Going to au Kirghizistan: Formalities and administrative steps
Organize your stay au Kirghizistan
Money au Kirghizistan
The national currency is the Kyrgyz som (bank code: KGS), which is currently non-convertible outside the country. Denominations are 1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50 and 20 soms.
Dollars and euros are still very popular with individuals, but restaurants and major hotels are still obliged to accept payment in local currency. This is also often the case for drivers or even certain establishments located in remote areas and unable to exchange their currencies.
The exchange rate in April 2024 was as follows:
1 € = 94.8 KGS
1 CAN $ = 64.84 KGS
1 CHF = 97.59 KGS
Budget & Tips au Kirghizistan
The following budgets are per day and per person. They have been established to help you plan your expenses according to the type of trip you are planning.
Economy budget: around €40 (overnight stay in Spartan comfort, meals in the bazaar and bus travel). True ascetics will spend much less.
Comfort budget: around €90/day/person (you can take shared cabs and rent a chauffeur-driven car from time to time, sleep in more comfortable rooms and enjoy one restaurant a day).
Luxury budget: from €180/day (luxury hotel in the capital and chauffeur-driven car for excursions, restaurant meals).
Generally speaking, eating out and making short trips are not expensive in Kyrgyzstan, as are nights in a yurt or, very often, with a local. The bulk of your expenses will come from renting a car with driver, organizing treks and staying in superior hotels.
Passport and visas au Kirghizistan
Canadian, Belgian, French and Swiss nationals no longer need a visa to enter the country, provided their stay is less than 60 days. Beyond that date, you must leave the country or obtain a visa (which can only be requested outside the country's borders). Kyrgyzstan's neighboring countries (Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan) can also be visited without a visa, so leaving and re-entering resets your counter to 0 days each time. Check your passport's expiration date: it must be valid for at least six months after the date of your final exit from the country.
Driver's license au Kirghizistan
It is possible to drive yourself in Kyrgyzstan, provided you have an international driving licence. However, if you are on a leisure trip, we strongly advise against this option. The Kyrgyz people have a vision of the highway code that is quite different from ours, which can make your travels very difficult. Especially after dark. The state of the roads except the axis Bichkek-Osh is globally bad and rarely lit. Accidents are not uncommon. Renting a car with a driver will not necessarily be much more expensive and you will certainly feel more "on holiday".
Health au Kirghizistan
No vaccinations are required for travel to the Kyrgyz Republic. Nevertheless, in view of local health conditions, it is advisable to be up to date with vaccinations against diphtheria, poliomyelitis, and hepatitis A and B. A rabies vaccine may be a good idea for those planning wilderness expeditions.
Here's a checklist for your ideal first-aid kit:
- Disinfectant, sterile compresses and bandages for minor physical injuries, or "double skin" bandages if you're planning long walks in the wilderness.
- Aspirin for headaches.
- Gastric dressings and anti-diarrhea treatment, as well as an intestinal disinfectant.
- An antihistamine for insect bites.
- Broad-spectrum antibiotics.
- Sunscreen cream for desert and mountain use.
- Biafine®-type cream for burns.
- Mosquito repellent.
- Moisturizing lip stick, useful in the mountains and desert.
- Condoms.
- Tweezers.
- Plastic bags in case you get sick in transit.
- As a general rule, for long-distance travel, solid medications (pills or capsules) are preferable to liquid mixtures that are sensitive to heat and can harbor bacteria.
- If you are undergoing long-term treatment or have used syringes, be sure to take the relevant prescriptions with you.
Security au Kirghizistan
On the whole, traveling in Kyrgyzstan in summer does not pose any major safety problems, and the usual precautionary advice will suffice for a pleasant, risk-free trip. For more information on safety, please consult the "Daily life" fact sheet.
For the latest information on local safety, consult the "Conseils aux voyageurs" section of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website: www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/voyageurs. Be aware, however, that the site provides an exhaustive list of potential dangers, and that this sometimes gives a rather alarmist picture of the real situation in the country.
Single woman. Kyrgyzstan's moderate Islam gives women the freedom to travel the country quietly and freely. Of course, in the provinces, a headscarf will be the order of the day, and in the villages you'll have to refrain from wearing clothes that are too short or too conspicuous. Otherwise, Western women are welcome in Kyrgyzstan, without discrimination. In summer, on the beaches of Lake Issyk Kul, you can even get out your bathing suit (after which you'll have to dare to dive into the 18°C water!). In the capital, young women are closer to Russian or Western fashion than to traditional dress, although since the Covid pandemic, there has been a strong return to traditional values and veiling, even in the capital. As for hospitality, there's no reason why you should enjoy it less than the men. Many of the country's women are left to fend for themselves when their husbands or sons have left to find work in Russia.
