Kyrgyzstan
Asia · Bishkek · KG
Kyrgyzstan is the mountainous heart of the central Asia, a landlocked country of the Tien Shan range where the nomads still move their yurts and their horses across the high pastures of the summer valleys. The capital of the Bishkek, a green, relaxed city beneath the snow peaks of the Alatau, holds the avenues of the Soviet era, the museums and the lively markets of the everyday, and the lake of the Issyk-Kul, the enormous alpine lake that never freezes, anchors the summer life of the whole country. The mountains of the country, from the gorge of the Altyn Arashan and the walnut forests of the south to the trekking of the high passes, hold some of the finest hiking in the world. Inexpensive, safe and genuinely hospitable, with the yurt stays and the horse treks of the nomadic life, Kyrgyzstan is the gentlest of the central Asian journeys.
Overview
Kyrgyzstan is a country in Asia. Its capital is Bishkek and the international dialling code is +996. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include Kyrgyz and Russian. Local currency is the Kyrgyzstani Som (KGS). We also list 1 city in Kyrgyzstan: Bishkek.
The Lake of the Issyk-Kul and the Beaches of the Alpine Sea
The lake of the Issyk-Kul, the enormous alpine lake of the north-east of the country, is the second largest mountain lake in the world and the great summer playground of the whole central Asia, its turquoise waters ringed by the beaches, the resorts and the snow peaks of the Tien Shan. The lake never freezes, and the resorts of its northern shore, from the Cholpon-Ata with its open-air museum of the petroglyphs to the smaller coves of the eastern end, run the swimming, the sailing and the long summer season of the region. The lake, reached by the mountain passes above the Bishkek, is the classic first stop of the country, and the hikes and the villages of its shores spread the gentle, green side of the high mountains.
The Gorges of the Altyn Arashan and the Treks of the Mountains
The mountains of the country hold some of the best trekking of the world on a budget, and the gorges and the passes of the range, from the Altyn Arashan with its hot springs and its alpine meadows to the enormous gorge of the Barskoon and the routes of the peak of the Ala-Kul, carry the hikers and the horse trekkers through the high valley world. The base camp of the Inylchek glaciers below the great peaks of the Khan Tengri, the magnificent pyramid that towers over the eternal snows, is the goal of the serious expeditions of the east. The shepherds of the high pastures, the yurts of the summer valleys and the bands of the horses and the sheep frame the whole trekking scene, and the passes give the walker the true, wild heart of the central Asian mountains.
The Bishkek of the Avenues and the Market of the Capital
The capital of the country, the Bishkek at the northern edge of the mountains, spreads its broad avenues, its parks and its statues of the Soviet era across the plain of the Chuy, a green, relaxed and genuinely liveable city beneath the snow wall of the Alatau. The city holds the remarkable central mosque, the national museum with the extraordinary collections of the embroidery and the applied arts of the nomads, and the famous market of the Verdun, the enormous bazaar of the everyday where the trading life of the whole region comes together. The cafes and the tree-lined walks of the centre, the walnut vendors and the evening promenades of the young, give the capital its pleasant, modest, welcoming rhythm.
The Yurts of the Summer Pastures and the Life of the Nomads
The summer pastures of the country, the jayloo meadows of the high valleys where the families still move with their herds, preserve the heart of the nomadic life of the steppe, and the yurts of the shepherds, the round felt tents of the central Asia, rise across the green slopes from the spring to the autumn. The visits to the yurt camps, the stays of the night with the shepherd families and the tasting of the fermented mare's milk and the fresh bread of the earth ovens give the traveler the living culture of the nomad world, and the horse rides between the camps follow the old tracks of the seasonal movement. The festivals of the summer, the games of the buzkashi and the horse sports of the valleys, and the eagle hunting of the Kazakh communities of the north frame the extraordinary traditions.
The Walnut Forests of the South and the Towns of the Osh
The south of the country, beyond the mountains, holds the legendary walnut forests of the Arslanbob, the largest of their kind in the world, groves of the ancient trees that spread across the foothills and that the families of the region still harvest in the autumn. The town of the Osh, the second city of the country and one of the oldest of the central Asia, spreads its bazaars and its great sacred hill of the Solomon around the crossing of the old silk road, and the pilgrimage and the panoramic views of its summit crown the town. The south, green, conservative and deeply traditional, holds the strongest flavour of the old caravan world of the region, and the passes of the mountains between the two halves of the country are among the grandest drives of the whole of the central Asia.
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- Capital
- Bishkek
- Currency
- Kyrgyzstani Som (KGS)
- Languages
- Kyrgyz, Russian
- Calling code
- +996
- Internet TLD
- kg
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Kyrgyzstan.
Which nationalities can enter Kyrgyzstan?
Current visa status for tourism for the origins we cover, with links to the detailed requirements.
Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Kyrgyzstan?
For the origins we track, travellers from Australia, Canada, France, Germany and Italy currently enter Kyrgyzstan visa-free for tourism, and 3 more origins are visa-free too. Entry rules depend on your passport and the purpose of your trip, so check the current requirements for your own nationality with our entry requirements tool.
What is the capital of Kyrgyzstan?
Bishkek is the capital of Kyrgyzstan, and the country sits in Asia.
What currency is used in Kyrgyzstan?
You pay with Kyrgyzstani Som (KGS) in Kyrgyzstan. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Kyrgyzstan?
The languages we list for Kyrgyzstan are Kyrgyz and Russian. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Kyrgyzstan?
The dialling code for Kyrgyzstan is +996 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which cities in Kyrgyzstan do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for Kyrgyzstan: Bishkek (capital).