Plan your trip to Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is a summer mountain destination at heart. June to September is the peak: July is stable and warm, August has the driest and clearest skies, and September is quiet and golden. Yurt camps run May to September, and the high camps at Song-Kol start closing in early October. If summer is your window, that's exactly when our horse treks and road trips run.

Heads up for 2026: the World Nomad Games are in September, an electric atmosphere but the busiest week of the year, so book 6 to 8 months ahead if you want to be there.

Most travellers fly into Manas International Airport in Bishkek, code BSZ since August 2025, when it changed from the old Soviet-era FRU. Older bookings and guidebooks still show FRU, so don't worry if you see both. There's no single long-haul hub yet, so nearly everyone connects once.

• Common connections: Istanbul (Turkish, Pegasus), Dubai (flydubai), Almaty (Air Astana), Moscow
• Osh (OSS) in the south is handy for the Pamir and Fergana valley
• Overland borders open with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and China
• We meet you at the airport, transfers are included in our tours

Almaty in Kazakhstan often has cheaper long-haul flights and is a 3 to 4 hour drive to the border, ask us if it's worth it for your route.

Kyrgyzstan is refreshingly affordable. The currency is the Kyrgyz som, around 87 to 90 som to 1 USD in 2026. Independent travellers spend roughly $35 to $50 a day on a budget, or $70 to $130 mid-range.

• Carry cash for the mountains, ATMs are only in cities and towns (mostly Visa, around a 20,000 som limit)
• Cards work in Bishkek hotels and supermarkets, rarely in villages
• Wise and Revolut cards withdraw som with low fees
• Tipping guides and drivers is appreciated but optional

Our multi-day tours include guide, transport, accommodation and most meals, so you only need spending money for drinks, souvenirs and tips.

No vaccinations are required to enter, and standard travel jabs are enough for most. The thing to respect is altitude, many highlights sit at 3,000 m and above.

• We build in gradual acclimatisation on higher routes
• Drink plenty of water, ascend slowly, tell your guide how you feel
• Drink bottled or treated water off-grid
• Travel insurance with mountain cover is required on our tours

Mountain weather changes fast, you can have sun, wind and snow in one day. Layers are everything.

• Layers: base layers, a warm mid-layer (fleece or down) and a waterproof shell, evenings get cold even in summer
• Footwear: broken-in waterproof hiking boots for treks, comfy shoes for towns
• Sun and sleep: sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen, a hat, and a sleeping-bag liner for yurts (we provide the bags)
• Power: a power bank, electricity is limited in yurt camps (EU sockets type C/F, 220V)
• Personal kit: any medication, basic first aid, blister plasters and wet wipes
• Bags: a daypack plus a soft duffel, easier than hard cases for transfers and pack horses

Cities and towns have good 4G; deep in the mountains you'll often be happily offline, which is part of the magic. There's no real 5G yet, so expect 4G everywhere.

• Three operators: MegaCom (best 4G), Beeline (best reach in the mountains and around Issyk-Kul), O! (fast in Bishkek, easy for foreigners)
• An eSIM or a local SIM costs about 300 to 500 som for plenty of data
• Solid coverage around Issyk-Kul and main roads, little or none at remote camps and high passes
• Download offline maps (Maps.me) before you head into the hills

Yes, Kyrgyzstan is one of Central Asia's safest and friendliest countries, and a favourite with solo and women travellers. The US State Department rates it Level 1, exercise normal precautions, and hospitality runs deep in nomadic culture.

• Very low rates of crime against travellers, comfortable for solo and women travellers
• Main risks are weather, altitude and long mountain roads, not crime
• In Bishkek just watch for petty pickpocketing at busy spots like Osh Bazaar; Yandex Taxi is safe and widely used
• Shepherd dogs on trails: our guides know how to handle them

On every trip: first-aid-trained local guides, vetted vehicles, satellite communication in remote areas, and a 24/7 support team back in Bishkek.