kyrgyzstan travel advice uk

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Kyrgyzstan travel guide

Often referred to as the “Switzerland of Central Asia”, Kyrgyzstan certainly lives up to this moniker with its soaring mountain ranges, glistening glaciers and vertiginous pine forests. If it feels like you’re on top of the world, that’s because you’re not far off.

Despite its ubiquitous natural beauty and considerable size, few people can point to this landlocked nation on the map let alone pronounce its name (it’s Kur-gi-stan , by the way). Even fewer actually visit.

This is due largely to Kyrgyzstan’s geographical isolation, but also because it has been out in the cold politically – since gaining independence from the USSR, the country has remained well under the influence of neighbouring Russia.

Visitor numbers are increasing, but a short tourist season, an underdeveloped infrastructure and poor air links remain obstacles for all but the intrepid traveller. However, those who do make it here are guaranteed an experience they won’t have to share with the crowds.

Although mountains dominate, Kyrgyzstan’s landscapes are surprisingly varied: snow-capped peaks eventually give way to open plains and shimmering lakes. It really does look Switzerland in places, but elsewhere the countryside can conjure up images of Scotland, Kashmir and even the Middle East. The mountain vistas alone are reason enough to visit and no trip to Kyrgyzstan would be complete without trekking up at least one of its impressive summits.

For less active visitors there are a handful of beaches to speak of and, in the small window that passes as summer, holidaymakers can be found bathing on the shores of lakes such as Issyk Kul. Located in the Tian Shan mountains, this is a summer resort for the brave – the water here is bracing to say the least.

It’s not all about the landscapes, though. In fact a big draw for tourists is the prospect of staying with the country’s semi-nomadic shepherds, who live in yurts and eke out traditional lives in this harsh, unforgiving and unremittingly beautiful country.

199,951 sq km (77,201 sq miles).

6,033,769 (UN estimate 2016.

28.3 per sq km.

President Sadyr Japarov since 2021.

Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Akylbek Japarov since 2021. 

Travel Advice

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice .

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide and see support for British nationals abroad for information about specific travel topics.

Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram . You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance . Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

This advice reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK, for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Kyrgyzstan set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Kyrgyz Embassy in the UK .

COVID-19 rules

There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for travellers entering Kyrgyzstan.

Passport validity requirements

If you’re visiting or resident in Kyrgyzstan, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the day you arrive.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Visa requirements

You can enter Kyrgyzstan as a visitor for stays of up to 60 days without a visa. You must not stay more than 60 days in any 120-day period.

To stay longer (to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons), you must meet the Kyrgyz government’s entry requirements. Check which type of visa or work permit you need with the Kyrgyz Embassy . The Kyrgyzstan Ministry of Foreign Affairs also has information on visas .

Applying for a visa

Apply for a visa online from the Kyrgyzstan Ministry of Foreign Affairs .

Travelling through Kyrgyzstan

If you’re travelling through Kyrgyzstan on your way to another country and will be passing through immigration (sometimes known as a layover), you must follow Kyrgyzstan’s entry requirements.

Vaccination requirements

At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the vaccinations and certificates you need in TravelHealthPro’s Kyrgyzstan guide .

Registering with the Kyrgyz authorities

If you’re visiting Kyrgyzstan for more than 60 days, you must register online with the State Registration Service (SRS) (in Kyrgyz and Russian). You must register within 5 days of your entry into Kyrgyzstan for the period of your visa’s validity.

Non-Kyrgyz nationals with a permanent residency permit can host visitors to Kyrgyzstan and register them with the State Registration Service. See information on registration in English .

Kyrgyz-British dual nationality

Kyrgyzstan does not recognise dual nationality. If you enter Kyrgyzstan on a Kyrgyz passport and hold British nationality, the British Embassy can only provide very limited consular assistance. If you’re arrested or detained, the Kyrgyz authorities are unlikely to allow you to get help from the British Embassy.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Kyrgyzstan (in Russian). You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

You should also read FCDO ’s overall travel advice and regional risks advice .

There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. You should remain vigilant at all times.

UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad .

Terrorism in Kyrgyzstan

Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Kyrgyzstan. 

Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners. There has been some terrorist activity and armed violence, particularly south and west of Osh. A suicide bomb attack against the Chinese Embassy on the outskirts of Bishkek on 30 August 2016 was reportedly carried out by the Turkestan Islamic Party.

You should maintain a high level of vigilance in public spaces and near to public buildings, and pay attention to any security announcements by the Kyrgyz authorities.

Political situation

Demonstrations happen regularly in Bishkek and elsewhere across the country. Most demonstrations are peaceful but occasionally turn violent, sometimes with little or no warning. On 17 and 18 May, 41 people were injured in Bishkek in protests against South Asian workers and students.

You should avoid all crowds and demonstrations, check for updates on local media and follow the advice of local authorities.

Protecting your belongings

Muggings (sometimes violent) and theft happen regularly. Take care if you go out after dark.

Do not show large amounts of money and be wary of strangers offering help or being over-friendly.

Be careful when using currency exchange offices and visiting the bazaars in Bishkek, particularly Osh Bazaar, where pickpockets target tourists.

Sexual assault

There have been cases of sexual assault and harassment, including on public transport. See advice for women travelling abroad.

Drink and food spiking

Drink spiking can happen in nightclubs and bars. Don’t leave your drink or food unattended. See TravelAware ‘Stick with your mates’  for tips and advice.

Laws and cultural differences

Kyrgyzstan has a secular constitution. (A secular state claims to treat all its citizens equally regardless of religion.) Most Kyrgyz people are Muslims. You should always respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions. Make sure your actions do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas.

Be careful how you use social media. Take care of the context in which you use images so that they do not offend. Take particular care with any images and comments that show the Kyrgyz flag and national food to avoid fines and detention.

Personal ID

You must always carry your passport, or a notarised copy of it. The police can arrest you if you do not carry ID. You can get a copy of your passport notarised in the UK and translated into Kyrgyz or Russian, or use a copy notarised in Kyrgyzstan.

Illegal drugs and prison sentences

It is illegal to possess or use drugs. You can get a lengthy prison sentence if convicted. Prison conditions are basic.

The police conduct regular drug raids in bars and night clubs. Police will be masked and armed. Stay calm and follow instructions. If you are not carrying, and have not taken drugs you are normally asked for identification and then allowed to leave.

Using cameras and drones in secure areas

It is illegal to take photos of anything related to the military or security, including border checkpoints, military barracks and police stations. Check carefully that you are not near any military/security facilities.

Check if you can import and use your model of drone with the nearest Embassy of Kyrgyzstan.

LGBT+ travellers

Same-sex relationships are legal but not often discussed or recognised publicly. Showing affection in public could result in a violent attack or unwanted attention. Same sex marriages are not recognised in Kyrgyz law.

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .

There are frequent power cuts throughout Kyrgyzstan during the winter, due to high consumption and lack of water for power generation.  

Outdoor activities and adventure tourism

Trekking and mountaineering.

Trekking in Kyrgyzstan often involves travelling to very remote areas. There is a high risk of avalanches, landslides and rockfalls. Weather can change very quickly, and heavy snowfall can block roads and trekking routes, particularly in the autumn and winter.

At higher altitudes there is a possibility of snow in the summer months. Sunstroke and serious sunburn can also cause problems, particularly in mountainous areas.

You should:

• get adequate insurance, including for any activity at high altitude
• use a reputable trekking agency
• let someone know when you plan to return
• not trek alone
• adapt your plans to reflect local conditions and advice

In remote areas, mobile phone coverage is extremely limited, and medical facilities are basic. Some Kyrgyz mobile phones have difficulties connecting to satellite phones. The difficult terrain can make access impossible in some cases.

There is a limited mountain rescue service staffed by volunteers. The rescue equipment they have is limited. Mountain rescue 24-hour emergency number: +996 312 651 404   

Transport risks

Road travel .

If you’re planning to drive a hire car or a UK vehicle, see information on driving abroad . 

You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Kyrgyzstan for up to 30 days. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence or get the correct version of the international driving permit ( IDP ) as well.

You’re legally required to have mandatory third-party motor vehicle insurance. This is in addition to any other motor vehicle insurance. For more information, contact insurance companies in Kyrgyzstan.

Hire car companies often have stricter requirements for their customers, such as a year of driving experience, a higher minimum age and holding an IDP . 

Petrol stations are limited in rural areas and diesel is often unavailable. Make sure you take all you need for your journey.

If the police stop you and issue a fine, they should give you a paper copy with instructions on how to pay. You can pay fines through a payment terminal or in a bank. Do not pay cash directly to the police officers, although some may have a payment terminal you can use. Some fines may be reduced if you pay quickly. Payment terminals are available on streets and other places such as malls, grocery stores, kiosks and restaurants.

Driving safety

Many roads are poorly lit and maintained with road works or damaged roads often not clearly signposted. There is currently no MOT and no legal requirement for vehicles to be insured. Pedestrians often have a low awareness of road safety. Roads outside of Bishkek are often blocked by snow in winter.

Take extra care when driving, particularly over long distances and avoid giving lifts to hitchhikers. Drivers have been robbed by people they picked up.

Wherever possible use main roads when travelling in and around Bishkek. 

Drink-driving is a serious offence in Kyrgyzstan. If you are tested and found to have any alcohol in your system, you may get a 17,500 Kyrgyz som fine and have your licence revoked for 1 year.

Taxis and buses

You should avoid flagging down taxis. Use telephone, text messaging, or taxi services, which are more reputable and have English-speaking dispatchers.

Avoid using local buses and minibuses if possible. They are not always maintained properly and pickpockets operate on them.

Air travel   

In May 2022, the UK sanctioned Aeroflot, Rossiya Airlines and Ural Airlines. It is now illegal under UK law for any British national or British company to do business with these airlines. This includes buying flight tickets.

The UK Air Safety List (ASL) lists all known airlines in Kyrgyzstan that do not meet international safety standards and are banned from operating commercial air services to, from, and within the UK. Check the UK Air Safety List when considering which airlines to fly with. The list is maintained by the Department for Transport, based on advice from the UK Civil Aviation Authority .

Check whether your tour operator has concerns about airlines in Kyrgyzstan.

Extreme weather and natural disasters

Earthquakes.

There is a high risk of earthquakes and tremors are frequent. Familiarise yourself with safety procedures and follow advice from local authorities. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency has information about what to do before, during and after an earthquake .

Avalanches and landslides

In the mountains, avalanches and landslides often block roads, particularly in the spring.

This section has safety advice for regions of Kyrgyzstan. It only covers regions where FCDO has specific advice.

You should also read FCDO ’s overall travel advice and safety and security advice .

Osh and Jalal-Abad provinces

Stay aware of your surroundings if you travel to the provinces (‘oblasts’) of Osh and Jalal-Abad. While there has been no widespread violence since 2010, there are still underlying tensions.

Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan border, including Batken Province

There is a risk of conflict over recognition of Kyrgyzstan’s border with Tajikistan. There are regular security incidents along the border with exchanges of gunfire.

In September 2022,  armed conflict between the Kyrgyz and Tajik militaries resulted in over 100 deaths, including civilians. There was significant destruction of civilian property and infrastructure. Around 140,000 civilians were displaced. There is a risk of further violence and border closures at any time.

Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan border 

There are occasional violent incidents on Kyrgyzstan’s border with Uzbekistan. There is a risk of landmines in uncontrolled Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan border areas.

Border crossings

Check local media reports before you travel to see which border posts are open. Only use officially recognised border crossings. Borders can close at short notice, particularly the Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan border near the Vorukh enclave.

Before you travel check that:

• your destination can provide the healthcare you may need
• you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation

This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.

Emergency medical number

Call 103 and ask for an ambulance.

Contact your insurance company promptly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.

Vaccinations and health risks

At least 8 weeks before your trip check:

• the latest information on vaccinations and health risks in TravelHealthPro’s Kyrgyzstan guide
• where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the NHS travel vaccinations page

Altitude sickness is a risk in parts of Kyrgyzstan. Read more about altitude sickness on TravelHealthPro .

There have been several cases of anthrax, mainly in the south due to insufficient vaccination of animals. 

The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.

Read best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro .

The NHS has information on whether you can take your medicine abroad .

Basic medicines (such as aspirin) are available without a prescription. Most UK prescriptions are accepted in Kyrgyzstan, but you should phone a Kyrgyz pharmacy in advance to check. You may need to get your UK prescription translated into Russian or Kyrgyz. You can get a translation in Kyrgyzstan – find an interpreter or translator .

Some prescription medications are not widely available. Check on availability with a Kyrgyz doctor or pharmacy. Medications often come under different brand names, so ask for the drug’s generic name. If your medication is not available, you may be able to get it couriered from Russia or Turkey, though this could take time.

You may need to pay cash for medication.

Healthcare facilities in Kyrgyzstan

Medical facilities in Kyrgyzstan are not as developed as those in the UK. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.

FCDO has a list of English-speaking doctors in Kyrgyzstan . 

COVID-19 healthcare in Kyrgyzstan

If you suspect you have COVID-19 symptoms, call Kyrgyzstan’s medical hotline (118, 112 or 103), or private medical services.

Private laboratories offer COVID-19 PCR and antibody tests for people who are not showing symptoms.  

Travel and mental health

Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health . There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro .

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.

Emergency services in Kyrgyzstan

Ambulance: 103

Police: 102

Rescue and emergency: 112

Tourist police in Issyk-Kul Province

There is a tourist police call centre in Issyk-Kul Province (‘Oblast’). Call or message on WhatsApp: +996 705 00 91 02 (staff speak English and Russian).

Contact your travel provider and insurer

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.

Refunds and changes to travel

For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans , including:

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim

Support from FCDO

FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:

• finding English-speaking  lawyers ,  funeral directors  and  translators and interpreters  in Kyrgyzstan
• dealing with a  death in Kyrgyzstan
• being  arrested or imprisoned in Kyrgyzstan
• getting help if you’re a  victim of crime
• what to do if you’re  in hospital
• if you’re affected by a crisis , such as a terrorist attack

Contacting FCDO

Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram . You can also sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.

You can also contact FCDO online .

Help abroad in an emergency

If you’re in Kyrgyzstan and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the British Embassy in Bishkek .

FCDO in London

You can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)

Find out about call charges

Doing business in Kyrgyzstan 

If you’re considering investing or doing business in Kyrgyzstan, it is important to research carefully.

Although there are British companies operating successfully in Kyrgyzstan, there have been instances of British people getting into difficulties. This includes having assets stolen or being physically attacked. See Kyrgyzstan’s ranking in the Transparency International Global Corruption Index .

The Kyrgyz legal system can be slow and getting judgements implemented can be very difficult. The British Embassy is not able to get involved (including offering advice) in private disputes over property, employment, commercial or other matters.

Business associations in Kyrgyzstan may be able to offer you advice. If you get into difficulties due to the actions of state bodies, you can also contact the  Kyrgyzstan ombudsman (in Russian and Kyrgyz).  

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Advice for all destinations, vaccinations and malaria risk.

Review both the Vaccination and Malaria sections on this page to find out if you may need vaccines and/or a malaria risk assessment before you travel to this country.

If you think you require vaccines and/or malaria risk assessment, you should make an appointment with a travel health professional:

• How to make an appointment with a travel health professional

A travel health risk assessment is also advisable for some people, even when vaccines or malaria tablets are not required.

• Do I need a travel health risk assessment?

Risk prevention advice 

Many of the health risks experienced by travellers cannot be prevented by vaccines and other measures need to be taken.

Always make sure you understand the wider risks at your destination and take precautions, including:

• food and water safety
• accident prevention
• avoiding insect bites
• preventing and treating animal bites
• respiratory hygiene
• hand hygiene

Our advice section gives detailed information on minimising specific health risks abroad:

• Travel Health Advice A-Z

Other health considerations

Make sure you have travel insurance before travel to cover healthcare abroad.

Find out if there are any restrictions you need to consider if you are travelling with medicines .

Know how to access healthcare at your destination: see the GOV.UK English speaking doctors and medical facilities: worldwide list

If you feel unwell on your return home from travelling abroad, always seek advice from a healthcare professional and let them know your travel history.

Vaccinations

• Confirm primary courses and boosters are up to date as recommended for life in Britain - including for example, seasonal flu vaccine (if indicated), MMR , vaccines required for occupational risk of exposure, lifestyle risks and underlying medical conditions.
• Courses or boosters usually advised: Tetanus.
• Other vaccines to consider: Hepatitis A; Hepatitis B; Rabies; Tick-borne Encephalitis; Typhoid.
• Selectively advised vaccines - only for those individuals at highest risk: none.

