Kyrgyzstan tours

The best times to visit are spring and autumn. The green spring season starts from the beginning of April until the beginning of June and the autumn season is at its best with the autumn colors in September. That being said, the high locations above 3000 meters, like Son Kul and Kel Suu for example, are best visited in June – August but it will be hot in the lower areas during July and August. The highest destinations (3500+) are at their best in July-August.

Highlights of Kyrgyzstan are the mountains together with mountain valleys, rivers and especially the mountain lakes. The alive nomadic culture is obviously a big part of the Kyrgyzstan experience accompanied by yurts, horses and the large herds of animals. The best region for lakes, waterfalls and high areas together with the nomad culture is the Naryn region that has sights like Son Kul, Shaar waterfall and Kel Suu. Issyk Kul region also offers tens of mountain valleys to explore and many peculiar sights to be discovered with the huge blueish mountain lake itself, always by your side. Don’t forget about the Southern Kyrgyzstan either that offers amazing views of Alay Valley, different culture and the amazing nature of Arslanbob and Sary Chelek.

Check our Kyrgyzstan Highlights video for more inspiration!

Most of Kyrgyzstan is very safe but there are still a few areas around the country that could pose a risk to your safety. Uzbek – Kyrgyz border areas were to be avoided but official land borders between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are nowadays perfectly OK for foreigners. Entering enclaves is mostly not possible for foreigners.

Recently the border tensions in Kyrgyzstan have focused on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border where there was a full out clash between the armies of the two countries in May 2021 and also during the summer 2022. The clash focused on the Batken area in Southwest Kyrgyzstan near the Vorukh Tajik enclave and it is not recommended to visit this area at the moment. Land borders between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are closed at the moment and there are no straight flights between the countries either.

Otherwise Kyrgyzstan is very safe and the most dangerous thing in the country is most likely the transportation as the driving culture leaves some room for improvement and the road conditions are not very good even though they have also rapidly improved during the last 5-10 years and continue to improve. Terror acts in Kyrgyzstan have been rare, the last one took place in 2016 when the Chinese embassy was targeted by a bomb truck in Bishkek.

Updated 16.2.2024

Summers in Kyrgyzstan are hot in the lower areas, and winters cold as Kyrgyzstan has a very continental climate. In the mountains, temperatures can drop below freezing even in the warmest months, so visitors should bring warm and also waterproof clothing if planning to visit higher elevations, no matter the season. Travelers should also bring a brimmed hat (cap), sunglasses, and sunblock, to protect against the sun at higher elevations.

There are no strict limits or official limitations on women’s clothing in Kyrgyzstan, but visitors should be aware of cultural norms and should be respectful. In some parts of the country, especially in the rural areas and in the southern part of the country, women commonly dress themselves more conservatively. Female visitors are advised cover their shoulders, stomach and breasts, and to avoid very short skirts or shorts. In Bishkek and most of northern Kyrgyzstan, anything can be worn comfortably. When entering a church or mosque, women should cover their hair with a scarf and make sure to wear a skirt that comes at least to their knees.