BEST TIME TO VISIT KYRGYZSTAN
Summer is Kyrgyzstan’s golden season: the landscape is colourful; the sun is hot on your back; and cool, shimmering lakes are a delight to dip in.
Where other Central Asian countries are about history and architecture, Kyrgyzstan is all about natural splendour: rough and rugged mountain scenery and wildflower meadows that roll endlessly, all underpinned by a fascinating, semi-nomadic shepherd culture. The best time to visit Kyrgyzstan is in summer, when hiking trails and roads are accessible and you can ride horses under a hot sun, stopping at glistening lakes, so the horses can drink and you can cool off with a swim. Winter is bitingly cold and best avoided, but late spring and autumn are temperate, revealing a lush landscape of gold, green and bronze.
Kyrgyzstan Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
-9
2
26
FEB
-8
3
28
MAR
-1
10
48
APR
6
18
63
MAY
11
23
60
JUN
15
28
35
JUL
17
31
17
AUG
15
30
10
SEP
10
25
14
OCT
4
17
39
NOV
-1
10
41
DEC
-6
5
32
Our Kyrgyzstan Holidays
Tajikistan & Kyrgyzstan holiday, The Pamir Highway
Travel on one of the world's most breathtaking routes
From
£2999
18 days
ex flights
Silk Road cultural holiday
See spectacular mountain scenery on this Silk Road journey
From
£2615
16 days
ex flights
Kyrgyzstan cycling holiday
An adventurous off-road cycle tour in remote Kyrgyzstan
From
US $3450
14 days
ex flights
The Silk Road small group tour
Discover the Silk Road in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China
From
£2649 to £2749
15 days
inc UK flights
Riding holiday in Kyrgyzstan
Ride the Silk Road trail, exciting and adventurous
From
£2745
15 days
ex flights
Central Asia overland tour, the stans
An epic journey through the five 'stans' of Central Asia
From
£4999
26 days
ex flights
Bishkek to Istanbul overland tour, 78 days
Follow in the footsteps of Alexander the Great
From
£3125
11 weeks
ex flights
Silk Road overland tour, Istanbul to Beijing
Travel the entire length of the Silk Road overland!
From
£6830 to £6840
96 days
ex flights
Silk road overland holiday, Bishkek to Beijing
Travel overland through Kyrgyzstan and China
From
£2245
41 days
ex flights
Kyrgyzstan tour, mountains, lakes and nomads
Nomadic culture, striking scenery and rare wildlife
From
£1899
16 days
ex flights
Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan holiday
Explore the ancient Silk Road mountains and communities
From
£2445
16 days
ex flights
Silk Road highlights tour
Discover ancient cities, steeped in history and legend
From
£1125
20 days
ex flights
Kyrgyzstan walking holiday, Silk Road mountain trek
Trekking in Kyrgyzstan in the Fergana Range
From
£3395
18 days
ex flights
Silk Road overland holiday
Once in a lifetime Trans-Asian Silk Road Adventure
From
£10545
7 weeks
ex flights
Central Asia highlights tour
An incredible journey through the heart of Central Asia
From
£4995
25 days
ex flights
The five stans silk road holiday
Step into the pages of history on a silk road tour
From
£3899 to £4349
23 days
inc UK flights
Kyrgyzstan tour & World Nomad Games
Tour of Kyrgyzstan with a visit to the World Nomad Games
From
£2295
13 days
ex flights
Kyrgyzstan holiday, tailor made adventure
Explore the stunning mountain scenery of Kyrgyzstan
From
£1795
9 days
ex flights
Kyrgyzstan small group tour, off the beaten track
Travel across one of the world's last great wildernesses.
From
£575
15 days
ex flights
Kyrgyzstan adventure holiday
White-water raft, cycle and ride through Kyrgyzstan
From
£2675
14 days
ex flights
Silk Road overland tour, Tashkent to Bishkek
Explore the mountainous overlanding paradise of Kyrgyzstan
From
£1070 to £1120
16 days
ex flights
Silk Road overland truck tour
Overland through Central Asia's highlights
From
£2150 to £2335
30 days
ex flights
The Silk Route, Beijing to Tashkent
Travel from China to Central Asia on this historic journey
From
£4190
27 days
ex flights
Silk route, Bishkek to Beijing tour by overland truck
Overland across the length of China!
From
£3165 to £3445
43 days
ex flights
Central Asia holiday, Kyrgyzstan, China & Pakistan
Trip of a life time through Kyrgyzstan, China & Pakistan
From
£5015
21 days
ex flights
Istanbul to Ulaanbaatar Silk route tour by overland truck
Overland the entire Silk Road and then head up to Mongolia
From
£8365 to £8385
120 days
ex flights
Silk Road holiday, five Stans of Central Asia
Journey through the 5 stans of Central Asia
From
£5655
4 weeks
ex flights
Kyrgyzstan holiday, small group
Explore Kyrgyzstan's striking alpine landscapes and lakes
From
£1995
15 days
ex flights
THINGS TO DO IN KYRGYZSTAN
Things to do in Kyrgyzstan...
Things not to do in Kyrgyzstan…
Our top Kyrgyzstan Holiday
Silk Road cultural holiday
See spectacular mountain scenery on this Silk Road journey
From
£2615
16 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2019: 20 Jul
2019: 20 Jul
Helpdesk
Hello. If you'd like to chat about Kyrgyzstan or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help. Rosy & team.
