weary legs and some amazing photos.

Head back to Osh via marshrutka or private taxi. 

Osh is fast becoming a cheap entry and exit point for Kyrgyzstan. Therefore you may not need to fly back to Bishkek before heading home.

However, the vast majority of international flights enter and exit via Bishkek.

The flight from Bishkek to Osh is on 40 minutes, so it’s possible to fly first thing and arrive in Bishkek with plenty of time to spare for your next flight. 

With 10 days it’s pretty easy to take in most of Kyrgyzstan’s spectacular scenery. I’ve put together two 10 day itinerary’s for you. One focusing on the east, and one focusing on the west.

In these 10 day Kyrgyzstan itineraries I’ve taken in some of the country’s most well-known areas.

In Kyrgyzstan, it is very common to base yourself in one place for a significant period of time to take advantage of a number of hiking trails in the area.

As time is short it’s best to book as much as possible before you go. This will make things much easier when in Kyrgyzstan. 

10 Day Kyrgyzstan Itinerary – Eastern Kyrgyzstan

Spend your first day in Bishkek checking out some Soviet architecture, wandering in the cities parks and chowing down on something that isn’t plov, manti, shashlik or lagman.

In the evening Ala-Too square is lit up and the parks fill up with people enjoying an evening stroll.

Get out into Kyrgyzstan’s spectacular scenery on your second day in the Ala Archa National Park .

You can arrange a private taxi through your guesthouse or you can find on outside of the bus station. Make sure you go to the Alplager, as this is where the trailheads begin. 

There are numerous day hikes in the area so get ready for some achy legs. 

If you don’t fancy Ala Archa there are plenty of other hikes around Bishkek!

The journey to Karakol is a long one, about 8 hours by marshrutka and a little quicker by private taxi. If you’re taking a marshrutka to try and get to the bus station before 9 am to ensure you get a seat as they can fill up fast.

However as it’s such a common route, there are multiple marshrutka that run throughout the day. 

Upon arriving in Karakol head to your guest house and then possibly the CBT if you need to book a yurt camp in Altyn Arashan. 

For the next 3 days, Altyn Arashan will act as your base as you go hiking into the wilderness. The hikes I’ve suggested below can easily be switched or replaced as you wish. 

Head out to the trailhead bright and early to begin your hike to Altyn Arashan. This 2-day hike is one of the most popular in Kyrgyzstan.

You can book a yurt through the Karakol CBT or potentially through your guest house. 

The hot springs at Altyn Arashan are a perfect place to recharge your aching muscles. It is possible to hike from the hot springs to the edge of the Palatka Glacier in about 5 hours. 

On day 5 return to Karakol from Altyn Arashan. If the weather is good then you may want to hike beyond the yurt camp before returning to the trailhead.

From Karakol, the trailhead to Jeti Oguz is roughly 30 minutes away. This is one of the most spectacular one-day hikes in Kyrgyzstan.

The views overlooking the jailoos and onto the snow-capped mountains beyond. 

Bring a packed lunch and a book to enjoy looking out over the spectacular scenery around you. 

In the evening take a private taxi to Kochkor. 

Get up bright and early and head off to take in one of Kyrgyzstan’s most spectacular horse treks – Song Kul. This is an excellent addition to any Kyrgyzstan itinerary.

You can arrange this through CBT or through your accommodation if you haven’t arranged it in advance.

When I was in Kyrgyzstan I arranged this through my hostel. It was cheaper than CBT and we had a fantastic experience. 

The first day will leave you in oodles of pain (unless you regularly ride). You’ll pass through lush green jailoos as you cross a number of passes. 

The second day of a horse trek to Song Kul is nothing short of spectacular. The views from the final pass as you descend down towards the lake are awe-inspiring. 

As you get to flatter ground do not be surprised if your horse gets a wee bit excited at the change in surrounds and bolts off. This is exactly what happened to my wife.

Fortunately, the horse was very obedient and she was able to easily bring him back under control. My horse carried on trotting. It was safe to say he didn’t quite have the same level of enthusiasm. 

Spend the day hiking around the yurt camp and down to the lakes edge. 

The final day of the Song Kul horse trek will bring you along the lake’s edge and up over your final pass. The descent from here down is steep, and the balance of the horses is absolutely incredible. 

You will ache a heck of a lot after three days on the back of a horse, so make sure you take it easy when you get back to Kochkor. 

On your final day, head back to Bishkek via marshrutka or private taxi. 

10 Day Kyrgyzstan Itinerary – Western Kyrgyzstan

Land in Bishkek and spend your first day getting acclimatised. Take the time to stroll through city’s parks and check out Ala-Too square.

Get down to Bishkek’s bus station bright and early to catch a marshrutka to Arslanbob. You may need to take one going to Osh and change en route.

There is some particularly lovely mountain scenery on this route, so enjoy!

Home to the worlds largest walnut forest, Arslanbob is home to some epic hiking trails and lovely waterfalls. Spend your time here hiking the forest trails and checking out the waterfalls in the area.

That being said, Arslanbob is a lovely place to just watch the clouds go by, so you may just want to sit out with a cup of tea and watch the clouds glide past the mountains.

One of the most popular hikes is to the big and small waterfalls, which your guesthouse and most locals will be able to give you directions to.

The small waterfall is behind a mosque in the town whereas the big waterfall is roughly 2 hours there and back.

Arslanbob is home to some beautiful day hikes, with one of the most spectacular being Babash-Ata. The views on this hike are pretty awesome.

However, if you get amongst the walnut trees then the day hike to Kyzyl-Unkur crosses the forest itself.

From Arslanbob head to Kyrgyzstan’s second city of Osh. Nestled in the mountains with the peaks of Suleiman Too looking down over you, Osh is more Central Asian than Bishkek.

The sweaty climb to the top of Suleiman Too offers some great views over the city.

The city’s bazaar, as one of the biggest in Central Asia is legendary, so make sure you check that out too.

Getting here can be a little tricky so taking a private taxi may be your best option. From Osh, you may need to take a marshrutka to Sary Tash first, and then head onto Sary Mogol via private taxi.

Lenin Peak base camp is approximately 2 hours from Tuplar Lake, which itself is 5-6 hour walk from Sary Mogol. Many people will get a taxi to Tulpar Lake and then hike onto the base camp itself

There is a yurt camp at both Tulpar Lake and base camp, unsurprisingly the latter is more expensive.

There are plenty of hikes in the area, so once you have hiked up to base camp you could check out some of the trails in the area.

After spending the night at base camp hike back to Tulpar Lake and maybe take on one of the trails around the lake before taking a taxi back to Sary Mogol, or potentially back to Osh.

Head back to Osh where your Kyrgyzstan adventure ends. You can fly home directly from Osh, most likely via Bishkek.

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Richard Barnes

Hi, We’re Alesha and Jarryd!

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Home » Asia » Kyrgyzstan » What to Know Before Traveling to Kyrgyzstan – Tips, Tricks, and Answers

What to Know Before Traveling to Kyrgyzstan – Tips, Tricks, and Answers

Kyrgyzstan is becoming one of the most hyped-about travel destinations in 2020. Many travelers have heard stories about how breathtaking the landscape is, how friendly its natives are, and how untouched the country is by mass tourism.

Perhaps you’ve already heard something similar and have been planning a trip to Kyrgyzstan for a while now. Where do you start though? What do you need to organize before visiting?

There are definitely a few things to know before traveling to Kyrgyzstan. Where to stay, what to do, who to contact; these will all need to be considered before you actually make your way.

Below, I’m going to talk about some crucial things that everyone should think about before visiting, from dos and don’ts to tips and tricks to general questions. By the end of this article, you should have a clearer picture of what it takes to organize a trip to Kyrgyzstan and how to have the best adventure possible.

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Do and Don’ts When Travelling to Kyrgyzstan

Commonly asked questions about kyrgyzstan, extra tips and tricks when visiting kyrgyzstan.

So let’s take a look at the yes and no’s, the oui’s and the non’s and the do’s and don’ts of visiting Kyrgyzstan.

DO : Try the local food and drink

If you are visiting Kyrgyzstan , then you MUST try the food. Kyrgz cuisine is mostly a mishmash of Russian, Central Asian, and nomadic cuisines. It involves a lot of meat, a lot of bread, and a lot of sweets. Many people have remarked that the cooking in Kyrgyzstan is quite similar to that in the Caucuses.

In addition to these foreign cuisines, there are some really, really interesting local dishes in Kyrgyzstan that should not be missed. 

Manta , a Kyrgyz version of dumplings, is absolutely phenomenal especially with a bit of yogurt. Also be on the lookout for shorpa : slow-cooked beef that literally melts off the bone.

You also have to try that most iconic drink in Kyrgyzstan: kumis . It’s fermented mare’s milk that has turned semi-alcoholic and, whilst you probably won’t be able to drink much, it’s still good to try at least once.

If you’d like to try a unique delicacy in Kyrgyzstan, horse is consumed regularly and is actually quite nice when cooked properly.

DON’T : Worry if you’re a vegetarian

Kyrgyzstan is a very carnivorous country but there are still plenty of vegetarian options to find. 

Salads, mostly of the Russian kind with tomato, slaw, and/or cucumber, are very common. Eggs are served regularly for breakfast and the local bread is so tasty and filling that one could probably live off it alone.

Fried rice ( plov ) and noodles ( lagman ) are also very common in Kyrgyzstan. Whilst they’re usually made with some kind of meat, you may be able to order these dishes without it. Be sure to ask whoever’s cooking if this is possible. Say “YA ne yem myaso” which is “I don’t eat meat” in Russian.

DO : Spend a few days in Bishkek

Bishkek gets a bad reputation for being a depressing, post-Soviet city with nothing to do besides GTFOing. 

Whilst Bishkek is not as interesting as other Central Asian cities like Almaty or Samarkand, I find calling it skippable a little unfair. 

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For one thing, Bishkek offers a lot of natural beauty. There are lots of parks in the city. Also Ala Archa National Park, which features several 4700+ meter peaks and alpine trails, is only 45 minutes away from the city.

Bishkek also has a surprisingly good nightlife. There are lots of great bars around town, like Save the Ales and Blonder, and a couple of speakeasies as well. For those of you you’d like to know the location of one, leave a comment and I’ll get back to you 🙂 

Due to its combination of outdoor opportunities and burgeoning bar scene, Bishkek actually reminds me a lot of Denver, Colorado. Granted, it’s not as big or as bustling as Denver but it could be one day.