No yellow fever vaccination certificate required for this country. 

Notes on the diseases mentioned above

Risk is higher where personal hygiene and sanitation is poor.

Risk is higher for long stays, frequent travel and for children (exposed through cuts and scratches), those who may require medical treatment during travel.

• Tetanus :  spread through contamination of cuts, burns and wounds with tetanus spores. Spores are found in soil worldwide. A total of 5 doses of tetanus vaccine are recommended for life in the UK. Boosters are usually recommended in a country or situation where the correct treatment of an injury may not be readily available.
• Tick-borne Encephalitis :  spread mainly through tick bites. Risk is higher during the warmer months between spring to autumn. Spending long periods of time outdoors in forests or rural areas whilst undertaking outdoor activities such as camping, rambling or mountain biking increases your risk.
• Typhoid :  spread mainly through consumption of contaminated food and drink. Risk is higher where access to adequate sanitation and safe water is limited.
• Malaria not normally present unless the illness was contracted abroad.

Other Health Risks

Altitude and travel.

There is a risk of exposure to coronavirus (COVID-19) in this country.

Please be aware that the risk of COVID-19 in this country may change at short notice and also consider your risk of exposure in any transit countries and from travelling itself. 

• The 'News' section on this page will advise if significant case increases or outbreaks have occurred in this country.

Prior to travel, you should:

• Check the latest government guidance on the FCDO Foreign travel advice and country specific pages for travel to this country and the rules for entering the UK on return.
• Ensure you are up to date with UK recommendations on COVID-19 vaccination.
• You can check this in the FAQ's.
• If you are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 you should carefully  consider your travel plans  and consider seeking medical advice prior to making any decisions.

For further information, see  Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)  and  COVID-19: Health Considerations for Travel  pages.

• 23 May 2024 - Advice on Dengue Fever if Travelling Abroad
• 40 additional items in the news archive for this country

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Kyrgyzstan travel advice

Practical information.

Bishkek, the leafy capital of Kyrgyzstan, makes a pleasant entry or exit point, and Lake Issyk-Kul, a great inland sea and renowned beauty spot, is now open to the wider world after being a favourite haunt of Soviet rulers.

Many visitors will pass through quickly following the Silk Route from Kashgar to Uzbekistan, but for those with the time to look closer, horse trekking and yurt-stays offer access to pristine wilderness areas alive with eagle, deer, wolf and bear and the chance to experience a traditional way of life, unchanged over the ages.

The best language to know in Kyrgyzstan is Russian. A few words will go a long way and, as there is a large minority of Russians in the country, you will hear it spoken often. The Kyrgyz language has some similarities with Uzbek, though the two peoples often find each other incomprehensible.

Food & Drink

Kyrgyzstan's national cuisine revolves around lamb or horse meat and vegetables. Some of the best food in the country comes from the Dungans. Try in particular the excellent Dungan style laghman — flat noodle soup with chilli, vegetables and meat. Dumplings and samsa can also be found, as can the ubiquitous shashlyk. For vegetarians excellent salads and soups can be combined with local bread to make a decent meal.

For drinks there is, of course, chai — Central Asian tea. Vodka is drunk everywhere in Central Asia and nomads on the jailoos drink kumyss, the country's potent national tipple, made of fermented mare's milk. Russian beers are perhaps the best available — for quality go for Baltika.

In general tipping is not expected but in the larger international hotels in Bishkek western style is the norm so expect to pay a small sum to bell boys or cleaners. For guides and drivers in Central Asia tipping is a part of their salary and, though not compulsory, tipping is an excellent way to show your appreciation of their services.

Dressing conservatively is always wise in mosques or places associated with saints or nationally revered people. In Bishkek and Karakol there are large minority communities of Russians, making these cities' standard of dress somewhat more lax than elsewhere. The most conservative part of the whole country is Osh, close to the Fergana Valley.

The currency of Kyrgyzstan is the Som, though dollars are generally much more useful for purchases in hotels or shops. It is almost impossible to obtain Kyrgyz money outside of Kyrgyzstan. The best option for changing money is to do so as and when required through your guide who will usually help you to change money with local money changers — effectively the black market. Credit cards can be used in major hotels and it should be possible to get a cash advance on them through the national bank.

Travel Advice

Our country specialists can advise on any safety concerns you may have. For current information, please refer to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website .

When to go to Kyrgyzstan

You'll find temperature and rainfall information, together with a month-by-month guide on visiting, on our guide for when to go to Kyrgyzstan.

More Information

Flight Time 9 hours (via Istanbul)

Recommended Airlines Turkish Airlines

Time Zone UTC +6

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Kyrgyzstan travel advice

Explore our complete guide to Kyrgyzstan with the latest travel advice for travellers and holidaymakers including official updates and local travel tips for Kyrgyzstan.

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Kyrgyzstan travel guide - essential info

Below is a beginner's guide to Kyrgyzstan with essential travel facts such as dominant language spoken, typical flight time from the UK and the local currency. You can also check whether visas are required and what plug adapter you need to pack.

Why visit Kyrgyzstan?

Considering a holiday to the Kyrgyzstan? Here are some of the very good reasons it makes such a wonderful holiday destination be it for culture or nature to ensure you get the most out of your 2024/2025 escape.

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Check the latest travel advice on visiting Kyrgyzstan from official government sources (in english) from around the world including entry requirements and travel restrictions.

• UK traveller advice for Kyrgyzstan - UK FCDO
• Irish traveller advice for Kyrgyzstan - Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland
• Canadian travel advice for Kyrgyzstan - Government of Canada
• US travel advisories for Kyrgyzstan - US Department of State
• Safe travel advisories for Kyrgyzstan - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, New Zealand
• Smarter traveller advice for Kyrgyzstan - Department of Foreign Affairs, Australia

Learn more about the current safety and security risks from terrorism, natural disasters and more. Read about the local laws and customs to consider when travelling around Kyrgyzstan.

Note : UK FCDO - UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

FCDO travel advice

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Find out more about staying safe when travelling to Kyrgyzstan with the latest guidance on required vaccinations and recommended medication to take with you.

• Vaccines & medicines for Kyrgyzstan - CDC
• Health & vaccinations for Kyrgyzstan - TravelHealthPro, NaTHNac
• How to stay safe & healthy in Kyrgyzstan - Fit for Travel, Public Health Scotland

Check out the general travel tips for staying safe and healthy in Kyrgyzstan, risks of preventable diseases and what to pack.

Note : CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Kyrgyzstan covid live updates

Check the latest live updates on Covid-19 in Kyrgyzstan with the vaccination requirements, current available statistics and up-to-date travel advice from government agencies.

• Coronavirus timeline in Kyrgyzstan - Our World in Data

Kyrgyzstan travel features

Do you want to learn more about Kyrgyzstan? Read our latest features covering travel tips and insider destination guides on where to go and what to do in Kyrgyzstan.

We don't currently have any travel features on Kyrgyzstan. Discover more about holiday destinations around the world with this selection of general travel articles.

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Read our frequently asked questions about travelling to Kyrgyzstan including the current entry restrictions, covid rules, driving side, electrical plugs used and much more.

Are there entry restrictions to Kyrgyzstan due to Covid-19?

Kyrgyzstan is open for tourism from the UK. There are no special entry requirements for Kyrgyzstan.

Do I need to quarantine in the UK if I travel from Kyrgyzstan?

You do not need to quarantine on arrival in the UK from Kyrgyzstan. The UK no longer requires a passenger locator form, Covid-19 test or proof of vaccination.

What is the time difference between Kyrgyzstan and the UK?

The time difference between Kyrgyzstan and the UK is UK time+6 hours .

What is the main language spoken in Kyrgyzstan?

The main languages spoken in Kyrgyzstan are Arabic and English . Learn a language for Kyrgyzstan with Rosetta Stone * , Mondly * and Busuu * .

What is the currency in Kyrgyzstan?

The currency in Kyrgyzstan is the Kyrgyzstani Som ( KGS ). Send money to Kyrgyzstan with World Remit * .

Which plugs are used in Kyrgyzstan?

Kyrgyzstan uses electrical plug type C + F (220 Volts) .

Which side of the road do they drive on in Kyrgyzstan?

They drive on the right side of the road in Kyrgyzstan. Find out more about driving in Kyrgyzstan with International Drivers Association * .

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Kyrgyzstan travel advice.

Entry requirements differ by country. The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office issues country specific travel advice including Health, Visa and Vaccination requirements.

You can access the FCDO advice for Kyrgyzstan please read the FCDO advice available here https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/kyrgyzstan

Entry Requirements

Visa requirements.

• You can enter Kyrgyzstan as a visitor for stays of up to 60 days without a visa. You must not stay more than 60 days in any 120-day period.

Travelling through Kyrgyzstan If you’re travelling through Kyrgyzstan on your way to another country and will be passing through immigration (sometimes known as a layover), you must follow Kyrgyzstan’s entry requirements.

Passport validity

If you’re visiting or resident in Kyrgyzstan, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the day you arrive.

Dual Nationality Kyrgyzstan does not recognise dual nationality. If you enter Kyrgyzstan on a Kyrgyz passport and hold British nationality, the British Embassy can only provide very limited consular assistance. If you’re arrested or detained, the Kyrgyz authorities are unlikely to allow you to get help from the British Embassy.

• There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Kyrgyzstan . You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Yellow Fever Certificate Requirements

• Check whether you need a yellow fever certificate by visiting the National Travel Health Network and Centre’s TravelHealthPro website .

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Kyrgyzstan Travel Advice: 10 Things to Know Before You Go to the Kyrgyz Republic

Last Updated on: 6th February 2023, 03:17 pm

Are you planning a trip to Kyrgyzstan? If so, here are my best Kyrgyzstan travel tips to know before you go!

I wrapped up my first trip to Kyrgyzstan earlier this week, and I have to say this country blew me away!

I spent fifteen days in the country, exploring the tiny Soviet resort town of Bosteri , walking the streets of Cholpon Ata, watching in awe at the athleticism on display at the World Nomad Games , and relaxing in the Russian banya and Korean Chicken oasis of Bishkek.

However, my trip, while freaking fantastic, was not without a few boneheaded mistakes.

Here are important Kyrgyzstan tips and my best Kyrgyzstan travel advice I wish I could go back and tell myself before my own trip.

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My Favorite Travel Booking Sites for 2024

These are my favorite companies that I use on my own travels.

Protect Your Trip via Safety Wing

Find the best city tours, day tours, bus tours, & skip-the-line tickets on GetYourGuide and Viato r .

Find the best deals on hotels & vacation rentals on Booking.com .

For English-speaking private airport transfers, book through Welcome Pickups.

For road trips and independent travel, rent a car through Discover Cars .

Find information and cruise reviews on Cruise Critic.

For packing and travel essentials order via Amazon .

Book an affordable family or romantic photography session on your trip through Flytographer (Use the code HISTORYFANGIRL for 10% off your first photoshoot).

For travel guidebooks to have with you during your trip, I always pick one or two from Rick Steves and Lonely Planet.

Bring Your Own Sun and Dust Protection

Throw sunblock, a baseball cap, and a scarf to cover your mouth into your backpack, and try to have them available to you every day.

Trust me, you’ll be grateful for them when you are the only one around not fried to bits and choking on dirt.

Unless you’re going to stay in Bishkek, you’ll need to be able to keep your skin and lungs protected.

The dry roads (and diesel engines) meant I was constantly coughing. And the only sunblock I could find outside of Bishkek had a whitening agent in it that destroyed the top layer of skin on my arms (rendering me ghostlike and covered in a layer of extra-thick sunblock sweat).

Bring a sunblock that you know works well with your skin, but if you do end up picking one up in one of the smaller villages try to see if they have any without a whitening agent.

As for your hat, it needs to protect your face, and your scarf should be light enough that you can wear it over your mouth comfortably.

I got lucky, and I was given a baseball hat after I arrived, but if not I would have needed to purchase one.

Wear Layers

I visited Kyrgyzstan in late August and early September. The mornings and evenings were cool to chilly, while the days were very hot (especially in direct sunlight).

I was always thankful whenever I could make adjustments by adding or subtracting a layer of clothing.

At night, I wanted a full jacket and a blanket on my lap, while during the day I wanted as few clothes as possible.

If you’re going up to higher altitudes, you’ll need to make sure your clothes can handle the cold temperatures, but you’ll still want some cold-weather layers even if you’re not going too high.

The team behind the World Nomad Games thoughtfully gave the members of the press an extra vest, baseball hat, blanket, and glasses cleaner, which helped me add a few layers of clothing and tackle the sun and dust.

I gladly would have purchased each of these as I ended up using them every single day in the country.

Watch Where You Step

Maybe this is a mistake that only I could make, but I sprained my ankle early in my trip by tripping on the world’s smallest pothole.

Afterward, I started keeping my eyes on the pavement, and I noticed quite a few potholes and other tricky spots.

If you sprain your ankles easily, you’ll be glad to pay attention to where you’re stepping.

A sprained ankle slowed me down a bit, but it would have been much worse if I was planning on doing more hiking or any horse trekking on this trip.

Listen to Your Body

I had some nasty food poisoning, a sprained ankle, and the beginnings of a vicious cold while there.

I thought I was slowing down and taking care of myself by sleeping in and ducking out early here and there, but after two weeks of pushing through, I was exhausted.

It wasn’t until I left the country and settled down in Almaty for a week that I took proper care of my ankle and got the swelling to go down and the pain to subside.

My body basically shut down in Kazakhstan and forced me to take care of it, but I wonder if I had paid better attention and care to some of these issues on the front end if I wouldn’t have crashed so hard at the end of my two weeks.

Even if it’s your dream trip, stop and take care of minor aches and illnesses before they balloon into much larger problems.

Get Cash Before You Leave the Airport

This one isn’t as critical if you’re going into Bishkek (though you’ll still need some cash for a taxi).

However, if you’re heading straight to a village (especially if you’re being picked up and transferred directly), this might be the only easy chance you have to get cash.

While there are ATMs ( bankomats in Russian) in the “bigger cities” like Cholpon Ata and in places like the Narodny supermarkets, there weren’t any in the smaller places I stayed like Bosteri or any at the Hippodrome where some of the major events of the World Nomad Games were held.

I’m not saying you’ll never run into an ATM out in the wild, I’m just saying that I wish I’d grabbed cash at the airport.

It would have saved me a lot of time. Since Kyrgyzstan outside of Bishkek is almost purely cash-based, you won’t make it far if you don’t have some Kyrgyz som on you.

Download the Yandex Taxi App ASAP

Negotiating with taxi drivers is a necessary evil in Kyrgyzstan. Every driver I had (except one), was extremely kind, polite, and thorough.

However, I found prices on Yandex (a popular taxi app in countries of the former USSR) to be about half of what I could negotiate on my own. If negotiating stresses you out, then get the app ahead of time.

You’ll need to register it with a local number (unless you register it ahead of time), but you can easily pick up a Kyrgyz sim card as long as your phone is unlocked.

Also, data in Kyrgyzstan is super cheap.

Bring Your Own Seasonings

I found that I loved Kyrgyz cuisine, but after eating it for days on end, I was thrilled to pull out my emergency green Tabasco sauce and change up the flavors a bit.

In Bishkek, you’ll find fantastic restaurants from a wide variety of cuisines (I loved the Korean Barbeque place called Chicken Star and the nachos at Metro Club).

But in the villages, you’ll be eating more traditional food.

I loved Lagman, borsht (technically Ukrainian, but who doesn’t love borsht?), and manti, but after two weeks I needed to mix it up.

Other travelers I know who are regional experts have their own preferences, like Megan Starr will bring in her own cayenne pepper.

Have Toilet Paper and Hand Sanitizer with You AT ALL TIMES

The ubiquitous squat toilet may or may not have a sink next to it, and that sink may or may not have soap.

While travelers worldwide should have a personal stash of toilet paper and hand sanitizer in case of emergency, I found mine came in handy more in Kyrgyzstan than in most places.

This is less true in Bishkek, but even in Cholpon Ata, I needed these with me most of the time.

You might also want to make sure you have other basic toiletries with you since some hotels don’t provide shampoo or soap.

You can pick up anything you’re missing at one of the magazines or other stores, provided you’re not going to be completely off-the-grid immediately.