KYRGYZSTAN TRAVEL ADVICE
Things to do
Things to do
Daniel Waters, from our supplier, Wild Frontiers, shares his Kyrgyzstan travel advice:
“Kyrgyzstan offers so much to those that travel there from hiking in the strikingly beautiful Mountains of Heaven, watching frantic games of buzkashi played by impossibly agile horseman, drinking glasses of kumis in toasty yurts overlooking crystal clear lakes, beguiling walks in dense walnut forests, marvelling at the history of the ancient but perfectly preserved caravanserai you’re standing in. You can create an amazing trip in Kyrgyzstan based around whatever your interest is: hiking, riding, family trips, the Silk Road. The warmth of the people and diversity of scenery will humble and awe in equal measure.”
“Kyrgyzstan offers so much to those that travel there from hiking in the strikingly beautiful Mountains of Heaven, watching frantic games of buzkashi played by impossibly agile horseman, drinking glasses of kumis in toasty yurts overlooking crystal clear lakes, beguiling walks in dense walnut forests, marvelling at the history of the ancient but perfectly preserved caravanserai you’re standing in. You can create an amazing trip in Kyrgyzstan based around whatever your interest is: hiking, riding, family trips, the Silk Road. The warmth of the people and diversity of scenery will humble and awe in equal measure.”
Food tips
Food tips
Linda Maguire from our supplier, Undiscovered Destinations, shares her advice on coping with the food:
“The food is best summed up as simple. There is a lot of grilled lamb, and stew with mixed vegetables is very traditional and is served everywhere. The food isn’t stodgy, but there is very little variety and it’s not the most exciting. We ate a lot of cucumbers, tomatoes and herbs and the ingredients are very fresh, so it does taste delicious, but I wouldn’t say that vegetarians are well catered for as the rice that is available is often cooked in meat stock, so they could struggle after a few days surviving on salad and bread.”
“The food is best summed up as simple. There is a lot of grilled lamb, and stew with mixed vegetables is very traditional and is served everywhere. The food isn’t stodgy, but there is very little variety and it’s not the most exciting. We ate a lot of cucumbers, tomatoes and herbs and the ingredients are very fresh, so it does taste delicious, but I wouldn’t say that vegetarians are well catered for as the rice that is available is often cooked in meat stock, so they could struggle after a few days surviving on salad and bread.”
KYRGYZSTAN TRAVEL ADVICE
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travellers are often... other travellers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Kyrgyzstan travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.
We have selected some of the most useful Kyrgyzstan travel tips that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.
Enjoy all the wonderful people you come across everywhere. A smile goes such a long way and gives so much in return!
- Gunilla Westerland
“Be prepared for basic conditions in the yurt camps - no washing facilities (and don't
mention the toilets). Take a head torch, plenty of wipes, and gloves for horse riding or trekking in Kyrgyzstan. You need to pack carefully for very cold and very hot conditions.” – Joan Godman
“Some of the home stays were crowded (18 people) and facilities limited (1 loo, only washing facilities the local stream). You will see wonderful scenery, but there’s a lot of travelling.” – Peter Jackson
“It was very hot throughout, so take loose, cool clothing.” – Gillian Urro
“Some of the home stays were crowded (18 people) and facilities limited (1 loo, only washing facilities the local stream). You will see wonderful scenery, but there’s a lot of travelling.” – Peter Jackson
“It was very hot throughout, so take loose, cool clothing.” – Gillian Urro
Be prepared for long days driving, often on very bumpy roads. However, nature's spectacles compensate for the travelling inconveniences.
- Jane Hanlin
“Travel as light as possible; keep an open mind in case something unforeseen happens; and enjoy all the wonderful people you come across everywhere. A smile goes such a
long way and gives so much in return!” – Gunilla Westerlund
“Hopefully anyone booking this holiday will have some experience in remote locations so will be well prepared. I think everyone needs to be warned to be a bit more cautious about food and water/drink. We were much more cavalier about these things (I ate and drank everything put in front of me!) than I would be when somewhere like India.” – Sue Noble
Be prepared for long days driving, often on very bumpy roads. However, nature's spectacles compensate for the travelling inconveniences. Sleeping in a yurt was a new adventure for me." - Jayne Hanlin
“Hopefully anyone booking this holiday will have some experience in remote locations so will be well prepared. I think everyone needs to be warned to be a bit more cautious about food and water/drink. We were much more cavalier about these things (I ate and drank everything put in front of me!) than I would be when somewhere like India.” – Sue Noble
Be prepared for long days driving, often on very bumpy roads. However, nature's spectacles compensate for the travelling inconveniences. Sleeping in a yurt was a new adventure for me." - Jayne Hanlin
More about Kyrgyzstan
Trek your way through our Kyrgyzstan travel guide and you’ll discover the best way to make the most of your time thanks to our excellent Kyrgyzstan map & highlights section that features everywhere from Bishek and Ala Archa National Park in the north to Osh and Jety-Oguz Canyon in the south.
A huge and relatively new event, the World Nomad Games is the Olympics of the nomadic world, featuring traditional sports from Central Asia and beyond.
Why book with Responsible Travel
Photo credits: [Page banner: PavelSvoboda] [Temp chart background : Thomas Depenbusch]
[Things to do: Ninara]
[Cultural tip: Eric and Taylor]
[Food tip: lasserbua]
[Review intro: Ninara]
[Review 1: Betta27]
[Review 2: Jurgen]
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