15 Travel Tips for Kyrgyzstan

Here’s everything you need to know before heading to Kyrgyzstan, from visas to transport, food and everything in between.

1.     Visa Requirements

Kyrgyzstan has a very generous visa regime compared to other Central Asian countries. Most nationalities get a 60-day visa free on arrival. This includes Australia, most EU countries, Canada, New Zealand, United States, and South Korea. Nationals from Japan or Russia can stay indefinitely.

All other nationalities must apply online for an e-visa. It’s always a good idea to check the current requirements for your nationality as things change. You can check on the official e-visa here.

2.     Getting Around Kyrgyzstan

Youn can get around Kyrgyzstan by marshrutka, taxi, train, plane and hire car. Unless you rent a car, the main form of public transport is marshrutka. The train network is restricted to the Bishkek-Balykchy line and domestic flights are still only very limited (with plans for more as tourism takes off). Here's how you can plan your travels:

By marshrutka (minibus)

Marshrutkas are minibuses or vans that transport locals between towns. They are the best and cheapest way to get around for those on a budget, although it requires some patience. Most towns and cities have a bus station (sometimes just a bus stop or parking lot) where they gather or pass through.

Marshrutkas always display their destination and route number on the windscreen, so you can identify them (otherwise they all look the same). They sometimes have a timetable but other times they just wait until they fill up.

Marshrutkas stop frequently to pick up and drop people off, making them quite slow journeys. But it does mean that you can easily flag them down on the side of the road too. They don’t have huge luggage storage capacity, so if you have big luggage, they may charge extra if it takes up a seat (this is becoming more common practice with the extra tourists).

By shared taxi

If you miss a marshrutka, then your other option is shared taxis. These are faster than marshrutkas but more expensive, as the cost is split between the seats available. They only leave when full, so you have to be prepared to wait sometimes for a long time.

Grabbing a taxi within a city or town is easiest with the Yandex Go app (like Uber). This is the easiest way to arrange getting from the airport into the city or for travelling to trail heads.

By train

There is one train line running from Bishkek to Balykchy (Issyk Kul lake). It's become a popular tourist journey, and I highly recommend taking this train if you’re travelling from the city to the lake. It’s an incredibly scenic trip and the plush VIP carriages are an experience in itself. Read my full guide on how to take this train here.

By hire car

Travellers are starting to hire their own car to get around Kyrgyzstan. If you have an international license and are confident driving on dirt roads, then it’s definitely a good option for the most flexibility.

Having your own car allows for complete freedom and the ability to explore lesser-known spots that can’t be reached by public transport (of which there are plenty). However, you have to book hire cars ahead of time (especially in summer). There were almost none available when we inquired in the country in August, so ensure you book in early.

By hitchhiking

Hitchhiking is a very common way of getting around Kyrgyzstan. There are some parts of the country that aren’t serviced by marshrutkas, so hitchhiking becomes the only way to go (even for locals!).

I hitchhiked a lot in Kyrgyzstan, with another female traveller. We felt safe hitchhiking all around the country, sometimes taking up to four rides per day to get to our destination.

Generally, locals will ask for money to share the fuel cost. If you want to be picked up for free, ensure you say “som nyet” (meaning no money) or agree on a price before getting in.

Trucks were the best and most reliable hitchhiking vehicles, especially servicing the southern part of the country where there's less traffic. We used trucks several times to get to Osh and from Osh to Sary Mogul, and they were always the most comfortable and convenient rides, and the drivers never wanted any money!

3.     Cash is still King

The official currency of Kyrgyzstan is the Som, abbreviated to KGS. ATMs are pretty widespread and you can even use credit cards to pay at supermarkets and some hotels. However, cash is till the preferred and most useful form of payment to have on you. Marshrutkas, guesthouses, local restaurants, and yurt camps, are all paid for in cash.

I recommend using the Xe app to be able to convert exchange rates quickly when you’re trying to buy something. 

4.     It’s a Budget Friendly Country

Kyrgyzstan is a very budget friendly country, and I found it to be even cheaper than other Central Asian countries. If you’re using public transport or hitchhiking, staying in guesthouses or hostels, and eating at local restaurants, you can average US$30 per day.

Staying at yurt camps, going on tours or taking taxis and private drivers, and staying at nicer guesthouses will generally cost a bit more.

5.     Kyrgyzstan is Very Safe

Kyrgyzstan is a very safe country to visit, even for solo female travellers. After spending two months there and hitchhiking around the country, I can say that it felt very safe travelling around. In saying that, you should still be vigilant as you would anywhere in the world.

As a solo female traveller, I felt safe. I travelled with other female travellers too, and in general it was fine. However, there are strong patriarchal values in the local culture, and we were asked daily about marriage, having children, and our age. However, it is mostly out of curiosity than anything else.

There is always the chance of inappropriate behaviour by a man (as there is in most countries). I personally didn’t have any issues, but I had two friends who had uncomfortable situations with men. Definitely be aware, but don't let it deter you from travelling.

6.     Dress Conservatively

Kyrgyzstan is still a conservative society, with a Muslim-majority population. Most women dress modestly and some even cover their head, especially in the south of the country.

You won't have to wear a headscarf unless going into a mosque, but it’s recommended to dress conservatively travelling around. This means long pants or skirts, at least below the knee, and tops that cover your shoulders, even while hiking. 

