Top things to know when solo traveling in Kyrgyzstan

One of the most common things I got asked by others when I was solo traveling in Kyrgyzstan was how I was doing it.

I found it a bit perplexing as we were in the same country so it’s not like they were asking from afar.

All of those that asked me that were taking part in organised tours. I have nothing against those tours, and I met several great guides when I was there that shared many stories. I simply don’t enjoy taking part of them myself but that’s not the point of this post so let’s get into some pointers to help you plan your next solo trip to Kyrgyzstan!

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What’s the language in Kyrgyzstan?

Kyrgyz is the local language and pretty much everyone I met spoke Russian as well. English is not really that common and in my two weeks traveling in Kyrgyzstan I only found a couple of people that spoke it well so make sure to download offline translators just in case.

Even with online translators be prepared for “funny” scenarios such as these instructions I “read” at Issyk Kul lake.

Currency in Kyrgyzstan

The Kyrgyz Som is the local currency. You will find ATMs at the airport and also in the cities and large towns, do not take for granted that cards will be accepted or that you will find cash in smaller villages.

Keep reading for a few examples of prices I paid so you get an idea of how much to budget, spoiler alert, it’s pretty cheap to go solo traveling in Kyrgyzstan, it will get a lot more expensive (by far!) if you join tours.

How’s the internet in Kyrgyzstan? Do you need a SIM card?

I found fairly reliable wifi in most of the guesthouses I stayed at. Some were pretty good if you’re a digital nomad, but that obviously depends on where you go. Don’t expect good or any internet at all if you’re hiking in the mountains.

I didn’t get a SIM card as I can happily travel just connecting to the wifi at hostels and guesthouses but you will find a few options to get a SIM when you land at the airport. Alternatively, get an e-Sim and you will be sorted by the time you land.

Is Kyrgyzstan safe?

In my experience I found it very safe. You can still find some locals (not all) trying to inflate the prices, but that’s not related to safety.

Across Bishkek, villages and mountains I didn’t really see any “dodgy business” happening and the locals are for the most part very welcoming even with language barriers.

How to travel around Kyrgyzstan?

Similar as when I was traveling in Georgia, you can easily travel in Kyrgyzstan with Martshrukas which are small mini vans that normally (but not always) depart from a bus station once they get filled up.

It’s not always easy to find information online about the Martshrukas but asking at your guesthouse or hotel and also by going to the bus stations you will be able to find all the info you need. They’re pretty cheap even for long journeys. I’ll add some sample prices below.

There are lots of them everywhere you go and it’s really easy to travel around the country. You just have to be aware that as timetables are mostly non-existent you need to be flexible with your schedules.

During the summer there’s a train connecting Bishkek with Balykchy and you can also find some trains going to Kazakhstan.

In Bishkek there’s a large bus network as well, with tickets costing 20 SOM.

You can also download the Yandex app which is the alternative to Uber available in Kyrgyzstan.

Can you go Hitchhiking in Kyrgyzstan?

I was quite surprised when I learnt that hitchhiking is not super common in Kyrgyzstan and some locals will ask you to pay for the ride as if it was a taxi (I experienced that once) so just beware yourself of this fact.

I hitchhiked just 3 times when I was in Kyrgyzstan and only once I got the driver asking for money.

Apart from that, I found it fairly quick to get someone to stop and give me a ride. Chances are that if you’re hitchhiking you may see a few Martshrukas as well and they’re a very cheap method of transportation.

How’s food in Kyrgyzstan?

I loved everything I tried, from meals at restaurants or at guesthouses, I found the food delicious. You can expect a lot of meat and pastries/breads.

Some dishes you must try when you go traveling in Kyrgyzstan are Beshbarmak (national dish of the country), Laghman noodles (can be with soup or dry), Plov (a rice dish which is common in Central Asia) and Samsa which are the most delicious pastries you can have for breakfast.

They have some slightly weird drinks in Kyrgyzstan, they seem to like fermented stuff which I haven’t tried before. I didn’t “enjoy” them so much but it was nice to try the Kymyz, Maksym, Chalap, Aralash and Jarma.

Can you go solo traveling in Kyrgyzstan or do you need a tour guide?

I traveled solo and found it super easy and very safe. I met a few people that were taking part in organised tours and I’m aware they can be pretty pricey so it all comes at your style of traveling.

If you join a tour you will not need to worry about anything at all but I find it part of the adventure to figure out where to eat, how to get somewhere, and discover new places by talking to the locals rather than following a predetermined itinerary.

Sample prices when you’re traveling in Kyrgyzstan

Bus from the airport to Bishkek: 140 SOM
Juice/Tea at a street market: 10-30 SOM
National History Museum entry: 200 SOM
Dinner for 1: 600-1000 SOM
Local bus ticket: 20 SOM
Chicken pastries: 50-80 SOM
Shashlik in Osh Market: 180-230 SOM
Entry to Ala Archa National Park: 200 SOM
Cable car in Ala Archa: 600 SOM
Maksym/Aralash drink in Bishkek: 25-40 SOM
Burana Tower entrance: 220 SOM (includes 3x post stamps)
Yandex taxi from Bishkek to airport: 800 SOM
Bus from Bishkek to Ala Archa: 50 SOM

Martshruka prices:
Bishkek to Kadji Sai: 540 SOM
Kadji Sai to Karakol: 250 SOM
Karakol to Arashan: 35 SOM
Karakol to Jyrgalan: 170 SOM
Jyrgalan to Karakol: 120 SOM
Karakol to Balykchy: 350 SOM
Balykchy to Tokmok 350 SOM
Tokmok to Bishkek: 100 SOM

Are you ready to go traveling in Kyrgyzstan?

I highly recommend you to go, check out my other posts about my adventures in Kyrgyzstan as it’s a fantastic country to explore!

Drop a comment below if you have any questions about how to travel in Kyrgyzstan.

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