Kyrgyzstan Tours & Holidays
Small Group Tours & Tailor-Made Holidays
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Overview
The Kyrgyz Republic, to give it its proper title, is quite simply one of the most beautiful countries on earth. The Mountains of Heaven that stretch majestically across its length and breadth are lush, high and wild, dissected by sweeping steppe lands, primal forests and turquoise lakes. And far in the distance, scratching the belly of the endless sky, is an ever-changing vista of lofty snow-capped peaks that, up until a decade ago, were ...
The Kyrgyz Republic, to give it its proper title, is quite simply one of the most beautiful countries on earth. The Mountains of Heaven that stretch majestically across its length and breadth are lush, high and wild, dissected by sweeping steppe lands, primal forests and turquoise lakes. And far in the distance, scratching the belly of the endless sky, is an ever-changing vista of lofty snow-capped peaks that, up until a decade ago, were strictly off-limits.
Home to glaciers, deserts, alpine meadows and several 7,000 metre plus mountains, the country rises up from the fertile slopes of the Ferghana Valley to the heights of Mount Pobeda (7,437 m) on the Chinese-Kyrgyzstan border. Scattered with over 2,000 lakes, a third of this breathtaking country is permanently covered in snow. But despite this natural bounty, it is the people themselves who bring this astonishing landscape to life.
Over the years we have developed relationships with local people and businesses and a stay with some of the local families provides a rare insight into their nomadic lifestyles. So, whether you are visiting eagle hunter, Aslan Bek and his family on the shores of Lake Izzyk Kul, or Noorgul and her family at Son Kul, you will find ordinary people with proud nomadic traditions and a great sense of hospitality, living some quite extraordinary lives.
Start your journey
Group tours
Travel to Kyrgyzstan with like-minded people on one of our small group tours (usually max size 12), featuring knowledgeable local guides and an expert tour leader.
TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAYS
Whether you want to travel on one of our award-winning itineraries or build your own journey from scratch, our expert consultants will help create the perfect tour for your tastes and budget. Below are a few suggestions of the kind of trips we can offer, all of which can be tailored to you.
EXAMPLE ITINERARIES
HIGHLIGHTS OF KYRGYZSTAN
BEST EXPERIENCES
Marvel at Ala Archa National Park
Head out to the mountains of the Ala Archa National Park and take in a hike amidst the unspoiled nature. Enjoy the fresh mountain air and journey through the fragrant pine and juniper forest, spotting the President’s summer palace, butterflies and wild tulips.
Admire the ancient Burana Tower
Visit the Burana Tower in Tokmok, an 11th century minaret, all that remains of Turkic Karakhanid, once a powerful city on the Silk Road. Over time, various earthquakes destroyed the city and reduced the towers height from 42 to 24 meters that you see today.
Relax and enjoy nomad life
From your comfortable and cozy yurt, relax and take in the wonderful mountains and meadows dotted with yurts. Witness traditional life in the Kyrgyz summer pastures while sipping kumyz, the Kyrgyz national drink made from fermented mares' milk.
Explore Son Kul Lake area on foot
The alpine lake lies in a remote valley surrounded by high mountain pastures, the nomadic Kyrgyz herdsmen use fertile marshlands to let their livestock graze in the lush green meadows. The perfect place to experience the life and culture of the Kyrgyz nomads.
Admire the Silk Road in Tash Rabat
Simply relax and enjoy the beautiful surrounding of Tash Rabat. The lush and green valley, just 35km from the China border, groans with horses, yaks and sheep all owned by the nomads who live in the area. Enjoy a homecooked lunch and dinner at your yurt camp.
Walk the ancient paths of Tash Rabat
Explore on foot a major route of the Silk Road as it winds through remote mountain scenery, remarkable history, local nomadic culture and the possibility of animal sightings from the ancient caravanserai of Tash Rabat to the 4000m high pass.
Experience incredible Eagle Hunting
One of the most fascinating Kyrgyz traditions is eagle hunting. Take in the history and skill of these strong local hunting traditions and learn about the way it has shaped the livelihood of locals for centuries.
Enjoy a meal at Reina Kench Eco-Farm
This beautiful and peaceful Eco-Farm was built from scratch after the fall of the Soviet Union, and is run by the same family that still live and work here. Enjoy a delicious home cooked lunch in the restaurant where most of the produce has been grown on site.
TOP PLACES TO VISIT
Arslanbob Village
Situated 1,600 metres above sea level on the south-facing slopes of the Ferghana range, Arslanbob boasts striking mountain scenery, friendly locals and the most prized walnuts in the country. Alexander ...
Bishkek
The capital of Kyrgyzstan is Bishkek, an attractive modern city with wide avenues set against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains with an abundance of green spaces. In 1825, the Khan of Kokand ...
Karakol
Karakol is the administrative centre of Issy-Kul province and a good base from which to explore the lake. It was founded in 1869 after the commander of a nearby garrison realised that with its mild ...