7.     Vegetarians and GF Travellers Will Find it Difficult

Kyrgyzstan cuisine is quite rich and hearty, with plenty of meat and wheat-based carbs. Meat is usually beef or lamb, although in some traditional local restaurants, you’ll find horse meat too.

Some of the common meals are laghman (noodle and meat stir fry), manti (dumplings, usually with meat), plov (rice and meat), kuurdak (meat and potatoes) and beshbarmak (meat and noodles).

Vegetarian or vegan or gluten free travellers will have a very difficult time, especially if you can’t be a little bit flexible. Even when you ask for vegetarian, don’t be surprised if you still find some meat in your dish.

Gluten free travellers (like myself) will simply be eating the same thing every day. Plov, shorpo (broth soup), and kuurdak are generally the best and safest options, but you’ll have to be very careful of cross contamination. Read my Complete Gluten Free Travel Guide for Kyrgyzstan.

You should always carry snacks with you so you don't starve! I recommend heading to Globus supermarkets around the country to pick up snacks and alternative products to carry with you.

8.     eSIMs are Convenient But Be Prepared to Be Offline Often

Wi-Fi can be found in most accommodation and cafes, although it’s not always offered in rural towns. Having a SIM card is definitely recommended to ensure you’re connected anywhere you go, although you'll be offline as soon as you get into the mountains.

You can pick up a local SIM at the airport in Bishkek, or arrange an eSIM prior to arriving so you’re connected instantly for as long as you need to be. I used an eSIM from Holafly for the whole two months I was there.

You can get 5% off any Holafly eSIM plan with my code BEYONDWILD or check out my more detailed guide on SIM cards in Kyrgyzstan here.

9.     English is NOT Widely Spoken

English is not very widely spoken in Kyrgyzstan. Most people speak Kyrgyz and Russian.

Tour guides and younger people spoke a bit more English, but communicating with locals is mostly done through Google Translate. I highly recommend having Kyrgyz and Russian downloaded for offline use, although we found Russian to be more helpful. The Kyrgyz translation wasn’t very accurate.

10.  Pack Layers

The elevation changes so much as you travel around the country, from lower valleys up to mountain towns at over 3000m high. This means that the weather can change drastically, and temperatures may vary a lot from one place to another.

Packing plenty of layers will ensure you have enough warmth to add as you go higher, but also allow you to have just a t-shirt when in the cities. Packing a rain jacket and down jacket is also a good idea, especially if you plan on doing any trekking.

11.  Most of the Country is High Altitude

Almost 95% of the country is covered in mountains. You’ll even see mountains in the distance from the city centre of Bishkek!

However, this also means that you may take some time to adjust to the altitude. Bishkek is very low at just 800m, meaning you won’t feel anything when you first arrive off the plane. However, most of the towns you'll head to from there, will certainly be higher, so go easy on yourself.

If you plan on doing any hiking, then be aware of the symptoms of altitude sickness. Take your time, pace yourself, keep hydrated, and ascend slowly. You may notice a slight headache and feeling out of breath when going above 2,000 m. If it gets worse or doesn’t ease after a day, then descending is the best solution.

12.  Take a Filter Water Bottle

Taking a filter water bottle serves two purposes: it reduces single use plastic and means you can fill up anywhere, even from mountain streams on hikes. With an in-built filter, you won't have to worry about getting sick from the tap water and you'll never be left without safe water in the mountains.

I use a Lifestraw filter bottle on all of my trips and have never been sick from water. I also used it when trekking in Kyrgyzstan and it made it so much easier to collect water along the way and not have to worry about purifying it with tablets or boiling.

13.  Stay in Local Guesthouses or Homestays

Some of my favourite experiences in Kyrgyzstan were from staying at a family guesthouse or local homestay. It's the best way to get an insight into local life, learn about their culture and experience the authentic Kyrgyz hospitality. Plus, you can also get a real taste of home-cooked traditional means!

While yurt camps are definitely a bucket list experience, I’d say that some of the most memorable experiences I had were from the people and families I met at guesthouses.

I can highly recommend these guesthouses:

Kochkor: Guesthouse Liliya

Jyrgalan: Salamat Guesthouse (find it on Google Maps)

Arslanbob: Ibrahim Guesthouse (find it on Google Maps)

Aksay: ABATAY Guesthouse

14.  Maps.me and/or AllTrails is Essential for Hiking

Google Maps is not very reliable in Kyrgyzstan and I wouldn’t recommend using it for navigation. It's never updated and most of the roads are wrong!

I recommend having Maps.me downloaded for offline use. This can be used for both driving and hiking navigation and is free to use. We found it to be very accurate, even to find campsites and water sources on treks.

Another good option for checking out hikes to do is AllTrails, this allows you to read reviews and see a 3D map of hikes in the country. There’s a basic free version, but the Plus version allows for offline navigation and is much better overall. You can get 30% off with my code: elisha30.

15.  Drones are Allowed

Drones are allowed in Kyrgyzstan, and you’re allowed to fly them in most places, expect near airports, military bases, or border areas. Many travellers travel with a drone to capture the incredible landscapes. Just be considerate of other people around and ask before flying near any private property.

Read more: Tips for Kyrgyzstan: Everything You Need to Know