Kyrgyzstan is one of the friendliest countries in Central Asia.

People are hospitable and welcoming. There are rare flare-ups of social unrest, these should be avoided where possible, although are not especially commonplace.

Petty crime in cities is something to be wary of, especially around busy public spaces and markets, so keep your wits about you and your eyes open for pickpockets.

Visitors from many countries around the world are able to visit the Kyrgyz Republic visa-free. Whilst there are a handful of countries who can visit the country with no limits on the length of their stay, most countries are limited to a 90, 60 or 30 day stay. There are also many countries around the world for which a visa is still required to visit Kyrgyzstan.

Check with your Tour Manager before you travel, or your local embassy, to find out which visa policy you qualify for.

The national state language of Kyrgyzstan is Kyrgyz, although Russian is also recognised as an official language in the country and so you’ll likely meet many Russian speakers during your travels through Kyrgyzstan.

The English competency in Kyrgyzstan is slightly better than in the surrounding republics, although outside the cities you’re unlikely to stumble upon many English speakers.

Kyrgyzstani Som is the official currency. It’s possible to exchange your currency once in Kyrgystan, although there are ATMs littered around the major cities where you’ll be able to use your bank card to withdraw local currency. Some ATMs will even dispense US Dollars.

If you’re travelling to/from Tajikistan, it’s possible to exchange Tajik Somoni for Kyrgyzstani Som, although you can only do this in Osh.

The climate in Tajikistan is mixed with peaks of around 30 degrees celsius in the high summer, around July, and lows of -10 in mid January.

You can expect high heat during the summers in Kyrgyzstan’s cities, although the mountains which dominate the landscape of the country remain cooler year-round.

If you plan to visit during winter, you can expect snow whether you’re in downtown Bishkek or atop one of the country’s highest peaks.

Kyrgyzstan cuisine is predominantly meat-based, traditionally the diet is based on mutton, horse, and beef although in Bishkek & Osh you’ll be able to find traditional Kyrgyz food alongside more recognisable dishes such as pizza and burgers mixed in with regional foods from Georgia and the Far East.

Once outside the cities, the food becomes much more local. We are able to cater to vegetarian or vegan travellers, although it may be worth bringing a few extra nibbles since these options can quickly become repetitive.

You MUST make us aware of any dietary requirements or allergies before the trip so we can ensure your food is prepared appropriately and avoid any issues.

Although Kyrgyzstan is a Muslim-majority country, it’s officially secular so there are no formal regulations for how to dress.

We recommend dressing relatively conservatively in towns and cities; when visiting mosques, usual Islamic regulations will apply with women required to wear headscarves and cover their arms and legs.

Out and about in the countryside, however, there will be no restrictions on dress code whatsoever.

There are bars and restaurants that serve alcohol, some restaurants and gathering places will not.

Due to Kyrgyzstan being Muslim-majority, whilst alcohol is available, there are large portions of society who will not partake in drinking.

The internet will be available in many hotels and public places, although is can often be very slow.

SIM cards are available at the airport in Bishkek making it easy to connect to the data network upon arrival in the country. It’s possible to pick up a SIM card around the country from one of the three main carriers; Beeline, O!, or Megacom. Coverage in cities is good although you can expect a notable drop-off as we venture into the mountains.

In the more populated areas, the altitude is not so much of a concern, however, be prepared to traverse mountain passes of between 2,000 – 3,000m when travelling outside the cities.

When travelling through the High Pamirs, caution should be exercised as altitudes will be higher for longer.

Check with your Tour Manager upon booking. If you have medical conditions, check with your doctor before travelling.

Bishkek has good medical facilities equivalent to those in the west, Osh is also home to a few hospitals.,

Travelling outside the capital, however, we will have access to limited medical care. First aid and basic treatment will be available, but for more serious issues we may need to return to Bishkek. In the mountains regions of the country there are special clinics set up to deal with altitude sickness, although there are not always inclined to deal with other medical issues.

For this reason, we require all travellers to have comprehensive travel insurance.

Do not drink tap water in Kyrgyzstan, it’s not good quality. Kettles will be provided in almost all hotel rooms around the country and bottled water will also be available.

Outside cities, Absolute Nomads will supply clean drinking water for all travellers.

The following vaccinations are recommended, although not required:

• Chickenpox
• Diptheria
• Tetanus
• Flu
• MMR
• Polio
• Shingles
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Rabies
• Typhoid

This information may change depending on the COVID situation. Contact your Tour Manager for up-to-date information before travelling.

All travellers require a double vaccination against COVID-19 along with vaccine certification. You will need to present a negative PCR test upon arrival, taken less than 72 hours before you arrive in the country with the certificate in English. There may be additional COVID testing upon arrival.