Osh
Osh is Kyrgyzstan's second largest city. It is one of the region's most ancient towns with a history stretching back to the 5th century BC and legends tell of it being founded a range of key figures,...
Son Kul Lake
Lake Son Kul is an alpine lake and the second largest lake in Kyrgyzstan. It is situated in the northern province on a high mountain plateau. The shepherds of the Kochkor, Naryn and At Bashi regions ...
Tash Rabat
Sheltering in the lee of a black granite cliff, in what must surely be one of the prettiest valleys in the country, this ancient Silk Road caravanserai, constructed of dark stone with a huge arched ...
Lake Issyk Kul
Lake Issyk Kul, meaning "warm lake", is the second largest mountain lake in the world. Measuring 182km long by 58km wide, the lake is heated from below by thermal activity and never freezes, even in ...
OUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO STAY
Green Yard, Karakol
In the centre of Karakol, this small family-owned hotel offers nicely decorated rooms with modern facilities including flat screen televisions and en suite bathrooms. The warm and welcoming atmosphere…
Navat Hotel, Bishkek
The Navat Hotel opened in April 2019 and provides a colourful ambience, reflective of Tajik style whilst providing modern comfort, an excellent central location and much more character than the Hyatt…
Son Kul Lake Yurt Camp, Son Kul Lake
This authentic yurt camp provides the ultimate adventure experience, sleeping in traditional nomadic tents beside the beautiful Son Kul. Surrounded by roaming herds of cattle, horses and goats, the…Discover more
WHEN TO GO
The weather conditions can be extremely varied. In the mountains you will often be travelling at heights in excess of 3000 metres, and even in the middle of summer it can turn bitter with snow falling; at the same time mercury in the thermometers of Bishkek can be nudging 40 degrees. All in all, British summertime is considered the best time to visit in terms of favourable conditions.
Meet the expert, Natalie
Natalie is our Central Asia expert, who has travelled extensively in the region.
Speak to Natalie by calling
+44 (0)20 3944 6258
LGBTQIA+ Guidance
When planning to travel as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, there may be additional things you wish to consider doing, such as:
- Speaking to one of our travel experts for information about travelling in your chosen destination and local attitudes towards members of the LGBTQIA+ community
- Checking the Human Dignity Trust map which highlights regions and countries which are potentially dangerous to LGBTQIA+ people, or Equaldex, which tracks the progress of LGBTQIA+ rights around the world.
- Checking the ‘Local laws and customs’ section of your country's official foreign travel advice page
- Looking for any updates for your desired destination on the Human Rights Watch LGBTQIA+ rights page
- Buying a recommended guidebook, as many include an LGBTQIA+ section and advice for LGBTQIA+ travellers
USEFUL INFORMATION
Health and Vaccinations
There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Kyrgyzstan though you should be up-to-date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. We recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.
Currency
In Kyrgyzstan, the official unit of currency is the Som.
To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com.
Cultural Sensitivity
On our tours you will frequently interact with local people, each with their own distinct customs and traditions. We therefore ask you to be considerate and to treat them with respect. Your tour-leaders and guides will always be able to advise you accordingly.
The first thing to say about travelling in Central Asia is that most areas, particularly the cities and towns, have a much more laid-back approach to Islam than their neighbours to the south in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In places such as Bishkek you won’t believe the length of some women’s skirts! However, it should also be remembered that it is technically a Muslim region and therefore a little bit of caution should be applied in certain places. Shorts and T-shirts are fine for both sexes but if visiting mosques, women should cover their shoulders and wear trousers or skirts that fall below the knee, and men should not wear shorts.
Language & Religion
Kyrgyzstan is one of the two former Soviet Republics in Central Asia to retain Russian as an official language. In the early 90’s Kyrgyzstan became an official bilingual country adding Kyrgyz as another official language. You will also find ethnic Uzbeks and Tajiks in some parts of Kyrgyzstan due to previous Soviet policy.
80% of the population are Islamic with just over 15% following Russian Orthodoxy.
Time
Kyrgyzstan is 6 hours ahead of GMT.
A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com.
Food and drink
The food in Kyrgyzstan tends to be based around meat and rice, although the salads and vegetables on offer are very varied. As you travel you will have a chance to experience local specialities of the region, which often overlap with the cultures that have lived and moved around over the centuries.
With regard to alcohol, the choice is mostly limited to vodka or beer so anyone wanting something different - Scotch or Gin for example - should buy it duty free and bring it out. However, be advised that mixers, like tonic water, are extremely difficult to find in Central Asia!
Travelling Solo In Kyrgyzstan
All of our small group tours are designed to cater for solo travellers: the number of solo travellers will vary from tour to tour, but usually over half will be travelling alone. Get all of the excitement of discovering new places combined with the security of travelling with an organised group, with like minded people.