FAQ
Frequently asked questions
By air is the obvious choice, and the following airlines fly into Bishkek Manas Airport:
- Turkish Airlines
- Aeroflot
- Pegasus (flypgs)
- Air Astana
- Fly Dubai
- Air Arabia
- Uzbekistan Airways
- China Southern Airlines
- Ural Airlines
For those with more time it is possible to reach us by train, and for the truly intrepid, it is possible to drive.
A current passport with a validity of at least 6 months and two blank facing pages are required. The following are the countries that now no longer need a visa (https://mfa.gov.kg/en/Main-menu/Consular-services/Consular-visas-issues/izovye-i-bezvizovye-rezhimy):
1. Australia
2. Austria
3. Belgium
4 Bosnia and Herzegovina
5. The Vatican
6. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
7. Hungary
8. Germany
9. The Netherlands
10. Greece
11. Denmark
12. Iceland
13. Ireland
14. Spain
15. Italy
16. Canada
17. Republic of Korea
18. Kuwait
19. Latvia
20. Lithuania
21. Liechtenstein
22. Luxembourg
23. Malta
24. Monaco
25. New Zealand
26. Norway
27. United Arab Emirates
28. Poland
29. Portugal
30. Saudi Arabia
31. Singapore
32. Slovakia
33. Slovenia
34. United States of America
35. Finland
36. France
37. Croatia
38. Czech Republic
39. Switzerland
40. Sweden
41. Estonia
42. Qatar
43. Brunei Darussalam
44. Bahrain
45. Japan
46. Montenegro
47. Andorra
48. Brazil
49. San Marino
50. Chile
51. Oman
List valid as of December, 2019.
Entry is valid for a 60-day period.
If your country is not on this list then please check the e-visa website to ascertain what you must do to obtain a visa.
If you are still having trouble, please drop us a line and we will do our best to assist you.
The language of the country is Kyrgyz (a Turkic language). However, Russian also has official status. You will find that most ethnic Kyrgyz can communicate in both languages, but not necessarily members of other ethnic minorities. Especially amongst the young, more and more people can speak English at varying levels. On all our tours you will be accompanied by either an English or German speaking guide/interpreter.
Kyrgyzstan operates a 2 pin 220 volt system. Almost all European plugs are good.
Although Kyrgyzstan is a Moslem country, alcohol is readily available in shops, cafes, restaurants, bars and hotels.
The local currency is the Kyrgyz Som. Our currency denominations are 5000, 2000, 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50 and 20 in notes, and 10, 5, 3 and 1 in coins.
In Bishkek, and in all the major towns, ATMs are readily accessible. Some dispense only Kyrgyz Som, other US$ as well. You should check with your bank before departure about the charges you will incur using your card over here. Whilst it is possible to use both VISA and Mastercard here, VISA is the preferred option.
The Kyrgyz economy is still very much a cash economy. If you bring cash, Euros or US$, please ensure that you bring clean, unmarked and undamaged notes. For denominations of less than 50 (Euros or US$) you will receive a slightly lower exchange rate.
No vaccinations are compulsory before travel to Kyrgyzstan. However, you should check with your country’s health service provider about any recommendations they may have.
Whilst nowhere in the world is completely safe, Kyrgyzstan is generally regarded as a safe country to visit. Further information should be available from your country’s foreign affairs ministry and their travel advice web-site.
The following are the official holidays in Kyrgyzstan:
January 1 – New Year’s day
January 7 – Orthodox Christmas Day
February 23 – Defender of the Fatherland Day
March 8 – International Lady’s Day
March 21 – Nowruz (New Year)
April 7 – People’s Revolution Day
May 1 – Labour Day
May 5 – Constitution Day
May 9 – Victory Day
August 31 – Independence Day
November 7 & 8 – Days of Remembrance for Our Ancestors
In addition to the above,there are public holidays for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adhathat are governed by the MoslemCalendar.
When holidays fall at a weekend or they are close together the government usually changes the actual days of holiday.
Yes of course, though coverage does vary and certain areas, especially in the mountains, have no coverage at all. Upon arrival, it is possible to obtain a local SIM-card and to use this for your internet connections. They are very cheap – Kyrgyzstan currently has the cheapest internet access in the world.
We hope to meet you in our beautiful country