For instance, it is absolutely normal to have an August afternoon in Osh where the heat soars above 40C, or aJanuarymorning inBishek at -25C. Spring and autumn are best for visiting the lower plains of Kyrgyzstan to avoid the hot summers and freezing winters. Its not uncommon for the flight to be much cheaper when booking directly through the airline. if you can't see an email from us in your inbox, please check your junk mail folder as it may have been mistakenly categorised as spam or try a different email address. For the most part it is continental, with cold winters and warm summers. Top 5 Best horseback riding tours around Karakol. Avoid unlit streets and parks at night if possible. We use Megafon on our own trips there, as they have the best coverage. A private room in a guesthouse is usually between $19-25 which usually includes breakfast. It is a great opportunity to have a small talk with them, observe their daily routine and even be lucky to taste the local food and drinks. However, hanging on for dear life as your horse goes galloping across mountain pastures is a once in a lifetime experience that certainly makes up for the aches and pains. Did the weather of Kyrgyzstan convince you and are you curious to discover more of the country? In summer and winter, the temperatures cool down considerably. In July and August, you can explore Kyrgyzstans mountains on foot or on horseback, and stay with traditional families in yurts. Moreover, from December to March you will find the ideal ski and winter adventure. Taking a Horse Trek Horse treks are a highlight when travelling Kyrgyzstan.
November to March is low season, during which roads are sometimes blocked due to snowfall and electricity blackouts are common. Travel is still possible in October, if youre prepared to put up with greater chances of rain and more unpredictable weather. You have the place completely to yourself since 90% of tourists come in summer (meaning prices go down as well), and Kyrgyzstan looks amazing covered in a blanket of snow. An alternative route from Kochkor that returns to the Bishkek starting point might be to hike north to the Suusamayr Valley after visiting Song-Kl (or return to Kochkor to find transport here) and head west along the valley through the villages of Chaek and Kyzyl-Oi to loop around at the western end to reach the Chui Valley and Bishkek. Here its as much about the journey as it is the destination. Probably you didn't have this secret country on your bucket list, but if you get to know the country a bit, you will quickly realize that it is a very special and unique place, especially because of its unfamiliarity. I would recommend getting to the station a bit earlier to make sure you can get a seat. The main hub for this network is the CBT office that exists in almost every major town in the country. All details provided by you will be held by Steppes Travel and used in accordance with our Privacy Policy.*. Many travel sites will charge higher fares if they know you are visiting their sites frequently to search for flights. Alcohol: Cheap, but stick to beer as spirits can sometimes contain fake alcohol and there have even been stories of anti-freeze being used in some vodkas (not too dissimilar to parts of Russia). Join our mailing list to receive the latest updates and travel inspiration, Registered Office: Audley Travel Group Limited, The New Mill, New Mill Lane, Witney, Oxfordshire, OX29 9SX, 2022 Audley Travel | Registered in England: 3190720. hikingkyrgyzstan@gmail.com. One of the biggest draws in winter is Kyrgyzstan's brilliant ski and snowboard resorts, such as Karakol, which are open all winter and are an amazing alternative to the more well-known European destinations. Winter is totally overlooked. Shashlyk One of the meals that define the region grilled meat kebabs. The Ultimate Guide to the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan, Everything you need to know about the World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan and where the next one will be held Dissecting lands that have, The Ultimate Guide to the Truly Nomadic Land Trek in Kyrgyzstan, Everything you need to know about the fantastic Truly Nomadic Land trek in the Alay Mountains of Kyrgyzstan. If it is snow that the visitor is actively seeking, for winter sports like skiing or snowboarding, then January and February are generally the best months to come, although early January can get very busy with winter vacation visitors from Russia and Kazakhstan. The, The Ultimate Guide to Skiing in Kyrgyzstan (2022 Edition), Everything you need to know about skiing in Kyrgyzstan. Travelling in Kyrgyzstan is getting easier every year, but it still requires an adventurous spirit and a bit of patience due to the lack of infrastructure outside of Bishkek. ClimateWhen to visitHighlights and itineraries, Kyrgyzstans coolest temperatures are found in its mountain valleys Elena Moiseeva, Shutterstock. The road is in poor shape and it is closed in winter. Like manti, they come in both meat and vegetarian varieties. One of the best things about marshrutkas is that they are cheap, sometimes a