Organize your stay Kyrgyzstan
Covid-19 : current situation Kyrgyzstan
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, entry and travel restrictions may apply Kyrgyzstan. Remember to visit the site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you leave for the latest information
Money Kyrgyzstan
The national currency is the Kyrgyz som (bank code: KGS), which is currently not convertible outside the country. The denominations are 1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50 and 20 soms.
Dollars and euros are still very popular with private individuals, but restaurants or large hotels are still obliged to charge in local currency. This is often also the case for drivers or even for some establishments in remote areas that cannot change their currency.
The exchange rate in March 2020 was :
1 € = 78.7 KGS
1 CAN $ = 50.4 KGS
1 CHF = 74,8 KGS
Budget & Tips Kyrgyzstan
The following budgets are per day and per person. They are established to help you plan your expenses according to the type of trip you are planning.
Economy budget: around 30 € (night in a Spartan home in Spartan comfort, meals at the bazaar and travel by bus). Real ascetics will spend much less.
Comfort budget: around 60 €/day/person (you will be able to borrow shared taxis, sleep in more comfortable rooms while allowing yourself one restaurant per day).
Luxury budget: from 150 €/day (luxury hotel in the capital and car with driver for excursions, meals at the restaurant).
Generally speaking, eating and making small trips is not expensive in Kyrgyzstan, as well as nights in a yurt or, very often, in a private home. The bulk of the expenses will come from renting a car with a driver, organizing treks and staying in a higher class hotel.
Passport and visas Kyrgyzstan
Canadian, Belgian, French and Swiss nationals no longer need a visa to enter the country, provided the stay is less than 30 days. Beyond that, they will have to leave the country or have obtained a visa beforehand (which can only be applied for outside the borders). Check the expiry date of your passport, which must be valid for at least six months after the date of exit from the country.
Driver's license Kyrgyzstan
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 Kyrgyzstan
No vaccine is required for travel to the Kyrgyz Republic. Nevertheless, and given the local health conditions, it is advisable to be up to date with the vaccines against diphtheria, polio, and hepatitis A and B. A rabies vaccine may be a good idea for those planning expeditions to the wilderness.
Here's a list of reminders to make an ideal first-aid kit:
- For minor physical injuries, bring a disinfectant, sterile compresses and bandages or "double skin" if you plan long walks in the countryside.
- Aspirin for headaches.
- Gastric bandages and anti-diarrhoea treatment as well as an intestinal disinfectant.
- An antihistamine for insect bites.
- A broad-spectrum antibiotic.
- Sunscreen sunscreen cream for both desert and mountains.
- Biafine® type cream in case of burns.
- Mosquito repellent.
- A moisturizing lip stick, useful in the mountains and in the desert.
- Condoms.
- Tweezers.
- Plastic bags in case you get sick in transit.
- In general, for a long journey, prefer solid medicines (pills or capsules) rather than heat-sensitive liquid mixtures where bacteria can grow.
- If you are undergoing long-term treatment or have used syringes, make sure you take the corresponding prescriptions with you.
Security Kyrgyzstan
Overall, summer travel in Kyrgyzstan does not pose any major security concerns, and the usual simple precautionary advice will suffice for a safe and enjoyable trip. Please consult the fact sheet "Daily Life" for more information on safety and security
For the latest information on local security, see also the Travel Report section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website: www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/voyageurs. However, the site provides an exhaustive list of potential dangers and sometimes gives a somewhat alarming picture of the actual situation in the country
Lonely woman. Kyrgyzstan's moderate Islam allows women to travel quietly and freely in the country. Of course, in the provinces, a headscarf will be required on the hair and one should refrain in the villages from wearing clothes that are too short or too conspicuous. For the rest, Western women are welcome in Kyrgyzstan, without any discrimination. In summer, on the beaches of Lake Issyk Kul, you can even take out your swimsuit (you must then dare to dive into water at 18°C!). In the capital, young women are closer to Russian or Western fashion than to traditional outfits. As for hospitality, there is no reason why you should enjoy it less than men. Many women in the country stay alone when the husband or sons have left to look for work in Russia and will be able to let you know the warmth of the Kyrgyz welcome.
Time difference Kyrgyzstan
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 Kyrgyzstan
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 Kyrgyzstan
Nothing is easier than getting a SIM card in Kyrgyzstan. Your passport, a handful of soms and you are equipped with mobile data for your trip. Cards can also be recharged anywhere in the country and local calls are usually included. Only texting abroad or making calls to your home country will make the credit run a little faster. The network is pretty good all over the country, but expect to find yourself frequently in white areas when you go trekking at altitude.
Most hotels and B&Bs offer wifi connection, and Internet cafes tend to disappear little by little, replaced by game centers.
Electricity and measurements Kyrgyzstan
The voltage commonly used is 220 volts. The plugs are bipolar, the periods are 50 Mhz. The power jumps and power cuts are quite frequent outside the cities. In cheap housing, old or poorly insulated installations are not uncommon and can damage too sophisticated equipment. Plan for robust devices and be careful when using a laptop because of power surges.
Kyrgyzstan uses the International Metric System for weights and measures. Therefore, we speak in metres and kilometres, grams and kilograms.
Luggage Kyrgyzstan
In Kyrgyzstan, you will mainly have to fight against the temperature. Bring warm clothes in winter and even in summer: the daytime heat quickly disappears in altitude when night falls. Conversely, the heat can be stifling in Bishkek, Naryn and the Ferghana Valley during the hottest months. Bring light, cotton clothing and don't forget a hat and sunglasses for your excursions. In summer and winter, gloves are useful to protect against the cold and sunburn.
So as not to risk ruining a beautiful horse ride, also pack a waterproof jacket and trousers or a cape wide enough to cover your body. The climate in the mountains, like here, is often capricious!
Finally, good shoes will be necessary both for the comfort of long walks on the pavements of Bishkek and for 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 jailoo, which are not always equipped with electricity.
Most trekking tours in Central Asia, especially in Kyrgyzstan, include nights in local homes. But you can very well choose, on certain treks, to leave without supervision and to camp by your own means (on condition that you have asked the authorization of the possible neighbors). In this case, bring the necessary equipment (camping gear, stove, water filter and sleeping bag). Some local organisations, especially in Karakol or Arslanbob, can rent you equipment, but they do not have a very large stock. You may find the shops empty in the middle of summer.
And in vrac : Swiss Army knife, alarm clock, sewing kit, high protection sun cream (the sun is very strong), small pharmacy..
