•3 min read•from travel
1,5 weeks in Kyrgyzstan! 🇰🇬 (July 2025)
Our take
Join me as I recount my unforgettable 1.5-week adventure in Kyrgyzstan! 🇰🇬 This vibrant journey kicked off in Bishkek, where I discovered affordable delights, bustling bazaars, and friendly locals eager to share their culture. From there, I embarked on a thrilling 7-day tour through breathtaking landscapes, including horseback trekking, stunning lakes, and enchanting canyons. With the spirit of exploration in the air, Kyrgyzstan proved to be a hidden gem full of adventure and warmth. Ready to dive into my experience? Let’s go!
| | July 2025 I spent about 1,5 weeks in the Republic of Kyrgyzstan! It was possibly the best experience I've had while travelling. This was part of a larger journey covering Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. This was my first country of the bunch, and my first time visiting Asia! We started out in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. The city itself is not very beautiful, but it is interesting, and there is quite a lot to do. There are many great restaurants, museums, statues, etc. Everything there is incredibly affordable. We found apartments for €30/night, beers for €1 and a three course meal for €10. People are generally very friendly, and curious about what you are doing there. Only some of the younger people know some English, but you should assume you can't communicate in English there. Russian and Kyrgyz are the way to go. The Osh bazar in Bishkek is amazing. They have everything you could want, and it's a busy, colourful, tasty place. When I was there in the summer, it was incredibly hot though... After some days in Bishkek, I did a 7-day tour through the incredible nature that Kyrgyzstan has to offer. We were with 3 persons, and it cost about €100 per person, per day. Not too bad considering that renting a 4x4 (which you definitely need), is already €100/day. All dinner, activities and accommodation is included! We did a 2-day horseback trek, while sleeping in yurts, eating local food and enjoying the views. For me, this was one of the highlights of the trip. I had absolutely no previous experience with horse riding, but all went relatively well. I fell of my horse once after it tripped, but no serious injuries. After that we continued with the 4x4, visiting some highlights such as Kel-Suu lake, Song-Kol lake, Tash Rabat, Issyk-Kul lake, and Skazka Canyon. We had an incredibly friendly guide who was around the same age, so we could talk about anything. Some tips I have for if you want to visit: -Pick your season well: in the summer it's scorching hot, and in the winter it's insanely cold. -Use sunscreen, you will absolutely burn alive -Go to local restaurants, try local food, accept locals' offers for a drink. -Get am eSIM beforehand and download YandexGO (Russian Uber), so you can get to the centre easily. Alternatively, you can get the marschrutka for <€2. -Be adventurous; do the scary things, and do the crazy things. The people are incredibly hospitable, and tourism isn't yet very big, but it's growing rapidly. I would recommend visiting soon, to experience authentic Kyrgyzstan!!! Please, let me know if you have any questions. Pictures 1-6: Bishkek 7-8: views while horseback riding 9-10: Song-Kol lake 11-12: views while driving 13-16: Hiking to Kel-Suu lake 17-18: Skazka Canyon 19: horse who knocked me off 20: mosaic busstop [link] [comments] |
Read on the original site
Open the publisher's page for the full experience
Related Articles
- Uzbekistan (April, 2026)We visited Uzbekistan with my partner earlier this month and I wanted to share some of our pictures with the sub. We did the usual route Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and the fortresses tour. Unfortunately we decided to cancel our Aral Sea tour due to the weather. Overall if you travel in spring I'd say that it is good to have extra days because we were unlucky with rain. We had booked a tour for the fortresses around Khiva, the guide was really nice and so proud of the culture of his region, the Karakalpakstan. We learnt so much. We both agreed that our favorite stop was Samarkand, and since it rained non stop for a day we would have liked to have an extra day there. Samarkand really blew our mind. On the other hand we think that one day is enough for Bukhara. If you can, don't go to Khiva on a sunday, it was packed! There were a lot of kids on school trips. The smaller kids were so cute though, saying hello to us all the time and giggling when we answered them. Khiva was much emptier on Monday. It was nice to not need to take taxis there. Taxis are really cheap! Always make sure to have cash and several cards with you. Sometimes some of our bank cards were not working and we were glad we had several cards and cash. It was our first time outside of somewhat more developed countries and it does require a bit more logistics and planning to transit through the country than we were previously used to. Going from one city to another can be tiring, the noise pollution also tired us because for some reason we were not expecting it. For light sleepers like us we recommend booking nice hotels with good isolation. Like in a lot of places, be aware of scammers. Even before boarding our train someone tried to make us pay more than what we had paid for our tickets, which were completely valid btw. I noticed that when I tried to speak Uzbek to buy bottles of water they were half the price. We had a mix of very good and more cold interactions with people. The food is pretty good too but can feel repetitive after a while. Their chicken shashlik is to die for. The most memorable for us was unsurprisingly, the architecture which is stunning! submitted by /u/SepticemicOxytone [link] [comments]