Make Sure You’ve Got Your Prescriptions with You

I was running low on few meds, and so I popped into a Kyrgyzstan pharmacy to fill up.

These meds are things that are prescription-only in the US, but over-the-counter in most countries I’ve been to, so I never worry too much about getting refills while on the road.

However, in Bishkek, they didn’t have them in stock.

After trying two more pharmacies, I gave up trying to get them, knowing that I could grab them in Almaty.

This wasn’t a case of them being prescription-only, but just a situation where they didn’t have pretty common medicines available at all.

I was able to pick them up in Almaty, but don’t get stuck in Kyrgyzstan worried about having access to your medicine.

Bring Your Own Tampons

(Obviously, this is not universally applicable).

I’m not saying that there aren’t tampons in Kyrgyzstan.

What I am saying is that I couldn’t find them in the three pharmacies I went to, and who wants to spend any more time than that looking for tampons?

Bring them with you ahead of time so you can avoid being the weird person looking at every box of panty liners to see if you’re actually mistaken, and this is the magical box of tampons you’ve been searching for all over Bishkek.

Like the prescriptions above, I found them easily in a pharmacy in Almaty the next day.

More Kyrgyzstan Travel Tips

Learn Cyrillic ahead of time. I’ve been able to read Cyrillic since college, and it makes it so much easier to travel around parts of Eastern Europe and the former USSR.

It’s also one of the reasons I love living in Bulgaria .

Spend some time in Bishkek! A lot of people skip Bishkek in order to spend more time hiking and doing outdoor adventure sports.

I found Bishkek a great place to relax after the craziness of the World Nomad Games .

Don’t ONLY see Bishkek! Kyrgyzstan outside of the major cities is very different. You need to see both sides to get a better feel for the country.

If you go trekking or spending time outside, make sure to wear appropriate layers for hiking!

Wall outlets are the same as most of Europe (type C or F), and the voltage is 220V. You’ll need a converter if you want to use North American plugs.

5 Things You Must Have in Your Suitcase

Lonely Planet Central Asia   which is available as a paper copy or in a Kindle edition.

Sunscreen before you get there to avoid the kind with whitening in it.

Full Sized Travel Towel  This is the best travel towel in the world. It’s pretty enough for the beach, large enough that you forget it’s a microfibre towel, and quick-drying, which is crucial if you’re going to be hiking or going from place to place.  

Even in hotels, I found I used my own travel towel often. Here’s a whole post about why I’m obsessed with my travel towel.

Altitude Sickness Pills If you get altitude sickness (like I did in Quito ), you’ll want to be able to take these right away.

My altitude sickness in Kyrgyzstan was mild, but I didn’t go up too high. Even in Cholpon Ata or on Issyk Kul, I could still feel the effects for a few days.

Trekking Poles   Critical for anyone afraid of heights who wants to get out and see nature. I wish I’d had these with me in Kyrgyzstan and in Spain when walking the Camino. 

Final Thought: Triple Check Your Travel Insurance Policy Information (Or Get One)

It’s not the most glamorous side of travel, but I always make sure to have a current  Travel Insurance Policy  because things happen on the road. I pay for  World Nomads,  and I happily recommend them.

It’s especially important to get travel insurance if you’re going to be doing any horseback trekking, hiking, or adventure sports while in Kyrgyzstan.

I have been a paying customer of  World Nomads  for travel insurance for two years, and I happily recommend them.  

It’s especially important to get travel insurance if you’re going to be doing any adventure sports like horseback trekking, hiking, or traveling off-road.

Even in Bishkek, you’ll be happy when you’re able to replace your stuff if it’s lost or stolen.

Get a travel insurance quote for your trip.  

More about Traveling to Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia

The World Nomad Games (podcast episode)

How to Get a Kyrgyzstan Sim Card

Things to Do in Bosteri on Issyk Kul

Big Almaty Lake in Kazakhstan in Pictures

How to Get to Big Almaty Lake by Taxi

Tamgaly Tas: How to Visit Kazakhstan’s Enchanting Buddhist Rock Art Sanctuary

Visiting Nomad’s Land: The Abandoned Movie Set in the Kazakhstan Steppe

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If Russia, as Churchill famously claimed, is ‘a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma’, then Kyrgyzstan is a central Asian matryoshka doll of interwoven Turkic, Mongol and Slavic cultures that has been coloured by successive shamanistic, Islamic and communist traditions . Laurence Mitchell, author of Kyrgyzstan: the Bradt Guide

Although a cliché, Kyrgyzstan is often referred to as ‘The Most Beautiful Country in the World’ – and you can see why. Hidden in the depths of central Asia, the yawning valleys, rolling alpine meadows, glistening alpine lakes and abundant wildlife of Kyrgyzstan really do make it one of the world’s most stunning holiday destinations.

Go trekking amongst the towering 7,000m peaks in the Central Tien Shan, travel to the multi-coloured Osh Bazaar and sample shashlyk and laghman , or take a trip to the enormous alpine Lake Issyk-Kul.

Food and drink in Kyrgyzstan

Food in Kyrgyzstan tends to fall into two main categories – Kyrgyz and Russian – although sometimes what is on offer is more of a hybrid of the two. Staying in homestays, the food prepared by the hostess is always plentiful, usually very tasty and generally there is little point in looking to eat elsewhere. Away from the larger urban centres, the dining-out options are usually rather limited.

Bishkek has a wide range of smart restaurants that sell Turkish, Italian, American, Chinese, Indian, Korean and Japanese food, in addition to the standard fare. Outside of Bishkek, the larger towns have a few upmarket restaurants between them, but generally food is sold at simple cafes, traditional chaikhanas or Russian-style canteens, stolovaya . Kyrgyz cooking is very meat-based and that meat is usually mutton, but sometimes beef is used, particularly for shashlyk . Chicken rarely finds its way into Kyrgyz cookery and when it does the quality is not usually very good. Horsemeat is highly thought of and horsemeat sausages, chuchuk , are a popular accompaniment to vodka sessions.

As Muslims, Kyrgyz, Uzbeks and Dungans do not eat pork, but it can be found at some Chinese and Russian restaurants. Fish is uncommon, apart from the smoked fish that is sold by the roadside near Lake Issyk-Kul.

Kyrgyz cuisine

Kyrgyz dishes that can be found more or less everywhere are shorpo , a mutton stew that always comes with a big chunk of bone with fatty meat attached; laghman , noodles with mutton and a spicy sauce; and manti , steamed mutton dumplings.

Shashlyk , the central Asian kebab of skewer-grilled mutton pieces, can be found almost anywhere; just look for the grill-man at the front of the café, as the cookingis always done outside. Plov is made from a simple mixture of rice, mutton, carrots and onions all cooked together in a big pot, which can be delicious when it is well-made. It is actually an Uzbek dish but it can be found throughout the country, especially in the south.

The Kyrgyz national dish of beshbarmak is more of a home-cooked festival food than a restaurant item but some restaurants offer it.

The ultimate Kyrgyz snack food is samsa , which are like Indian samosas but instead of containing spicy vegetables they are filled with mutton, onions and gravy. Samsi are generally sold directly from small bakeries, especially in the mornings and at lunchtime, and are a good takeaway snack or quick lunch. They can be very fatty and are best when hot and fresh.

Other cuisine

Popular Russian dishes include pirogi , fried ravioli-like pastry packets, and pelmeni , small ravioli served in a broth. Blini are pancakes, either sweet or savoury, that, if you are lucky, your homestay hostess might prepare for breakfast. Most Russian menus usually involve several different types of salad that utilise copious quantities of mayonnaise. One excellent and surprisingly delicious salad combination is grated beetroot and diced walnuts.

In addition to Kyrgyz and Russian food, Dungan dishes are also sometimes found in the north, especially in the Chui Valley, the Dungan stronghold. Dungan food is rather like Chinese food, but spicier. Ganfan , made of rice and meat, is probably the most popular Dungan dish and often sold at markets.

Vegetarians

Vegetarians will have a little more luck finding something to eat in Russian restaurants than in their meat-centred Kyrgyz counterparts, but overall it is fairly difficult to find much in the way of purely vegetarian dishes. Fortunately, local markets always have a good selection of fruit, vegetables, cheeses and tinned goods. Some homestay hosts are able to rustle up vegetarian dishes, given adequate warning. Bread, the staple carbohydrate in the area, is usually in the form of lepyoshka , a Russian flat unleavened loaf, or otherwise nan , the Kyrgyz equivalent. Both are delicious when fresh and far superior to the sliced, white variety found in supermarkets.

By far the most popular hot drink is tea, either green, which is preferred by many Kyrgyz, or black, the Russian favourite. Placing an order for food in a restaurant, it will more or less be assumed that you wish to order tea as well, even if you have already ordered beers or soft drinks. Kyrgyz going out to eat think nothing of ordering beer, vodka and tea all at the same time. Tea is invariably cheap at only 10–20som for a pot, and drinking plenty of it is the best and safest way to ensure hydration where the water supply is questionable. Coffee, where it is found, is usually instant and quite horrible, although in recent years a number of cafés and restaurants with espresso machines have opened up in Bishkek and even in Osh and smaller towns like Karakol.

Beer is widely available and quite good, the commonest brand being Russian Baltika, which is numbered according to its strength – Baltika 0 is non-alcoholic, Baltika 3 (seemingly hard to find!) is moderately low gravity, Baltika 5 is reasonably strong, Baltika 7 is very strong and Baltika 9 is like rocket fuel. Another good Russian beer that is widely available is Sibirskaya Korona, and there are decent Kyrgyz brands such as Arpa and Akademiya that are served on draught. Kyrgyz bottled beers tend to be cheaper than Russian brands, although sometimes weaker and less reliable in flavour. The Steinbrau beers of Bishkek that are produced by an ethnic German brewery of the same name are excellent.

Other popular drinks are vodka ( arak ) and kumys , although the latter is not generally sold in cafés, as it is seen more as a homemade drink of the jailoos ; it is, however, commonly sold at the roadside from yurts, especially in early summer. Bozo is a slightly alcoholic drink, made from fermented millet wheat, and Shoro is a well-known proprietary brand of maksym, a drink made from wheat. Kyrgyz wine is best avoided.

Health and safety in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is a healthy place on the whole and although travellers should be prepared for any eventuality, you should not expect to fall ill here, excepting the odd bout of travellers’ diarrhoea. Nevertheless, all visitors to Kyrgyzstan should be in possession of adequate health insurance as state health care in Kyrgyzstan is rudimentary at best. Insurance is particularly important if such activities as trekking, horseriding or mountaineering are planned, and ideally should cover emergency medical repatriation.

There is a low-grade risk of malaria which is mostly due to Plasmodium vivax carried by female Anopheles mosquitoes . The risk is more common from June to October, mainly in areas bordering Tajikistan and Uzbekistan (Jalal-Abad, Batken and Osh provinces). Up-to-date advice on this situation and the need for prophylaxis should be sought from a doctor or travel clinic. At the time of writing, the risk is considered low enough to not need to take tablets but prevention with a DEET-containing insect repellent both day and night is always advised. In rural areas, and especially if cycling, dogs may be a nuisance and present the potential threat of rabies.

Although it is chlorinated, tap water is not of very good quality throughout the country and bottled or boiled water should be taken in preference. Thankfully freshly boiled tea is plentiful, abundant even, and perfectly safe to drink. Care should be taken with raw fruit and vegetables, particularly in the warmer months, and the standard recommendation to always peel or wash fresh fruit and vegetables is sound advice.

Cooked food such as meat stews that have cooled and have been standing around for a while may be more problematic, as might some of Kyrgyzstan’s dairy specialities such as kumys and kurut (dried yoghurt balls), which are sometimes plucked out of a horseman’s grubby pocket to be popped in the mouth of the appreciative visitor. Kumys – fermented mare’s milk – is generally not considered harmful (indeed many make claims to its health benefits), however, you should bear in mind that the fermentation process may not eliminate tuberculosis and it can upset the stomachs of those not used to its sour milk acidity and cause nausea and vomiting in the hapless visitor.

Travel clinics and health information

A full list of current travel clinic websites worldwide is available on ITSM . For other journey preparation information, consult Travel Health Pro  (UK) or CDC (US). Information about various medications may be found on NetDoctor. All advice found online should be used in conjunction with expert advice received prior to or during travel.

A few simple precautions will ensure that a visit to Kyrgyzstan is a safe and happy one. The countryside is mostly very safe in terms of human menace, although inebriated locals can sometimes be a nuisance. Larger towns, especially Bishkek, are another matter and caution should be taken after dark. At night the streets of all Kyrgyz towns and villages are generally pitch black with little – or nothing – in the way of street lighting and, putting the very real threat of tripping up over something to one side, there is a risk of mugging by locals whose resentment and coveting of the foreigner’s wealth is further fuelled by strong drink. It should never be forgotten that, compared with Europe and North America, Kyrgyzstan is a very poor country, and that most Western visitors walk around with more cash in their pockets than most Kyrgyz could possibly earn in a year.

Alcohol undoubtedly poses a serious social problem throughout the central Asian region; a problem that first came with Russian colonial rule, was ignored and partly contained during the Soviet period, and has been exacerbated by poverty and a general lack of hope since independence. Remarkably, vodka is available more or less everywhere at rock-bottom prices, even where there is little in the way of food to buy.

Heartfelt Kyrgyz hospitality is a wonderful thing but in all-male company it can sometimes quickly turn into little more than a kamikaze drinking session. It is crucial that moderate imbibers realise there is no such thing as ‘a small one’, ‘a quick one’, or ‘just one for the road’. An invitation to drink can be effectively the laying down of a gauntlet. The guest will be expected to keep up with the other drinkers and will find it difficult to detach himself from proceedings once a session is under way. It is considered very bad form to turn down further drinks once engaged in a boozing session and refusal may be seen as a grave insult to the host.

The best policy for those lacking livers of steel is to politely refuse in the first place, perhaps making something up on health reasons. This will not be popular but it sets the tone and will be respected. If you start drinking, then you will be expected to continue to the dregs of the bottle … and then maybe another.

Female travellers

The outward face of women in the country – both Kyrgyz and Russian – is one of self-confidence, independence and even feistiness. Even if this is not really an accurate picture, women travellers face no particular dangers in Kyrgyzstan. Sexual harassment is thankfully rare but, even though Kyrgyzstan is far from being a strictly Islamic regime, it is still unwise or insensitive to dress scantily and in a provocative manner, despite the many young Russian women in the cities who do just that.

Travellers with a disability

Apart from a few concessions in the capital, Kyrgyzstan has almost nothing in the way of facilities for disabled travellers. Exploring even Bishkek in a wheelchair would prove to be a challenge given the lack of ramps and poor condition of the pavements. On a more positive note, the majority of restaurants are ground-floor based, which is a slight advantage, and Bishkek’s top hotels at least have ramps and reliable lifts. However, outside of the capital it would be unwise to expect any facilities whatsoever. For those disabled travellers planning to visit Kyrgyzstan, hiring private transport and a guide through one of the agencies listed here is a virtual necessity.

LGBTQ+ travellers

Sexual acts between persons of the same sex have been legal in Kyrgyzstan since 1998 but same-sex unions have no legal standing. Kyrgyzstan, although more tolerant than neighbouring Uzbekistan and Tajikistan where homosexuality is illegal, remains a conservative country and, while gay relationships may be tolerated, open displays of affection between those of the same sex are frowned upon and may provoke hostility.

Despite recent changes in the law homophobia is still commonplace and there have been some reports of blackmail of homosexuals by corrupt policemen. The north is generally more easygoing than the south, and Bishkek, where a small gay scene has developed with a couple of gay bars/clubs, is the most tolerant. An organisation called Labrys , established in 2004, is dedicated to improving the lot of lesbians, bisexuals, gay men and transgender people in Kyrgyzstan. The age of consent in Kyrgyzstan is 16.

Travelling with a family

Like most people throughout the world, central Asians love children and travelling to Kyrgyzstan with a young family in tow will definitely win points in terms of popularity with the locals. Having said that, there may be some problems concerning hygiene with very young children, and the sometimes rather limited food available might prove problematic with those young travellers who are fussy about what they eat. The typical home cooking of homestays, with plentiful fruit, jams and baked goods, is likely to be more popular than standard restaurant fare. Independent travel in Kyrgyzstan can be hard work at times, with long, uncomfortable journeys that have few rest breaks.

