Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country in the Tian Shan and Pamir systems, rising to 24,409 ft (7,440 m) at Pobeda Peak on the Chinese border. Ninety-four percent of the country is over 3,300 ft (1,000 m) above sea level, with an average elevation of 9,020 ft (2,750 m). Lake Issyk-Kul lies in the northeast. The climate is extremely continental with great regional variations. The Kyrgyz, a Sunni Muslim, Turkic-speaking pastoral people, constitute more than half of the population; the rest are Russians (about 18% of the people), Uzbeks (more than 10%), Ukrainians, Germans, and other minorities. About two thirds of the population is rural. Kyrgyz and Russian are both official languages. The Kyrgyz State National Univ. was established in 1951 and the Kyrgyzstan Academy of Sciences in 1954; by the late 1990s there were over 20 universities in the country.

Formerly known as the Kara [black] Kyrgyz to distinguish them from the Kazakhs (at one time called Kirghiz or Kyrgyz), the Kyrgyz migrated to Kyrgyzstan from the region of the upper Yenisei, where they had lived from the 7th to the 17th cent. The area came under the rule of the Kokand khanate in the 19th cent. and was gradually annexed by Russia between 1855 and 1876. The nomadic Kyrgyz resisted conscription into the czarist army in 1916, leading to an uprising in which 100,000 and perhaps many more died and many fled to China. The Kyrgyz also fought the establishment of Bolshevik control from 1917 to 1921. As a result of war devastation, there was a famine in 1921–22 in which over 500,000 Kyrgyz died. The area was formed into the Kara-Kirghiz Autonomous Region within the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic in 1924, becoming an autonomous republic in 1926 and a constituent republic in 1936.

Visa formalities in Kyrgyzstan:

PASSPORT/VISAS

Basic requirements for travelling to Kyrgyzstan are visa and passport registration in police (OVIR). In last few years with a help of Kyrgyzstan tour operators this procedures were simplified but you should read carefully below information to avoid any problems.

The passport holders of the following countries EU, Brazilian, British, U.S.A, Canadian, Australian, Japanese, and Israelis do not need to be registered in police on arrival and can obtain a visa, valid for up to one month, from Kyrgyz Consular Office, without an invitation - on the basis of a personal application: Austria, Belgium, GB and Northern Ireland, Greece, Denmark, Iceland, Spain, Italy, Canada, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, Portuguese, USA, Finland, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Cyprus, Lichtenstein, Malta, Monaco.

Note

- Visa regulations within the CIS are liable to change at short notice.

- It is now possible to obtain visas on arrival at the international arrival lounge of Bishkek Manas Airport.

- Please note that the only legal places where you can cross the border is at a designated post - which means that now it is not possible to follow the trekking routes over the mountains from Issyk-Kul to Almaty which were popular in Soviet times.

Do not need Visas and registration in police:

The transit passengers continuing their journey within 24 hours by the same or first connecting aircraft provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the transit area.

- The residents of the following countries: Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Vietnam, China (for up to 1 month), South Korea (for up to 1 month), North Korea, Cuba, Malaysia (for up to 3 months), Macedonia, Mongolia (for up to 3 month), Poland, Rumania, Slovakia, Slovenia, CIS (except for residents of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan), Turkey (for up to 1 month), Croatia, Czechs, Yugoslavia, Japan.

- The diplomatic passport holders of the following countries: Austria, Belgium, GB, Greece, Denmark, Iceland, Spain, Italy, Canada, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, Portuguese, USA, Finland, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden.

- Most of other nationalities must obtain a Kyrgyzstan visa before arrival and staying longer than three days must register with the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

- Visas can be obtained from Kyrgyz Embassies or consulates where they exist (check your country below) or where Kyrgyzstan has no diplomatic representation in Kazakhstan or Russian Federation embassy. You also can pick up visa at the international arrivals lounge at Bishkek Manas international airport.

Entry/Exit stamps

The only legal way to enter the Kyrgyz Republic is at a designated entry point. This means that it is no longer possible to trek over the border (from Almaty to Issyk Kul Lake). Moreover, it is very important to receive a stamp in your passport at the border crossing point as proof of when and where you entered the country.

If there are no officials in passport control or they claim not to have a stamp (both of which have been known to happen in the past) you should at least note the date, time and place where you crossed the border. It would also be helpful if you note the name and number of any official on duty. If you have some document - such as an airline ticket or a hotel receipt - which shows when you were in the other country - that might also help … but the stamp in the passport is the only sure way to avoid potential problems.

