Travel Tips for a Ski Trip to Kyrgyzstan
In addition to the travel tips for a Kyrgyzstan ski trip below, also see our pages on:
Visas
Citizens of many countries can travel to Kyrgyzstan visa-free, including visitors from most European countries and North America. For many countries, 60 day stays are permitted, whilst only 30 days are permitted for some. You can
see if you need a visa here. Those that do require a visa can apply for an e-visa on the Kyrgyzstan government website.
Like travel to many countries, you’ll require a passport that’s valid for more than 6 months.
Whilst not recommended nor likely for most ski trips to Kyrgyzstan, if you’re travelling in volatile zones near the borders with Tajikistan and China, or a small stretch of the Kazakhstan border, you’ll need to apply for a border permit. This can take some time so it’s best to do it well in advance. The border permits are only required if you plan to stay in these regions and are not required if you’re entering or exiting Kyrgyzstan via an overland border.
Security & Safety
Kyrgyzstan is mostly a safe destination to travel to, and most international visitors are highly unlikely to have any issues with personal safety. In the past there were some issues with visiting the Osh Bazaar in Bishkek, but this has been cleaned up now.
Areas that should be avoided include the Kyrgyzstan/Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan/Tajikistan border regions due to a high risk of civil unrest and the potential for landmines, and the Ferghana valley is a particularly tense zone.
Demonstrations are somewhat common in Bishkek, and you’re best to avoid these due to the risk of an outbreak of violence.
As always, check your government’s latest travel advice for Kyrgyzstan, particularly if you are from India or Pakistan.
Women don’t face any unique dangers whilst travelling in Kyrgyzstan. The background of Kyrgyzstan is not that of a strictly Islamic regime and women are not required to wear a hijab, and since February 2025, full-face veils like the niqab have been banned in public places. Women should dress conservatively so as not to be insensitive, and don’t mimic any scantily clad Russian tourist women that you may see strutting around Bishkek.
Language
The main languages spoken in Kyrgyzstan are Kyrgyz and Russian. The use of English is not common, particularly outside the city, and is mostly only utilised in the tourism industry. If you want to make a small effort with Kyrgyz, at least learn hello (salam) and thank you (rakhmat).
Banking & Money
For travellers from countries with a strong currency, Kyrgyzstan may seem quite inexpensive for many products and services.
The local currency in Kyrgyzstan is the som (KGS) and banknotes come in 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 5000 som. There are also some coins. It’s highly unlikely that your home country will have any som so you’ll need to use a currency exchange office in Bishkek or use an ATM in Bishkek. Don’t be too surprised if an ATM doesn’t accept your international card and there’s usually a withdrawal limit that equates to about US$200.
Credit cards can be used in the large cities, although some establishments will only accept Visa. Once you get into regional and rural areas, cash is king. US dollars are often readily accepted and Euros are good too, and whilst you can get some USD in Bishkek, the exchange rate may be shabby so it’s probably best to BYO.
Unfortunately the culture of tipping has reached Kyrgyzstan, and whilst it’s not mandatory, it’s commonplace to tip drivers and guides if you’re happy with their service.
Communication & Connectivity
Often the Wi-Fi in Kyrgyzstan is quite slow, so using a local SIM card will give you faster connectivity and mobile data is very cheap in Kyrgyzstan. You can pick up a SIM card at the airport or in Bishkek. Beeline is good for cities but not great for rural areas, whilst O! and MegaCom have better coverage in the regional areas. Note that E-sims such as Holafly use Beeline.
Your mobile phone will only work for 30 days, and after that it needs to be registered with the government, which includes some “big brother” type control that many visitors will find off putting.
The internet in Kyrgyzstan is mostly fully accessible without the need for a VPN, although every now and then an incident may shut down the whole internet or certain sites, leaving you wondering whether you’re in Russia.
For messaging, WhatsApp is commonly used although Telegram is the most widespread.
Electrical Plugs
Kyrgyzstan uses Type C (two round pins, commonly used in many European countries) and Type F (two round pins and grounding clips) electrical plugs and sockets. The standard voltage is 220 V at 50 Hz.
Health
There are no mandatory vaccinations for Kyrgyzstan, although hepatitis A, typhoid and diphtheria vaccinations may be worth considering if you’re not already covered, especially if you’re visiting regional areas and like adventurous cuisine. Travellers’ diarrhoea may occur, so you may wish to speak to your doctor to prescribe some medications so that you can self-treat it.
Tap water is chlorinated but not of good quality, so boiled or bottled water is the way to go.
Medical facilities in the capital city are not extensive, and once out in the regions, health care is rudimentary.
Time Zone
The Kyrgyzstan time zone is UTC + 6 hours, which is the same as in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and parts of Russia.
Cultural Considerations
As a background to cultural considerations, Kyrgyzstan has a largely Muslim population with a strong overlay of Russian influence and the Russian Orthodox church.
The nomadic culture is still very strong, and other than the capital city of Bishkek, there are no other large urban areas. Whilst eagle hunting may primarily be on show for the travellers, yurts aren’t just for the tourists, and they are still a key part of the nomadic customs. In addition to staying in a yurt, it seems apt to get into the nomadic lifestyle of the Kyrgyz people and go horse riding. Or at least watch a traditional game of kok-boru (dead goat polo), which is sort of a cross between polo and rugby, and is commonly played in winter when work tasks such as tending to the fields may not be required. The Kyrgyz like to milk the horses and it’s up to you whether you want to sample kumis, which is fermented mare’s milk!
Bread is revered and a symbol of life, and it seems to be served a lot with meals. There are some customs associated with bread, such as the need to tear it with two hands and not with one out of respect for tradition, as it is considered a symbol of the country's nomadic culture. Definitely don’t cut bread with a knife and don’t place it upside down. Don’t throw it out. Rather save it for animals, otherwise it’s bad luck and brings on famine.
Standards of dress and behaviour are conservative. Public displays of affection, even between married couples, can offend.
Orderly queuing is not commonplace in Kyrgyzstan, and everyone just mills about and asks each other who’s last in “the line”.
Like other Central Asian countries, men like to shake hands so fellas prepare yourself to greet others with a hearty handshake. Local women don’t tend to shake hands, whereas as a female tourist you can probably shake hands if you like.
What to Pack for a Kyrgyzstan Ski Trip /Snowboard Trip
As a starting point for figuring out what you need to pack on your Kyrgyzstan ski trip, see our general
ski holiday packing checklist.
Skiing in Kyrgyzstan is not too dissimilar to many other parts of the northern hemisphere with regards to the temperature, although it can be bitterly cold at times. The average low temperature in Bishkek is -5° C in December, -8° in January and -6° in February. When heading out to the mountainous areas it gets much colder and in some of the valleys it gets particularly frigid. For example in Karakol, evening lows drop to between -19°C and -10°C in January.
You’ll need a neck warmer, but may also need a face protector, merino balaclava or a thin hood under your helmet. Glove liners are also very welcome on chilly days.
In Bishkek it only snows a little bit during winter, so you’re not likely to need your calf length snow boots, yet shoes with good grip for the slippery streets would be good.