{"id":355664,"date":"2026-07-08T22:58:04","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T22:58:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/adventure\/top-things-to-know-when-solo-traveling-in-kyrgyzstan\/"},"modified":"2026-07-08T22:58:04","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T22:58:04","slug":"top-things-to-know-when-solo-traveling-in-kyrgyzstan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=355664","title":{"rendered":"Top things to know when solo traveling in Kyrgyzstan"},"content":{"rendered":"


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One of the most common things I got asked by others when I was solo traveling in Kyrgyzstan was how I was doing it.<\/p>\n

I found it a bit perplexing as we were in the same country so it\u2019s not like they were asking from afar.<\/p>\n

All of those that asked me that were taking part in organised tours<\/a><\/strong>. I have nothing against those tours, and I met several great guides when I was there that shared many stories. I simply don\u2019t enjoy taking part of them myself but that\u2019s not the point of this post so let\u2019s get into some pointers to help you plan your next solo trip to Kyrgyzstan!<\/p>\n

NOTE: This blog contains affiliate links to pages selling products and\/or services, I may get a small commission if you make a purchase through these links at no extra cost for you<\/span><\/em>. There\u2019s no sponsored content on this blog.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the language in Kyrgyzstan?<\/h2>\n

Kyrgyz is the local language and pretty much everyone I met spoke Russian as well. English is not really that common and in my two weeks traveling in Kyrgyzstan I only found a couple of people that spoke it well so make sure to download offline translators just in case.<\/p>\n

Even with online translators be prepared for \u201cfunny\u201d scenarios such as these instructions I \u201cread\u201d at Issyk Kul lake.<\/p>\n

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Screenshot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Currency in Kyrgyzstan<\/h2>\n

The Kyrgyz Som is the local currency. You will find ATMs at the airport and also in the cities and large towns, do not take for granted that cards will be accepted or that you will find cash in smaller villages.<\/p>\n

Keep reading for a few examples of prices I paid so you get an idea of how much to budget, spoiler alert, it\u2019s pretty cheap to go solo traveling in Kyrgyzstan, it will get a lot more expensive (by far!) if you join tours.<\/p>\n

\"Osh\"Osh<\/figure>\n

How\u2019s the internet in Kyrgyzstan? Do you need a SIM card?<\/h2>\n

I found fairly reliable wifi in most of the guesthouses I stayed at. Some were pretty good if you\u2019re a digital nomad, but that obviously depends on where you go. Don\u2019t expect good or any internet at all if you\u2019re hiking in the mountains.<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t get a SIM card as I can happily travel just connecting to the wifi at hostels and guesthouses but you will find a few options to get a SIM when you land at the airport. Alternatively, get an e-Sim and you will be sorted by the time you land.<\/p>\n

Is Kyrgyzstan safe?<\/h2>\n

In my experience I found it very safe. You can still find some locals (not all) trying to inflate the prices, but that\u2019s not related to safety.<\/p>\n

Across Bishkek, villages and mountains I didn\u2019t really see any \u201cdodgy business\u201d happening and the locals are for the most part very welcoming even with language barriers.<\/p>\n

\"BIshkek\"BIshkek<\/figure>\n

How to travel around Kyrgyzstan?<\/h2>\n

Similar as when I was traveling in Georgia<\/a><\/strong>, you can easily travel in Kyrgyzstan with Martshrukas which are small mini vans that normally (but not always) depart from a bus station once they get filled up.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not always easy to find information online about the Martshrukas but asking at your guesthouse or hotel and also by going to the bus stations you will be able to find all the info you need. They\u2019re pretty cheap even for long journeys. I\u2019ll add some sample prices below.<\/p>\n

There are lots of them everywhere you go and it\u2019s really easy to travel around the country. You just have to be aware that as timetables are mostly non-existent you need to be flexible with your schedules.<\/p>\n

\"martshruka\"martshruka<\/figure>\n

During the summer there\u2019s a train connecting Bishkek with Balykchy and you can also find some trains going to Kazakhstan.<\/p>\n

In Bishkek there\u2019s a large bus network as well, with tickets costing 20 SOM.<\/p>\n

You can also download the Yandex app which is the alternative to Uber available in Kyrgyzstan.<\/p>\n

Can you go Hitchhiking in Kyrgyzstan?<\/h2>\n

I was quite surprised when I learnt that hitchhiking is not super common in Kyrgyzstan and some locals will ask you to pay for the ride as if it was a taxi (I experienced that once) so just beware yourself of this fact.<\/p>\n

I hitchhiked just 3 times when I was in Kyrgyzstan and only once I got the driver asking for money.<\/p>\n

Apart from that, I found it fairly quick to get someone to stop and give me a ride. Chances are that if you\u2019re hitchhiking you may see a few Martshrukas as well and they\u2019re a very cheap method of transportation.<\/p>\n

\"bread\"bread<\/figure>\n

How\u2019s food in Kyrgyzstan?<\/h2>\n

I loved everything I tried, from meals at restaurants or at guesthouses, I found the food delicious. You can expect a lot of meat and pastries\/breads.<\/p>\n

Some dishes you must try when you go traveling in Kyrgyzstan are Beshbarmak (national dish of the country), Laghman noodles (can be with soup or dry), Plov (a rice dish which is common in Central Asia) and Samsa which are the most delicious pastries you can have for breakfast.<\/p>\n

They have some slightly weird drinks in Kyrgyzstan, they seem to like fermented stuff which I haven\u2019t tried before. I didn\u2019t \u201cenjoy\u201d them so much but it was nice to try the Kymyz, Maksym, Chalap, Aralash and Jarma.<\/p>\n

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\"Having\"Having<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Can you go solo traveling in Kyrgyzstan or do you need a tour guide?<\/h2>\n

I traveled solo and found it super easy and very safe. I met a few people that were taking part in organised tours<\/a><\/strong> and I\u2019m aware they can be pretty pricey so it all comes at your style of traveling.<\/p>\n

If you join a tour you will not need to worry about anything at all but I find it part of the adventure to figure out where to eat, how to get somewhere, and discover new places by talking to the locals rather than following a predetermined itinerary.<\/p>\n