This type of travel is probably too onerous for the average child; hiring a car with a driver would be a much better bet, allowing regular breaks and toilet stops (although probably not toilets) and the opportunity to stop whenever something of interest is seen. Most children will naturally love some aspects of the country like its horses, plentiful wildlife and colourful markets, and the beaches of Issyk-Kul are also likely to be popular with most young travellers. On the other hand, few children will patiently spend hours examining Silk Road monuments or archaeological sites, and even fewer will be willing to spend long hours energetically hiking in the hills.

Travel and visas in Kyrgyzstan

Since July 2012 visitors from the European Union (except Bulgaria and Romania), North America and Australasia no longer need a visa to visit Kyrgyzstan for a period of up to 60 days. The same waiver also applies to citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Monaco, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, Cuba, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Mongolia, Brunei, most Gulf Arab states – Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia – Russia and former countries of the Soviet Union. If planning to stay longer than 60 days a visa will be required, which should be obtained either in advance at a Kyrgyz embassy or on arrival at Manas airport.

For those passport-holders of countries that do require a visa – mostly African, Middle Eastern, South Asian countries, China and some South American countries – these can be obtained in advance at a Kyrgyzstan embassy. Most will be required to obtain a visa support letter from the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if travelling for business purposes or, if travelling privately or for the purposes of tourism, an invitation letter (usually referred to as LOI – ‘letter of invitation’) issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. This additional paperwork can be issued, at a price and with some advance notice, by contacting one of the Bishkek travel agents listed. Visas are normally issued for 30 days.

Citizens of a small number of countries that require visas are able to obtain them without providing visa support or a LOI, and can obtain visas on arrival by air for between US$50–100 depending on length of stay and whether single or double entry. The countries not requiring visa support are: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Cyprus, Indonesia, Israel, Macedonia, Mexico, Montenegro, Oman, Philippines, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, South Africa, Thailand, Venezuela and Vietnam.

Getting there and away

Kyrgyzstan’s main international airport is Manas Airport in Bishkek (airport code: FRU; Tel: 693 109; Email: [email protected] ) although a few flights from Russia also go direct to Osh. Manas Airport lies about 25km north of the capital, a 40-minute drive away.

From the UK

There are no longer any direct flights between the UK and Bishkek. British Airways used to fly three or four times a week to Almaty, a four-hour drive from Bishkek in neighbouring Kazakhstan, but this service was suspended in 2015.

The best way to reach Kyrgyzstan by air from the UK or elsewhere in Europe is to fly to Moscow or Istanbul and then transfer to a direct Bishkek flight. Flying via Moscow, there are flights with Aeroflot that change planes at Sheremetyevo airport. These start at about £400 return and fly daily but there is sometimes a long wait at the transit airport. A little more expensive, but more comfortable and reliable, are the daily flights with Turkish Airlines  via Istanbul’s Ataturk airport, which start around £420 return. Another, usually less expensive Turkish alternative is with the budget carrier Pegasus Airlines that flies daily to Bishkek from London Stansted via Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen Airport. These flights can cost as little as £330 return and represent a real bargain, even if you do have to buy all your own drinks and meals on board. Because of seasonal demand flights tend to be more expensive during the peak months of July and August and so it is wise to book as far ahead as possible. Flying Air Astana , with a transfer in Astana, Kazakhstan, is another option from London.

From Europe

Other than BMI flights from London, the only other direct flights from Europe are with Turkish Airlines, which fly daily from Istanbul, and regular flights from Moscow with Aeroflot and other carriers. Flights to Bishkek from western European countries tend to connect with either Aeroflot in Moscow or Turkish Airlines in Istanbul. In Germany, Lufthansa do not fly to Bishkek but do regularly fly to Almaty in Kazakhstan.

From Russia and CIS countries

Kyrgyzstan has regular direct flights from Moscow with Aeroflot, Ural Airlines , Air Manas and Avia , as well as three times a week from St Petersburg, twice a week from Krasnoyarsk, three times a week from Yekaterinburg, and weekly from Novosibirsk and Omsk in Siberia. There are flights four times a week from Dushanbe in Tajikistan, with both Avia and Tajik Air , as well as regular flights to Tashkent in Uzbekistan and Almaty in Kazakhstan. Air Manas has regular flights to Tashkent, while Air Astana also flies to Bishkek from Almaty and Astana.

From elsewhere, China Southern Airlines flies to Bishkek several times a week from Ürümqi in Xinjiang. There are also flights from Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia with Turkish Airlines and Dubai with the budget carrier Fly Dubai . Air Manas also has regular flights from New Delhi and Kashgar.

From the USA and Canada

There are no direct flights. Flights from North America can either link with the direct BMI service from London to Bishkek or alternatively go via Moscow (Aeroflot) or Istanbul (Turkish Airlines).

From Australia and New Zealand

Probably the easiest way to reach Kyrgyzstan from Australasia or Southeast Asia is to fly to Tashkent via Bangkok and then either take a connecting flight or, politics permitting, travel overland to Kyrgyzstan.

The great adventure of arriving in Bishkek by rail may not quite be as romantic as its sounds. It is a very long journey and there is an awful lot of dull Kazakh steppe to stare at before Kyrgyzstan is reached. In addition, some of the passengers travelling in platskart (third class) are smugglers, and some consider that it is not a safe journey for foreigners to take, at least in the lowest class.

In theory, at least, it is possible to reach Bishkek by train from anywhere in Europe by way of Moscow and the service from there. Naturally, having to travel through both Russia and Kazakhstan en route, there are going to be visa issues to consider. Train number 18, the Kyrgizia , leaves Moscow’s Kazan station twice a week on Thursday and Saturday at 22.40, to arrive just over 72 hours later in the late evening of the fourth day. This currently costs about 14,000 roubles (£170) in platskart (third class open carriage) and about 20,000 roubles (£240) in kupe (four-berth sleeper) if tickets are bought at the station. Booked through an agency they will cost considerably more. Trains number 17 and 27 to Moscow from Bishkek leave on Monday and Wednesday at 09.17 and take just over 73 hours to reach Moscow.

Rather than going all the way to Bishkek it is possible to leave any of the trains at Taraz (Dzhambul) in Kazakhstan and then enter Kyrgyzstan’s northwest Talas Province by minibus, saving five hours on the overall train journey.

Another alternative is to travel by train from Moscow to Almaty, although the direct service was discontinued in 2017 and the journey now requires a change in Saratov. In the summer season trains run once a week on Thurs evenings between Tashkent and Bishkek continuing to Balkychy but they are very slow (19+ hours to Bishkek, 24+ hours to Balykchy) and take a meandering route through Kazakhstan.

From Kazakhstan

There are frequent services between Almaty and Bishkek by share taxi (2,500 Kazakh tenge) and marshrutka (1,500 Kazakh tenge) taking about five hours. The border is open 24 hours a day. From Taraz (Dzhambul) there are regular minibuses that connect with Talas in Kyrgyzstan’s northwest. Having been closed for three years between 2010 and 2013, the Karkara Valley route between Kegen (Kazakhstan) and Ken-Suu/Tyup (Kyrgyzstan) is now open again between mid-May and mid-October, although the exact dates tend to vary. Public transport on the Kazakh side goes as far as Kegen (around $10 per person in a share taxi from Almaty) from where taxis to the border can be caught (around $10). On the Kyrgyzstan side, it is usually possible to find a ride 20km to the village of Sary-Tologoy for around 1,500som. A daily minibus runs between Sary-Tologoy and Karakol (80som).

From Uzbekistan

The northern route between Tashkent and Bishkek passes through Taraz in Kazakhstan, where there is usually a change of transport. A Kazakh transit visa is needed for some nationalities on this route. To reach Bishkek from Tashkent it may well be quicker and cheaper, if the border is open, to go first to Osh via the Fergana Valley and then fly to Bishkek from there.

From Dostlyk, near Andijan in Uzbekistan’s Fergana Valley, there are normally plenty of share taxis running to the Kyrgyz border close to Osh, from where a minibus (10som) may be taken into the city. Dostlyk may be reached either from Andijan or Tashkent by share taxi. This border is open 24 hours a day. There is another border crossing at Uch-Kurgan on the road between Karakol (not the Lake Issyk-Kul town) and Namangan but this tends to close periodically. No public transport passes through here anyway, so it is necessary to take a taxi both sides. There is also another Fergana Valley crossing from Uzbekistan at Khanabad, just to the south of Jalal-Abad, but this also closes periodically. Although there are further crossing points between the two countries in the Fergana Valley, most of these will not allow foreign travellers through as they may be designated for locals only.

From Tajikistan  

There is no regular transport along the Pamir Highway between Murgab and Osh, although private 4×4 vehicles may be hired for this route in either direction. Travelling this route requires a Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) permit in addition to a Tajik visa. There are share taxis between Isfara in the Tajik section of the Fergana Valley and Batken in southwest Kyrgyzstan; also between Khojand and Isfana in far south-western Kyrgyzstan. The Kyrgyz-Tajik border between Garm and Daroot-Korgon has been closed for foreign nationals for several years but it may become open at some stage in the future.

There are two overland routes to and from China. The Torugart Pass in the southern Naryn province is technically closed to foreigners but permission to cross is granted if travellers have pre-arranged transport meeting them on the other side of the border and have documentation to prove this. The public bus that plies this route between Kashgar and Naryn cannot be used by foreign nationals. Further south, the Irkeshtam border , to the east of Sary-Tash in Osh province, permits crossing in either direction without any special conditions or documentation. A public bus normally runs between Kashgar in China’s Xinjiang province and Osh twice a week in both directions and takes at least 18 hours overnight. It is available for all to use.

Getting around

Getting around Kyrgyzstan is reasonably straightforward between the major centres – Bishkek, Karakol, Naryn, Jalal-Abad and Osh. Public transport tends to be a little erratic at times and some of the roads are in poor condition although they have noticeably improved in recent years. Hiring a taxi for a couple or small group for long distances is a relatively cheap and fast way of getting about. Self-drive car hire is also slowly becoming more popular. Given Kyrgyzstan’s pot-holed roads, its eccentric driving habits and a police force keen to extort fines from their motorised victims, car hire is not for everyone but it undoubtedly affords a great deal more flexibility and spontaneity than is ever possible by public transport. Flying may be a viable option for some north–south travel as it is markedly quicker and may be only a little more expensive than travelling by road.

By bus and minibus

Other than for local city services, very few buses operate in Kyrgyzstan these days. Most long-distance bus services have now been superseded by minibuses ( marshrutki ) running the same routes, which are by and large  quicker. Minibuses tend to congregate outside bus stations and leave when full, usually with about 12–18 passengers plus the driver. Some marshrutki that travel relatively short distances along fixed routes, such as those along the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul, operate rather like a local bus service and do not wait to fill up before leaving, as they constantly pick up and drop off all along their route.

Kyrgyzstan’s taxis will go almost anywhere if you pay them: a road surface of little more than loose rocks and sheep holds little fear for the average Kyrgyz Lada or Zhiguli driver. Fares are loosely negotiable, but are usually about twice the bus fare multiplied by four, the number of passenger seats. In many instances there is no bus or minibus service and so a taxi is sometimes the only option. If there is a CBT network in the town or village they usually have drivers who are familiar with the funny ways of the tourist and knowledgeable about the sort of places that they wish to go. Taxis may be hired for less than the CBT rate in the bazaar, although this is very dependent on the language and negotiation skills of the client, as well as how desperate the driver is to find a fare.

More popular routes often have shared taxis running the same routes as the minibuses and buses. They are effectively the same as ordinary taxis except they run the same route regularly and aim to fill the car with four passengers who all with less than a full complement of passengers if those present agree to pay for the empty seat(s) between them. Other than flying, shared taxis are the best way to travel between Osh and Jalal-Abad and Bishkek. They tend to cost less heading south than they do returning to Bishkek. Typical shared taxi fares are Bishkek–Osh, 800–1,000som; Osh–Bishkek, 1,200som.

When to visit Kyrgyzstan

When to visit.

With its tough, continental climate, Kyrgyzstan is very much a seasonal destination. Unless travelling to the country for purposes of business or winter skiing, most visitors tend to come between May and October. For those whose interest is primarily in outdoor pursuits, the peak trekking season is a little shorter – between early June and mid- September. The period from mid-July to late August is by far the busiest with overseas visitors, partly because of the climate and partly as a result of this being the main European summer holiday season.

Given complete freedom of choice in deciding when to come, it really depends on exactly what the visitor wishes to do and where they want to go. For trekking, the higher the altitude, the shorter the season, tends to be the general rule, and so those wishing to do high-altitude treks in the Central Tien Shan are realistically limited to July and August. Lower-level treks are usually possible between June and September, although snow is always a possibility at passes above 3,000m at virtually any time of year. If it is snow that the visitor is actively seeking, for winter sports like skiing or snowboarding, then January and February are generally the best months to come, although early January can get very busy with winter vacation visitors from Russia and Kazakhstan.

The south of the country has a warmer climate in general and the low-lying Fergana Valley can be very hot during the summer months. Even Bishkek can be unpleasantly muggy in August. If these are the prime destinations to be visited it makes sense to plan a trip for spring or autumn.

If no high-altitude hiking is to be attempted, coming slightly out of season has its benefits. The northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, particularly Cholpon-Ata, can become very crowded in August, mostly with Kazakhs rather than European visitors; however, a visit in late September or early October is a wholly different matter, with few tourists, blue skies, turning leaves and a light dusting of snow on the mountains. It is too cold to swim at this time, however. Early autumn is actually a very beautiful time to be in Kyrgyzstan, especially if visiting southern destinations of modest altitude, such as the Lake Sary-Chelek region and Arslanbob, which has its walnut harvest at this time of year. Nights may be quite cold but there are warm days with clear blue skies.

Spring is a little less certain, as it can take time for winter snow to thaw completely, and late snowfall can mean many passes and even parts of the main Bishkek–Osh highway are under snow until mid-May. The months of April, May and June have the highest amount of rainfall, and this, coupled with melting snow, can sometimes pose risks of landslides and avalanches. Because of this, trekking conditions at the end of the season are usually a little more reliable than those at the beginning.

Holidays and festivals may also have some bearing on the timing of a visit. Nooruz, the ancient, Zoroastrian-influenced festival celebrated throughout central Asia on 21 March, is well worth witnessing, although this is rather too early to see the country at its best. Horse games tend to take place during high summer, especially around Independence Day at the end of August, and special festivals that involve horse sports, Kyrgyz crafts and music are staged at upland jailoos (meadows) during July and August for the benefit of visitors and locals alike.

Kyrgyzstan’s climate is partly influenced by its mountains and partly by its continental location far from any ocean. For the most part it is continental, with cold winters and warm summers. In the lowlands, the temperature ranges between –4°C KYR2.indd 4 28/09/2011 12:40 5 and –6°C in January and between 16°C and 24°C in July. The coldest temperatures are in the mountain valleys where –30°C is not uncommon and a record of –53.6°C has been measured, although –14°C to –20°C is more usual.

In the summer in the Fergana Valley, the average temperature in July is around 27°C, although temperatures frequently reach the low 40s. Even in the summer, temperatures may drop as low as –10°C at night on the mountain peaks. Of the major urban centres, Naryn has by far the most extreme climate, with an average minimum temperature in January of –19°C and an average maximum July temperature of 25°C. Both Bishkek and Osh have much milder winter temperatures but warmer summers. Generally temperatures are far less extreme in the region of Lake Issyk-Kul, where the presence of a large body of non-freezing, slightly saline water has a moderating influence on the local climate. Rainfall is generally fairly low throughout the country – as little as 100mm per annum on the southwest shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, to around 2,000mm in the mountains above the Fergana Valley.

The national average is 380mm, with March to May, and October and November usually the wetter months. There is sometimes heavy snowfall in winter. Clear skies are common and Kyrgyzstan averages more than 300 sunny days per year. Recent years have brought a number of unusual climatic events, which are possibly linked with worldwide climate change and glaciers receding: droughts in the Fergana Valley and elsewhere, low winter snowfall, unusually heavy rain in the spring and an increase in the water level of Lake Issyk-Kul, despite a preceding trend in which the water level was dropping.

What to see and do in Kyrgyzstan

Ala-archa canyon.

This rugged, yet accessible, valley and gorge lies immediately south of the capital. Most of it belongs to the 120,000ha Ala-Archa National Park, created in 1976, and is nominally protected to some extent. The park has everything that you might expect of an alpine zone – snow-capped peaks, fast-flowing streams, alpine meadows, pine forest and steep crags – and it can seem remarkable to find so much unadorned nature so close to a capital city.

