Everything you need to know about your first trip to Kyrgyzstan

24.05.2024 - 11:45 / lonelyplanet.com

Formally the Kyrgyz Republic, to everyone but the suits in parliament, this country is called Kyrgyzstan.

Descending towards Bishkek’s Manas airport, the snow-capped peaks of the Tien Shan run to the southern horizon. These mountains, dappled with alpine lakes and the high glaciers that feed them, are the setting beneath which Kyrgyz nomadic culture was born – and where those cultural traditions have seen a strong resurgence since the end of the Soviet period.

Visit for the absolute freedom of the outdoors – often it’s just you and the shepherds for a hundred kilometers – but also the opportunity for kayaking and paddle-boarding on Issyk-Köl, wildlife safaris searching for snow leopards or birdwatching trips during the migration season, and to stroll through the ruins of Silk Routes cities and reconstructed caravansary alongside merchant trails that have been in use for over 1200 years.

Though Kyrgyzstan remains a somewhat niche travel destination – for now – it’s the kind of place that sees first-time visitors plotting their return before they’ve even left the country.

Summer is the best time to travel to Kyrgyzstan, with the country’s major horse trekking and hiking destinations widely accessible from late June through September. This is also the busiest period, though apart from the most popular handful of destinations it’s rare to see tourist crowds. Visit one of the many Community-Based Tourism festivals held across the country in the summer months, dedicated to horse sports, Manas-epic storytelling, Salburuun eagle hunting, and more. 

Winter is considerably less popular among travelers from afar (though Kazakhs and Uzbeks have long been in the know!) but for powder hounds and culture-loving travelers, late December into February is an excellent alternative to a summer visit. Ski resorts around Bishkek and Karakol are pleasant apart from the crowded New Year holiday period, and backcountry yurt lodges promise untouched powder and absolute solitude throughout the season. While the high-mountain yurt camps are closed, this is a great time to drop in at rural felt workshops or get a one-on-one demonstration of eagle hunting from the masters themselves.

Any Kyrgyzstan travel itinerary will benefit from more time than you have available – driving on mountainous roads and long periods on foot or horseback means that slow travel is the default. With just a few nights it’s possible to see the monuments, museums, and Soviet-era architecture of Bishkek and get out for a day in nature at nearby Ala-Archa National Park or Alamedin valley. 

To make any multiday treks or horse trips you’ll want at least a week, assuming you’ll wander only as far as Chuy or Issyk Köl regions and then right back to Bishkek, and even