Kyrgyzstan: Mountains, Yurts & Lakes

The trip starts and ends in Bishkek.

Manas International Airport (BSZ)

The accommodation is a mix of twin-share hotels and yurts.

Yes! If you are more than 60 days out from your tour you can change the date of your tour once. You can also switch to another tour which is the same value or more.

Kyrgyzstan is one of Central Asia's safest and most welcoming destinations for travellers. Crime rates are low, and locals are famously hospitable. As with any adventure travel, the main risks come from the terrain rather than people, so sensible trekking prep matters. Travelling with TruTravels means you'll always have someone in your corner, unlocking local knowledge and showing you all the hidden gems along the way. 

Tap water in Kyrgyzstan isn't considered safe to drink, even in Bishkek. Stick to bottled or filtered water throughout your trip, including for brushing your teeth.

Kyrgyz and Russian are both official languages, with Russian widely spoken in cities. English is limited outside tourist hubs, so we always recommend learning a few key phrases before you go, this will impress the locals for sure!

ATMs are common in Bishkek and larger towns like Karakol and Osh, but they get scarcer once you're out in rural or mountain areas. Most accept international Visa and Mastercard. Card payments are increasingly accepted in cities, but cash (Kyrgyzstani Som) is still king in villages, markets, and homestays, so stock up before heading into the mountains.

Tipping isn't traditionally expected in Kyrgyzstan, but it's becoming more common in tourist-facing restaurants, hotels, and with guides and drivers. Rounding up the bill or leaving 10% for good service is a nice gesture and genuinely appreciated. Your Tru Leader can give you more etiquette tips on the ground!

Great news for many travellers: Kyrgyzstan offers visa-free entry for citizens of over 60 countries for stays up to 60-90 days. UK, US, EU, and Australian passport holders can generally enter without a visa for tourism. That said, visa rules change, so always double-check the latest guidance from your government's official travel advice page before booking.

We always recommend speaking to your local doctors; we're not medically trained, so we can't give official advice on vaccines you need/don't need.

Summer (June–September) is peak season and the sweet spot for trekking; high mountain passes are snow-free, jailoos (summer pastures) are green, and yurt stays are in full swing. Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) bring fewer crowds and stunning colour, though some high-altitude trails may still be closed. Winter (December–March) turns Kyrgyzstan into a ski and snowboard playground, with Karakol as the go-to base - just expect serious cold.

You can book pre-nights, airport transfers and other extras at the time of booking or up to 7 days before the tour starts.

These can be booked:
-Through your online account area
-Through our sales team, you can contact them at info@trutravels.com

You’re welcome to arrive at any time on Day 1 of the tour. Hotel/hostel check-in is usually from around 2 pm, so most people tend to plan their arrival for around this time. However, if you’d like to arrive a little earlier, we can also help arrange pre-nights at the starting accommodation.

There are no planned activities during the day on Day 1, giving everyone plenty of time to arrive, check in and settle in before the tour officially begins. In the evening, the group will usually head out for a welcome dinner at around 7 pm. This is a great opportunity to meet your group leader and fellow travellers. Your guide will also give you a quick overview of the trip and help break the ice, so everyone can get to know each other before the adventure begins!

No! Whether you love a sunset beer or prefer an early night in order to make the most out of every day, or even a bit of both, it's up to you how you spend your time on tour! Our guides are always on hand to suggest a range of evening activities on tour. From night markets to rooftop bars, fire shows and local cultural experiences, there's a huge variety of options! There's no pressure, ever - it's your adventure after all!

Yes, of course! You will receive a welcome email from your tour leader a week before your tour starts. This will include a QR code to join the group chat on WhatsApp and other important information before joining. In the meantime, you can join our Facebook group TruTravellers to connect with others.

Yes, the majority of our travellers will be travelling on their own! Roughly 65% of our TruTravellers come solo! We have designed our trips specifically with solo travellers in mind, so you can be assured you’ll meet lots of others travelling alone like yourself along the way. This of course doesn’t mean our trips are only for solo travellers, but it does mean that you don’t need to worry you’ll be surrounded by a group that already knows each other.

Yes! Let us know when you are booking your trip about any requirements you might have we can plan ahead and make sure this doesn’t affect your trip!

Most of the people that join us on tour are 18-thirtysomethings! We do have an upper age limit of 45 on our tours. If you are over 45 and have travelled with us before please contact our sales team at info@trutravels.com.

Our Essentials trips are exclusively built for travellers aged 18-29! Don't worry if this isn't you - our incredible Classic, Flashpacker, Limited Edition, Multi-country and Ski tours are open to everyone under 45! There's a perfect style of tour for everyone - happy browsing!

Yep! You will never lose your money. You’re protected. TruTravels is both ABTA and ATOL registered meaning your money is safe.