tenth of the price of a private taxi. A detailed experience of our visit to Altyn Arashan in Kyrgyzstan. Your guesthouse or hotel should be able to register you directly. Ger camps are still closed, but youll start to see people working in the fields in rural areas. Winter is for the outlaws. As the snow clears, more trekking paths open up and the mountains come alive with blooming flowers and people looking to re-energize after a long, cold winter. They would ask to check your passport and occasionally would rifle through your possessions and wallet. Given complete freedom of choice in deciding when to come, it really depends on exactly what the visitor wishes to do and where they want to go. Citizens that do not qualify for this will need to get an E-visa. Note that the bar charts above are averages. From before the Silk Road, DestinationsPhotographySustainable TourismAdventure Travel, Adventure ToursStart a BlogTravel TipsSitemap, 2022 NOMADasaurus | Peak Evolution Media, Check out our incredible small group Kyrgyzstan tours, Check your countries visa policy to be sure, Click here to see why they love it so much, awesome hiking trails all over the country, using this link to get USD$35 off your first stay on Airbnb. Even if they cannot understand you people are extremely accommodating and will often go out of their way to help you. This is the time to visit Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan the perfect weather to explore their deserts, steppes and cities. Heres my guide to the best, The Ultimate Guide to the Boz Uchuk Trek in Jyrgalan, Everything you need to know about the Jyrgalan trek, known as the Boz Uchuk trek, found in the newest adventure destination in Kyrgyzstan! Visiting Kyrgyzstan in October - December. However, if you are planning to rent a car or a motorbike: definitely pre-book your car rental or motorbike rental that always sells out. Yet the highlight of Kyrgyzstan are the mountains. Many visitors to Kyrgyzstan have just a couple of weeks to spare.
Lots of snow ensures the best conditions to enjoy ski touring, free riding and photographing. The shoulder season is not the best time to be in Kyrgyzstan. Especially the Nature Kyrgyzstan is truly breathtaking and indescribably beautiful. Despite the persistent warmth, summers tend to be a little wetter with storms rolling through the country and this contrast makes summer the best time to visit Kyrgyzstan. The ideal time is June to early September. There will be other visitors, passing through Kyrgyzstan as part of a longer overland route, who have a little more time at their disposal and can probably afford to be more flexible. Big events like World Nomadic Games are really best time to travel to Kyrgyzstan. One of the reasons that travel to Kyrgyzstan has developed so quickly is because of the community-based tourism network in existence throughout the country. From Community Based Tourism (CBT) operating all over the country to guesthouses and independent guides there are plenty of ways to access the stunning scenery for which this country is famed. Yurt stays vary depending on how many meals you are getting, but its fair to budget between $10 and $15 dollars per person including breakfast and dinner. The months of April, May and June have the highest amount of rainfall, and this, coupled with melting snow, can sometimes pose risks of landslides and avalanches. The further south you go in the country, the warmer it is and the thermometer can sometimes rise to 40 degrees in the summer months. Before going into detail about the transport options in an around Kyrgyzstan its important to understand a little about the countries geography. Located, The Ultimate Travel Guide to Sary Mogol, Kyrgyzstan (2022), Everything you need to know about visiting Sary Mogol, Kyrgyzstan. If youre stopping off at a smaller destination, then take a marshrutka that passes it and let the driver know where you want to get off. Winter in Kyrgyzstan. Even in the summer, temperatures may drop as low as 10C at night on the mountain peaks.
Be warned, it is very expensive. You could spend a few days relaxing and swimming at Issyk Kul. Internal flights are most reliable between Bishkek and Osh and there is a limited train service but its unreliable and inconvenient and in truth is best avoided. Need more upside? Chris, North & Central Asia & Oman Specialist. Very often you will book through your guesthouse or CBT and then pay upon arrival. Nooruz, the ancient, Zoroastrian-influenced festival celebrated throughout central Asia on 21 March, is well worth witnessing, although this is rather too early to see the country at its best. Taking travel seriously since 1974. may also have some bearing on the timing of a visit. If you are looking to take some of the tours mentioned above then you will need budget a little more than Ive suggested here. The best time for horse-riding tours are also the summer period due to favorable weather conditions. Climate bar charts courtesy of World weather online. Customize your tour, calendarof notable events and festivals in Kyrgyzstan. Winters in Kyrgyzstan are very cold and snowy.