DON’T : Expect a dry country

Kyrgyzstan is a Muslim nation but that does not mean it is a strict Muslim nation. Alcohol is still consumed in the country and sometimes in large quantities.

Vodka is the drink of choice in most parts and it is often offered to guests. When drinking with Kyrgyz, it is best to oblige them when they toast and to finish your shot of vodka in one go. The toast is an important part of Kyrgyz culture.

Local brandy is also popular in Kyrgyzstan and it can lead to a pretty gnarly hangover. Beer is also quite common and pretty damn good too. There are lots of great craft beer bars in Bishkek, like Save the Ales, Brewster, and Blonder Pub. 

DO : Consider renting a private vehicle

Kyrgyzstan is a big country with a ton of epic places to visit . It is possible to see many places just by relying on public transport as well. Marshrutkas or minibusses connect almost every major Kyrgyz settlement and where they don’t go, private taxis are available. These are relatively cheap, although not so cheap.

If you REALLY want to experience Kyrgyzstan to the fullest though, you need to have your own set of wheels. With the freedom to go where you want, when you want, you’ll be able to see as much of the country as you want without having to worry about schedules or the hassle.

You’ll need a 4×4 when driving in Kyrgyzstan and anything less would be a total waste. Kyrgyzstan is a rugged country and requires a rugged car to get around. Iron Horse Nomads is the first and probably the best place to start looking for a rental car in Kyrgyzstan.

DON’T : Feel the need to drive yourself

If you decide to hire your own car in Kyrgyzstan, you should also consider hiring a private driver along with it. The roads in Kyrgyzstan, whilst good overall, can deteriorate quickly and the best parts are usually completely off-road. An experienced, local driver will be best at handling both of these.

Drivers can also serve as translators, which in Kyrgyzstan would be extremely useful since hardly anyone speaks English. They can also help arrange accommodation, tours, and maintenance should the car break down, which would be bad if you were in the middle of nowhere.

Hiring a private driver in Kyrgyzstan might actually cost less than hiring a car without one. Daily rates are about the same and some drivers will cover gas themselves. So if you’re paying the same amount, why not just have someone else do the work for you?

DO : Spend a couple of nights in yurts

Accommodation in Kyrgyzstan comes in all shapes and sizes but none as iconic as the Yurt. The yurt is a traditional nomadic dwelling made from felt and wooden beams. It is one of the most important aspects of Kyrgyz culture and a true sign of their nomadic heritage. To not sleep in one of these while visiting would be an enormous shame. 

Yurts kind of resemble large tents, albeit they are much sturdier and much more spacious. They are very warm as well, especially when the stove inside is lit, and keep the cold out even in the middle of a snowstorm. 

There are lots of places to stay in yurts around Kyrgyzstan. They are mostly found around the most popular destinations in the country, like Issyk Kul and Altyn Arashan. The best place to stay in a yurt though is hands down Song Kul. They’re usually located right next to the lake and the entire scene truly feels like a nomadic paradise.

DON’T : Forget to bring your own tent anyways

Camping really is the most convenient way to sleep in Kyrgyzstan. There is just so much open space and so many great campsites spread throughout the country – campers dream of this kind of situation. Surrounded by mountains, no one in sight, your loyal steed nearby, and a cup of camp coffee brewing; heaven. 

Camping is also generally one of the cheapest ways to travel anywhere in the world. Kyrgyzstan can be expensive after taking transportation and guiding into account and your wallet will need a respite every once in a while. 

A lot of guesthouses will allow you to pitch your own tent on the property for only $5-$10. Plus, you’ll still be fed and have access to the bathroom and whatnot. 

If you’re going deep into the wilderness as well, there may not even be yurts or guesthouses around. In this case, you’ll definitely need a tent.

DO : Visit the South of Kyrgyzstan

Southern Kyrgyzstan is like a completely different country compared to the northern part. It is more traditional, more arid, and is not really on the usual tourist trail. 

For backpackers, this should be an irresistible call to action. 

Visiting Southern Kyrgyzstan is an awesome experience. Aside from the fact that it has a richer history than the north, the food is also better and there are some very unique things to do here. 

Osh is the capital of the South and is one of the oldest cities in the world. It serves as the starting point for not only the epic Pamir Highway but also ascents of Peak Lenin and excursions into the remote Pamir-Alai Mountains. The Pamir-Alai Mountains and the surrounding Batken region are among the most untouched and ripe parts of Kyrgyzstan for travel. 

TLDR: the South is where it’s at.

DON’T: Just visit the top attractions in Kyrgyzstan

Whilst the likes of Issyk Kul, Ala-Kul, and Song Kul are all amazing destinations and totally worth visiting, there’s more to do in Kyrgyzstan . There are a TON of hidden gems spread throughout the country just waiting to be found.

The Ak-Sai Valley is becoming a very popular place to visit but further up is the still virgin Kakshal-Too Mountains. Knorcheck Canyon offers arguably the best desert landscapes in Kyrgyzstan, not Fairytale Canyon. As we just discussed, Southern Kyrgyzstan is also full of untapped potential.

Definitely allocate enough time in your Kyrgyz itinerary to include the most talked-about places in the country. But also spend some time exploring the lesser-known corners of the country. You’ll be glad you did.

DO : Try horseback riding

Kyrgyzstan is probably the best place in the world to ride a horse. They are integral to Kyrgyz culture, ubiquitous, and very well trained. Just about anyone can ride a horse here, regardless of previous experience; they just need to be comfortable around the animals.

Local horsemen organize long-distance rides all the time for tourists. These are like multi-day treks except you’ll be riding a horse most of the time as opposed to walking. These treks often follow common Kyrgyz migration routes and you can even join a seasonal ride from the jailoos (high pastures) back to the valleys.

If you intend on organizing a horse trek in Kyrgyzstan , don’t underestimate how sore you will be. Riding a horse all day can be murder on your hips, thighs, and ass, and isn’t always comfortable. Don’t bite off more than you can chew and ride for too long.

DON’T : Underestimate the weather

The weather in Central Asia can be harsh. It can snow any time of the year – it snowed on us four times in JUNE – and the heat can be unbearable in the lowlands. You never really know what you’re going to get when you travel to Kyrgyzstan weather-wise, so it pays to be prepared.

Be sure to pack the proper gear when you plan a trip to Kyrgyzstan. Bring a good jacket, lots of layers, good boots, plus the usual equipment for any alpine adventure. 

At the same time, don’t forget to bring a swimsuit either – there are lots of great hot springs in Kyrgyzstan that are great to soak in after a long hike. It’s also possible to swim in Issyk Kul although it’s still pretty cold in the summer. 

DO : Try and witness a nomadic game

One way that Kyrgyz people celebrate their culture is through nomadic games. These range from the awesome i.e. Er Enish (wrestling while riding a horse) to the downright strange i.e. Kok-boru (a game that involves dumping a goat carcass in a tire while riding a horse).

Games like this are organized on several occasions. The World Nomad Games, which happens in Kyrgyzstan every two years, is probably the biggest occasion. Outside of this, locals still play these games in their free time. Foreigners are of course welcome to watch.

Note that Kyrgyz usually participate in nomad games in the winter, when they’re in the valleys and have nothing else to do. Summer is usually the time for pasturing and work, not so much fun. Most nomad games that take place in the summer are organized specifically for tourists.

DON’T : Rush through the country

Kyrgyzstan is a wonderful country and it should be enjoyed at the right pace. Trying to do too much in too little time is going to leave you disappointed. You will also need to consider that getting around the country and planning anything on the ground is going to take up some time as well. 

Plan on spending at least two weeks in Kyrgyzstan. This will leave enough time to organize activities and to see the best of the country.

If you don’t have two weeks – perhaps you’re on a short holiday or have a tight schedule – then you should consider heading to Kyrgyzstan with an organized tour. Having someone else plan your trip will help maximize the time you have there!

Is it Safe to Travel to Kyrgyzstan?

A lot of people think that Kyrgyzstan is a dangerous place to visit for various different reasons. Here is a couple I’ve heard in the past:

• “Kyrgyzstan is close to the Middle East and thus it is violent.”
• “It has the name ‘stan’ in it; terrorists live in the stans (like Afghanistan or Pakistan).”
• “I’ve never heard of Kyrgyzstan, so it must be a chaotic, third-world country.”

These are all ignorant, unkind and could not be farther from the truth. 

In reality, Kyrgyzstan is a very safe place to visit. 

There is very little in the way of terrorism here and, in fact, the locals are VERY opposed to any sort of radicalism.

Whilst the country has had its fair share of political problems in recent years – the Tulip Revolution of 2010 was a hectic time – these are rare and even more rarely affect tourists. 

Ultimately, Kyrgyzstan is one of the safest countries I have ever visited. I never felt threatened while I was there, outside of the occasional pissed off horse.

If you’d like to learn more about what to expect when visiting, then be sure to read our Kyrgyzstan safety guide.

Where is Kyrgyzstan?

Kyrgyzstan is one of the 5-6 countries that comprise Central Asia*. As the name implies Central Asia lies in the middle of the Asian continent between China, Russia, India, and the Middle East. Kyrgyzstan shares borders with every other Central Asian nation besides Turkmenistan. 

Because of its unique geographic location, Kyrgyzstan is a very eclectic place. The geography is unlike anything else in this world and the culture is totally novel. Those who visit Kyrgyzstan are in for a real treat.

Because of its central location in the region, Kyrgyzstan is a great gateway to the exploring rest of Central Asia. From here, backpackers can start the Pamir Highway in Tajikistan, visit the Fergana Valley in Uzbekistan, and go big in the Kazakh metropolis of Almaty aka the “New York City of Central Asia.” 

Pakistan and China are also within striking distance, though you’ll need to arrange special permits/visas to visit those.

*Some people consider Afghanistan to be a part of Central Asia.

What Language do They Speak in Kyrgyzstan?

Kyrgyz is officially the native language of Kyrgyzstan although Russian is probably more commonly spoken. 

Kyrgyz is a Turkic language that is similar to other regional languages like Kazakh but not so not close to the Turkish of Turkey. Although it’d be quite a feat to become fluent in the language, it would still pay to learn a phrase or two; the locals will appreciate this and be more receptive. 

First, you should know rahmat , which means “thank you” in Kyrgyz.

Thanks to the former Soviet influence, Russian is the unofficial language of Kyrgyzstan and is mostly used for business and foreigners. If you know a little Russian already, it will pay off when you’re in Kyrgyzstan. 

Note that there is very little English spoken in Kyrgyzstan and this could be the most frustrating part of traveling here. If you’re concerned about communicating clearly with the locals, consider hiring a local guide or joining an organized tour.