Ala-Archa National Park’s proximity to Bishkek is part of what makes it so popular © Mass Ave 975, Wikimedia Commons

Having said this there are less pleasant reminders that the metropolis is nearby, mostly in the form of litter, but this is only around the trail heads. It is this very accessibility that is actually the park’s greatest draw, especially to foreign expatriates and Bishkek’s middle classes who come here to picnic. As well as a convenient spot for picnicking weekenders, the park is also a magnet for hikers, skiers and mountain climbers.

Central Tien Shan Mountains

The corner of the Kyrgyz Republic that wedges itself between Kazakh and Chinese territory to the east of Karakol is indisputably the country’s wildest and least accessible region. It is in this region that superlatives abound: the highest mountains, the coldest temperatures, the longest glaciers, the grizzliest mountaineers and the strangest natural phenomena. This is a region of ice, snow and unexplored peaks – too high and inhospitable even for most hardy Kyrgyz nomads. It is home to Kyrgyzstan’s highest peak (the second highest in the former USSR), the world’s fourth longest glacier, an amazing disappearing lake and, if you believe in that sort of thing, the remote location for the crash landing of a giant UFO.

Unlike the valleys closer to Karakol this is no place for gentle mountain hikes and is really only for committed, experienced mountaineers and those who avail themselves of the support services of guides and porters. Whatever the degree of tactical support enlisted, fitness and stamina are essential. Visiting the area requires a considerable commitment of time, energy and money, but those returning from time spent trekking in the region invariably insist that it is well worth it.

Of all the towns in Kyrgyzstan, Karakol tends to be the one in which the majority of foreign visitors spend the most time. This is down to the fact that as well as possessing a number of sights and monuments worth seeing, Karakol is also ideally situated for forays into the mountains to the south that beckon so tantalisingly from the town. Because of this, Karakol represents one of the focal points, perhaps the focal point, of Kyrgyzstan’s tourist industry and has, more than anywhere else in the country, including even Bishkek, a well-developed tourist infrastructure concerned with outdoor and adventure pursuits.

Having said that, Karakol remains low-key in the extreme; as yet, there are no brash hotels, fancy restaurants or lurid nightclubs. It is a delightfully serene sort of place, still resonant with the ghosts of 19th-century rural Russian life (along with the odd phantom from the Soviet period), and with an ambience that, paradoxically, feels both homely and comfortable and frontier-like.

Karakol Valley

This stunning valley lies immediately south of Karakol along the river of the same name that passes through the town. The valley has a ski base, which is visited by local and Russian skiers in winter, while in the summer it is a popular area for trekkers and campers. There are no villages anywhere along the valley, nor any facilities for tourism other than a summer tent camp, but this makes it all the more desirable as an ideal location for independent campers who bring all they need with them.

The Karakol Valley is one of the prettiest in Kyrgyzstan © Ondřej Žváček, Shutterstock

The Karakol Valley has been awarded national park status and there is an entrance fee to pay (250som for foreigners, 50som per vehicle). Beyond the entrance, a track leads up to the left along the course of the Kashka-Suu tributary to reach the ski base. The dirt road continues along the river to reach a wooden bridge across the river, where the track continues along the valley with the river to the left. The steep slopes here are covered with stands of spruce and the distinctively pyramid-shaped Tien Shan fir, while the grassy fringe beside the track is carpeted with herbs and wild flowers.

Lake Issyk-Kul

Lake Issyk-Kul, the second-largest alpine lake in the world (Lake Titicaca in Peru/Bolivia is the largest), gives its name to the oblast that surrounds the lake’s shoreline and extends across the high Tien Shan range south to the Chinese border. Issyk-Kul Oblast, which in area makes up around 20% of Kyrgyzstan’s territory, has a population of less than 500,000, the vast majority of whom live around the lake’s shores.

The lake’s name, which is also spelled Ysyk Kol or Issyk-kol, means literally ‘warm lake’ in the Kyrgyz language, as does its Chinese equivalent, Ze-Hai. There is good reason for this: in a part of the world where winter temperatures can plummet to -25°C or worse, the shores of the lake have a microclimate that is relatively balmy and, even more aptly, its waters never freeze. This is all the more surprising considering the lake stands at considerable altitude – 1,606m above sea level. Scientists have long debated the precise mechanics of this, and it would seem it is down to a combination of deep-water physics, slight salinity and underground thermal activity. Most locals are less questioning and are merely grateful for the respite the lake offers, assuming it is because the water is warmed by heat wafting up from the earth’s core.

Lake Sary-Chelek

Lake Sary-Chelek is one of Kyrgyzstan’s true gems – a major draw that is a little difficult to reach but, as most visitors seem to attest, is well worth the effort. Sary-Chelek (literally ‘Yellow Bucket’) is a fairly small, alpine lake set amid conifer, and relict fruit and nut forest at an altitude of 1,873m. The lake is just one part of the Sary-Chelek Biosphere Reserve which has seven lakes in total and protects more than a thousand species of plants, 160 birds and 34 mammals, including rarities such as bear, lynx and snow leopard.

Sary-Chelek is relatively small: just 7.5km long and 1,500m wide at its broadest point, with a maximum depth of 234m. The lake is fed by the Sary-Chelek River, in addition to numerous other streams and underground sources, and its outflow travels into the Kara-Suu. The hollow that the lake sits in was probably created by earthquake activity hundreds of years ago, although the precise geomorphology of its formation is unclear. The name ‘yellow bucket’, although hardly romantic, is perfectly apt, as in early autumn the turning leaves of the forest that surrounds the lake positively glow with golden-yellow light that contrasts sharply with the deep blue-green of the water.   

Although you would not know from looking at it, Osh is Kyrgyzstan’s oldest city. As Kyrgyzstan’s second-largest city, with a mixed population of around 250,000, it is considered to be the capital of the south and has served as the administrative centre of the oblast since 1939. It is a lively city which, despite its smaller size, can seem busier than Bishkek. It has the largest mosque in the country and one of the largest and most crowded markets in all of central Asia. Central to the city is the steep outcrop of Solomon’s Throne, which is an important Muslim pilgrimage site, as well as a popular place for locals and visitors alike to enjoy the view over the city.

Despite being smaller than Bishkek, Osh often feels like the busier city © Hans Birger Nilsen, Wikimedia Commons

The city has a strong Uzbek presence and in many ways looks westwards towards the Uzbek Fergana Valley rather than north to the capital Bishkek. The Uzbekistan border is just a few kilometres from the city, a ten-minute marshrutka ride away. However, international wrangling between Kyrgyzstan and its immediate neighbour has meant that from time to time border crossings are not always as straightforward as they might be.

Saimaluu-Tash Petroglyphs

The name means ‘embroidered’ or ‘patterned stones’ in Kyrgyz and this is not a bad description for what is the most remote, and certainly the most spectacular, collection of petroglyphs in the country. Here, high on a lonely alpine plateau, are an estimated 11,000 petroglyphs scattered over the slopes of two glacial moraines that have been named by archaeologists, not very imaginatively, as Saimaluu-Tash One and Saimaluu-Tash Two. The larger of the two, Saimaluu-Tash One, measures 3km in length.

The petroglyphs at Saimaluu-Tash are the most spectacular in all of Kyrgyzstan © Pikozo.kz, Shutterstock

The petroglyphs, which are etched onto shiny basaltic stone, date from at least as early as 2000BC in the Bronze Age, and may well be even older. They most probably represent votive offerings that were brought to this sacred site from the valleys below. The site itself has undoubtedly long been considered to be sacred and it is believed the small pond that lies in the middle of the lower gallery was frequented by shamans.

Tash Rabat is probably Kyrgyzstan’s most remarkable monument; indeed, it is one of the most interesting sites in the entire central Asian region and its presence is in complete contradiction to the popular tenet that Kyrgyzstan is all about landscapes rather than historical sights.

Tash Rabat is a Silk Road monument par excellence : a small but perfectly formed 15th-century caravanserai that sheltered an array of merchants and travellers along one of the wilder stretches of the Silk Road. Its location is even more remarkable: tucked away from sight, half-buried in a hillside, up a valley at 3,530m above sea level.

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Travel Vaccines and Advice for Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is in Central Asia. It is a landlocked country bordered by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China. The capital is Bishkek.

Kyrgyzstan has amazing mountain lakes, great hospitality, and beautiful sunsets. Its natural beauty is clear to see by the country’s spacious pastures and shepherd dwellings. Travellers will find most of the attractions in Kyrgyzstan are rural and high in altitude.

When travellers explore the sites, they should experience Lake Song-Kol, Alay Valley and Arelanbob. These places are perfect for the nature lover inside you.

Whether you enjoy the natural settings of Kyrgyzstan or the history and culture, you’ll find everything you’ll need.

On This Page: Do I Need Vaccines for Kyrgyzstan? Do I Need a Visa for Kyrgyzstan? What Is the Climate like in Kyrgyzstan? How Safe Is Kyrgyzstan? Mount Sulaiman Too What Should I Take to Kyrgyzstan? Embassy of the United Kingdom in Kyrgyzstan

Do I Need Vaccines for Kyrgyzstan?

Yes, some vaccines are recommended or required for Kyrgyzstan. The National Travel Health Network and Centre and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Kyrgyzstan: COVID-19 , hepatitis A , hepatitis B , typhoid , yellow fever , rabies and tetanus .

See the bullets below to learn more about some of these key immunisations:

• COVID-19 – Airborne – Recommended for all travellers
• Hepatitis A – Food & Water – Recommended for most travellers to the region, especially if unvaccinated.
• Hepatitis B – Blood & Body Fluids – Recommended for travellers to most regions.
• Tetanus – Wounds or Breaks in Skin – Recommended for travelers to most regions, especially if not previously vaccinated.
• Typhoid – Food & Water – Recommended for travellers to most regions.
• Yellow Fever – Mosquito – Required if travelling from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.
• Rabies – Saliva of Infected Animals – High risk country. Vaccine recommended for long-stay travellers and those who may come in contact with animals.

See the tables below for more information:

See our vaccinations page to learn more about these infections and vaccines. Ready to protect yourself? Book your travel health appointment today by calling or schedule online now .

Do I Need a Visa for Kyrgyzstan?

No visa is required for Kyrgyzstan for stays under 60 days. E-visas are available for stays of up to 90 days. Travellers’ passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of arrival. Proof of yellow fever vaccination may be required if you are travelling from a region where yellow fever is present.

Sources: Embassy of Kyrgyzstan and GOV.UK

What Is the Climate like in Kyrgyzstan?

It is sunny most of the time in Kyrgyzstan. There is hardly any rainfall, but the west wind does bring heavy rains and snowfall. The ideal time to visit Kyrgyzstan is between May and October.

The winter is impacted by the arctic winds of Siberia and the Arctic Ocean. This can result in precipitation and snowfall. During this season you can see frequent fogs and sizzling rains. The precipitation often comes on suddenly. The south has cyclones that are come from the Mediterranean Sea.

The thermal zones in Kyrgyzstan experience changes. Spring is short and comes on in late February. Summer lasts from May to September with highs reaching over 35. In high altitudes it’s very cool with even colder nights. Autumn arrives late with the autumn air lasting until December. Winter can be well below zero.

How Safe Is Kyrgyzstan?

While it’s currently stable in Kyrgyzstan, there is potential for civil unrest because of the political and ethnic tension. There is especially potential in the south end southwest area of the country. Demonstrations are known to happen, especially in the capital Bishkek. Avoid demonstrations, political rallies, and gatherings as these can turn violent.

Robberies and mugging happen by hotels, public transportation, and other areas with foreigners. Do not travel alone at night. Only use reputable taxi services as scams are common.

Mount Sulaiman Too

Kyrgyzstan is a beautiful country with many attractions travellers can enjoy. Mount Sulaiman Too is a famous mountain in the southern city of Osh. Those of the Islamic faith know the mountain as a sacred place.

The area has a large museum that includes many historical sites and two 16th century mosques. They will also see many petroglyphs of humans, animals, and geometric shapes as well as a medieval bath. There are 17 places to worship. This site is a place where history and culture come together.

What Should I Take to Kyrgyzstan?

When you prepare for travel to Kyrgyzstan, there are some things you need to take with you on your trip.

• Visa and Passport — You need a visa to travel to Kyrgyzstan if you’re planning to stay more than 60 days. You will also need a passport that is valid from 6 months from the date of entry.
• Health and Safety — It’s important to pack for your health and safety in Kyrgyzstan. Prescription medicines, medical supplies, and over the counter medicines are what you need to consider before travelling to Kyrgyzstan. You should also pack supplies to prevent injury and illness and a first aid kit.

Embassy of the United Kingdom in Kyrgyzstan

If you are in Kyrgyzstan and have an emergency (for example, been attacked, arrested or someone has died) contact the nearest consular services. Contact the embassy before arrival if you have additional questions on entry requirements, safety concerns or are in need of assistance.

British Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic 21 Erkindik Boulevard Office 404 Bishkek 720040 Kyrgyzstan Telephone: +996 (312) 303637 Emergency Phone: +996 (312) 303637 Email: [email protected]

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Travel Advisory March 8, 2024

Kyrgyzstan - level 1: exercise normal precautions.

Reissued after periodic review with edits to the area of higher risks in the border region with Tajikistan.

Exercise normal precautions in the Kyrgyz Republic. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Reconsider Travel to:

• The border region with Tajikistan due to the potential for  violent border clashes .

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to the Kyrgyz Republic.

If you decide to travel to the Kyrgyz Republic:

• Monitor local media for breaking events and be prepared to adjust your plans.
• Keep travel documents up to date and easily accessible.
• Have evacuation plans that do not rely on U.S. government assistance.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program ( STEP ) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter .
• Review the Crime and Safety Report for the Kyrgyz Republic.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist .
• Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.

Border Region with Tajikistan – Level 3: Reconsider Travel

Reconsider travel to areas within approximately 30 kilometers of the border with Tajikistan due to intermittent cross-border tensions and violent clashes. Armed violence may occur with little or no warning. Travelers are at heightened risk of injury or death when visiting or transiting that region. 

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171 Prospect Mira Bishkek 720016 Kyrgyz Republic Telephone: +(996)(312) 597-000 Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(996)(312) 597-733 Fax: +(996)(312) 597-744 Email:   [email protected]

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Learn about the U.S. relationship to countries around the world.

Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements

Ensure your passport is stamped when you enter the country. There have been reports of officials intentionally not stamping passports of visitors entering the country. When this occurs, visitors are unable to prove they legally entered.

Visa Requirements: See the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic’s website for visa information. Changes to visa-free travel guidelines went into effect on October 21, 2023.

U.S. citizens who enter the Kyrgyz Republic without a visa may stay up to 60 days but must depart and remain outside of the Kyrgyz Republic for an equal amount of time. In other words, in a 120-day period, they may be present in the Kyrgyz Republic for 60 days.

Travelers who plan to stay longer than 60 days should apply for the appropriate visa category electronically and register their stay with the appropriate government body. Additional information on the registration process can be found on the website for the Ministry of Digital Development of the Kyrgyz Republic. Travelers who stay longer than their allotted 60 days must pay an administrative fine and apply for an exit visa prior to their departure and should contact the Consular Department of the MFA in advance of their departure if they know that they have overstayed their visa-free period. Individuals who are already in the country and who need to register their stay should be able to do so without leaving the country.

Travelers can contact the Consular Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with questions by calling +996 312 663 070, +996 703 428 865 (WhatsApp).

A five-year, multi-entry visa is also available at any Kyrgyz embassy abroad. Details can be found at https://www.evisa.e-gov.kg/. For the most up-to-date visa information and information regarding entry/exit requirements, contact the Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic.

If you travel to the Kyrgyz Republic in any religious capacity, you must register with the State Commission on Religious Affairs.

Journalists traveling to the Kyrgyz Republic for work should obtain the appropriate visa at the nearest Kyrgyz Embassy prior to their arrival. In addition to visas, journalists are also required to register their stay and receive Ministry of Foreign Affairs approval to conduct press activities in country.

HIV/AIDS Restrictions: Some HIV/AIDS restrictions exist for visitors and foreign residents in the Kyrgyz Republic. An HIV test is required to apply for a work visa. Please verify this information with the Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic before you travel.

Find information on dual nationality , prevention of international child abduction and customs regulations on our website.