Time difference au Kirghizistan
In universal time, Kyrgyzstan is located at GMT + 5, 4 hours ahead of Paris in summer and 5 hours in winter. Kyrgyzstan does not practice time change.
Spoken languages au Kirghizistan
Russian will allow you to get by anywhere, no matter what encounters you make. Learning some Kyrgyz rudiments would not be of much use to you if you travel among the Uzbeks of the Ferghana Valley. The two languages have the same Turkish kinship, but differ significantly in accents, pronunciation and a large number of words. On the other hand, speaking Turkish will certainly help you to adapt more easily and to establish contacts with the population, whatever their ethnic origin.
Communication au Kirghizistan
Getting a SIM card in Kyrgyzstan couldn't be easier. Your passport, a handful of soms and you're all set with mobile data for your trip. The cards can be topped up anywhere in the country, and local calls are generally included. Only texting abroad or calling your home country can make your credit run a little faster. The network is pretty good throughout the country, but expect to find yourself in frequent white zones when trekking at altitude.
Most hotels and B&Bs offer a wifi connection, and Internet cafés are gradually disappearing, replaced by game centers.
Electricity and measurements au Kirghizistan
The voltage commonly used is 220 volts. The sockets are bipolar, and the periods are 50 MHz. Power surges and cuts are fairly common outside towns. In low-cost accommodation, outdated or poorly insulated installations are not uncommon and can damage overly sophisticated equipment. Make sure your equipment is sturdy, and take care when using laptops, as they can be subject to voltage feedback.
Asfor weights and measures, Kyrgyzstan uses the international metric system. We therefore speak in meters and kilometers, grams and kilograms.
Luggage au Kirghizistan
In Kyrgyzstan, you'll have to battle against the temperature. Make sure you wear warm clothes in winter and even in summer: daytime heat quickly disappears at altitude as night falls. Conversely, the heat can be stifling in Bishkek, Naryn and the Ferghana Valley during the hottest months. So pack light cotton clothing, and don't forget a hat and sunglasses for your excursions. In both summer and winter, gloves will come in handy against either cold or sunburn.
If you don't want to ruin a good horseback ride, pack a waterproof jacket and pants, or a cape large enough to cover your body. Mountain climates, like ours, are often capricious!
Last but not least, you'll need good shoes for comfortable long walks on Bishkek's sidewalks and mountain hikes, as well as a pair of softer shoes or sandals to relax your toes in the evening.
Don't forget to bring a small electric lamp and spare batteries: power cuts are frequent, not to mention jailoos, which are not always equipped with electricity.
Most trekking tours in Central Asia, and Kyrgyzstan in particular, include overnight stays with local people. On some treks, however, you may well choose to set off unaccompanied and camp on your own (provided you have asked permission from any neighbors). In this case, please bring all the necessary equipment (camping gear, stove, water filter and sleeping bag). Some local organizations, particularly in Karakol and Arslanbob, can rent you equipment, but don't have a very large stock. You may find the stores empty in midsummer.
And in bulk : Swiss Army knife, alarm clock, sewing kit, high-protection sun cream (the sun is very strong), small pharmacy..
Daily life au Kirghizistan
Hello? au Kirghizistan
Kyrgyzstan international dialling code: 996. Telephone numbers are preceded by a 3 to 4-digit area code.
From France to Kyrgyzstan - international code: (00) + Kyrgyzstan code (996) + province code (without the 0) + 5- or 6-digit number.
From Kyrgyzstan to France - international code: (00) + French code (33) + department code (without the 0) + 9-digit number.
Accessibility au Kirghizistan
The region is not really suited to disabled travelers. The towns, let alone the mountains, do not have adequate facilities for people with reduced mobility. Some agencies can offer relatively well-equipped vehicles for disabled tourists, but at extremely prohibitive costs. It is advisable to check with local tourist offices, or with a few agencies specializing in travel for the disabled: they may be able to arrange tailor-made tours, but many sites may not be accessible.