When is the Best Time to Visit Kyrgyzstan?

Kyrgyzstan has four seasons: 

• A brief and rainy spring (April-May)
• A hot and dry summer (June-September)
• A short and pleasant autumn (October-November)
• A long and frigid winter (December-March)

The seasons and climate can really vary depending on where you’re going in Kyrgyzstan though. 

For example, Southern Kyrgyzstan is generally warmer than the North and the autumn is a bit longer. The mountains also have a climate all their own.

If you want to do a lot of trekking then July-September is really the only time to visit Kyrgyzstan. Depending on the year, June and October sometimes are okay. Otherwise, the Issyk Kul region and Osh are nice during the spring and fall.

You can visit Kyrgyzstan in the winter and there still are plenty of things to do at this time. There’s a ski resort at Karakol and crossing-country skiing is becoming very popular these days, especially around Song Kul. Avoid Naryn though: it is considered one of the coldest places in the world during the winter.

Is Kyrgyzstan a Religious Country?

Islam is the official religion of Kyrgyzstan although it’s not what I’d call strict Islam. Kyrgyzstan’s brand of Islam (majority Sunni) is pretty lax compared to other hardline Islamist countries, like neighboring Uzbekistan or the countries of the Middle East. 

For one thing, drinking is not illegal in Kyrgyzstan and many people take part in it (maybe too much sometimes). 

Women are not nearly as cloistered as other Islamic countries either. You will not see many hijabs while traveling in Kyrgyzstan. Sometimes, women even have bare shoulders and knees (more so in the north).

Kyrgyzstan is also firmly against any sort of jihadism and the country has taken many steps to avoid this sort of radicalization, although some of these have been counterproductive . 

That being said, Kyrgyzstan does take faith seriously so it is important to remain respectful. Have an open mind and be aware of Islamic practices and you’ll be fine.

1. Change your money before leaving Bishkek

Aside from Osh and maybe Karakol, Bishkek is the only real city in Kyrgyzstan. Most if not all of the country’s financial centers are located here, which means you should be changing your money here as well. Outside of Bishkek, currency changers are pretty rare.

Before heading out into the rest of Kyrgyzstan, you should definitely be changing your money in Bishkek. Most people will suggest going to the local banks but these don’t always offer the best deals. The best place to look is inside the GUM Shopping Mall. There are a few on the bottom floor that offer good rates and ask no questions.

2. Stay at local accommodation

Regardless of where I go, I always recommend staying in local accommodation over larger businesses. Staying in guest houses or homestays is a much better experience in my opinion and offers more opportunities to immerse yourself in the local culture.

The Community Based Tourism group, or CBT, is a pioneering association in Kyrgyzstan that connects local hosts with travelers. The group has existed since 2003 and by now they have a network over 15 different destinations around the country.

Using community-based tourism in Kyrgyzstan is not only a way to further enhance your own experience; it’s also a way to improve the lives of the locals themselves. By cutting out big business, you can be sure that your money goes directly into the hands of the people and not into a corporate bank account. This way, the common Kyrgyz has a better opportunity to support themself and their family.

3. Buy a local SIM card

Chances are, you probably won’t need to make a lot of calls or surf the internet while you’re traveling in Kyrgyzstan. For one thing, you should be out exploring the wilderness! For another, the connection is pretty shit outside of Bishkek and the larger towns. 

But having the ability to call ahead and confirm accommodation or connect with a local guide is still very useful. Considering the fact that SIM cards are so cheap in Kyrgyzstan – they’re around $10 – it really does hurt to pick one up anyway. I suggest using O! but Beeline and Megacom are also fine. 

If you choose O!, you can also buy a USB dongle that when plugged in gives you WiFi anywhere that there is data. We found it more convenient to use than searching for WiFi in cafes and offered a pretty strong connection as well.

4. Do your research beforehand

There are certain countries where you can just shoot from the hip and visit without making any plans whatsoever. Places like Thailand, India, and Peru are a couple of places where you can just show up without any sort of guide or booking and you’ll be fine.

Kyrgyzstan is not really one of these places. 

For one, tourism in Kyrgyzstan is very underdeveloped compared to many other destinations in the world. Things like hotels, tour operators, and transportation for travelers are much less frequent and much less apparent. You’ll have to go looking first before you find any of these. 

This means it pays to have a plan before visiting. Knowing where there’s accommodation, where you can find guides, and where to catch the bus beforehand will make your trip to Kyrgyzstan much more enjoyable.

We’ve written a pretty extensive backpacking guide for Kyrgyzstan that contains all of this info and more. Be sure to give it a good read before heading out.

5. Ditch the hostels

Hostelling is not really a thing in Kyrgyzstan at this point. Maybe it will be one day when the country becomes more well-known with travelers (and it will be) but right now the pickings are pretty slim. 

Instead, stay in alternative forms of accommodation in Kyrgyzstan. Staying in a yurt is an unmissable experience and there are plenty of guesthouses/homestays spread throughout the country as well. 

If you wanted to travel on a backpacker budget in Kyrgyzstan, the best way to do so would be to bring your own tent. Camping is by far the cheapest form of accommodation you can use while visiting.

Drink water from ANYWHERE. The Grayl Geopress is the worlds leading filtered water bottle protecting you from all manner of waterborne nasties.

Single-use plastic bottles are a MASSIVE threat to marine life. Be a part of the solution and travel with a filter water bottle. Save money and the environment!

We’ve tested the Geopress  rigorously  from the icy heights of Pakistan to the tropical jungles of Bali, and can confirm: it’s the best water bottle you’ll ever buy!

6. Don’t ride a horse if you don’t feel confident

Whilst the horses used to carry trekkers and tourists are generally very well trained in Kyrgyzstan, it’s important to remember that they’re still animals. They are sensitive creatures and can easily sense if you’re nervous or uneasy. 

If you’re afraid, the horse will be afraid and a fearful horse can be problematic.

If you’re unsure about riding a horse, then don’t do it. You need to be confident when riding one so you can properly control it. A horse requires stern directions and they will do whatever they want otherwise. 

7. Practice your handshake

The key to making a good first impression with the local Kyrgyz is with a firm grip and good eye contact. Kyrgyz shake each other’s hands when greeting each other and different kinds of handshakes indicate different levels of respect. 

A standard handshake with one hand is usually reserved for new acquaintances and strangers. If someone takes their other hand and grips the arm they’re using to shake, it means that they’re showing respect. The closer this grip is to their own hand, the greater the respect is shown.

After shaking hands, some Kyrgyz will also touch their heart with the hand they used to shake. This is an additional gesture and is pretty easy to adopt (it looks freakin’ cool). If you’re in the south, some people will also move their hands over their faces like they were washing it – this is a Muslim gesture and means good luck and health to you.

8. Learn a bit of history before visiting

The history of Kyrgyzstan has been pretty uneventful up until the last few decades. For most of its existence, Kyrgyzstan has mostly been a place where nomadic tribes roamed and only a few great dynasties have left their mark here.

But the history of the greater region, that of Central Asia, is very fascinating. This is where the Silk Road was born, where empires rose and fell, and where many of the world’s greatest leaders were born, like Barbur, Tamerlane, and Al-Khwarizmi. The history of Central Asia may take a back seat compared to Western Civilization but it has been no less influential. 

I suggest learning a bit about the history of the region before visiting. The Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan gives a very comprehensive overview of Central Asia in relation to the Middle East and Europe. I also recommend checking out Peter Hopkirk’s The Great Game , which concerns the shadowy war fought between the Russian and British Empire in Central Asia in the 19th century.

9. Visas are super easy to get

Unlike some neighboring  countries, it is very easy to get a visa for Kyrgyzstan. Many nationalities qualify for a 60-day visa-on-arrival. 

To check and see if your nationality qualifies for a free visa, be sure to visit the official website for the Kyrgyz embassy.

10. Be ready to have your mind blown

Kyrgyzstan is one of the most amazing countries that I have ever visited. The landscape is mindblowing, Kyrgyz people are super welcoming, and the culture is unlike any other. Travelers are starting to catch onto this as well.

Kyrgyzstan, and all of Central Asia for that matter, is set to be the next big adventure destination. It won’t be long before people from all over the world start flocking here in search of epic mountains, fresh experiences, and unbridled hospitality. Get here before Kyrgyzstan is discovered!

Travel Insurance For Kyrgyzstan

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, Kyrgyzstan is a very safe country to visit. However, no matter where you go in the world disaster and illness can strike so it is better to have travel insurance. We use World Nomads who are dedicated to covering adventure backpackers like us.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

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Prices and Cost of Living in Kyrgyzstan

Travel budget calculator.

Calculate how much money you will spend on your vacation in Kyrgyzstan. Sample budget for each type of traveler - food, transportation, sightseeing and accommodation expenses.

Transportation

Sightseeing

Accommodation

Backpacker's budget

Traveling with a backpack

from 22.13 USD to 26.09 USD

Daily budget for one person, assuming that two people travel in a standard close to 1 star (hostels, public transport). When traveling alone, the cost may be slightly higher (hotel room) or the same (dormitory accommodation).

Average daily expenses were calculated on the basis of the prices of accommodation, food (restaurants and shops), transport (public transport and taxis) and some tourist attractions. Values may vary depending on the city, tourist season, or during major religious and public events. Update 19 May 2024.

How much do you spend per day on travel and sightseeing?

Traveling and sightseeing in a cheap way (hostels, cheap food), you can fit into a budget from 1952 KGS (22.13 USD) to 2301 KGS (26.09 USD). On the other hand, a slightly higher standard (3-star hotel, meals in restaurants) you should expect to spend from 4252 KGS (48.2 USD) to 5602 KGS (63.51 USD). You should additionally take into account that if you are traveling alone, the cost may be slightly higher.

Food Prices - Calculate the Cost of Living

The calculator allows you to quickly and easily calculate how much you will spend on average to buy food at grocery stores in Kyrgyzstan. Plan your daily, weekly and monthly food expenses.

Select the appropriate number of days to see how much you will spend on food during that period. Values given for one person.

Cheapest products

Here's how much you will spend in 1 day .

from 3.29 USD to 4.6 USD

Mid-range products

from 4.26 USD to 6.02 USD

Average values for capital or largest city. Purchase of food products in local stores and supermarkets corresponding to daily meals of 2,200 to 2,400 kcal was taken into account. Update 19 May 2024.

How much do you have to spend on groceries per day in Kyrgyzstan?