Safety and Security

Crime : The greatest threat to travelers is street crime. There have been reports of muggings of foreigners in downtown Bishkek at night and areas outside of Bishkek. U.S. citizens should limit travel to the Batken province (Oblast). Other common crimes include auto theft and pickpocketing in crowded places such as markets, especially Bishkek’s Osh Bazaar, large department stores, internet cafes, and on public transportation. U.S. citizens have been robbed by groups of young men who followed them back to their residences from hotels and bars. In addition, U.S. citizens have been victims of rape, assault, sexual harassment, and kidnapping. Attackers do not always avoid violent confrontation with their victims.

The police are generally responsive to reports of crimes.

Harassment and extortion by imposters, genuine law enforcement, and other officials does occur. Never voluntarily give your wallet to anybody. If pressured by a police officer, tell the officer that you will report his behavior to the U.S. Embassy and to the officer’s supervisors. Try to obtain the officer's name, badge number, and license plate number, and note where the incident happened.

Demonstrations  occur frequently. They may take place in response to political or economic issues, on politically significant holidays, and during international events. 

• Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly become violent. 
• Avoid areas around protests and demonstrations. 
• Check local media for updates and traffic advisories.

International Financial Scams : See the Department of State and the FBI pages for information.

Victims of Crime: U.S. citizen victims of sexual assault are encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy for assistance. Report crimes to the local police at 112 and contact the U.S. Embassy at +996 (312) 597 000. Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting crime.

See our webpage on help for U.S. victims of crime overseas .

• Help you find appropriate medical care
• Assist you in reporting a crime to the police
• Contact relatives or friends with your written consent
• Provide general information regarding the victim’s role during the local investigation and following its conclusion
• Provide a list of local attorneys
• Provide our information on victim’s compensation programs in the United States
• Provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution
• Help you find accommodation and arrange flights home
• Replace a stolen or lost passport

Domestic Violence : U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence are encouraged to contact the Embassy for assistance. Crisis centers exist across Kyrgyzstan, but English-language assistance may be limited.

Tourism : The tourism industry is unevenly regulated, and safety inspections for equipment and facilities do not commonly occur. Hazardous areas/activities are not always identified with appropriate signage, and staff may not be trained or certified either by the host government or by recognized authorities in the field. In the event of an injury, appropriate medical treatment is typically available only in/near major cities. First responders are generally unable to access areas outside of major cities and to provide urgent medical treatment. U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance. See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage ( http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/go/health/insurance-providers.html ).

Local Laws & Special Circumstances

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Individuals establishing a business or practicing a profession that requires additional permits or licensing should seek information from the competent local authorities, prior to practicing or operating a business.

You must carry your passport, or a certified copy, with you at all times. If you are stopped by local officials, they may request proof of identity, citizenship, and permission to be in the Kyrgyz Republic (visa or entry stamp).

You may be taken in for questioning if you do not have your passport with you. For a fee and with a scheduled appointment, the U.S. Embassy can provide you with a certified copy of your passport, which may be used in lieu of a physical passport if stopped by local officials.

It is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. Ask before taking pictures of anything of possible military or security interest, including government buildings, people in police or military uniforms, and food markets.

The legal blood alcohol level for driving in the Kyrgyz Republic is zero. Driving under the influence may land you immediately in jail, no matter how little you consumed.

Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in the Kyrgyz Republic are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the U.S., regardless of local law. For examples, see our website on  crimes against minors abroad  and the  Department of Justice  website.

Arrest Notification : If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our webpage for further information.

Counterfeit and Pirated Goods: Although counterfeit and pirated goods are prevalent in many countries, they may still be illegal according to local laws. You may also pay fines or have to give them up if you bring them back to the United States. See the U.S. Department of Justice website for more information.

Faith-Based Travelers : It is illegal to practice a religion in groups or to proselytize without being registered with the State Commission of Religious Affairs. See the  Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report . See the following webpages for additional information:

• Faith-Based Travel Information
• International Religious Freedom Report – see country reports
• Human Rights Report – see country reports
• Hajj Fact Sheet for Travelers
• Best Practices for Volunteering Abroad

LGBTQI+ Travelers : The Kyrgyz Republic does not recognize sexual orientation as a protected category within the context of discrimination and there are no laws that define hate crimes in the Kyrgyz Republic to include LGBTQI+ individuals.

LGBTQI+ individuals may be subject to discrimination in the application of current laws and many LGBTQI+ individuals report that they are often threatened and harassed by law enforcement officials.

See our LGBTQI+ Travel Information page and section 6 of our Human Rights report for further details.

Travelers with Disabilities : The law in the Kyrgyz Republic prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual and mental disabilities, but the law is not enforced. Social acceptance of persons with disabilities in public is not as prevalent as in the United States. Access to sidewalks and public buildings may be limited due to a lack of ramps or access points. Public infrastructure is limited and may be in poor condition. Expect accessibility to be limited in public transportation, lodging, communication/information, and general infrastructure. Conditions in rural or outlying areas are substantially worse than in developed areas.

Limited possibilities exist for repair or replacement of personal aids/equipment/devices. Sign language interpretation options are limited. Personal assistants are available but may not have comparable training or experience to personal assistants in the United States.

Students: See our Students Abroad page and FBI travel tips .

Women Travelers: Forced marriage, bridal kidnapping, and high rates of domestic violence are known trends in the Kyrgyz Republic. See our travel tips for Women Travelers .

Hunting and Trekking Issues: It is illegal to hunt without a proper license. You must get a permit from the Kyrgyz government prior to arrival in country to import or own firearms in the country.

Foreigners who do not have official permission to hunt or take animals out of the country may face criminal and/or civil charges. 

Public medical clinics lack basic resources and supplies.

Hospitals and doctors often require payment “up front” prior to service or admission. Credit card payment is not always available. Most hospitals and medical professionals require cash payment.

U.S. citizens often travel outside of the Kyrgyz Republic for medical treatment, including many routine procedures. Medical staff rarely speak English, and prices for treatment are not fixed.

Psychological and psychiatric services are limited, even in the larger cities, with hospital-based care only available through government institutions.

For emergency services in the Kyrgyz Republic, dial 112.

Ambulance services are not widely available, and the training and availability of emergency responders may be below U.S. standards. Emergency responders may not be present throughout the country or are unreliable in most areas except Bishkek, Osh, and other large cities. Ambulances are not equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment and are typically not staffed with trained paramedics. Injured or seriously ill travelers, particularly outside of metropolitan areas, may prefer to take a taxi, private ambulance, or private vehicle to the nearest major hospital rather than wait for an ambulance.

We do not pay medical bills.  Be aware that U.S. Medicare/Medicaid does not apply overseas. Most hospitals and doctors overseas do not accept U.S. health insurance.

Medical Insurance : Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments. See  our webpage  for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage. Visit the  U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  for more information on type of insurance you should consider before you travel overseas.

We strongly recommend  supplemental insurance  to cover medical evacuation in the event of unforeseen medical complications.

Always carry prescription medication in original packaging, along with your doctor’s prescription. Prescriptions must be translated into Russian. Check with the  Ministry of Health’s register of medications  to ensure that your medication is legal in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Vaccinations:  Be up-to-date on all  vaccinations  recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Further Health Information:

• World Health Organization
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  (CDC)

Many cities in the Kyrgyz Republic are at high altitude. Be aware of the symptoms of altitude sickness and take precautions before you travel. Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more information about  Travel to High Altitudes .

Adventure Travel

• Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more information about  Adventure Travel .
• The security situation remains fluid in areas along the Kyrgyz-Tajik and Kyrgyz-Uzbek borders due to simmering ethnic and cross-border tensions, as well as the presence of narco-trafficking routes. Border areas are closed to foreigners and restrictions are enforced along the Chinese, Tajik, and Uzbek borders. Border areas with Tajikistan in Batken province are particularly sensitive and the location of a significant police and military presence.  

Tuberculosis is prevalent in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more information about  Resources for Travelers  regarding specific issues in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Air Quality: Visit  AirNow Department of State  for information on air quality at U.S. Embassies and Consulates.

Air pollution is a significant problem in several major cities in the Kyrgyz Republic. Consider the impact seasonal smog and heavy particulate pollution may have on you and consult your doctor before traveling if necessary.

The air quality varies considerably and fluctuates with the seasons. It is typically at its worst in the winter. People at the greatest risk from particle pollution exposure include:

• Infants, children, and teens
• People over 65 years of age
• People with lung disease such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema
• People with heart disease or diabetes
• People who work or are active outdoors

The U.S. Embassy maintains a list of doctors and hospitals  here . We do not endorse or recommend any specific medical provider or clinic.

Travel and Transportation

Road Conditions and Safety: Traffic accidents involving serious injury to drivers, passengers, and pedestrians are common.

Many city roads are hazardous due to potholes, uncovered manholes, poor lighting, and pedestrians ignoring oncoming traffic.

There is no roadside assistance infrastructure. Outside of metropolitan areas, roads are generally poor.

Mountain roads in the Kyrgyz Republic are often narrow and treacherous, and may close without notice due to snow, ice, or rockslides. Guardrails and barriers are often missing.

Traffic Laws: You must obey all local traffic laws. Passengers must wear seat belts and motorcycle riders must wear helmets.

Drunk driving and hit-and-run accidents are significant problems.

Drivers often speed on the newly upgraded roads that connect main cities and towns.

Many local drivers do not stop at red lights, pass vehicles when it is dangerous or prohibited to do so, drive into oncoming traffic, and do not stop for pedestrians.

Traffic police have been known to demand payment of arbitrary "fines" for purported infractions. Payment of traffic fines should be made at local banks. Some police vehicles now offer terminals for individuals with bank cards to pay their fines immediately.

International driving permits are recognized in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Public Transportation :

Buses tend to be very crowded and can be unsafe and unreliable.

U.S. Embassy personnel are restricted from utilizing public transportation due to the potential for crime, sexual harassment and assault.

Avoid using "private taxis" and unmarked taxis or entering a cab that already contains passengers.

Taxis ordered by telephone typically charge based on set rates; the driver’s cellular phone operates as the meter.

If hailing a taxi on the street, negotiate a fare prior to entering a cab. Cab drivers often try to charge foreigners a higher fare. Many taxi services now have cabs equipped with meters, but passengers should confirm that they are functional before entering the cab.

See our  Road Safety page  for more information. Visit the Kyrgyz Republic’s Department of Tourism website for more information.

Aviation Safety Oversight : As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in the Kyrgyz Republic, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the government of the Kyrgyz Republic’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. Further information may be found on the  FAA’s safety assessment page .

For additional travel information

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
• See the  State Department’s travel website  for the  Worldwide Caution  and  Travel Advisories .
• Follow us on  Twitter  and  Facebook .
• See  traveling safely abroad  for useful travel tips.

Review information about International Parental Child Abduction in Kyrgyzstan . For additional IPCA-related information, please see the International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act (ICAPRA) report.

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COVID-19: travel health notice for all travellers

Kyrgyzstan travel advice

Latest updates: Safety and security – updated information on terrorism

Last updated: July 10, 2024 10:08 ET

On this page

Safety and security, entry and exit requirements, laws and culture, natural disasters and climate, kyrgyzstan - exercise a high degree of caution.

Exercise a high degree of caution in Kyrgyzstan due to the possibility of violent crime.

Borders with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan - Avoid non-essential travel

Avoid non-essential travel to the areas within 30 km of the borders with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan due to security concerns.

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Border areas

South of kyrgyzstan including jalal-abad, batken, osh oblasts (provinces) and borders with uzbekistan and tajikistan.

The southern regions are prone to smuggling activities due to ill-defined and porous borders, making the security situation volatile and dangerous in the south of the country and along the borders with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

Land disputes and tensions between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have occurred since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. However, in early 2023, Uzbek and Kyrgyz authorities announced that they finally reached an agreement on the delimitation of their shared borders.

Uzbek authorities may restrict access to border crossings with Kyrgyzstan without warning.

You should confirm with local authorities if border posts are open for travel before heading to Uzbekistan.

Tensions and occasional clashes due to territorial disputes have occurred on the border between the Sughd region of Tajikistan and the Batken region of Kyrgyzstan, including near the Vorukh enclave. Conflicts have resulted in numerous casualties, including civilians.

In September 2022, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan signed a ceasefire agreement, but the situation remains unpredictable and could deteriorate without notice.

The passage of persons, goods and vehicles to and from Tajikistan is restricted at certain border checkpoints located at the Kyrgyz-Tajik border until further notice.

Order of the Cabinet of Ministers  – Ministry of Justice of Kyrgyzstan (in Kyrgyz and Russian only)

Marked and unmarked minefields may be present in areas bordering the following countries, especially in uncontrolled areas:

If you are traveling in any of these areas despite the advisory in effect:

• stay on main roads and paved surfaces
• avoid roadside ditches, shoulders and unmarked trails
• cross only at official border crossings
• strictly observe warning signs indicating the possible presence of landmines

Petty crime

Petty crime, such as mugging, pickpocketing and purse snatching, occurs frequently.

Ensure that your personal belongings, including your passport and other travel documents, are secure at all times.

Violent crime

Violent crime is also common. Criminals, including organized gangs, target both locals and foreigners.

Target locations may include:

• areas near major hotels
• public transportation
• currency exchange booths
• shopping centres and markets

The police response is limited.

To minimize the risk of becoming a victim of crime:

• don’t walk or travel alone, especially at night
• don’t show signs of affluence
• avoid carrying large sums of money

Common criminal strategies

Fraudulent police officers.

Thieves posing as police officers have approached foreign travellers and ask them to pay alleged fines.

If you face with this situation, offer to follow the officer to the nearest police station to pay the alleged fine.

Fraudulent airport facilitators

Fraudulent “meet and greet” airport facilitators have lured travellers into cars and requested money.

• Make prior travel arrangements with your contacts
• Ask for identification upon arrival
• Don’t leave the airport with anyone who doesn’t show you their identification

Entertainment venues

Thieves may also target foreign travellers in tourist entertainment locations such as bars, nightclubs and other drinking establishments.

One or more individuals may propose to go to your hotel room or apartment. The individual will then try to provide access to your accommodation to its accomplices. You could be the victim of robbery, physical assault, and blackmailing.

Foreign travellers on foot, travelling alone or in small groups at night have been followed and robbed.

• Avoid walking or travelling alone, especially at night
• Always use a reputable taxi service in advance before leaving popular restaurants and places of recreation

Spiked food and drinks

Never leave your food or drinks unattended or in the care of strangers. Be wary of accepting snacks, beverages, gum or cigarettes from new acquaintances. These items may contain drugs that could put you at risk of sexual assault and robbery.

Credit card, Internet and ATM fraud is common.

• Pay careful attention when your cards are being handled by others
• Use ATMs located in well-lit public areas or inside a bank or business
• Avoid using card readers with an irregular or unusual feature
• Cover the keypad with one hand when entering your PIN
• Check for any unauthorized transactions on your account statements

Overseas fraud

Demonstrations

Demonstrations may occur. Even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent at any time. They can also lead to disruptions to traffic and public transportation.

• Avoid areas where demonstrations and large gatherings are taking place
• Follow the instructions of local authorities
• Monitor local media for information on ongoing demonstrations

Mass gatherings (large-scale events)

There is a threat of terrorism. Terrorist attacks could occur at any time.

Targets could include:

• government buildings and military installations 
• places of worship
• airports and other transportation hubs and networks
• public areas such as tourist attractions, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shopping centres, markets, hotels and other sites frequented by foreigners

Always be aware of your surroundings when in public places.

Be particularly vigilant during:

• sporting events
• religious holidays
• public celebrations
• major political events, such as elections

Terrorists may use such occasions to mount attacks.

Road safety

Roads conditions and road safety are poor throughout the country. Drivers don't respect traffic laws. Accidents causing fatalities are common.

Roads are poorly maintained and inadequately lit.

Roads from Bishkek to Tashkent are hazardous during winter. The road between Almaty and Bishkek is difficult because of the many checkpoints set up between both cities.

Gas stations outside Bishkek and Osh are scarce.

• Make sure you're well prepared
• Plan for sufficient supply of gasoline, water and food
• Always carry a cell phone and chargers
• Keep a list of emergency contact numbers with you

Public transportation

Public transportation is unsafe due to poor maintenance and reckless driving practices.

Avoid using public transportation.

Use only officially marked taxis with meters or a trusted ride-sharing app. Avoid shared taxis and street taxis.

