Kyrgyzstan tours & tailor-made trips

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In Kyrgyzstan you can sleep in a yurt beside Song-Kul lake, high in the Tian Shan, and ride out with herders at dawn.

Kyrgyzstan is a country of mountains, more than 90 percent of it, where nomadic traditions are still part of everyday life. In summer, families move their herds and yurts up to high pastures such as Song-Kul, and visitors can join them for a night, a ride and a bowl of kymyz, fermented mare's milk. Issyk-Kul, one of the world's largest alpine lakes, never freezes despite its altitude; its name means warm lake. Around Karakol, the valleys of Jety-Oguz and Altyn Arashan offer red sandstone cliffs, hot springs and fine trekking.

Our local experts take care of the details that make this kind of trip work, from experienced drivers on mountain roads to homestays in Kochkor, where women's cooperatives make shyrdak felt carpets. With your trip booked directly, the money stays with Kyrgyz families, guides and the women who make shyrdak in Kochkor.

Your Kyrgyzstan adventure awaits

Best time to visit

Summer in the mountains: June to September
Yurt camps at Song-Kul: mid-June to early September

Destination highlights

Stay in a yurt camp at Song-Kul and ride across the summer pastures, then follow the shore of Issyk-Kul to Karakol, whose wooden Dungan mosque was built without a single nail. Hike to the hot springs of Altyn Arashan, watch an eagle hunting demonstration and a felt-making workshop in Kochkor, and climb the Burana Tower, a minaret from the Silk Road era. In the south, explore Osh Bazaar and the walnut forests of Arslanbob.

Price overview

£1,000 - £1,500+

All of our tailor-made trips can be 100% customised to your style—from budget stays to higher-end escapes. Prices are per person, based on a 7-day trip.

Best time to visit

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Meet your local experts

Your trip, planned by someone who actually lives there

Our local experts aren’t travel agents working from a brochure. They’re people who live locally and know the destination like the back of their hand. Alongside them, you’ll craft an authentic and immersive trip, filled with intimate knowledge and passion for the place they call home.

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  • Vladislav

    I’ll help you plan a trip that’s perfect for you, filled with unforgettable experiences that reveal the essence of my home country…

  • Vladislav

    I've added a day for you to marvel at the biggest lake in the country - Issyk Kul, the pearl of Kyrgyzstan and an unmissable sight.

  • Vladislav

    Working with TravelLocal has helped us grow our business and support our local community.

Traveller stories

What our travellers are saying

Local woman walking down a dirt path in rural Kyrgyzstan
They worked with me to design a package tour that included many stops and activities that were not part of regular tours. They understood that our tour group had a particular focus and really supported us to make the experience fit our needs.
Dean NicholsonTravelled in August 2025
Locals in a donkey cart, Kyrgyzstan
We were delighted with the organisation of our tour and the wide variety of sights and experiences that were offered.
Michael JonesTravelled in April 2025
Driving down a rural path in Kyrgyzstan
Im so glad I did this... Kyrgyzstan is stunning but quite difficult and impossible to plan on your own in certain areas.
Karin BiemelTravelled in May 2024
Local woman walking down a dirt path in rural KyrgyzstanLocals in a donkey cart, KyrgyzstanDriving down a rural path in Kyrgyzstan+78k

78,000+ travellers have had a more authentic, tailor-made holiday

Places & highlights

Learn more about Kyrgyzstan

Off the beaten track in Kyrgyzstan

Go off the beaten track: explore top things to do in Kyrgyzstan, from embracing the outdoors to immersing yourself in rural culture.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions about Kyrgyzstan

Lakes and mountains of Karakol, Kyrgyzstan

  • June to September is the best time for most trips, when mountain passes are open, yurt camps are set up at Song-Kul and the pastures are green. July and August are warm in the valleys, but nights at altitude can be cold. May and late September are quieter, and winter suits skiing near Karakol.

  • Kyrgyz and Russian are both official languages, and Russian is widely used in Bishkek. English is spoken by some younger people and by guides, but much less in rural areas. Learning rakhmat (thank you in Kyrgyz) is a kind gesture that's always appreciated.

  • No. British citizens can stay up to 30 days without a visa in any 60-day period; for longer stays you can apply for an e-visa. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date you arrive. Check the latest entry requirements before you travel.

  • Kyrgyzstan uses the som (KGS). Cards are accepted in many hotels and restaurants in Bishkek but rarely in rural areas, so carry enough cash for yurt camps, markets and homestays. Cash machines are found in larger towns. If you bring US dollars or euros to exchange, choose clean, undamaged notes.

  • Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked country in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and China. The Tian Shan mountains cover much of the country. Bishkek is the capital, and most visitors fly into Manas International Airport nearby.

  • Kyrgyzstan is generally a relaxed and hospitable place to travel. Take normal care with belongings in busy markets such as Osh Bazaar in Bishkek, and avoid driving on mountain roads after dark. Mountain weather can change quickly, so trek with an experienced guide. Check the latest FCDO travel advice before you go.

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