When shopping for groceries in local stores and markets, the average daily cost of food expenses will range from 290 KGS (3.29 USD) to 406 KGS (4.6 USD) when buying the cheapest products. However, if you choose slightly more expensive products, you can expect to pay from 376 KGS (4.26 USD) to 531 KGS (6.02 USD) per day. These figures are based on daily meals consisting of approximately 2200-2400 kcal and may vary slightly depending on the city.

Budget and shopping basket update: 19 May 2024

Estimated budget and daily food costs are always given per person and are only a suggestion to help you plan your total travel costs.

Budget was calculated on the basis of average prices of accommodation in each category (hotels and hostels), food costs (restaurants and grocery shopping), transport prices and some tourist attractions.

BACKPACKER'S BUDGET • accommodation in a hostel or cheap hotel, • travel by public transport, • dining in cheap local restaurants or buying food in local stores, • small number of paid tourist attractions, • two people travel (when traveling alone, prices may be higher, but only if we use a hotel room instead of a dormitory).

TOURIST'S BUDGET • accommodation in a 3 star hotel (with a small number of available facilities, average prices of 3* and 4* hotels), • traveling by taxis, • catering in middle-class restaurants and buying food in grocery stores, • average number of paid tourist attractions, • two people travel (they share costs of accommodation and transport).

FOOD EXPENSES • daily meals containing 2200 to 2400 kcal (applies to both price variants), • shopping for food in local stores or supermarkets (no meals in restaurants), • value per person & for the capital or largest city.

Prices in Kyrgyzstan

Below you will find a list of prices for products and services in Kyrgyzstan, which will help you determine what expenses you should prepare for when going on vacation in this country.

Grocery Store Prices

Food and beverage prices in kyrgyzstan.

Popular food products found on store shelves in Kyrgyzstan include bananas, rice, bread, onions, eggs, tomatoes, cheese, beef and potatoes, among others. Prices for a kilo of these products range from 34.09 KGS (0.39 USD) for a kilo of onions to 558 KGS (6.33 USD) for a kilo of beef. The price of white rice is 115 KGS (1.3 USD) per kilo, while a loaf of fresh white bread costs 33.04 KGS (0.37 USD) per half kilo. Bananas cost 134 KGS (1.52 USD) per kilo, while apples cost 77.68 KGS (0.88 USD) per kilo.

Water, available in 1.5-liter bottles, costs 34.59 KGS (0.39 USD). Dairy prices in Kyrgyzstan, on the other hand, are as follows: 1 liter of milk costs about 63.5 KGS (0.72 USD), and 1 kilogram of locally produced cheese is an expense of 660 KGS (7.49 USD). Chicken filet, which is a common ingredient in meat dishes, costs in the range of 415 KGS (4.71 USD) per kilo. Eggs (12 pieces per package) are an expense of about 135 KGS (1.53 USD), and the average price of tomatoes is 123 KGS (1.39 USD) per kilo.

Restaurant Prices

What is the typical cost for an affordable meal.

Prices in restaurants in Kyrgyzstan vary and depend on several factors, such as the type of restaurant, location and time of day. For instance, a Cappuccino typically costs around 147 KGS (1.67 USD), while a 0.33-liter bottle of Coca-Cola or Pepsi is priced at approximately 46.58 KGS (0.53 USD). At a fast-food restaurant such as McDonald's, you can expect to pay 350 KGS (3.97 USD) for a meal, whereas a meal for two at a mid-range restaurant could cost around 1850 KGS (20.97 USD). Budget-friendly dining options are also available, with some restaurants offering meals for as little as 450 KGS (5.1 USD).

Public Transportation Prices

How much does transportation cost in kyrgyzstan.

The average expense of a one-way trip using local transportation stands at approximately 15 KGS (0.17 USD), while a monthly ticket for public transportation has an average cost of roughly 500 KGS (5.67 USD). Choosing to travel by taxi would entail an initial fee of 60 KGS (0.68 USD), along with a per-kilometer charge of 18 KGS (0.2 USD).

Fuel Prices

Fuel prices in kyrgyzstan.

Average fuel prices in Kyrgyzstan are 68.1 KGS (0.77 USD) per liter of gasoline and 69.77 KGS (0.79 USD) per liter of diesel.

Entertainment Prices

Apartment rental prices, how much does it cost to rent an apartment in kyrgyzstan.

The cost of renting or buying an apartment in Kyrgyzstan varies according to its location. On average, renting an apartment with one bedroom and a living room outside the city center costs approximately 19011 KGS (216 USD) per month, while the same type of apartment in the city center can cost around 30623 KGS (347 USD) per month. In comparison, the purchase price of an apartment in the city center is 70455 KGS (799 USD) per square meter.

Apartment Buying Prices

Average salary, hotel prices in kyrgyzstan.

A comprehensive list of the current prices of accommodations in various cities, ranging from budget-friendly hotels to high-end luxurious stays.

What is the average cost of a hotel room?

Accommodation prices in Kyrgyzstan vary depending on the city, neighborhood or tourist season. For example, the average price of accommodation in Bishkek (May 2024) ranges from 1500 KGS (17 USD) per night in a hostel to about 6216 KGS (70 USD) in a 3-star hotel. The price of a night in a luxury hotel is an expense from 11390 KGS (129 USD) upwards.

• Cholpon-Ata

Accommodation prices based on data from 57 hotels in Bishkek .

• Prices of products and services in Kyrgyzstan. Prices may vary from town to town. • Updates: oldest data 03/2023, latest data 02/2024. • Prices were calculated based on several sources including Expedia.com, Booking.com, local supermarket websites, own sources, submissions from users. We do not guarantee their accuracy, however, we try, to keep them high. • If you have noticed an error, please report it .

Kyrgyzstan Travel Budget Report – Travel Expenditures on our Road Trip

October 14, 2022 February 9, 2024 | Karin-Marijke

download free

In this Kyrgyzstan Travel Budget Report we share what we spent during our overland journey in Kyrgyzstan and on what. We elaborate on those expenditures, detailing information on visas, car papers, gas stations and fuel, accommodation, public transport, and more.

Of course, we all have our own budgets and levels of comfort that we need on our road trip and this is meant to give a general idea of what you may expect on an overland journey through Kyrgyzstan. Some expenditures are fixed, such as visas, whereas travel expenditures on accommodation may be very different for you.

The purpose of our Kyrgyzstan Overland Travel Guides and Kyrgyzstan Travel Budget Reports is to share our overland-trip experience, which may be useful for planning your road trip. For all general information, please make use of guidebooks on the region.

The guidebooks we used in Kyrgyzstan were:

• Bradt Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide (best on where to visit what)
• Lonely Planet’s Central Asia (stronger on practicalities like where to eat and sleep).
• A dedicated, fabulous Overland 4×4 Road Trip Guidebook on Kyrgyzstan . Oun Travela is working hard on making a wonderful series of overland guidebooks designed for, yes, overlanders. Check out their website for more overland travel guidebooks! 

Related Posts on Kyrgyzstan

• Kyrgyzstan Overland Travel Guide
• Overland Camping in Kyrgyzstan – Overlanders Share Their Favorite Campsites
• Books about Central Asia
• A New Adventure – Kyrgyzstan
• Overhaul & Overlanders in Kyrgyzstan
• A Quick Tour through Kyrgyzstan
• Bishkek – A Place to Rest & Relax

Check it out: the Landcruising Adventure Notebook Collection

Index for our Kyrgyzstan Travel Budget Report

Our Overland Travel Information Pages for Kyrgyzstan consists of two parts: The Kyrgyzstan Overland Travel Guide , and this is the Kyrgyzstan Travel Budget Report.

In this blog post we’ll discuss the following topics:

• Money Matters
• Our Kyrgyzstan Travel-budget Pie
• Documentation (Visa & Temporary Import Document)
• The Land Cruiser Repairs & Maintenance
• Diesel & Gas Stations
• Public Transport
• Sightseeing
• Accommodation & Camping
• Other Expenditures

1 – Money Matters

The Kyrgyzstan currency is Som (KGS, or лв). In Oct 2022 the rate was 79 som to a euro.

Coming from Kazakhstan, there is an ATM on the border of Korday, inside a building where you can drink/eat something. If that doesn’t work, no worries because 20 kilometers down the road is Bishkek, the capital.

You will find many ATMs in Bishkek, Osh and Karakol (we don’t know about other towns). Note that many are stand-alone (commercial) machines that charge a fee. For us, Dutch, the Demir Bank worked particularly well, as did the AKB Bank.

Most of the time we pay with cash, so we have no info on the use of credit cards or bank cards, but we do know that it’s increasingly to pay with plastic as well.

More details about money issues on  Caravanistan .

Kyrgyzstan Country Stats

• International telephone code: 996
• Time: GMT+5
• Electrical voltage: 220v, 50Hz, standard two-pin round-prong plug.

—  Kyrgyzstan, Bradt Travel Guides

2 – Our Kyrgyzstan Travel Budget Report

Budget-pie kyrgyzstan.

• Time spent in Kyrgyzstan: 292 days
• Average expenditure: € 25 /day (2 persons)
• Total distance  driven : 5809 kilometers
• Average distance/day: 20 kms /day
• For our driven route, see the map in our Overland Travel Guide .

Not included: health insurance, electronics .

Notes on our Kyrgyzstan Travel Budget:

• While the overhaul is not part of this travel budget report, the fact that we stayed in an Airbnb for two months to get this overhaul done adds up to the money spent on accommodation. Additionally we spent a number of weeks in Tunduk guesthouse (Bishkek).
• Also, the average kms/day is off, compared to other countries, because of the long stays in Bishkek and camp at Toktogul Lake.
• Public transport = flights from/to Europe.

3 – Documentation 0% (Visa & Temporary Import Document)

3a- visa for kyrgyzstan.

Caravanistan  is an up-to-date website to check whether you need a visa or not. Or check with the embassy. Europeans don’t need a visa and get 60-day free entry at the border.

You can’t extend your Kyrgyzstan visa, but a visa run across the border is easy. We did the one just north of Bishkek (Korday), walked across, drank coffee on the Kazakhstan side of the border and returned. The whole procedure, including coffee, took about 1,5 half hours.

A second visa run we did to Uzbekistan, a tiny one somewhere south of Toktogul Lake (where you can’t cross with your vehicle). Again, the procedure went in a jiffy.

3b- Carnet de Passage / Temporary Import Document for Kyrgyzstan

You don’t need a Carnet de Passage for Kyrgyzstan. You are issued with a Temporary Import Document (TID) for your vehicle at the border. It is free of charge and valid for 1 year for the Eurasian Customs Unions which includes Russia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

3c- Leaving Kyrgyzstan without the Land Cruiser

Winters are long in this part of the year. So we organized a long-term parking spot for the Land Cruiser and flew out for a long-distance hike in Turkey .