• Ask the driver to use the meter or pre-negotiate the fare
• Don't share a ride with strangers

We do not make assessments on the compliance of foreign domestic airlines with international safety standards.

Information about foreign domestic airlines

Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from the Kyrgyz authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the  Foreign Representatives in Canada .

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you expect to leave Kyrgyzstan.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, check with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Useful links

• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports

Tourist visa: not required for stays of up to 60 days in a 120-day period Business visa: not required for stays of up to 60 days in a 120-day period Student visa: not required for stays of up to 60 days in a 120-day period

If you intend to stay in Kyrgyzstan for longer than 60 days, you must obtain an E-Visa before your arrival in the country.

Once in the country, you must also register with the State Registration Service Passport Desk within 5 business days following your arrival. You will need to show this proof of registration to leave the country.

If you fail to do so, local authorities will prevent you from leaving until you pay the associated fine.

• State Registration Services - Ministry of Justice of Kyrgyzstan
• E-visa - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan

Regional travel

You must obtain a special permission from Chinese authorities if you are travelling onward to China from Kyrgyzstan.

• Children and travel

Learn more about travelling with children .

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).

Relevant Travel Health Notices

• Global Measles Notice - 13 March, 2024
• COVID-19 and International Travel - 13 March, 2024

This section contains information on possible health risks and restrictions regularly found or ongoing in the destination. Follow this advice to lower your risk of becoming ill while travelling. Not all risks are listed below.

Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic preferably 6 weeks before you travel to get personalized health advice and recommendations.

Routine vaccines

Be sure that your  routine vaccinations , as per your province or territory , are up-to-date before travelling, regardless of your destination.

Some of these vaccinations include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others.

Pre-travel vaccines and medications

You may be at risk for preventable diseases while travelling in this destination. Talk to a travel health professional about which medications or vaccines may be right for you, based on your destination and itinerary. 

Yellow fever is a disease caused by a flavivirus from the bite of an infected mosquito.

Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection.

• There is no risk of yellow fever in this country.

Country Entry Requirement*

• Proof of vaccination is not required to enter this country.

Recommendation

• Vaccination is not recommended.

* It is important to note that country entry requirements may not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. It is recommended that you contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements.

About Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres in Canada

There is a risk of hepatitis A in this destination. It is a disease of the liver. People can get hepatitis A if they ingest contaminated food or water, eat foods prepared by an infectious person, or if they have close physical contact (such as oral-anal sex) with an infectious person, although casual contact among people does not spread the virus.

Practise  safe food and water precautions and wash your hands often. Vaccination is recommended for all travellers to areas where hepatitis A is present.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a risk in some areas of this destination. It is a viral disease that affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). It is spread to humans by the bite of infected ticks or occasionally when unpasteurized milk products are consumed.

Travellers to areas where TBE is found may be at higher risk  during April to November, and the risk is highest for people who hike or camp in forested areas.

Protect yourself from tick bites . The vaccine is not available in Canada. It may be available in the destination you are travelling to.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease and is common in most parts of the world.

Be sure your measles vaccination is up-to-date regardless of your travel destination.

In this destination, rabies is commonly carried by dogs and some wildlife, including bats. Rabies is a deadly disease that spreads to humans primarily through bites or scratches from an infected animal. While travelling, take precautions , including keeping your distance from animals (including free-roaming dogs), and closely supervising children.

If you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other animal while travelling, immediately wash the wound with soap and clean water and see a health care professional. In this destination, rabies treatment may be limited or may not be available, therefore you may need to return to Canada for treatment.  

Before travel, discuss rabies vaccination with a health care professional. It may be recommended for travellers who are at high risk of exposure (e.g., occupational risk such as veterinarians and wildlife workers, children, adventure travellers and spelunkers, and others in close contact with animals). 

  Hepatitis B is a risk in every destination. It is a viral liver disease that is easily transmitted from one person to another through exposure to blood and body fluids containing the hepatitis B virus.  Travellers who may be exposed to blood or other bodily fluids (e.g., through sexual contact, medical treatment, sharing needles, tattooing, acupuncture or occupational exposure) are at higher risk of getting hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all travellers. Prevent hepatitis B infection by practicing safe sex, only using new and sterile drug equipment, and only getting tattoos and piercings in settings that follow public health regulations and standards.

 The best way to protect yourself from seasonal influenza (flu) is to get vaccinated every year. Get the flu shot at least 2 weeks before travelling.  

 The flu occurs worldwide. 

•  In the Northern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs from November to   April.
•  In the Southern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs between April and   October.
•  In the tropics, there is flu activity year round. 

The flu vaccine available in one hemisphere may only offer partial protection against the flu in the other hemisphere.

The flu virus spreads from person to person when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus. Clean your hands often and wear a mask if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious viral disease. It can spread from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

It is recommended that all eligible travellers complete a COVID-19 vaccine series along with any additional recommended doses in Canada before travelling. Evidence shows that vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. While vaccination provides better protection against serious illness, you may still be at risk of infection from the virus that causes COVID-19. Anyone who has not completed a vaccine series is at increased risk of being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and is at greater risk for severe disease when travelling internationally.

Before travelling, verify your destination’s COVID-19 vaccination entry/exit requirements. Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are adequately protected against COVID-19.

Safe food and water precautions

Many illnesses can be caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites, toxins, or viruses, or by swimming or bathing in contaminated water.

• Learn more about food and water precautions to take to avoid getting sick by visiting our eat and drink safely abroad page. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
• Avoid getting water into your eyes, mouth or nose when swimming or participating in activities in freshwater (streams, canals, lakes), particularly after flooding or heavy rain. Water may look clean but could still be polluted or contaminated.
• Avoid inhaling or swallowing water while bathing, showering, or swimming in pools or hot tubs. 

Travellers' diarrhea is the most common illness affecting travellers. It is spread from eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

Risk of developing travellers' diarrhea increases when travelling in regions with poor standards of hygiene and sanitation. Practise safe food and water precautions.

The most important treatment for travellers' diarrhea is rehydration (drinking lots of fluids). Carry oral rehydration salts when travelling.

Typhoid   is a bacterial infection spread by contaminated food or water. Risk is higher among children, travellers going to rural areas, travellers visiting friends and relatives or those travelling for a long period of time.

Travellers visiting regions with a risk of typhoid, especially those exposed to places with poor sanitation, should speak to a health care professional about vaccination.  

Insect bite prevention

Many diseases are spread by the bites of infected insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas or flies. When travelling to areas where infected insects may be present:

• Use insect repellent (bug spray) on exposed skin
• Cover up with light-coloured, loose clothes made of tightly woven materials such as nylon or polyester
• Minimize exposure to insects
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in buildings that are not fully enclosed

To learn more about how you can reduce your risk of infection and disease caused by bites, both at home and abroad, visit our insect bite prevention page.

Find out what types of insects are present where you’re travelling, when they’re most active, and the symptoms of the diseases they spread.

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is a viral disease that can cause fever, pain and bleeding under the skin.  In some cases, it can be fatal.  It spreads to humans through contact with infected animal blood or tissues, or from the bite of an infected tick.  Risk is generally low for most travellers.  Protect yourself from tick bites and avoid animals, particularly livestock.  There is no vaccine available for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever.

Animal precautions

Some infections, such as rabies and influenza, can be shared between humans and animals. Certain types of activities may increase your chance of contact with animals, such as travelling in rural or forested areas, camping, hiking, and visiting wet markets (places where live animals are slaughtered and sold) or caves.

Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, livestock (pigs, cows), monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats, and to avoid eating undercooked wild game.

Closely supervise children, as they are more likely to come in contact with animals.

Person-to-person infections

Stay home if you’re sick and practise proper cough and sneeze etiquette , which includes coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand. Reduce your risk of colds, the flu and other illnesses by:

•   washing your hands often
• avoiding or limiting the amount of time spent in closed spaces, crowded places, or at large-scale events (concerts, sporting events, rallies)
• avoiding close physical contact with people who may be showing symptoms of illness 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) , HIV , and mpox are spread through blood and bodily fluids; use condoms, practise safe sex, and limit your number of sexual partners. Check with your local public health authority pre-travel to determine your eligibility for mpox vaccine.  

Tuberculosis is an infection caused by bacteria and usually affects the lungs.

For most travellers the risk of tuberculosis is low.

Travellers who may be at high risk while travelling in regions with risk of tuberculosis should discuss pre- and post-travel options with a health care professional.

High-risk travellers include those visiting or working in prisons, refugee camps, homeless shelters, or hospitals, or travellers visiting friends and relatives.

Medical services and facilities

Health care is limited in availability. Quality of care varies greatly throughout the country and may not be up to Canadian standards, especially in rural areas.

Clinics and hospitals may have limited access to supplies, medication or medical equipment.

The cost of medical services can be significantly higher for foreign travellers. If you don’t speak Kyrgyz or Russian, you should seek assistance from an interpreter to deal with clinic or hospital staff.

Medical evacuation can be very expensive and you may need it in case of a serious illness or injury.

Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Travel health and safety

Keep in Mind...

The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety.

Be prepared. Do not expect medical services to be the same as in Canada. Pack a   travel health kit , especially if you will be travelling away from major city centres.

You must abide by local laws.

Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad .

Penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs are severe. Convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

Drugs, alcohol and travel

Photography

Photographing military installations or government buildings may result in a penalty.

Seek permission from local authorities before taking such photographs.

Identification

Police officers regularly carry out identification checks. You might be detained if you’re stopped and can’t present ID.

You should keep:

• a legally certified copy of your visa, registration and passport with you at all times
• your passport and visa in safekeeping facilities
• digital copies of all your travel documents

Dress and behaviour

Although Kyrgyzstan is officially a secular country, locals closely adhere to Islamic practices and beliefs, particularly in rural areas.

To avoid offending local sensitivities:

• dress conservatively
• behave discreetly
• respect religious and social traditions

2SLGBTQI+ travellers

Kyrgyz law doesn’t criminalize sexual acts or relationships between persons of the same sex.

However, 2SLGBTQI+ travellers could be discriminated against based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or sex characteristics.

Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics

Dual citizenship

Dual citizenship is not legally recognized in Kyrgyzstan.

If local authorities consider you a citizen of Kyrgyzstan, they may refuse to grant you access to Canadian consular services. This will prevent us from providing you with those services.

Travellers with dual citizenship

International Child Abduction

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is an international treaty. It can help parents with the return of children who have been removed to or retained in certain countries in violation of custody rights. It does not apply between Canada and Kyrgyzstan.

If your child was wrongfully taken to, or is being held in Kyrgyzstan by an abducting parent:

• act as quickly as you can
• consult a lawyer in Canada and in Kyrgyzstan to explore all the legal options for the return of your child
• report the situation to the nearest Canadian government office abroad or to the Vulnerable Children's Consular Unit at Global Affairs Canada by calling the Emergency Watch and Response Centre

If your child was removed from a country other than Canada, consult a lawyer to determine if The Hague Convention applies.

Be aware that Canadian consular officials cannot interfere in private legal matters or in another country's judicial affairs.

• International Child Abductions: A guide for affected parents
• Canadian embassies and consulates by destination
• Request emergency assistance

You should carry an international driving permit.

International Driving Permit

The currency of Kyrgyzstan is the Kyrgyzstani som (KGS).

The economy is primarily cash-based. ATMs are limited in rural areas.

Kyrgyzstan is in an active seismic zone. Earthquakes occur.

Useful links:

• Earthquakes - What to Do?
• Large-scale emergencies abroad
• Safety precautions in case of an emergency situation  - Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kyrgyzstan

Avalanches and landslides

Avalanches and landslides are common in mountainous areas, particularly in the spring.

They can be hazardous and block road access.

• Monitor local media and weather forecasts
• Follow the advice of local authorities

Local services

Dial 112 for emergency assistance or:

• 101 in case of fire
• 103 for medical emergencies
• 102 for police

Consular assistance

Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

For emergency consular assistance, call the Embassy of Canada to Kazakhstan, in Nur-Sultan, and follow the instructions. At any time, you may also contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad. We take the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously and provide credible and timely information in our Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel abroad.

The content on this page is provided for information only. While we make every effort to give you correct information, it is provided on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. The Government of Canada does not assume responsibility and will not be liable for any damages in connection to the information provided.

If you need consular assistance while abroad, we will make every effort to help you. However, there may be constraints that will limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide services.

Learn more about consular services .

Risk Levels

  take normal security precautions.

Take similar precautions to those you would take in Canada.

  Exercise a high degree of caution

There are certain safety and security concerns or the situation could change quickly. Be very cautious at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

IMPORTANT: The two levels below are official Government of Canada Travel Advisories and are issued when the safety and security of Canadians travelling or living in the country or region may be at risk.

  Avoid non-essential travel

Your safety and security could be at risk. You should think about your need to travel to this country, territory or region based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors. If you are already there, think about whether you really need to be there. If you do not need to be there, you should think about leaving.

  Avoid all travel

You should not travel to this country, territory or region. Your personal safety and security are at great risk. If you are already there, you should think about leaving if it is safe to do so.

Travel Advice & Information Kyrgyzstan

• Kyrgyzstan Holidays

Time Difference

Kyrgyzstan is five hours ahead of the UK (GMT) and does not observe daylight saving time.

The official currency is the som (KGS), which is divided into 100 tyiyn, and it’s important to note that US dollars are the easiest foreign currency to exchange at both banks and official exchange offices. Major hotels in Bishkek will usually accept credit cards, but Kyrgyzstan is predominantly a cash economy, which is worth bearing in mind before traveling, especially as ATMs are often hard to come by; Bishkek has plenty, but there are only few in Osh and Issyk-Kul. For a better exchange rate, it’s preferable to change larger bills and keep in mind that many counters won’t accept dirty or wrinkled notes.

Electricity

Kyrgyzstan operates on 220 volts, 50Hz and European plugs with two circular metal pins are in use, meaning UK travellers will need to bring an adapter.

Shops and Amenities

Generally, merchants will operate Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm.

There are several daily and weekly newspapers including Azattyk Unalgysy, Super Info and Vecherny Bishkek. As for television, Kyrgyzstan enjoys several television channels including Ala-Too 24, Madaniyat. Taryh. Til, Balastan and KTRK Sport and music.

Post offices are usually open from 8am to 7pm Monday to Saturday and are closed on Sundays.

To call the United Kingdom from Kyrgyzstan, dial: 00 - 44 - Area Code - Land Phone Number, or 00 - 44 - 10 Digit Mobile Number.

Internet and Mobile Coverage

Internet is accessible and free Wi-Fi is available in hotels and cafes in major tourist areas, with good coverage throughout the country. There are three GSM-based operators in Kyrgyzstan: Beeline (by Sky Mobile), MegaCom (by JSC Alpha Telecom) and O! (by Nur Telecom)

Kyrgyzstani som

Useful information

Practical guide.

• Travel Advice & Information
• Passport & Visa requirements

Kyrgyzstan in Context

• Things to know before travelling

Things to Do in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan holiday ideas.

From Wild Nature to Intriguing History & Culture: A Luxury Kyrgyzstan Itinerary

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Hiking, Lakes, Mountains & Cities: A Cultural and Active Adventure in Kyrgyzstan

Explore the capitals fascinating markets

12 days, from £ 2,625 to £ 4,190

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From markets to mountains: the highlights of uzbekistan & kyrgyzstan.

Explore the highlights of Samarkand and Bukhara, two of the most fabled of Silk Road cities

15 days, from £ 3,020 to £ 4,820

Understanding your Needs

Our team of destination experts will start by getting to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday

Personalisation

We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities

Our Services

All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local concierges.

+ 44 (0) 20 3958 6120

Travel Advice for Kyrgyzstan

Going to Kyrgyzstan and need to know about the latest government travel advice for Kyrgyzstan? Find the updated travel advice and travel warnings for Kyrgyzstan from governments around the world, here.

General Travel Advice and Warnings for Kyrgyzstan

The decision to travel to Kyrgyzstan is your choice and you are accountable for your individual health and safety whilst in Kyrgyzstan.

The material on this web page is given information only and pulled together from travel advice and warnings for Kyrgyzstan by authorities worldwide to their citizens.

While we strive to offer you correct travel advice details, it is offered on an “as is” basis without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied.

This operators of this site does not assume responsibility and will not be liable for any damages in connection to the information supplied.