Travelling with children poses no major problems in the region, provided they are old enough to endure travel conditions and transport that are not always very luxurious. Keep an eye on your child at all times, especially at altitude, for signs of altitude sickness. Plan to have meals in B&Bs, where staff are more familiar with Western eating habits. The sanitary conditions in small chaikhanas are not always suited to fragile stomachs. Consider equipping your children with good shoes or, to transport the youngest, buying a backpack or baby carrier adapted to your child's size. Don't forget to take along travel books and games. There is no risk of kidnapping in the country, but nothing is easier for a child than to get lost in a bazaar or mahalla. Equipping them with a little whistle around their neck may make it easier to find a child who has let go of your hand in a crowd (or who has wandered off into the mountains). As for the rest, traveling with children will open many doors for you, as it greatly facilitates contact with the local population.
Health au Kirghizistan
Many sanitary facilities in Kyrgyzstan are outdated and substandard. You should also bear in mind that, depending on the time of year you visit the country, getting to a hospital in a major city may not be quick or easy. With these two equations in place, you'll have guessed that, if you're planning to leave the beaten track and travel without the assistance of a tour operator, it's best to leave with a good travel pharmacy and, if necessary, good insurance. Travel hygiene should certainly not be neglected in a country like Kyrgyzstan.
All medical infrastructures were once "sponsored" by the Soviet regime, and the transition in this area has been very difficult in Kyrgyzstan. Outside the capital cities, the medical situation is even worse, and in the event of a problem, try to get back to the big cities as quickly as possible. If you're staying in the mountains, you need to pay particular attention to the risks associated with altitude. Climb gradually, and descend immediately in the event of an alert: needless to say, high-altitude villages are not equipped to deal with the medical consequences of an accident linked to altitude sickness.
Food hygiene: in Kyrgyzstan, it is essential to observe the hygienic precautions inherent in any trip. Meat is generally barbecued, and cooked long enough to present no particular danger. In any case, it is very fresh, especially if you eat in the bazaars. Cucumber and tomato salads, which are very common throughout the country, require extra care. Make sure they have been properly washed and peeled. As for fruit, it's best to stick to those that can be peeled. Otherwise, the more cautious will wash them with mineral or purified water.
Water. Tap water is not drinkable, but tea, made from boiled water, poses no problem, and bottles of mineral water are on sale everywhere. Statistically, one out of every two travellers is affected by turista within the first 48 hours, and 80% of travel-related illnesses are directly attributable to contaminated water. While turista is fortunately often benign, diarrhea contracted in high-risk areas can also conceal amoebae, giardia, bacteria or viruses, which can be vectors of serious illnesses (typhoid and cholera, for example). The utmost caution is therefore called for. It's not enough to avoid drinking tap water: ice cubes, food washed with impure water or brushing your teeth with tap water are all vectors of contamination. So it's better to be safe than sorry: if possible, buy sealed bottles of water. A word of advice: carry disinfectant tablets with you at all times. Nothing could be simpler: one tablet in your water bottle or one-liter bottle and you're in the clear. Use them to brush your teeth or to drink a little water in the middle of the night, or even to wash your fruit. Depending on the location, circumstances or type of trip, capped bottles are not available everywhere, and you can't always boil your own water. Before you leave, you can buy Micropur Forte DCCNa® - the only product on the market that rapidly purifies water, eliminates bacteria, viruses, giardia and amoebae, and keeps water safe to drink. There are also Aquatabs® and Hydroclonazone® (the least expensive, but with a strong chlorine taste and only bacteria eliminated). For adventurers, a water filter is essential for filtering muddy water. Katadyn® filters meet the expectations of these adventurers with several models, including the famous filter-bottle that provides instant drinking water, without pumping, and also eliminates viruses.
Medical emergencies: ✆ 103
To find out about the country'shealth situation and receive advice, don't hesitate to consult your doctor. You can also contact the Société de médecine des voyages at the Institut Pasteur medical center at ✆ 01 40 61 38 46 (www.pasteur.fr) or visit the Cimed website (www.cimed.org), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs "Conseils aux voyageurs" section (www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/voyageurs) or the Institut national de veille sanitaire (www.invs.sante.fr).
