Travellers visiting Kyrgyzstan are not required to be immunized but they should be vaccinated with the most up-to-date Typhoid and Tetanus vaccines. We recommend that you seek out guidance from your local GP or travel centre regarding the appropriate vaccinations and preventative therapies.

Drinks and food

The food in Kyrgyzstan is typically based around meat and rice although the vegetables and salads available are varied. If you travel around, you’ll have the chance to sample local specialities of the region that often cross-pollinate with the diverse cultures that have lived and moved around over the millennia.

The options for alcohol are restricted to vodka or beers. Anyone wanting to try something else – such as Scotch or Gin should buy it at no cost and bring it along. However, be advised mixers, including tonic water, are incredibly difficult to find in Central Asia!

Cultural Sensitivity

When you travel with us, you’ll often meet local people, each with their own distinct traditions and customs. We therefore request that you be respectful and treat them with respect. Your guides and tour leaders will always be in a position to advise you accordingly.

The first thing to mention about travelling through Central Asia is that most areas, particularly the cities and towns, take a more laidback attitude to Islam as compared to their counterparts to the south of Afghanistan and Pakistan. In areas like Bishkek you’ll be shocked by the length of some women’s skirts! However, it should also be kept in mind that this is technically an Muslim area and an extra dose of caution should be used in certain areas. Shorts and T-shirts are fine for both sexes but if attending mosques, women should cover their shoulders and wear trousers or skirts that fall below the knees, and men should not wear shorts.

80% of the population is Islamic with just a little over 15% of the population following

Russian Orthodoxy

Religion and Language

Kyrgyzstan is among the two former Soviet Republics located in Central Asia to retain Russian as their official language. Kyrgyzstan became an official bilingual nation in the late 1990’s, and added Kyrgyz as the official language. Also, there are Uzbeks from the ethnic group and Tajiks in certain areas of Kyrgyzstan due to the prior Soviet policy.

For more info about Kyrgyzstan Tours check out our web portal.