Standard Cautions Travellers Need to Keep in Mind Whilst Travelling in Kyrgyzstan

Crime – Petty criminal activities such as pick pocketing in a crowded surrounding to sexual assault and muggings do take place in bigger cities of Kyrgyzstan. Ensure that all your personal valuables, including passports and other travel documents, are secure at all times.

Terrorism – Constantly be aware of your surroundings whenever in public places. Be particularly watchful if going to sporting events and during religious holidays and various other public occasions, as terrorists frequently make use of such celebrations to mount attacks.

Demonstrations and Protests – Demonstrations may take place. Even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent at any moment. They can also result in disruptions to traffic and public transportation. It is in your interest of safety to stay clear of locations where demonstrations and large events are taking place and adhere to the instructions of local authorities. Monitor local media in Kyrgyzstan for information on continuous protests in Kyrgyzstan.

Scams – Take care in popular tourist locations in Kyrgyzstan, where scammers target tourists. If you have actually been scammed in Kyrgyzstan, reach a safe place right away; take note, as soon as possible of the name and address of the facility where you were held; alert the cops in Kyrgyzstan and obtain a record and if your credit card is used by the scammer call your credit card company to report the fraud; they will likely ask for a copy of the police report to cancel the financial transaction.

Spiked Food and Beverages – Never leave food or beverages unattended or in the care of strangers whilst taking a trip in Kyrgyzstan or anywhere else. Be wary of accepting snacks, drinks, chewing gum or cigarettes from new acquaintances. These items might have drugs that could put you in danger of sexual assault and robbery.

What is the entry/exit requirements for Kyrgyzstan?

Every country or territory determines who can enter or leave through its borders, likewise Kyrgyzstan decides who enter its territories. The Government of your home country cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not fulfill your Kyrgyzstan’s entry or exit requirements.

To read more concerning the entry/exit requirement for Kyrgyzstan see visa requirements for Kyrgyzstan or obtain the current details with the visa office at the Kyrgyz embassy in your home country.

Travel insurance coverage for Kyrgyzstan

Health cover is among the main reasons visitors obtain travel insurance. It will not stop you getting sick or hurt, though it can avoid you being affected financially. Medical assistance overseas can be extremely expensive.

You should pay for all treatment you receive overseas. You can’t expect to get free or subsidised treatment through your Kyrgyzstan’s public health system, like you would in your home country.

If you can not pay, local authorities might jail you. The government from your home country can not pay you health care costs for you, loan you money or get you out of jail.

You require travel insurance coverage for travelling to Kyrgyzstan . You also need to make certain you pick a policy that is right for you.

Read the fine print of your travel insurance policy.

Declare all pre-existing conditions to your travel insurance company upfront. If you don’t, you might void your travel insurance plan.

Inform your travel insurance company the activities you plan to do, before you go. Many popular activities like winter sports are excluded in basic plans. You might need to pay added.

Check if you have free credit card travel insurance. Some cards include travel insurance policy cover. Nonetheless, they usually have various conditions than paid policies. Be aware of the differences.

If you’re going to Kyrgyzstan from a country that has a reciprocatory health care agreement, you still need travel medical insurance. Agreements are restricted in what they’ll will cover.

If you have an incurable health problem, you might not be able to obtain basic travel insurance. Nevertheless you might have the ability to find a specialised insurance firm that covers you for health, mishaps or property problems unassociated to your illness. Speak with your insurer to learn.

Find out more about obtaining global travel insurance for Kyrgyzstan before you go.

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Travel preparation is the key to hassle free trip to Kyrgyzstan from United Kingdom. By doing your homework before you leave for Kyrgyzstan, you could very well lower the prospect of anything going wrong.

Kyrgyzstan Travel Advice for British Nationals

• Latest Travel Advice for Kyrgyzstan - If you are a national of United Kingdom and travelling to Kyrgyzstan, always check the latest travel advice for Kyrgyzstan from any of the following websites: - Australian Government Travel Advice for Kyrgyzstan - British Government Travel Advice for Kyrgyzstan - Canadian Government Travel Advice for Kyrgyzstan - US Government Travel Advice for Kyrgyzstan
• Latest Travel Health Advice for Travel Health Advice for Kyrgyzstan - Before travelling to Kyrgyzstan you should ensure that you are up to date with the correct medical and immunization requirements for Kyrgyzstan by visiting Travel Health Advice for Kyrgyzstan .
• Buy Travel Insurance for Kyrgyzstan - Purchase an appropriate travel insurance for Kyrgyzstan to meet hospital treatment, medical evacuation and almost any activities, for example adventure physical activities, which you propose to do in Kyrgyzstan.
• Register Your Details At Local Embassy in United Kingdom - Ahead of heading for Kyrgyzstan register your travel and contact info on the internet or at your local embassy or consulate when you first arrive in Kyrgyzstan, so they can speak to you in an emergency.

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It is very easy and quick to find the best flight deals from London to Kyrgyzstan where many airlines fly to major cities around the globe. You can search many internet flight websites to book the best flights to anywhere in the world.

Alternatively use flight booking websites like Sky Scanner, where you can search flight offers from airlines and travel agents in one place to get the best flight deals.

Travelling from United Kingdom and need to book a hotel room in Bishkek or other cities Kyrgyzstan? There are many ways to find, compare and book the cheapest hotels.

If you need to stay at an airport in Kyrgyzstan for one night or you have an early flight, why not take a look at the cheap airport hotels deals in Kyrgyzstan from the Airport Accommodation links on this web page to find the best airport hotel room option to suit your needs.

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Greece heatwave 2024: is it safe to travel and should you cancel your holiday

After the country was scorched by its earliest heatwave on record, here is everything you need to know if you have a trip booked amid more extreme temperatures

Greece is one of the sunniest countries in Europe , and the bright weather paired with lovely beaches and striking scenery have made it a well-established summer getaway spot for years. 

However, Greece’s warm temperatures make it highly prone to heatwaves and wildfires, which are only becoming more common because of the climate emergency. Extreme temperatures scorched the country in a Europe-wide heatwave last summer , and Greece already experienced it ’s earliest ever heatwave in min-June.  Wildfires have spread around Cyprus , Kos, Chios and Crete , and  the Acropolis, Greece’s most popular tourist attraction, was forced to close  for the hottest parts of the day during this period. 

These extreme temperatures have now skyrocketed again, reaching a blistering 45C in some regions. I t looks like Greece is set for a long and searingly hot summer.  Here is everything you need to know about the Greece heatwave if you have a trip booked. 

Which areas have been affected by the heatwave in Greece? 

Areas across Greece are about to be affected by the heatwave as extremely hot weather is set to prevail for 10 days from July 15 to 24.  Based on maps from WXCharts , the region around Larissa is predicted to experience blistering 45C temperatures, and areas such as Thessaloniki, Skopje and Athens, which will see temperatures of around 41-42C. 

In Greece, temperatures above 38C which last at least three days constitute a heatwave. 

So, is it safe to travel to Greece right now? 

Travelling to Greece hasn’t been advised against, but if you have a trip booked, you’ll need to take precautions to stay safe. During the previous heatwave in some areas, people were told to remain indoors between 11am and 3pm, and in June schools were suspended and attractions, including the Acropolis, were closed due to wildfire fears . 

Greece’s extreme temperatures during the first heatwave sadly led to the deaths of a handful of tourists, the first of which was British author and TV presenter Michael Mosely on the island of Symi, many of whom were out hiking during the hottest parts of the day. 

What islands were affected by the wildfires? 

Back in April, there was a wildfire on the island of Crete which injured three people. More recently, Paphos, a city in southwest Cyprus, has experienced wildfires. Five villages in the area were evacuated, and many homes and farms have been destroyed by the fire. Thankfully, no casualties have been reported as a result of wildfires.

The islands of Kos, Chios and Crete have all also experienced wildfires in the last few weeks. 

What is the UK Foreign Office saying? 

The Foreign Office hasn’t advised against travelling to Greece, but on the safety and security section of the website, it reads: ‘There are active wildfires across Greece, including in populated areas on the mainland and a number of islands. Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable. The situation can change quickly. Follow ‘112 Greece’ on X (formerly known as Twitter) for official updates.

You should:

• take care when visiting or driving through woodland areas
• make sure cigarette ends are properly extinguished
• not light barbecues

Causing a forest fire is treated as a criminal offence in Greece even if unintentional. If you see a forest fire, call the emergency services on 112. Forest fires can also cause travel disruption in wider areas.’

There’s more advice in this section about what to do if you find yourself in an area affected by wildfires – you can read that here . 

What are your rights if you’ve booked a trip to Greece? 

You won’t be entitled to a refund on your trip, as the Foreign Office hasn’t advised against travel to Greece. However, if you are concerned, it’s worth contacting your travel provider to see what can be done – you may be able to move the dates you travel. 

What’s the hottest Greece has ever been?

Greece actually holds the record for the hottest temperature ever recorded in Europe. On July 10 1977, Elefsina (which is in the Athens metropolitan area) reached a scorching 48C. The longest heatwave ever recorded in Greece was in July 2023, lasting for 16 days. 

When was the last heatwave in Greece?

The last heatwave in Greece was only a few weeks ago, and broke the record as the earliest one ever. Temperatures reached up to 43C in some areas on June 12 and 13. About the upcoming heatwave,  Greek Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis said ‘People need to understand that climate change is happening and that they need to be very careful. We have had cases of foreign travellers who lost their lives in Greece.’

ICYMI: Is it safe to travel to Rhodes right now? The latest advice after the earthquake in Greece . 

Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news. 

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Modi’s Moscow Visit Showcases a Less Isolated Putin, Angering Ukraine

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India made his first visit to Russia in five years, even as Ukraine reeled from an attack on a children’s hospital.

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By Paul Sonne and Anupreeta Das

They hugged and strolled under the trees. They sipped tea and exchanged thoughts for hours. They petted horses together at the stables.

The jovial scenes between President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, captured during the Indian leader’s first visit to Russia in five years, illustrated a sobering reality.

Despite the West’s campaign to isolate Russia over its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, other nations have pursued their own interests with regard to Moscow, helping Mr. Putin shore up the Russian economy and continue to wage his war. India, which has close ties to the United States, has emerged as the second-biggest importer of Russian oil after China in the years since the invasion.

Mr. Modi’s state visit, which began late Monday with a trip to Mr. Putin’s residence outside Moscow, underscored the point. At the Kremlin on Tuesday, Mr. Putin awarded Mr. Modi the Order of St. Andrew, the Russian government’s highest civilian honor, expressing “sincere gratitude” for his contribution to relations between their states.

“We have had two and a half years now of endless Russian atrocities, and most of the world is not daunted or uncomfortable maintaining some kind of business as usual with Moscow,” said Andrew S. Weiss, the vice president for studies at the Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. “That’s a really sad commentary on Russia’s continued geopolitical weight.”

While Mr. Modi was hugging the Russian leader late Monday, rescue workers and volunteers in Kyiv were clearing away rubble from a Russian strike on Ukraine’s biggest pediatric hospital . Images of children outside the destroyed medical facility with their IVs still attached, or in some cases covered in blood, wrenched a nation that has been exhausted by more than two years of Russian bombardment.

“It is a huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts to see the leader of the world’s largest democracy hug the world’s most bloody criminal in Moscow on such a day,” Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, wrote on X .

The state visit was also juxtaposed against the gathering of NATO countries on Tuesday in Washington, where they discussed continued support for Ukraine.

Western governments have failed to persuade India and many other governments around the world to take a public position against Mr. Putin’s war. Mr. Modi has avoided condemning Russia’s invasion and instead issued general calls for peace, maintaining the warm relations with Moscow that India has cultivated since the days of the Cold War.

The Indian leader said he had discussed Ukraine with Mr. Putin at his residence, agreeing on the need for peace as soon as possible.

“Any person who believes in humanity feels pain when people die, and especially when innocent children die,” Mr. Modi said Tuesday, a possible implicit reference to the hospital attack. “When we feel such pain, the heart simply explodes, and I had the opportunity to talk about these issues with you yesterday.”

The state visit offered still more evidence that Mr. Putin has managed to avoid the pariah status Western leaders tried to force on him after the invasion. Mr. Putin has maintained a robust diplomatic schedule holding two meetings with China’s leader , Xi Jinping, in two months, along with meeting the leaders of Vietnam , Hungary , Belarus and the nations of Central Asia,

On Tuesday, Indian officials said that the two countries had struck various agreements to strengthen economic ties, with the goal of reaching $100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.

Russia and India also said they would strengthen their military cooperation, including manufacturing more weapon spare parts and units in India. They pledged to continue developing national payment systems, which allow Russia to conduct trade outside U.S. dollars and away from platforms impacted by Western sanctions.

Mr. Modi, who said he had met Mr. Putin 17 times over the course of the past decade, invited Mr. Putin to visit India next year.

“Russia is India’s true friend,” Mr. Modi said at a meeting with members of the Indian community in Moscow, according to the Russian state news agency Tass.

While India imported little Russian crude before the invasion of Ukraine, the nation has since risen to become the No. 2 importer of Russian oil after China, helping fill the Kremlin’s coffers despite a Western ban on most Russian oil imports. In many cases, India has been refining Russian crude and re-exporting it to European nations that are subject to the ban, giving it a lucrative middleman role .

Matthew Miller, the State Department spokesman, told reporters on Tuesday that the U.S. has “been quite clear about our concerns” about India’s relationship with Russia, and has related them “privately, directly to the Indian government” — including within the past 24 hours. “We continue to urge India to support efforts to realize an enduring and just peace in Ukraine,” he said.

Mr. Modi said Tuesday that as a friend, he had always told Mr. Putin that peace was a prerequisite for future generations to have a bright future.

“That is why we believe that war is not a solution,” he said. “There can be no solution through war. Bombs, missiles and rifles cannot ensure peace. That is why we emphasize dialogue.”

India has a long history of friendly relations with Moscow. The Soviet Union and later Russia for decades supplied much of India’s arms and military equipment, though that reliance has decreased in recent years, in part because of pressure from the United States.

“This has been a time-tested relationship, and there is a consensus in India, regardless of political orientation, that the relationship with Russia is one to be preserved and not squandered,” said Rajan Menon, professor emeritus of political science at City College.

Mr. Putin has cast his invasion of Ukraine as an anti-imperial struggle against an encroaching West, and that message has resonated in parts of the developing world that once lived under Western colonialism. According to a Pew Research Center poll conducted this year, just 16 percent of respondents in India expressed unfavorable views of Russia, compared with 46 percent who voiced positive associations.

During his talks with Mr. Putin, Mr. Modi sought the early discharge of all I ndian nationals who were recruited by the Russian army under “false pretenses,” according to government officials. The contentious issue had introduced a sour note in the countries’ friendly relations. Mr. Putin agreed to the discharge of those citizens, who India has said number between 35 and 50.

Mr. Menon predicted that India would continue to cultivate deeper ties with the United States over the long term, but not at a cost of having to choose sides.

“Anyone who expects you can peel India off and put it in the U.S. column — that is not going to happen,” he said. “Would you rather be completely dependent on the United States or Russia, or have a position of maneuverability between the two?”

Michael Crowley contributed reporting.

Paul Sonne is an international correspondent, focusing on Russia and the varied impacts of President Vladimir V. Putin’s domestic and foreign policies, with a focus on the war against Ukraine. More about Paul Sonne

Anupreeta Das is the finance editor of The New York Times, overseeing broad coverage of Wall Street, including banking, investing, markets and consumer finance. She was previously the deputy business editor of The Wall Street Journal. More about Anupreeta Das

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The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.

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There is a tourist police call centre in Issyk-Kul Province (‘Oblast’). Call or message on WhatsApp: +996 705 00 91 02 (staff speak English and Russian).

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If you’re in Kyrgyzstan and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the British Embassy in Bishkek .

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Doing business in Kyrgyzstan 

If you’re considering investing or doing business in Kyrgyzstan, it is important to research carefully.

Although there are British companies operating successfully in Kyrgyzstan, there have been instances of British people getting into difficulties. This includes having assets stolen or being physically attacked. See Kyrgyzstan’s ranking in the Transparency International Global Corruption Index .

The Kyrgyz legal system can be slow and getting judgements implemented can be very difficult. The British Embassy is not able to get involved (including offering advice) in private disputes over property, employment, commercial or other matters.

Business associations in Kyrgyzstan may be able to offer you advice. If you get into difficulties due to the actions of state bodies, you can also contact the  Kyrgyzstan ombudsman (in Russian and Kyrgyz).  

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