Application requirements

1. Valid passport with at least one blank page to affix visa.
2. One completed application form.
3. One passport-size photo.
4. Fee, payable on collection of visa.
5. Stamped, self-addressed envelope, if applying by post.

If your country is not stated in the list of countries above:

For tourist visa add: A letter from travel agency giving arrival and departure dates and accommodation details; for tourists travelling in groups, a list with names and passport numbers (if travelling without travel agent, you will need to contact kyrgyz travel agency to arrange visa support). Applications for those who travel with travel agent are usually made by travel agent. Otherwise you can use services of Fantasti Asia Company to arrange proper visa support letter

For business visa add: A letter of support from the Ministry of Foreign/Internal Affairs in Kyrgyzstan as well as a letter of invitation with full address, details of activities to be undertaken and length of stay from the contact organization in Kyrgyzstan. Contact the Embassy for further advice.

For private visits add: Letter of invitation from friends/relatives endorsed by the immigration department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Kyrgyzstan.

For transit visa add: Airline or travel ticket to final destination.

Procedure duration

Normally it takes seven days for a Tourist visa. Business visas can be obtained more quickly but this should not be relied upon. Charging additional 50% can really speed up the procedure.

Visa Fee
- Charging additional 50% can really speed up the visa procedures.
- Visas cost change frequently, please check with your consular office.

Attractions in Kyrgyzstan:

Kyrgyzstan lies in the breathtaking landscape of mountains, glaciers and lakes; their isolation ensures that they have been almost forgotten by the crowds. The lakes and mountainous terrain provide excellent opportunities for trekking, skiing, climbing, sailing and swimming. For more ambitious travelers, it is possible to follow the route of the old Silk Road to Kashgar in China, crossing the border at the Torugart Pass, near Lake Chatyr-Kul. Trekking tours and adventure holidays in this region are offered by a growing number of companies.

Bishkek

A largely Soviet-built city, it has a similar spacious atmosphere to its Kazakh neighbor, Almaty. Ulitsa Sovietskaya, the broad tree-lined road between the railway station and the city center, houses the Kyrgyz State Opera and Ballet Theater, the Chernyshevsky Public Library and the State Art Museum. Other attractions include the History Museum in the Old Square (Stary Ploshad), the Lenin Museum, the Zoological Museum and the Kyrgyz Drama Theater. The Government plans to redevelop the former General Frunze Museum on Frunze Street – which commemorated the Kyrgyz-born Russian general who subdued Central Asia for the Bolsheviks – into a celebration of the ethnic diversity that is found in Kyrgyzstan. A section on Jewish culture has already been opened.

Excursions

Less than one hour’s drive from Bishkek, the Ala-Archa Nature Reserve offers spectacular scenery for trekking and skiing. A further 50 minutes east from the city, the Burana Tower is a 25m- (82ft-) high minaret which dates from the 11th century and is all that remains of the ancient city of Balasagun.

Lake Issyk-Kul

Lying 1600m (5249ft) above sea level, the saltwater Lake Issyk-Kul was closed to foreigners during the Soviet era. Both its Kyrgyz name and Chinese name (Ze-Hai) mean warm sea, as it never freezes over, despite the altitude. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains and ringed with sandy beaches, the lake has a pristine and outstanding beauty. On the north shore, the town of Cholpan-Alta is a spa town which was a former retreat for the Communist Party elite. The resort of Issyk-kul is now open to anyone, although it is very busy during the summer season and visitors are advised to book in advance. In the Kungay Ala-Too Mountains behind it, four trekking routes start, leading eventually to Medeo, outside Almaty (Kazakhstan), four to six days away. For scuba-diving enthusiasts, there is spectacularly clear water and a 12th-century town that lies 2 to 3m (6 to 10ft) below the surface of the lake near Ulan, 18km (11 miles) from Balikchi. At the southeast end of the lake is the town of Kara-Kol, with its attractive houses and tree-lined streets, and behind it are the Terskay Ala-Too Mountains, an unspoilt wilderness populated only by nomadic shepherds and only then during the summer. There are few roads and little accommodation. Around 16km (10 miles) outside Kara-Kol is the health resort of Ak-Soo with hot mineral springs.

