Kyrgyzstan Tours & Holidays

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!