FAQ_Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan tours

General information:

  1. What do I need to enter Kyrgyzstan?

You need passport if you one of the citizen of visa free country. (Please check it up here)

  1. Is it important to have copies of documents when traveling in Kyrgyzstan?

You must have copies in case if something will happen with them. Otherwise you will have difficulties with further stay in a foreign country and with returning home.  In addition to passport it will be better to have copies of driver’s licenses, tickets, hotel reservations, insurance, but also scan them, save to a virtual disk.  Due to such saving the documents will be available from anywhere in the world. 

  1. Who do I need to call in case of problems during the tour in Kyrgyzstan?

Upon arrival to airport you will be met with an accompanying guide and get his contact information. The guide will be with you whole tour and if you will have problems during the tour first of all you need to contact the guide. 

  1. What actions do I need to take in case of loss of a passport?

If this happens, you need to contact the local police.  They will give you documents that you need to take to the embassy or consulate of your country. They will answer all your questions and provide a temporary certificate, according to which you can return home. There you will be asked to fill out a questionnaire. To verify your identity, you will need to have an “internal passport”, driver’s license or any other document with your photo. Copies are also accepted.

  1. Are there places where I can exchange money?

To exchange money you can use exchange points in Kyrgyzstan and banks. Also, keep in mind that banks close at 5. In addition it is possible to change money at the airport, at the bazaar and in the remote villages, but the exchange rate is very low there.

  1. Can I use credit cards? Are there ATMs in the public domain?

The credit cards that are usually accepted are MasterCard and Visa in restaurants, shops and hotels. It’s better to have cash in the regions. ATMs can be easily found in big cities but not in villages.

  1. What does transfer mean?

It is a drive the passenger (tourist or business traveler) from the airport, railway to a hotel or other previously agreed place.

  1. How much time the road from the airport to hotel or vice versa takes?

Manas International Airport is situated in the 30 km from Bishkek.  The road takes 40 – 50 min without traffic jam, otherwise it will be longer. It’s better to arrive an hour earlier so you won’t be late.

  1. What bill is better to take?

To not lose in exchanging money it is better to money with a value of 50-100 $ or euros with you. By exchanging 5-10-20 $ or euros, even in the city, you will exchange them at a much lower rate. In addition there is a possibility that they will not be exchanged in the regions. 

  1. Is it possible to replace one of the travelers with another?

If the tour is multi-day or you have a rest at a boarding house, hotel or recreation center, the price includes train tickets (railway, air), then you need to contact the manager who confirmed the application, the problems will be solved if possible. Please note: there are also one-day tours that require filling in the full name of all travelers and their passport details. In this case, the replacement is possible only until the lists of travelers are sent to the receiving party. If you have any doubts about replacing a tourist then you should contact the manager. 

  1. Is vaccination required before visiting Kyrgyzstan? 

Before visiting Kyrgyzstan it is important to take several vaccines. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and WHO (World Health Organization) advise against the following diseases: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid fever, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough), chicken pox, shingles, pneumonia and flu. 

  1. What currency does Kyrgyzstan use?

The national currency of Kyrgyzstan is som. 

  1. What religion prevails in Kyrgyzstan?

Kyrgyzstan is a secular country but the major religion is Islam (85 %).

  1. What languages prevail in Kyrgyzstan?

Two languages are spoken in Kyrgyzstan: Kyrgyz - the national language, Russian - the official language. Most of the population is bilingual, but in remote areas people use more Kyrgyz. Among foreign languages, the most popular is English. 

  1. What is an individual tour?

It is a traveler tour that is organized due to preference of the customer. 

  1. What does the homestay mean?

Homestay means that you will live at the host family’s house. Such accommodation is normally offered in remote areas. They are cheaper than hotels. This is the best way to experience a real life of locals.

Such families are usually members of CBT (Community Based Tourism) or Destinations (USAID project). Therefore, they try to match all the necessary requirements. Their conditions are poorer than in hotels and guesthouses. You can decide which option is more convenient for you. 

  1. What is Single supplement?

It is an option given for those who don’t want to share their room with anyone else. Tour packages provide double rooms. That’s why the single supplement is given as option. 

  1. What are the following abbreviations: ROH, SGL, DBL, TRPL, QDPL, Ex. Bed, CHD, RO, RR, BB, HB, FB, ALL, Al, UAL, UAI?

ROH (run of the house) – accommodation in a room of any category at the discretion of the hotel.
SGL (single) – single accommodation.
DBL (double) – double accommodation; by default, a room can have either one double bed or two separate single (sometimes half) beds (twin).
TRPL (triple) – triple accommodation; a room can be both one double bed and one single bed, or three separate single beds (rarely).
QDPL (quadruple) – quad accommodation.
Ex. Bed (extra bed) – extra bed: folding bed or, more rarely, stationary.
CHD (child) – a child (usually up to 12 years old).
RO (room only) – accommodation without meals.
RR (room rate) – only accommodation without meals.
BB (Bed and Breakfast) – only breakfast is included.
HB (half board) – the price includes breakfast and dinner (sometimes breakfast and lunch).
FB (full board) – the price includes breakfast, lunch and dinner.
ALL, Al (all inclusive) – breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, snacks, drinks, various additional services.
UAL, UAI (ultra all inclusive) – an extended version of “All Inclusive”: breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner, snacks, drinks, various additional services, an additional assortment of dishes and desserts, additional free food in a la carte restaurants.


