Useful Information for Travellers

Money

The currency is the Kyrgyz som (KGS). Prices in tourism are sometimes quoted in US dollars, but everyday payments are made in som.
ATMs are common in Bishkek, Karakol and other towns, but rare in villages and absent in the mountains.
Cards are accepted in many hotels, restaurants and supermarkets in Bishkek and Karakol; in the countryside, guesthouses and markets usually take cash only.
US dollars and euros can be exchanged in banks and exchange offices; bring clean, undamaged notes.
Carry enough cash before you leave the cities.

Local SIM cards from the main mobile operators are inexpensive and can be bought in Bishkek, including at the airport. You will usually need your passport to register the SIM card.
Mobile internet works well in cities and along the main roads; in the mountains, at Son-Kul and on trekking routes, coverage is weak or absent.
Many hotels, cafés and guesthouses offer Wi-Fi, but speed in rural areas can be limited.

In Bishkek, ride-hailing apps are widely used and are usually a convenient alternative to street taxis.
Between towns you can travel by shared minibus (marshrutka) or shared taxi; for remote places and comfort a car with a driver is recommended.
Mountain roads are often narrow and partly unpaved, so journeys take longer than distances suggest.
Domestic flights connect Bishkek with Osh and a few other towns.

Kyrgyzstan is generally a hospitable and relatively safe country for travellers. Use common sense: watch your belongings in bazaars and crowded places and use registered taxis at night.
The main risks are related to nature and roads: changing mountain weather, altitude and long drives. Follow your guide's advice and do not hike alone in remote areas.
Drink bottled or boiled water.
Take out travel insurance that covers medical treatment and, for trekking or skiing, mountain rescue.
More about our approach on the Safety page.

Hospitality is very important: guests are welcomed with tea, bread and sweets. It is polite to try a little of everything.
Bread is treated with respect – do not put it upside down or throw it away.
Take off your shoes when entering a home or a yurt.
Dress modestly when visiting mosques, churches and villages; women may need a headscarf in a mosque.
Ask before photographing people, especially women and elders.
Tipping is not obligatory but is appreciated for good service by guides, drivers and in restaurants.

Electricity: 220 V; European two-pin plugs (types C and F)
Time zone: UTC+6
Languages: Kyrgyz and Russian; a few words of Russian are very helpful outside tourist places