Iron Horse Nomad was helpful to organize this. Ryan, the owner, charged 50 dollars per month. Note that the vehicle is outside, either in the parking lot behind his shop or at another place. Because our Land Cruiser has leakage issues we found another place, inside a warehouse. Expensive, 70 dollars per month, but dry and the batteries were kept in a room above freezing temps.

We didn’t organize any paperwork to leave the country without our Land Cruiser and no questions were asked.

Read more: Tajikistan Travel Budget Report

4 – The Land Cruiser Repairs & Maintenance 4%

We spent money on the Land Cruiser allright, but it isn’t part of this travel budget. The big overhauls, every 3-4 years, have their own budget.

Ryan ( Iron Horse Nomads ) and Alex (Nomadsland.kg) helped us with contacts to find mechanics who might want to do the overhaul (all rust-related issues).

The Land Cruiser Overhaul in a Nut Shell

It was not an easy search to find a workshop to do the overhaul, which we did in January, hoping that on our return in June work could start right away. What we encountered was:

• Some took the job way too seriously,  wanting to do a massive restoration job that would take 6 months. That was not our idea. We just needed patching up but they were not in for this.
• One shop simply refused, finding it too big of a job. No problem, clear answer.
• One guy was willing to do the overhaul for 900 dollars. A LOT of money for local standards, but we weren’t getting anywhere and so agreed. On our return, however, he was in the hospital and couldn’t do the job.

Thanks to Stephanie & Leigh we met Nicolai, who works by himself and is often contracted via the official ARB dealer in Bishkek who speaks English.

Nicolai had his own opinion about the Land Cruiser.

He pointed out some structural problems of metal fatigue, causing the whole bodywork to sag. The story is for a separate article/blog post. It suffices to say that he worked slow but super deliberate and did excellent work. In the end we paid about 1000 US dollars for one month of work.

We asked for a budget beforehand, which he couldn’t give. Afterward, he said he charged $10 an hour, which was something he could have told beforehand and which was the only thing that bothered us a bit (amply compensated by the job done, though).

Regular Car Maintenance

Outside the overhaul were some regular maintenance and repairs, like the change of oil, new king-pin bearings.

Expect to have vehicle repairs due to the large number of unpaved roads in Kyrgyzstan, some of which are car killers.

A problem not yet solved is the massive dent in the rear after Coen backed up on the verge of the road but hadn’t seen a massive telephone pole… Even after a year it’s still on our to-do list. The dust-screen works miracles, as it has for years 🙂

Read More: 3 Convenient Window Shades (and Dust Screen) for your Overland Vehicle

Overland Vehicle First-aid Kit

(click on the images to check them out)

Silicone tape

Battery booster

Products from Amazon

5 – Diesel & Gas Stations 7%

We had no problem finding gas stations and all had diesel. The (low) quality of diesel works just fine for our old Land Cruiser, however, people with newer cars may want to stick to big-branded stations such as GazProm and the likes to be sure to get a decent quality fuel for their vehicles’ sensitive engines. We just bought whatever came at hand whenever we needed filling up.

Fun fact: You will come across old German gas station equipment, with prices still stated in Deutsche Mark or even Euro.

Books on 4WD Driving

(click on the images to look inside)

The Total Approach of Getting Unstuck Off Road

4WD Driving Skills: A Manual for On- and Off-Road Travel

Four-Wheel Drive: The Complete Guide

6 – Public Transport 16%

The money spent on Public Transport = our flights to/from Europe + our flights from Tashkent to Bishkek.

In Bishkek are buses (trolley and normal), taxis, and  marshrutkas (the latter mostly old Mercedes Sprinters that are filled to the brim and ply a fixed route). Note that you pay marshrutkas when you board, and buses as you exit.

Apps to can help you with pubic transport:

• 2Gis gives you all the options in one go. Find your destination and choose your mode of transport.
• Inobi  gives you the bus and marshrutka options and a live view of where the busses are. Tap where you are, tap where you want to go, and it’ll show you the marshrutka routes or buses that will get you there.
• You need to register with a telephone number. This you need to do only once, so if you did this in another Yandex-using country, you won’t have to do it again. (Of course they can’t call you back then if you have switched telephone numbers).
• The Yandex app is in Russian and is very slow. Fortunately the Yandex app is connected with Maps me. So, in Mapsme you can see the prices and can order a Yandex from there.
• Whether you use the app or Mapsme, you need to be online to order a Yandex.

Outside Bishkek run buses, but getting to remote places is not the most evident.

Travel Guides for Central Asia

Bradt Travel Guides – Tajikistan

Bradt Travel Guides – Uzbekistan

Bradt Travel Guides – Kyrgyzstan

7 – Sightseeing 1%

We haven’t done a whole lot of sightseeing in Kyrgyzstan, at least to places that require entrance fees but among the places we enjoyed:

• Burana Tower near Bishkek.
• Petroglyphs of Cholpon Ata, north of Lake Issyk Kul
• Przhevalsky museum, near Karakol.

The best places in Kyrgyzstan, however, are for free!

A scenery of rough mountains, glaciers, cascading rivers, forests and so much more. Everywhere you will find lots of opportunities to wild camp .

We did 2 multiple-day hikes in Kyrgyzstan:

• 6-day hike in the Alay Valley, leaving the Land Cruiser in Sary Mogul.
• 7-day hike in the valleys & Ala-Kul Lake, south of Karakol.

Journal of Nomads has written a lot about hiking. Their website arguably gives the best information on hiking in Kyrgyzstan .

8 – Accommodation & Camping 29%

Wild camping is possible everywhere, and often amidst fantastic scenery. As mentioned before, with fellow overlanders we put together a page highlighting our favorite wild camps .

In Bishkek we stayed:

• At an Airbnb for our overhaul.
• At the Apple Hostel in Bishkek, in January. Parking space for a few cars. Situated next to the West/New bus station, with supermarket around the corner and Osh Bazaar on walking distance. I didn’t find the staff particularly friendly. Small kitchen and a living room without any window.
• At the Tunduk Hostel in Bishkek, in August. Parking space for a few cars, a beautiful garden with a swimming pool, a small restaurant where they serve good breakfast (not included in the fee), and a super kind and professional hostess. Az speaks fluent French and good English. With her husband and parents, they run the place. Across the hostel runs the Yunusaliev Street – dubbed ‘K-street’ – with lots of Korean restaurants (check out ‘Korean restaurant Seoul’,  as well as the nearby big bazaar (cleaner and better than Osh Bazaar, I’d argue) which is surrounded by places to eat fast-food and sushi.

In Osh many overlanders stay at the Tes Hostel in Osh, which has a big, pleasant garden and offers an extensive breakfast buffet.

Whether wild camping or staying in hotels, iOverlander is the best overlanding resource to find places to stay. It’s a non-profit project, started and maintained by fellow overlanders. To keep this great resource for overlanders going, you can contribute in (at least) two important ways:

• Donate (you will find the donate button on the iOverlander website )
• Share your own experiences of camping that add value to other overlanders (camping spots or otherwise useful points).

Read More: Bishkek – A Place to Rest & Relax

9 – Other Expenditures 43%

I keep a journal with the above-mentioned travel-budget expenditures. All money spent minus these registered expenditures is Other Expenditures.

This basically comes to money spent on groceries and eating out.

Tips, Suggestions, Feedback?

We hope you find this Kyrgyzstan Travel Budget Guide useful. Do you have questions or your own experiences to add? Feel free to do so in the comment section below. Thanks!

Don’t forget to check out the Kyrgyzstan Overland Travel Guide , which gives an elaborate overview of all things related to roads, roadmaps, navigation, traffic rules and traffic police, language, apps, SIM cards, WiFi, and more.

First published 2019 / updated Oct. ’22

Check it out: the Landcruising Adventure Tanktop Collection

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• Travel Planning Guide

The Best Affordable Budget Tours to Kyrgyzstan

These top rated budget tours in Kyrgyzstan prove that affordability and adventure really can go hand in hand. We've done the research, analyzing a wide range of tours from highly reviewed companies, ensuring that you get the best deals without compromising on quality. With pocket-friendly prices, stellar guest ratings, impeccable service, enticing destinations, and thrilling activities, these curated affordable tours to Kyrgyzstan offer an unbeatable travel experience without the hefty price tag.

• Bishkek To Ashgabat (20 Days) 20 Days, $2395.35
• Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan 12 days tour 12 Days, $1749.00
• Bishkek To Bishkek (16 Days) 16 Days, $1394.50

What are budget and low-cost tours like in Kyrgyzstan?

Here are the important factors:

• 5 trip options analyzed
• $123 average price per day (USD)
• 9 to 20 days in length
• 4.7 of 5 average rating
• 17 people or less on average

You'll be surprised at the array of budget tours in Kyrgyzstan, as there is something for everyone. It's no wonder that visitors can't get enough of these tours, boasting an impressive average guest rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars. Picture yourself joining a group of like-minded adventurers, with an average maximum size of 17 people, ensuring a fantastic blend of social and personalized experiences. The average tour length spans 14 days, with tours ranging from 9 to 20 days long. With our thorough analysis of 5 budget tours, we've found the best. So rest assured that Kyrgyzstan has something to captivate every kind of traveler.

(All tour prices are in US Dollars before taxes, and come from a base price that is reported by TourRadar. Peak season prices can vary significantly, particularly in destinations where seasonal travel fluctuates dramatically.)

So, let's get to it and see...

The 5 Best Budget Tours in Kyrgyzstan

Bishkek to ashgabat (20 days).

• Great Value: the daily price is lower than average for budget tours.
• High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Here's your chance to take off on an exceptional trip, visiting Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, that has garnered a 5 out of 5 rating. With a duration of 20 days, this jouney will have 24 participants, and it warmly welcomes guests age 18 to 69. Expertly organized by Oasis Overland , this amazing trip is an incredible value at just $120 per day.

• Overland Truck

Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan 12 days tour

This memorable voyage, visiting Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, is offered by Steppe Journeys which has received plenty of positive reviews. The trip itself has a guest rating of 5 out of 5 stars, and is priced affordably at $146 per day. Your journey will begin in Bishkek and end in Almaty. Guests on this trip get to partake in hiking and mountain hikes. The maximum group size is 10 people, welcoming guests age 3 to 75.