Food:

  1. Is it possible to find vegetarian food?

It’s easy to find vegetarian food in Bishkek, but in remote places it will be difficult to do. (You can find the detailed information here).

  1. Can I have a special menu due to my diet?

You need to inform your tour operator beforehand or your guide upon arrival. If you tell ahead of time we will do our best to make some arrangements, but you also should know that it will be difficult to keep the entire menu. 

  1. What is the difference between Half Board and Full Board?

Before choosing between these two options you need to know that:

Half board – dinners all along your tour

Full board – all lunches and dinners during your trip

 

Entertainments:

  1. Where I can experience the Kyrgyz lifestyle?

Kyrgyz culture can amaze you. Nowadays you can find particular qualities of Kyrgyz people lifestyle everywhere. You just need to look for the right places, and then you can easily find everything. The best example of it is Kochkor village here you will have opportunity to see how national felt carpets are made. In addition you can also make it with them. The highlighted part of this village is the museum where you can find a lot of example of national decoration like coats made of wolves, horse saddle decorations, carpets and others. Other village is Bokonbaeva where the local eagle hunter lives. He uses traditional way of hunting with the help of the eagle. His preys are hares and foxes. And last example is the village where you can participate at the yurt workshop. Yurts are made of felt coverings. 

  1. Where I can see the horse riding games?

You can see them at the different places like:near Burana tower, at the Song- Kul lake, in Kyzyl Oi, in Chon Kemin gorge. 

  1. Where can I buy souvenirs?

You can find souvenirs practically everywhere but there are the best places for it: Kochkor village, Osh bazaar in Bishkek, and ZUM but it more expensive though. 

  1. Is there is any rules for visiting bazaars?

Bazaars are the place where you can experience the atmosphere of the real eastern culture, but you also should be prepared to the unexpected things. You should be very careful with your belonging especially with wallet and documents because it is easy to meet a pickpocket. But bazaars are the best places for taking colorful and funny photos. Take into consideration that it important to ask permission to shoot people there.  

  1. What are the holidays in Kyrgyzstan?

In Kyrgyzstan celebrates 14 national holidays:
January 1 – New Year;
January 7 – Christmas (Orthodox Christmas);
February 23 – Defenders of the Fatherland Day;
March 8 – International Women's Day;
March 21 – Nooruz;
April 7 – April Revolution Day;
May 1 – Labor Day;
May 5 – Constitution Day of the Kyrgyz Republic;
May 9 – Victory Day;
August 31 – Independence Day of Kyrgyzstan;
November 7 and 8 – Days of history and memory of ancestors;
Muslim holidays Orozo Ait and Kurman Ait are determined by the lunar calendar. 

Transport: 

  1. What kind of cars do tours take?

Our priority in the tour is your comfort that’s why our cars will be very pleased to you. All cars that we use have air-conditioned and very comfortable seats. Moreover our driver are professionals who know all the road in Kyrgyzstan.

Transport:
02-03 pax – Mitsubishi Delica
04-11 pax – 1 Mercedes Sprinter
12-22 pax – 2 Mercedes Sprinters
23-33 pax – 3 Mercedes Sprinters or big bus
34-44 pax – 4 Mercedes Sprinters or big bus 

  1. Is it possible to travel with pets?

Yes, you can travel with them but you must have by a veterinarian health certificate with the seal of the local Board of Health. The certificate must be issued at most ten days before arrival.  Rabies vaccinations must be done within 12 months and 30 days prior to arrival.

 

Other: 

  1. Is it possible to bring alcoholic drinks to any of Stans?

Yes, it is possible but you should take airline regulations into account. 

  1. What age is allowed to buy alcohol at?

You can buy it if you are older than 18 years old. 

  1. What rosette is used in Kyrgyzstan?

The rosette in Kyrgyzstan is European type - C. It has two round parallel contacts. It does not have a third ground contact. The voltage here is 220 V. 

  1. Is it possible to take photos?

Yes, it is. But it’s better to ask permission beforehand. You also can ask your guide where you can take them. 

  1. How dangerous is it to walk in Bishkek in the evening?

It is safe to walk in the evening. But we recommended you to not walk in the solitary and unlit streets. 

  1. Can I drink tap water?

Yes, you can. But if you have some doubt about it you can boil it. Also you can buy bottled water everywhere in the country. 

  1. Is it possible to take money as a souvenir?

It is possible besides you can also exchange them. 

 

Reed more about Kyrgyzstan:
Relief
Capital
Fauna
Ethnic groups
Religion
Language
Mountains in Kyrgyzstan
History of Tien Shan Mountains in Kyrgyzstan
Mountain ranges in Kyrgyzstan
Alpinism
Peak Pobeda
Peak Lenin
Khan Tengri   
Lenin Peak   
Review   
Territory   
Altyn Arashan gorge   
Cuisine    
Kyrgyz traditional drinks    
Peak Khan Tengri
Rituals
Holidays
Issyk Kul Lake in Kyrgyzstan
Rukh Ordo complex
Jeti Oguz gorge (Seven Bulls)
Uzgen complex
Peaks 
Traditional clothes
Manas complex
Glaciers
Lakes 
Hiking in Ala Archa gorge
Rivers 
Transportation-Air
Transportation-Rail
Seasons and weather
Nature 

 


Kyrgyzstan tours, Kyrgyzstan travel, car rent Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan cars rent.