Osh

Kyrgyzstan’s second city is in the south, on the Uzbek border. Although it is 2500 years old, few traces of its ancient history remain. Since the 10th century, pilgrims have come to visit the Suleiman Gora, a hill in the middle of the city where legend has it that the Prophet once prayed. Childless women come here in the hope that they may conceive (the hill is supposed to look like a pregnant woman lying on her back). Other attractions include the Museum of Local Studies and the bazaar.

The Silk Road

This ancient trading route was used by silk merchants from the second century AD until its decline in the 14th century, and is open in parts to tourists, stretching from northern China through bleak and foreboding desert and mountainous terrain to the ports on either the Caspian Sea or Mediterranean Sea. For further details of the route, see the Silk Road in the China section. The main attraction of the route in Kyrgyzstan is the amazing alpine scenery including the Kyrgyz Altau and Tian Shan mountain ranges and Issyk Kul Lake (the world’s second-largest alpine lake). The difficult but exhilarating journey between Bishek and Kashgar (China) via the Torugart Pass is a popular trekking route. Travel along the Silk Road can be quite difficult due to the terrain, harsh climate and lack of developed infrastructure. Visitors to the region are advised to travel with an organized tour company or travel agent.

Son-Kul Lake

The remote mountain lake at an altitude of about 3000 m became a quite popular place for tourists, as it offers, due to its situation at a high plateau, surrounded by fertile pastures and peaks between 3300 and 4000m, an impressive and fascinating nature experience. Possible activities are of course hikes and horse-back riding, but especially liked are the demonstrations of how to build up a yurt (the traditional felt dwelling of Central Asian nomads) and in general the experience of the every-day life of today’s Kyrgyz half-nomads and shepherds

Suyab

Suyab or ancient settlement of Ak-Beshim is one of the most significant points on the Silk Road. In the days of early Middle Ages Suyab was considered the major city in Central Asia, the capital West Turkic Khaganate and the gate for trade caravans. Caravans following Chuya line went from Samarkand to Tashkent. Then they traveled along the foothills of the Kirghiz ridgeto get to the Chuya Valley. There was a chain of cities from the West to the East where caravans stopped. The largest of them were Navaket and Suyab. After Suyab past Boom gorge merchants reached the jewel of Kirghizia – Lake Issyk Kul, and then went further to China and the Far East. Ancient Suyab is going to become the full centre of tourism in Kirghizia.  

Hiking and Trekking

Kyrgyzstan’s reputation as a trekking and climbing destination has improved considerably in recent years and a growing number of tour operators now offer walking, mountaineering and heli-skiing tours throughout Kyrgyzstan and the neighboring republics; these companies can also arrange entry formalities for border crossings into China and other CIS countries where visas may be required. Mountaineering camps are available: the Ala-Archa camp, 40km (25 miles) from Bishkek, offers over 160 routes and is the base for attempts to climb the Kyrgyz range (highest point: 4876m/15,997ft). In the south, the Pamir camp offers opportunities on the peaks of the Pamir Mountains.

Horse Riding

The national sports reflect the importance of the horse in Kyrgyz culture. Ulak Tartysh is a team game in which the two mounted teams attempt to deliver the carcass of a goat weighing 30 to 40kg over the opposition’s goal line. Players are allowed to wrestle the goat from an opponent, but physical assault is frowned upon. Each game is 15 minutes long. Aht Chabysh is horse races held over distances varying between 4 and 50km (2.5 to 31 miles). Competitors under 13 years of age are barred from entering. Udarysh is a competition on horseback in which two riders or two teams of riders attempt to wrestle each other, and frequently their mounts, to the ground.

Climate of Kyrgyzstan:

The geographical situation determines the climatic conditions of Kyrgyzstan. The major part of the territory lies within the bounds of the temperate zone and only the southern part belongs to the sub tropic zone. Location in the centre of the hugest Earth continent - Euro Asia, remoteness from oceans and seas, vicinity of deserts are the factors to give continental and drought features to the climate and to shape seasons sharp. The significant relief difference and the presence of as large lake as Issyk-Kul is vary the climate from sharp continental to close to marine.

Kyrgyzstan has a continental climate with relatively little rainfall. It averages 247 sunny days a year. In the summer in the mountains the mornings are generally fine and the afternoons hazy with occasional rain. In the lowlands the temperature ranges between -4°/-6°C (21-24°F) in January to 16-24°C (61-75°F) in July. In the highlands the temperatures range from -14°/-20°C in January to 8-12°C (46-54°F) in July. There are heavy snowfalls during winter.