Kyrgyzstan
Over 80% of Kyrgyzstan is mountains, so a trip here means high passes, a large lake and rural life where horses are still widely used.
Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked country in Central Asia, set in the Tian Shan and Pamir-Alai mountains and bordered by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China. Bishkek, the capital and largest city, sits in the north near the Kazakh border, and Osh in the Fergana Valley is the second largest. Over 80% of the country is mountainous, which is why it is often called the Switzerland of Central Asia. Jengish Chokusu, at 7,439 m, is the highest point.
Issyk-Kul, at about 1,609 m, is the largest lake in the country and lies in the northeast. Most of its northern shore has hotels, sanatoriums and guesthouses, and Cholpon-Ata is the most popular beach area. Horses and yurts still shape rural life, and the Epic of Manas, told by storytellers called manaschi, is part of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Mountain tourism is the main draw, so the country suits travelers who want hiking, long road trips and rural stays more than city sightseeing. Summer is the practical season, because winter roads over high passes face avalanches and mudslides, and mountain distances take longer than the map suggests.
Five things to know before Kyrgyzstan
- Check your visa-free days before you fly
UK citizens can stay up to 30 calendar days without a visa in each 60-day period. Other passports differ, so check yours on the official e-visa portal, evisa.e-gov.kg, or with a Kyrgyz embassy. Visas and entry
- Plan mountain trips for June to September
Yurt camps at Song-Kul and high passes near Karakol open only in the short summer. Snow can close high roads outside those months, and nights are cold even in July.
- Hire a driver or use shared taxis between towns
Shared minibuses and taxis link Bishkek, Karakol and Naryn from bus stations. For Song-Kul and remote valleys, hire a driver with a 4x4. Getting around
- Get a border zone permit for areas near China
Areas close to the Chinese border, such as Chatyr-Kul lake and the Inylchek glacier region east of Karakol, sit in a border zone that needs a permit. Tour operators arrange it in advance.
- Carry som in cash outside Bishkek
Cards work in Bishkek and some Karakol businesses. Yurt camps, guesthouses and drivers expect cash, and ATMs are scarce in the mountains. Money on the road
Kyrgyzstan travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
The 30 in 60 rule and border zone permits.
Read the guideGetting aroundShared taxis, minibuses and hiring a 4x4 with a driver.
Read the guideTravel insuranceCover for trekking at altitude and horse riding.
Read the guideMoney and costsSom, ATMs and paying for yurt camps.
Read the guidePhones and eSIMLocal SIMs and where coverage ends in the mountains.
Read the guide
Destinations in Kyrgyzstan
Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.
- Bed a night
- KGS 700
- Food
- KGS 600
- Transport
- KGS 60
- Sights
- KGS 200
A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.
- Bed a night
- KGS 2,500
- Food
- KGS 1,800
- Transport
- KGS 500
- Sights
- KGS 500
A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.
- Bed a night
- KGS 6,000
- Food
- KGS 4,000
- Transport
- KGS 1,500
- Sights
- KGS 5,000
When to go
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- JanuaryPartly cloudy7 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh2°Low-6°ColdJanuaryPartly cloudy
- High
- 2°
- Low
- -6°
- Precipitation
- 30 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh5°Low-5°ColdFebruaryPartly cloudy
- High
- 5°
- Low
- -5°
- Precipitation
- 42 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- MarchRain13 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh12°Low1°ThawMarchRain
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Thaw
- AprilRain12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh18°Low7°SpringAprilRain
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 111 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring
- MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh23°Low11°GreenMayPartly cloudy
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 95 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green
- JunePartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh28°Low15°Yurt camps openJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 41 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Yurt camps open
- JulyPartly cloudy5 rainy daysHigh32°Low18°Peak seasonJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 22 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak season
- AugustClear5 rainy daysHigh30°Low16°Peak seasonAugustClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 26 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak season
- SeptemberClear4 rainy daysHigh25°Low12°Clear, quieterSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 28 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, quieter
- OctoberClear8 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh16°Low6°Cold nightsOctoberClear
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 56 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold nights
- NovemberPartly cloudy8 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh9°Low0°ColdNovemberPartly cloudy
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- DecemberPartly cloudy8 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh4°Low-4°Ski seasonDecemberPartly cloudy
- High
- 4°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 40 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Ski season
Average daily high and low in Bishkek, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Kyrgyzstan
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
-3
- Feels like
- -6°
- Humidity
- 57%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Kyrgyzstan
03:56 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today10°-1°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed11°1°7%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 7%.
- Thu8°2°40%Thursday: Rain. High 8°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 40%.
- Fri9°1°6%Friday: Fog. High 9°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 6%.
- Sat11°1°0%Saturday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun12°2°2%Sunday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Mon12°3°12%Monday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 12%.
Updated 03:05 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 87.46 KGS
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Kyrgyzstan FAQ
Do I need a visa for Kyrgyzstan?
Not for short trips on a UK passport: up to 30 calendar days in each 60-day period. Other passports differ, so check yours on the official e-visa portal or with a Kyrgyz embassy.
When is the best time to visit Kyrgyzstan?
June to September. That is when yurt camps at Song-Kul are open, high trails around Karakol are clear of snow and roads to remote valleys are passable.
How do I get from Bishkek to Karakol?
By shared minibus or taxi from Bishkek's eastern bus station, usually six to eight hours around Issyk-Kul. Many people break the trip on the north or south shore.
Can I stay in a yurt in Kyrgyzstan?
Yes. Yurt camps at Song-Kul, near Kochkor and in the valleys around Karakol take guests in summer, usually with meals included. Book through a guesthouse or a community tourism office.
Is Kyrgyzstan easy to combine with Kazakhstan?
Yes. Almaty is about four to five hours by road from Bishkek, and many visitors fly into one and out of the other.