Securty au Kirghizistan
On the whole, traveling in Kyrgyzstan in summer poses no major safety problems, and the usual precautions against pickpockets will suffice for a pleasant, risk-free trip. The situation changes considerably in winter, however, when a mass of inactive people return to the warmth of the cities, often overindulging in vodka to pass the time or keep warm. Bishkek, where most expatriates are based, and Karakol, where a growing number of tourists visit every year, are particularly risky from this point of view. Basically, if you avoid bars and discos for Westerners (especially in Bishkek), you won't encounter any problems. But if you do give in to temptation, be careful on the way out, both with women suddenly in love with you and with cabs eager to show you a shortcut. For the latter, prefer an official cab, or better still, a vehicle that you've ordered in advance via the reception staff of the place where you were staying or via the Yandex app.
When thesnow melts, the dangers are greater in the mountains, even if the weather looks fine. Avalanches, landslides and flash floods are commonplace and can cost lives. Follow the advice of your local guides, who know the terrain, and don't venture off the beaten track without taking precautions.
You may find yourself in a Muslim country whose name ends in "stan", but you'll soon realize that the Kyrgyz people's very light view of Islam does not make Kyrgyzstan a breeding ground for religious extremism. However, in the south of the country, in the Ferghana Valley, you'll find that Islam is much more prevalent. The Uzbek Islamist Movement, which was relatively inactive between 2003 and the early 2010s, has regained renewed vitality since it pledged allegiance to Daesh in 2015, its main activity consisting of recruiting soldiers for Syria. Many of the latest attacks in Turkey, Iraq and Moscow involved Kyrgyz on the front line. Without becoming paranoid, stay away from all demonstrations and do not engage in overly political or religious conversations.
For the latest information on local security, consult the "Conseils aux voyageurs" section of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website: www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/voyageurs. Be aware, however, that the site provides an exhaustive list of potential dangers, which sometimes gives a rather alarmist picture of the real situation in the country.
LGBTQ au Kirghizistan
Officially, homosexuality has been legal in Kyrgyzstan for some twenty years. In reality, however, it is tolerated at best, provided it is not too conspicuous. A union between two people of the same sex has no legal value, and adoption is forbidden. Nevertheless, like Almaty in Kazakhstan, Bishkek is considered an island of tolerance for members of the LGBTQ community. A few groups are organized here, and a few addresses (again, tolerated as long as they don't flaunt their clientele's proclivity on the street) enable homosexuals to get together. In society, homosexuality is still very much frowned upon, especially in rural areas, and generally speaking, to avoid risking the slightest problem, you'd do just as well to remain discreet about your preferences.
Forfurther information , visit www.frontlinedefenders.org/fr/organization/kyrgyz-indigo.
Embassies and consulates au Kirghizistan
French Embassy, Bishkek: 32, Orozbekova. Tel: +996 312 979 314, kg.ambafrance.org/-Francais-.
Swiss Embassy, Bishkek: 21, Erkindink. Tel: +996 312 301 036, www.eda.admin.ch/bishkek.
Belgium has an embassy for Kyrgyzstan in Astana, Kazakhstan: kazakhstan.diplomatie.belgium.be
Canada has a simple honorary consulate in Bishkek: 299 Chingiz Aitmatov, tel: +996 706 584 746, www.international.gc.ca.
Mail au Kirghizistan
The Kyrgyz postal service doesn't really guarantee that your mail will be sent correctly, so you may want to post it from a stopover in Moscow or Istanbul, or hand out your postcards on your return. If you choose to give it a try, send all your mail in envelopes, even postcards. A stamp to Europe costs 90 som.
Local media au Kirghizistan
There aren't manynewspapers in Kyrgyzstan. Under the presidencies of Akaev and Bakiyev, political pressure on journalists has increased. Nevertheless, at 122nd place in the RSF table, Kyrgyzstan is by far the best-ranked of all the former Soviet Socialist Republics of Central Asia. Tajikistan is only 153rd, Kazakhstan 134th, Uzbekistan 137th and Turkmenistan 176th. In other words, even if there's not much to read, you'll be able to experience a certain wind of freedom compared to neighboring countries..
As for radio and television, Kyrgyz television channels are run by the government. It would therefore be more appropriate to speak of a state-run communication tool, especially as no channel has the financial means to produce or direct programs on its own. So it's mainly the Russian channels that get the ratings!
www.gtla.net. The blog of Georges-Michel, a passionate and experienced traveler. Good tips, practical advice, questions and answers and videos recounting his experiences in the field. The section on Kyrgyzstan is comprehensive and useful for preparing your trip. Other destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America are also covered.