• Hiking & Trekking
• Mountain Hikes

Bishkek To Bishkek (16 Days)

Set off on an extraordinary journey that has been awarded a 3.5 out of 5 stars by previous guests. With a duration of 16 days, this voyage offers an intimate group setting, accommodating 24 individuals, while extending a warm welcome to guests age 18 to 69. This trip takes you on an adventure to 4 destinations, including Issyk Kul Lake and Ala Archa National Park. Bishkek will be the beginning and end of your trip. Brought to you by Oasis Overland , this exceptional deal is an incredible steal at a mere $112 per day.

Kyrgyzstan: Lakes, Valleys, Canyons and Nomadic life

With this option you can experience an unparalleled trip for 11 unforgettable days. It ensures an intimate group setting with 12 participants at most. With 12 destinations to explore, you'll get the chance to see Sary-Chelek Biosphere Reserve, Burana, Cholpon-Ata, and Issyk Kul Lake, and more. Begin and conclude your remarkable journey in the gorgeous destination of Bishkek. My name is Travel , the organizer of this journey, extends a warm invitation to guests guests age 12 to 55. This extraordinary opportunity offers exceptional value at only $109 per day.

Highlights of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan

• On Sale: 25% Off See Prices

This fantastic trip has a rating of 5 out of 5 stars, visiting Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. Along the way, this journey encompasses 7 destinations, including Chong-Kemin National Park, Song Kul Lake, Tamga, and Karakol. Your journey will begin in Bishkek and end in Almaty. Lasting 9 days, the maximum group size is 16 people, and it's good for guests age 12 and older. Organized by G Adventures , this is a great deal because it's only $129 per day. It's also on sale right now!

• Sightseeing

See also The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Kyrgyzstan , Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Kyrgyzstan , The Best Adventure Tours to Kyrgyzstan , The Best Eco Tours in Kyrgyzstan , The Best Cultural Tours in Kyrgyzstan , The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Kyrgyzstan , or The Best Tours for Seniors to Kyrgyzstan for more tour ideas. With so many options, there's a guided tour or vacation package for every type of traveler.

Also, if you're departing from a specific destination, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Bishkek or The Best 2-Week Tours from Bishkek for more package tour options.

How much do budget tours cost in Kyrgyzstan?

After analyzing 5 budget tours in Kyrgyzstan, we found the average price to be a remarkably economical $123 per day. Naturally, this region has many fantastic options for budget tours with a variety of prices. The individual costs will vary by the destinations, travel style, available dates, and other factors. If you're interested in more information about tours here, see our guide to tour prices in Kyrgyzstan .

And for more information on Kyrgyzstan, see Kyrgyzstan Travel Costs and Kyrgyzstan Hotel Costs .

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• Activities, Day Trips, Things To Do, and Excursions

Backpacking in Kyrgyzstan: 1 to 4-week itinerary

By Joan Torres 42 Comments Last updated on April 25, 2024

With its unique, striking mountains, Kyrgyzstan is slowly becoming a pretty popular trekking destination.

However, the mountains of Kyrgyzstan are, definitely, not the only reason why you should come here.

From a well-developed public transportation system to a wide range of budget accommodation, hospitable people and just an amazing, undiscovered culture, backpacking in Kyrgyzstan is easy and the perfect place for travelers seeking a unique and off-beat destination, but not as hard as traveling in Pakistan , for example.

I am pretty sure that, in the next few years, Kyrgyzstan will become the ultimate backpacking destination and one of the best alternatives to popular places like Nepal.

After spending 2 months backpacking in Kyrgyzstan (we travel very slowly), I have compiled this complete 1-month itinerary.

In this backpacking guide to Kyrgyzstan, you will find:

Table of Contents

• Travel safety
• Useful books
• Day 1, 2 – Bishkek
• Day 3 – Burana Tower
• Day 4 – Karakol
• Day 5, 6, 7 Archa Tör Pass trek
• Day 8 – Kochkor
• Day 9, 10 – Song Kul
• Day 10,11 – Naryn
• Day 12, 13 – Tash Rabat
• 3-4-week itinerary
• Sary Tash, Sary Mogul, and the Alay Valley
• Tulpar Lake and Lenin Peak
• More Information

our recommended travel insurance for Kyrgyzstan

With its Backpacker plan, IATI Insurance is the best insurance for any kind of adventurous destination, like Kyrgyzstan.

For all the practical information, don’t forget to read: 75 Tips for traveling to Kyrgyzstan

Travel safety in Kyrgyzstan

From a crime perspective, backpacking in Kyrgyzstan is a really safe destination for travelers.

The only dangers you may encounter are those related to road accidents (some people drive like crazy) and, of course, the mountains.

Useful books for planning your Kyrgyzstan travel itinerary

For more books to Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia, check:

The best 28 books on Central Asia

Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide by Bradt

By far, the best and most complete book guide to Kyrgyzstan. Bradt writes the most awesome guides, as they are always filled with great cultural insights and personal experiences. I always buy their Kindle version for whatever country I go to.

Central Asia Guide by Lonely Planet

A classic. If you are traveling throughout the region, this might be a more economical option, rather than buying one guide per country but remember that it is not as insightful as Bradt’s.

Don’t forget to check my list of the best books on Central Asia and the Silk Road

Places to visit in Kyrgyzstan in a 2-week itinerary

Here are all the places I visited in Kyrgyzstan in a 15-day itinerary.

Places to visit in Kyrgyzstan in 2 weeks – Map

Day 1, 2 – Bishkek, the capital

Most likely, your Kyrgyz journey will start in Bishkek, as the flights from Europe are the cheapest in the region, plus this is the first destination for overlanders traveling from Almaty in Kazakhstan .

After some hard-backpacking in Pakistan and a short visit to Xinjiang, for me, Bishkek felt like a dream. Home to a liberal and Westernized society, the streets of Bishkek are filled with all sorts of bars and restaurants, as well as a large expat and digital nomad communities.

I actually spent 25 days here, wandering around its pubs and working on my blog, while taking advantage of the high-speed Wi-Fi.

However, if you are here for just 2 weeks, I don’t think you care about doing Western stuff.

In fact, I recommend spending the minimum days possible in Bishkek, as there are not many touristic sites here, besides Osh Bazaar , one of the greatest in the region; Ala-Too square , the main central square; and the State History Museum .

For more information, read this great Bishkek City Guide . 

Where to stay in Bishkek

Backpacker Hostel – Friends Guest House & Hostel – I stayed here for nearly two weeks. The owner is a cool local guy who really strives for people to socialize and just have fun. It has a very big common garden, with loads of comfortable seats, beer for sale and everything you need. There are several kitchens, bathrooms and a wide range of both dorms and private rooms. One of the best choices in town for both backpackers, couples and any kind of traveler.

Koisha Hostel – This hostel was highly rated because of its great location and amazing facilities. They also have a courtyard where you can relax and cool down after a nice stroll of the city.

Premium Hostel – Central Hostel 312 – I spent my first few days here and it was really great. With very modern facilities and extremely comfortable mattresses, this hostel is a great choice for those looking for a more comfortable place to stay. Prices are obviously higher but still, it’s quite affordable.

Centre hostel – A very cozy hostel that has a terrace and free WiFi throughout the property. This property was highly rated because of their comfy beds and accommodating staff.

Mid-range Hotel – Garden Hotel – I have seen that many readers of my blog book this hotel and I can easily see why. The staff is amazing and they serve an amazing breakfast. For people who don’t want to stay in hostels, this is the best place in the city.

Burana Tower – Silk Road monument – Day 3

Kyrgyzstan is part of the Silk Road, so why is everybody always talking about its mountains and not ancient monuments? That’s a good question.

Unfortunately, very few buildings remain from that time but the beautiful Burana Tower is one of them.

Located only 70km from Bishkek, this is one of the most outstanding Silk Road Heritage sites to visit in Kyrgyzstan and this minaret is the only thing that remains from an ancient city once called Balasagun, which was sacked by the Mongols in the 12th century and then finally destroyed in the 14th.

The area is filled with petroglyphs and balbals , a sort of grave marked by the Turks during their journey through Central Asia .

Most people come here on a day trip from Bishkek but I recommend coming and staying overnight.

Why? First of all, because sunset is the best time to visit it. And second, because it is on your way to your next destination.

Entrance fee –  60KGS (90¢)

How to get from Bishkek to Burana Tower 

Marshrutkas to the town of Tokmok leave from the eastern bus station of Bishkek (Location: 42.887272, 74.629646) . The center of Tokmok is 14km from the Burana Tower.

The local price for a taxi is around 150KGS (2.10USD) but they may ask you for up to 250KGS (3.65USD).

Where to stay in Tokmok

Budget homestay – Kegeti Guest House – One of the few budget options in Tokmok is this traditional Kyrgyz guest house.

Mid-range – Grand Hotel Burana – A pretty fancy hotel, as per Kyrgyzstan standards, for mid-range travelers.

Karakol – Your trekking base – Day 4

With a wide array of cool cafés and restaurants, the most touristic town in Kyrgyzstan is a great base to rest after some trekking. Although, you should not stay here long unless you have plenty of time.

There is a trekking-gear store, where you can find from tents to camping gas and anything you may need.

However, keep in mind that the quality of the gear is not very good, so I always recommend bringing it from home.

In my trekking guide to Kyrgyzstan , you can find the recommended packing list.

How to get to Karakol from Bishkek 

Marshrutkas leave from the western bus station (location: 42.885755, 74.56674) and cost 450KGS (6.50USD) for a 4-hour journey.

Where to stay in Karakol

Backpacker Hostel – Tent Hostel – A pretty cool and unique place. This hostel offers tents with comfy mattresses in a room. How cool is that? However, if you are more into normal beds, it also offers dorms with bunk beds. Tent Hostel is also a great place if you want to team-up with other trekkers.

Karakol Based Hostel (KBH) – A comfy and modern hostel that is 5-minute walk away from the city center.

Mid-range Hotel – Riverside – An ideal place for couples. This lovely guest house is run by a Dutch/Kyrgyz couple. It has very comfy beds, an awesome breakfast, and the owner is a very kind man who really knows what travelers need.

Archa Tör Pass – Off the beaten track trek – Day 5, 6, 7

You may have heard from a famous trek called Ala-Kul , which is a 3-5-day trek to a high-altitude lake.

That’s the trek that most people who visit Kyrgyzstan do. It is a pretty awesome trek but still, it may get busy during peak season.

If you want to really get off the beaten track, you should add Archa Tör into your Kyrgyzstan itinerary, which is as challenging and beautiful and goes over a striking 3,800-meter pass, from where you get stunning views of the famous Karakol peak. 