- Kyrgyzstan in late September : Karakol base, Altyn Arashan stay, and is Song Kul worth the risk?Hi all, I’m planning a 10–12 day trip to Central Asia starting around 24th September, with a focus on Kyrgyzstan, and I’d love some advice from people who’ve done something similar. I’ll be traveling with my 20-year-old sister, so we’re trying to balance budget travel with safety and reliability. We’re not considering hitchhiking, but we’re open to marshrutkas, shared taxis, or small group tours. The Kyrgyzstan portion of the trip looks like this: Bishkek (city exploration) Karakol as a base for a few days Potentially Altyn Arashan (overnight) Possibly Song Kul depending on feasibility A few things I’d love help with: Transport from Bishkek to Karakol What’s the best way to do this on a budget? Marshrutka vs shared taxi — what would you recommend? Day trips from Karakol I want to visit Jeti Oguz and Kok-Jaiyk Valley. Is it feasible to do these independently, or is hiring a driver / joining a small group tour the better option? Altyn Arashan This is a big highlight for me. I’m considering doing a 4x4 trip and staying overnight. How to arrange those in the most cost efficient way, any leads? Would you recommend staying there or doing it as a day trip? Also, what’s a reasonable price range for transport? Song Kul in late September Is it still doable around that time? I’ve seen conflicting information about weather and accessibility. If it is doable, what’s the most budget-friendly way to visit? Any general tips on safety, logistics, or things you wish you knew before going would be really appreciated. Thanks in advance. submitted by /u/ColonelMercury [link] [comments]
- My recent trip to Tajikistan: Dushanbe and HisorLast year I decided to visit Central Asia, as I have always been fascinated by this part of the world. After Kazakhstan, Krygzstan, and Uzbekistan, my final stop was in Tajikistan. I took a ride sharing app to the border crossing. The soldiers were yelling at me in Russian and I couldn't understand what they were saying, eventually they took my suitcase from me and dug through it before giving it back to me. When I got to the other side of the border, I was swarmed by taxi drivers who were all trying to get business from the only two white people in the crowd. Unfortunately there are no meter taxis so you have to negotiate with the drivers who will upcharge foreigners. They were yelling lower and lower prices, but I picked one and stuck with him after confirming the price. Other taxi drivers were knocking on the window to get my attention. Then the driver doubled his price and I argued with him for a bit but just wanted to get away from the mob so I accepted. The driver tried to take an unnecessarily long route (presumably to try and increase the price) and I had to use a map to show him the correct way to go. Dushanbe has some nice Soviet-style monuments mixed with a Turkic/Persian influence. I did not particularly enjoy the city because there isn't too much to see there and I guess I felt like things were getting repetitive after visiting the other countries. I also took a trip to Hisor in order to see Hisor fortress, which I loved. It looked like something from a fantasy movie with the beautiful castle and buildings contrasted by the bright vibrant clothing. The cuisine is very meat-focused and so it can be difficult to find meals if you are a vegetarian like me. Google Maps and Google Translate are highly inaccurate in the region and so I recommend downloading Yandex Maps and Yandex Translate which are used more commonly there. Overall very cool experience for a few days! submitted by /u/ralphsquirrel [link] [comments]
