Kyrgyzstan - Trekking, hiking and nomadic culture in Central Asia

Kyrgyzstan is a true paradise of nature waiting to be discovered by you: from the ice- and snow-capped mountains of the High Tien Shan to the gentler hill ranges of central Kyrgyzstan, you will discover an unimaginable wealth of different and stunning mountain landscapes. Turquoise mountain lakes, herds of horses and scattered white yurts complete the exotic picture of this small republic in Central Asia. Paired with the hospitality of the Kyrgyz nomads, a trip to Kyrgyzstan will be a unique and unforgettable experience!

About Kyrgyzstan:

Geography & Landscape of Kyrgyzstan

Boasting an area of almost 200.000 sqkm and nearly as large as the entire Alpine arc, the former Soviet republic is extreme in its low and high mountain ranges. The Tien Shan Mountains consist of several mountain ranges running parallel from east to west (Terskey Alatau, Khirgiz Alatau, Kungei Alatau and others) and take up most of the country. The Pamir Mountains make up the southern border to Tadschikistan. Both ranges and their more than 7000 m high peaks (Pik Pobedy 7439 m and Khan-Tengry 6995 m in the Tien-Shan near the Chinese border, Pik Lenin 7134 m in the Pamir at the Tajik border) form the northwestern cornerstones of the large, Central Asian mountainous conglomeration of Himalaya-Karakorum-Hindukush.
The markedly high altitude of the whole country as well as the extremely continental climate both have an impact on vegetation. Only a fraction of the country is forested, harbouring among others the endemic Tien Shan spruce. In altitudes of 1500 to 2500 m extensive walnut tree stands can be found.
Below this mostly sparse forest belt, dry desert- and steppe-like landscapes are common.
Lush alpine grass and flower meadows (among others different species of gentian, cowslip, allium and edelweiss) grow in the lower zones between 2000 and 3500 m. Higher up above, the nival zone with its snow and ice fields crowns it all: 6600+ glaciers have been counted, including the third longest glacier in the world (Enylcek Glacier).
The country’s abundance of water can easily be seen in the torrential mountain streams and rivers, all fed by glaciers, as well as numerous lakes. The largest lake in Kyrgyzstan, the warm Issyk Kul at 1608 m, is the second largest mountain lake in the world. Son-Kul, surrounded by an almost closed chain of snow-capped mountains of altitudes of up to 4000 m and the second largest natural lake in Kyrgyzstan, is part of one of the most outstanding and picturesque landscapes in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia.
Fergana valley in the southeast and the basin of Issyk Kul are the two most heavily populated areas of the country. About 35 % of the about five million Kyrgyz live in urban areas. Many Kyrgyz still uphold their ancestors’ nomadic traditions and spend the summers together with their herds of horses in the wide and lush high alpine pastures of the "Mountains of Heaven".

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Climate & Trekking weather in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan’s climate is dry and continental. Cold winters are followed by hot and dry summers. Above all, the many different levels of altitude alter the climate. In the subtropical southwestern lowlands of the Fergana Valley temperatures can climb up to +45°C in the summer months. In the mountain regions of the Tien Shan, the diversity of the landscape reflects the different climatic zones caused by the different altitude levels: from hot and dry valleys to temperate alpine locations with more precipitation to the polar climate of the summit regions.
On average, the Issyk Kul basin enjoys the most well-balanced climate. The huge warm lake – prevented from freezing over by warm sources in its bed even in the coldest winters - creates a very temperate and mild climate. No wonder that the Issyk-Kul was the most important recreational area in Central Asia in Soviet times.
Thanks to the generally low humidity, the climate is usually very well tolerated. The hot summer months of July and August are ideal for visiting the Kyrgyz mountains. The average temperatures in the valleys are between 20° and 25°C. In altitudes of around 3000 m day temperatures range around 15°C. But as soon as the sun goes down in the late afternoon, it temperatures drop considerably. Night temperatures around freezing are not unusual in heights around 3500 m.

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Health & Vaccinations

Vaccinations are not required for entry into Kyrgyzstan.
As with most long-distance trips, vaccinations against tetanus, diphtheria, typhoid fever, polio and hepatitis A and B are recommended. Malaria prophylaxis is only required in the south of the country. Your first-aid kit should contain diarrhoea treatment, antibiotics, insect repellent, sunscreen and dressing materials.
Please note that medical care in Kyrgyzstan does not meet western standards and please take this into account when taking out insurance cover for your trip.
Please consult your doctor in any case.

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Drinking water

Drink only boiled/disinfected water or mineral water.When buying mineral water, make sure that the seal is intact. Never drink water from the tap without first disinfecting it (Micropur). Brushing teeth with untreated water is usually not a problem. On the trekking tour, we recommend treating the water with a disinfectant (e.g. Micropur). Boiled water (tea, soups) is usually fine.
We kindly ask our participants to refrain from buying bottled water on the trek! In order to counteract the increasing waste problem in the mountain regions and the global problem of plastic waste, we recommend that our customers refrain from buying water in plastic bottles but instead disinfect (e.g. Micropur) or filter (e.g. Katadyn) water taken from streams or wells. Thank you for your contribution!

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Language

Official languages are Kyrgyz and Russian. Additionally, a host of other minority languages are spoken. To a certain extent you can communicate using English or German. Young people usually speak some English even if they are often too shy.

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Time difference

The time difference between Kyrgyz time and CET is + 4h.

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Currency & Money

The official currency in Kyrgyzstan is the Kyrgyz Som, the current exchange rate being about EUR 1,- = KGS 74,-. Since credit cards or traveller’s cheques are only rarely accepted, it is best to carry the travel expenses in USD or EUR and change the foreign currency into Som. Both currencies are equally accepted by exchange bureaus.
It is best to change money at authorized places in Bishkek (banks and exchange offices) because their exchange rate is better than for example at the airport. In Bishkek, you can withdraw money from any ATM using a Maestro or ATM card.
Most expenditures are included in our tour price. The following expenses are not covered and need to be paid by you on the spot: beverages and your lunch before and after the trek (see detailed itinerary), tips for the trekking staff and the drivers, and souvenirs. Experience shows that changing EUR 150,- to EUR 200,- per participant is sufficient. There are only few opportunities to spend money while trekking but it is always a good idea to have a few small bills in your pocket.

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Tipping

Our teams are paid fair wages typical for the country. However, the teams are always happy to get additional recognition for their performance. This is usually reflected in tips. It is best to pool all the participants’ tips and distribute the money at the end of the trekking tour. Gratuity should ideally be paid in local currency but can also be paid in US dollar or euro (please give only notes, no coins).

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Visa and immigration procedures to Kyrgyzstan

EU passport holders, with the exclusion of Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus, do not currently need a visa for Kyrgyzstan for stays of up to 60 days. The same applies for citizens of the UK, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Other European citizens can get their visa online (“e-visa”). The visa fee for a single entry visa for a stay of up to 1 month is USD 40,-. The processing of the visa application takes about 5 working days. For more information please visit http://www.evisa.e-gov.kg.

Your passport needs to be valid for another 6 months at the end of your stay and should have at least 2 blank pages for each country you visit. It should be in good condition (to tears or marks).  

Visa requirements and charges can change without notice. It is your responsibility to make sure you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate or Department for Immigration of your destination country. (Information as of February 2020)

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