Moreover, along the way, you will find a few yurt camps inhabited by real nomads who will be happy to feed you, asking nothing in return. 

For a full review, including trail-itinerary, inspiring photos and other trekking tips, read my post: Trekking in Karakol – Archa Tör Pass trek .

Still, the Ala Kul trek is a great alternative, and here you can read the full review

Kochkor – Your base for Song Kul – Day 8

A pretty ugly town but a comfortable base for going to one of the dreamiest places to visit in Kyrgyzstan: Song Kul.

In Kochkor, there are some good homestays and a few relatively nice restaurants.

However, you seriously don’t want to stay here for many days, so just pick a good guest house and head to Song Kul on the next day.

How to get to Kochkor from Karakol 

On the seventh day, you will return to Karakol from your trek so, on the following day, take a marshrutka to the town of Balykchy (220km, 2:30h).

In Balykchy, take a second marshrutka to Kochkor (60km, 40min).

I am not sure about the prices as I did the journey in small sections, but you should not pay more than 250KGS (3.60USD) for both tickets.

Where to stay in Kochkor

Budget Hostel (Homestay) – Happy Hostel  – This place is all right. Despite being called a hostel, this is the typical Kyrgyz homestay but it has a dorm, as well as private rooms. They serve home-made dinner and everything you can expect from the lovely local families.

A bit nicer Homestay – Guest House Baytur  – Similar to the previous one but everything is newer, the food is better and it is more well-located.

Note: I guess you noted that I skipped Issyk Kul Lake, which is the largest lake in Kyrgyzstan and, actually, the second largest alpine lake in the world. For me, Issyk Kul was pretty disappointing, as the northern shore was filled with tourists and the southern shore, which is less touristic, was not as beautiful as I expected. I am not saying it’s a bad place but I think there are thousand better places in Kyrgyzstan. The reason why it is so famous is that the ocean is thousands of miles away from Kyrgyzstan, so this is the closest thing to a sea they have. If you don’t have many days, I recommend you skip it but, if you still want to go, check this post from Kathmandu & Beyond : Things to do around Issyk Kul

Song Kul – A dreamy alpine lake – Day 9, 10

Song Kul is, definitely, one of the best things to do in Kyrgyzstan , and it’s easy to understand why.

Surrounded by beautiful, rolling hills and located in the middle of a massive, flat plain, from where you see the most stunning sunsets in the country, Song Kul has become the perfect postcard Kyrgyzstan backpacking itinerary.

It’s a place to just relax, hang out with the nomads, stay in a yurt and do short half-day treks. 

However, when I went there in July, in the main area of the lake, there were plenty of commercial yurt camps hosting dozens of different tourists.

And you definitely don’t want to see that…  

With this, I am not saying that you shouldn’t go to Song Kul. Of course, you should!

However, since ninety-five percent of the tourists come directly by car from the town of Kochkor, why not do things a little bit differently and come trekking, independently, from the village of Kyzart, which is located at the other side of the lake?

Very few people come this way and I guarantee you that you’ll see virgin velvet-green hills and unique lake views from Kyzart Pass.

Note: You may need an extra day if you come walking from Kyzart.

How to get to Song Kul from Kochkor 

Song Kul is around 100km from Kochkor and there is no public transportation but just expensive taxis. Prices range from 1,200KGS to 2,000KGS (17USD to 30USD).

Alternatively, you can hitchhike but keep in mind that, in this part of the world, even locals pay when hitchhiking.

Where to stay in Song Kul 

There are plenty of yurt camps where you can stay for around 10USD, including dinner and breakfast. There is no need to book for a yurt in Kochkor.

Naryn – The base to Tash Rabat – Day 11

Another quite ugly Kyrgyz town where you need to spend the night if you are heading to the beautiful Tash Rabat. Naryn has a wide range of budget accommodation, shops, and restaurants.

How to get to Naryn from Kochkor 

Local shared taxis from Kochkor cost 250KGS (3.60USD) but, since Kochkor is quite touristic, they may charge you more. Bargain! It’s a 2-hour journey.

Where to stay in Naryn

Budget Homestay – Zheenkan  – The typical Kyrgyz guest house, very clean and good enough for just one night.

Mid-Range Guest House –  Kunduz Guest House  – A comfy guest house that features awesome Wi-Fi, really nice rooms, and a cool breakfast.

Tash Rabat – The ancient Silk Road route – Day 12, 13

Due to its long-distance and difficult accessibility, only a small bunch of travelers visit Tash Rabat, an ancient caravanserai from the 15th century which, for centuries, sheltered hundreds of merchants, traders, and travelers, who made their journeys along the famous Silk Road. 

Tash Rabat is the most stunning Silk Road heritage site in Kyrgyzstan and not only because it’s a beautiful, perfectly restored building but also, because it’s located in one of the most epic places ever.

Tash Rabat is in the south-east of the country, very close to the Chinese border.

Here you can also go trekking to Chatyr Lake on a 2-day trek. I did it on a horse and it was awesome.

Tash Rabat was, perhaps, my favorite place in while backpacking in Kyrgyzstan.

Note: You may need an extra day if you plan to go to Chatyr Lake.

Here you can read my full review, including transportation options and how to get your permit to Chatyr: Horse riding in Kyrgyzstan: Tash Rabat to Chatyr Kul

How to get to Tash Rabat from Naryn 

In the previous article, you will find all the details.

Where to stay in Tash Rabat 

There are plenty of yurt camps but I recommend you stay with Elizat, since she is the only person speaking proper English.

You can contact her at [email protected] or call her at +996707880161. Otherwise, ask for her at your arrival in Tash Rabat. 

Backpacking in Kyrgyzstan – 3-4 week itinerary

Note that the south of Kyrgyzstan is really remote and the journey from Bishkek to Osh takes at least 12 hours.

That’s why, if you only have two weeks, it would be difficult to replace any of the previously suggested places with these.

Places to visit in Kyrgyzstan in 3-4 weeks

The journey from Naryn to Arlsanbob – 1 to 2 extra days

No matter where you are, the journey to southern Kyrgyzstan is absolutely insane. Jalal Abad is the nearest big city to Arlsanbob and where you should go first.

How to go to Jalal Abad via Kazarman

If you are in Naryn, this is the shortest route. However, the road connecting both towns is a 400-kilometer dusty and bumpy road. You should know that public transportation doesn’t exist.

• The easiest way to go would be in your own car or by taxi but be aware that taxis are quite expensive.  CBT Naryn can organize the journey for you, so I suggest you email them to ask for prices.
• Alternatively, if you have time, you could also hitchhike, but it will take you at least two days. I know one guy from Ireland who did it. To do so, you can first go by local shared taxi (from Naryn bazaar) to a village called Ak-Tal or somewhere close, because nearby there’s a direct road going to Kazarman.
• If you don’t want to hitchhike, a second alternative would be going to Naryn bazaar where, occasionally, you may find local shared taxis going to Jalal Abad. This seems like a feasible option but, unfortunately, they leave very randomly, so you will need to try your luck. Whatever option you choose, the road and views are just awesome.

How to go via Bishkek 

From Bishkek, there are daily local shared taxis going to Jalal Abad. It’s an 11-hour journey and it costs around 1,000KGS (14USD).

The station to Jalal Abad is in Pushkin Street, more or less in this location: 42.878245, 74.582258 . Try to go as early as possible.

Moreover, if your destination is Arslanbob, you will have to get off in Bazaar Kognor, a small town one hour before Jalal Abad.

Read: Backpacking in Kazakhstan – 1 to 4-week itinerary

Arslanbob – Best homestays in Kyrgyzstan – 2 or 3 extra days

Some travelers say that Arslanbob is a bit touristic but, in my opinion, I think that, since the village is so tiny, it’s easy to bump into other travelers. 

Located in the south of the country, not very far from the Uzbek border, most people living in Arslanbob are Uzbeks.

This means that here you will see plenty of different faces, as well as eat the traditional Uzbek plov , consisting of rice fried in lamb fat, with carrots and raisins.

Arslanbob is very close to the Fergana Valley, so if you want to know more about this troubled region, read: A guide to the Fergana Valley in Uzbekistan

Arslanbob is a great place to rest from your hectic travels, as this is one of the very few villages in the country which has a real soul (in Kyrgyzstan, towns tend to be boring) and it’s also famous for having the best homestays, run by local families who have lovely gardens, comfortable rooms and will feed you until you explode.

There are also plenty of day-treks to waterfalls, forest walks and a very challenging 4-day trek to one striking lake.

By the way, Arslanbob is home to the largest walnut forest in the world.

Where to stay in Arslanbob 

The CBT Arslanbob can tell you about the available homestays. All of them are great, run by Uzbeks and have nice gardens. Shoot them an email and book your favorite one.

Osh – A historical transit point – 2 or 3 extra days

The second most important city in Kyrgyzstan, Osh is a must-stop for anyone trying to cross the border to China over  the Irkeshtam pass , to   Tajikistan over Kyzyl Art , or to Uzbekistan.

For this reason, due to its strategic location, Osh has been a very important transit point from Silk Road times, hence here you will find a surprising cultural blend.

Osh is way more conservative than Bishkek, so here you won’t find as many Western things to do. Osh is best enjoyed strolling down its many bazaars and eating at the local eateries.

If you want to know more, read this post from Uncornered Market: Travel Guide to Osh .

How to get to Osh from Arslanbob 

There are two direct marshrutkas a day, one at 6:30am and the other at 1:00pm. Otherwise, you can go first to Bazar Kognor and take a second marshrutka to Osh.

Alternatively, you can also go by local shared taxi at any time, but it’s more expensive (500KGS, 7.30USD).

Heading to Tajikistan? Read: A guide to the Pamir High way

Where to stay in Osh

Super Budget Hostel – Osh Guest House  – Much cheaper than Biy Ordo but, of course, not as cool and comfortable. However, this is a great place to team-up with other travelers to travel the Pamir Highway.

Mid-range Guest House –   Eco House – If you don’t want to stay in a hostel for backpackers, this is one of the top-rated guest houses in Osh. Very comfortable, amazing breakfast and at a very good price for what you get.

Sary Mogol, Sary Tash, and the Alay Valley – 2 or 3 extra days

Unless you are coming from or going to China or Tajikistan, due to its remoteness, people tend to skip the Alay Valley, a dreamy plain situated 3,200 meters above sea level, which marks the border with Tajikistan and from where you get perfect views of the Pamir range.