- Just back from Uzbekistan and wanted to post some logistics, ideas, thoughts and opinionsI recently finished a trip through Uzbekistan (semi-guided via Global Connect). They handled the flights, hotels, and drivers. Overall, they were decent—the hotels were okay, but their recovery game was strong; when they missed a pickup, they sent someone to the station specifically to fast-track us onto our train. If you’re planning a trip, here is the unfiltered reality of getting around and what to actually expect. Logistics and Tech Navigation: Google Maps is useless. Do not rely on it even for walking. Download Yandex Maps and Yandex Go (the Uber of Uzbekistan). You might need to wait until you arrive to install or verify them. Transport: Taxis are absurdly cheap (roughly £1.50 for a 15-minute ride). I suggest the "Comfort" option. I tried "Standard" once and the oldest functioning Chevrolet in the country showed up. Money and Data: My Revolut card worked everywhere that accepted card which was quite a bit. For data, Eskimo eSIM worked well. Flights:If flying Turkish Airlines, be prepared for an older Airbus A330. Space is tight, and you’ll likely feel more drained than usual upon arrival. Trains: The Highs and Low The Stations:They are packed because train travel is so popular but the trains are quite infrequent . For a few quid, you can access the VIP lounge—it is 100% worth it to escape the chaos. Khiva to Bukhara: Everyone is waiting for the high-speed rail to finish but I think take the night train. It’s a really cool experience the biggest train I think I've ever seen. High-Speed (Afrosiyob):This is popular but has very limited luggage space. If you can afford the upgrade to the VIP carriage, do it just for the extra room. Arrive at least 30 minutes early you need to have your bags scanned before getting into the station and there is typically only 2 scanners. Tashkent Metro:Beautiful and easy. Just tap your debit card; it’s about 11p to go any distance City-by-City Breakdown Tashkent Forget the mosques here; save those for later in the trip. In Tashkent, I recommend the Train Museum, Chorsu Bazaar, Hotel Uzbekistan, Amir Timur Square, and the underground stations. Food:This is the best and most varied food scene in the country. Really enjoyed afsona and TomYumBar The Underground:The stations are works of art and you can spend a bit of time down here for 11p Nukus and Moynaq The Drive:The road from Nukus to Moynaq is rough. Our driver was swerving everywhere just to avoid potholes. Stock up on food and water in Nukus; there is very little on the road. Moynaq:The museum is lackluster, but the Ship Graveyard is worth seeing. Fueling: If your driver asks you to get out while they refuel, don’t panic it's normal. It relates to the type of fuel used and safety risks if a car isn't perfectly maintained. See the art museum but research first. Amazing story but not well told by the museum itself. Khiva Old Town:Stunning but quite small. Get up early to have the place to yourself before the crowds arrive. The Pass: The standard Khiva pass has quite a few exceptions. You’ll need cash if you want to climb the minarets, walls, or towers. Ayaz Kala (The Forts): Make sure you have a guide, as there is very little information at the sites. Also, the yurt camp there is basic—no running water when we were there. Bukhara and Samarkand Bukhara:The old town is bigger than Khiva but still walkable. Note: The toilets at The Ark are "I think I'll just hold it" levels of bad. Samarkand: This might be a shock if you’ve only seen Instagram. It’s a proper, gritty city. It has its own charm, but it isn't a polished museum. The Registan:Accept now that you will never get a photo without people in it. Best to just enjoy the view. The Coffee and Food Situation Coffee: The scene isn't very developed yet. Look for Bon (a reliable chain) in most cities. For independent shops, I found Coffee and Donuts in Bukhara and Samarkind, a veggie restaurant, in Samarkand to be excellent. The Food: I personally didn't love Plov—it’s very rich and heavy. The standout dishes for me were the dill noodles (Shivit Oshi) and the crispy aubergine salad. The fruit and veg are top-notch, especially the tomatoes. Quick Tips Safety: Rear seatbelts are often missing. Also, U-turns are a major part of city planning; you'll get used to them eventually. Tipping:Since Yandex fares are so low, be generous with your tips. The margins for those drivers must be incredibly thin. Airports: The domestic terminal is tiny. One coffee shop and a shop literally named "Small Shop." Don't plan to spend much time there. Hamams: used the hamam at the Shahriston hotel**.** It's not actually old but looks it. Think long and hard before agreeing to firm. I did not expect to find a 6ft man standing on my back bending me like a pretzel. Cash only. Market vendors: compared to Turkey, Morocco or Egypt stall holders and carpet shops are pretty chill but I don't think there are incredible bargains. Things do begin to look quite samey the only unique things I saw were in the silk workshop in Khiva, a russian flea market shop over from chor minor in buhkara, Happy bird gallery in Samarkand and Human house in Tashkent alcohol: sarbast especially on draft is a dangerously drinkable beer. tanbour 10 and Samarkand vsop smooth brandy I tried some Samarkand house red and a sparkling wine both were ok. if you stick to domestic stuff it's cheap but international alcohol attracts a tax and will significantly raise the bill. as of last week you must pay for alcohol by card so it might be billed separately Uzbekistan is incredible and the people generally friendly. Tourists do still seem a bit more of a novelty in karalpakstan submitted by /u/Mention_Patient [link] [comments]
Tagged with
#travel content