However, even if you aren’t traveling to either of those countries, I can guarantee that coming here is definitely worth it, as the surrounding mountains are astonishing and among the least discovered in the whole of Kyrgyzstan.

The main two villages in the Alay Valley are Sary Tash and Sary Mogul but I recommend staying in Sary Mogul, as the village is more beautiful and it’s the starting point to the Lenin Peak Base camp.

How to get to Sary Tash from Osh 

Marshrutkas leave daily until 2pm from the Osh station located here:  40.536484, 72.798298. It costs 350KGS (4USD) for a 3-hour journey.

How to get to Sary Mogul from Sary Tash 

Both villages are really close (30km) and I think that your best and quickest bet is to wait on the road for any ride.

Where to stay in Sary Tash 

Budget Homestay – Muras Homestay  – A pretty decent but average homestay where you are likely to meet overlander travelers coming or heading to China or Tajikistan.

Where to stay in Sary Mogul

You will find many homestays. We stayed in a very random one.

Tulpar Lake and Lenin Peak base camp – 2 or 3 extra days

There are two kinds of people. The ones who make it to Lenin Peak base camp and the ones who go to Tulpar Lake.

Normally, since Lenin Peak requires a permit, many travelers prefer to stay at Tulpar, a tiny lake located right in the middle of small, rolling hills and from where you have very nice views, unless it’s cloudy, of Lenin Peak. 

Here we had one of our best camping spots in the country. The lake is around five hours walking from Sary Mogul.

Even though you need a permit to visit Lenin Peak, I strongly believe that you should make the small effort, get it and come here because its massive glaciers, contrasting colors and striking scenery make me believe that this is one of the best trekking experiences I’ve ever had.

Note: I didn’t get the permit but I still went there. Nobody checked it 🙂

Lenin Peak is a 7,200-meter mountain, the second highest within the Pamir range.

It’s said that Lenin Peak is the easiest to climb of all the mountains in the 7,000’s, but don’t get very excited, as you still need to be an experienced climber.

However, for travelers and backpackers, the base camp is very accessible and, if you are reasonably fit, you can also reach the advanced base camp, which is where you will get a real feel of the wild Pamirs.

It was very strange to wander around this area, as there were no travelers but a lot of climbers. Lenin Peak is, definitely, one of the best places to visit in Kyrgyzstan.

How to get to Tulpar Lake from Sary Mogul 

It’s a 5-hour walk through the Alay Valley. You can also go by taxi but it’s a bit expensive. Ask for prices at the CBT Office in Sary Mogul.

How to get to Lenin base camp from Tulpar

It’s just one hour walk from the lake. Furthermore, going to the advanced base camp takes around 5-6 additional hours.

Where to stay

In both Tulpar and the base camp there are yurt camps which charge between 10 and 15USD, including dinner and breakfast. In Tulpar Lake, rates are cheaper.

More information for backpacking in Kyrgyzstan

📢 In my Travel Resources Page you can find the list of all the sites and services I use to book hotels, tours, travel insurance and more.

All guides and articles for traveling in Kyrgyzstan destination

• Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide
• Horse riding in Tash Rabat
• Trekking in Kyrgyzstan
• Trekking the Ala-Kul
• Trekking in Karakol
• China-Kyrgyzstan border crossing
• Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan border crossing
• Reasons to Visit Kyrgyzstan

Travel Itineraries to other countries in Central Asia

• Uzbekistan Itinerary
• Travel Guide to Tajikistan
• Kazakhstan Itinerary
• Pakistan Itinerary

42 comments

Hey there, fantastic article! Looking forward to reading your posts on the trek from Kyzart to Song kul, and trekking from Sary Mogul to Tulpar Lake to Lenin Peak, as I’m doing both of these in the summer! Any idea when you’ll post these? Keep up the great work.

Hi Steven, the Song Kul trek will be posted end of this month but on another website, not mine. However, I will definitely link to it on this post. Morevover, I will try to post the Lenin Peak post within this month, as well but, most probably, it will also be posted on another site.

Super, thanks Joan!

Here you go: https://theplanetd.com/song-kul-trekking/ 🙂

Thanks for the link. Did you write this?

Yes, of course. You will see that pics are mine and my bio at the bottom of the post

Sorry, missed that. Thanks, great advice. Definitely doing this this summer! 🙂

Great info, thanks. I will be travelling through Tajikistan in late Aug/Sept prior to Kyrgyzstan (hadn’t bedded down a plan for that section yet). Would you say it’s easy to just reverse your itinerary and end up in Bishkek – I’d take your added days options I think! Thanks Gill

Awesome! Yeah, if you come from Tajikistan over the Pamir Highway, this itinerary is really convenient! Have loads of fun 🙂 !!

Salute, Kyrgyzstan is opening borders https://pegas-adventure.com/kyrgyzstan-opens-borders/ I want to know, anyone crossed border this year? I want to Travel this country end of September. If you’re crossed please inform me, I’ll be happy to read your experience

Hi again! Can I ask – how cold did it get in Song-kul and Sary Mogul? I’m assuming you visited in summer and just wondering how many layers I will need 🙂

At night, it was chilly but never below 0. Just bring a thermal t-shirt and a winter jacket and you’l be fine.

Kyrgyzstan is really beautiful. It’s incredible, and I love the kids that you have photographed. They look so adorable. True, Kyrgyzstan isn’t just about mountains. There’s so much more to see and experience. Thanks for the itinerary!

Cheers, hope you make it there! 🙂

Hiya 🙂 perfect article, congrats ! I plan to go to Kyrgyzstan in august, and I’m very interested in your article on Peak Lenin base camp trek. Have you finished writing it ? Thanks and congrats for your amazing blog full of informations and good advices 🙂

Hi Robert! Thanks for your kind message! Yes, I finished writing it but I am going to publish it on another blog from another blogger and it will go live on the 28th of June. I will link it here as soon as it is ready! Cheers!

Great info!! I’m heading there in August/September. Did you go to Sary Chelek? Did you know how to get there?

Hi, no, I haven’t been there, but looking forward to explore that area on my next visit

How do I get a map of the hiking trails for all of the hikes? I was planning on doing the Kyzyl-Suu to Jeti Oguz trek, the Kyzart to Song Kul trek and the Tash Rabat to Chatyr Lake trek. I will definitely have a guide for the Archa Tör Pass and a guide and horse for Tash Rabat too, so I guess I’ll only need a map for the Kyzart pass hike?

Hi, do you have maps.me? It shows all the trekking trails, very easy to follow.

There are detailed maps in the CBT office in Kochkor which you can look at / buy. I have some photos of the maps which a guesthouse owner in Kyzart let me take. If you want them send me an email and I’ll send you the photos.

Hello, I was just wondering, how to get from TOKMOK to Karakol? Unfortunately, we are short on days and are planning to start from Bishkek in the morning, get a marshutka to TOKMOK, see the Burana Tower and then somehow get to Karakol the same day.

P.s.: best blog about Kyrgyzstan I came across, so many interesting and specific information.

Hi, Tokmok it’s on the way from Bishkek to Karakol, so I am pretty sure there are direct marshrutkas. PS: Thanks for your kind comment

Hey Joan, thanks for the detailed itinerary, you totally convinced me to plan a trip to central Asia — it looks so beautiful! I was following your other post on how to cross over to kyrgyzstan from xingjiang china and it seems that we will arrive in Sarah Tash/Osh first. Do you haven any suggestions on which direction I should head towards if I want to follow your itinerary? Do you reckon I should fly to Bishkek first or do your itinerary in reverse? I’ll be heading to the Pamir Highway after kyrgyzstan so Im trying to wrap my head around the route. Thanks so much in advance!

Hi! It depends on how much time you have and which countries are you planning to visit. As I understand, you also plan to visit China? Then you have no other choice than starting in Sary Tash unless you wanna enter through Torugart Pass, which is very expensive. If you aren’t visiting China, sure, flying to Bishkek and going down slowly would be the best choice!

Hi Joan, thank you so much for this interesting post! Would you say that traveling here as a solo female traveler would be OK? I’m considering extending my trip to Kazakhstan to also explore Kyrgyzstan. thanks!

Dear Sabine, Kyrgyzstan is a safe destination for both genders, really. You are likely to meet many women traveling alone in Kyrgyzstan 🙂

Thanks Joan! 🙂

Hello Joan,

Great itinerary! Really helpful for my tryp to Kyrgyzstan this summer!

One question though: where do you recommend to spend the night at day 10, Kochkor? Or would you rather spend 2 nights in a yurt at Song Kul Lake?

If you leave early in the morning, you can go straight to Naryn from Song Kul, no problem. There is not much to do in Kochkor anyways and in Song Kul you can see great sunsets & sunrises

Hi Joan, So glad we came across with your blog which ultimately convinced us to travel to Kyrgyzstan. So many interesting and detailed data! We have just ended our 3-week trip and wouldn’t have enjoyed it more!

I loved this country. Here you can see really nomad people. Before starting tour you should take with you warm clothes, because in mountains can be colder. We choose one tour for 13 days. It was great experience to try. Highly recommend

Thanks for sharing your experiences! We are planning a trip in July & August 2020 to Kyrgyzstan (and maybe Tajikistan) with our 3 kids (2, 4 and 6 years old). They are used to travel around and the oldest ones can walk up to 7 hours a day. Do you think your itinerary is feasible to do with these 3 little fellows? Any other advice you can give us?

Hey Anneke! Are you going to travel by public transportation or you plan to rent a car?

Cello Thanks for the great information. I have some time now in April to possible me go to Kyrgyzstan. You two week itinerary looks great. But is it good time to go there and trekking in mid april? We want to see the famous and best places in this country, like song kul etc and we dont want to miss staying in a yurt. Or should we plan for Kyrgyzstan later in the summer?

Hi Eric, you might have sunny days but the weather during that time of the year is highly unpredictable, and you’ll definitely see snow in higher altitudes

Hi Joan, Im planning to go to Kyrgyzstan at the end of august. I would like to do the Archa Tör pass trek but Im traveling solo and I don’t feel really comfortable doing it alone. Do you know any good agency that runs that trek?? Thank you!

Hi Elsa! In Karakol, there are plenty of agencies, you can ask at any of them, and it will be cheaper than booking it ahead 🙂

Hi Joan, Thank you so much for your amazing insights and travel recommendations! I am considering coming to Kyrgyzstan the first half of October. Do you believe this is still a good time to visit? In particular is it still possible to stay overnight in yurt camps, notably at Tash Rabat? Thanks in advance!

Hi Axdrien, it’s really the transitional period so it qill really depend on that particular year, maybe yes, maybe not

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