Moscow and Bishkek are connected by regular flights of Kyrgyzstan Airlines, S7 and Aeroflot. Boards of “Kyrgyzstan Airlines” take to the air 4 times a week, the travel time is just over 4 hours. Aeroflot makes one flight daily and two flights on Wednesday and Friday from Sheremetyevo-F. On S7 wings, you can get to Bishkek only with an intermediate landing in Novosibirsk. Residents of the northern capital can arrive in Bishkek on Wednesdays with the help of Kyrgyzstan Airlines and on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays with Aeroflot. Travel time is about 5 hours. From Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnoyarsk and Novosibirsk, you can also arrive in Osh by direct flight.
Citizens of Belarus and Ukraine will have to get to Kyrgyzstan with a transfer – in Moscow, Tashkent or Almaty. For Kyrgyzstan climate and geography, please check TopPharmacySchools.
Visa to Kyrgyzstan
Citizens of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine do not need a visa to visit Kyrgyzstan. But it is still worthwhile to issue a medical insurance policy for the entire duration of the trip in advance.
Customs
Import and export of foreign and national currencies is not limited, but a declaration is required. Duty-free you can import 1000 cigarettes and 1.5 liters of spirits, personal items within the limits of individual needs and any goods worth up to 5000 USD. It is forbidden to import weapons and ammunition, explosives and poisonous substances, drugs and narcotic drugs, pornography and any materials that offend the norms of Islam. The export of minerals and rocks is possible only with the permission of the relevant services, gold and jewelry – upon presentation of documents confirming the purchase.
Money and currency exchange
The monetary unit of the country is the Kyrgyz som (KGS), in 1 som there are 100 tyiyn. Current exchange rate: 1 KGS = 0.72 RUB (1 USD = 79.5 KGS, 1 EUR = 83.64 KGS).
You can exchange currency at bank branches and licensed exchange offices. Banks are usually open from 9:00 to 17:00 from Monday to Friday; “exchangers” – much longer and without days off. Dollars are more readily accepted for exchange, while the most favorable rate is for bills of 100 and 50 USD. However, the European currency can also be easily exchanged in Bishkek and Osh. It is recommended to change the currency in the capital, as the rate may be lower in the provinces.
You can easily withdraw money from a bank card in Bishkek and Osh, in other cities it can be difficult to find an ATM. By the way, cars give out both soms and dollars. You can pay with a credit card only in a few large hotels, restaurants and shops in the Kyrgyz capital.
Useful phone numbers
Embassy of Kyrgyzstan in Moscow: st. Bolshaya Ordynka, 64; tel.: (499) 237-48-82, 237-46-01; website; consular department: st. Bolshaya Ordynka, 62/1; tel.: (499) 238-50-69, 237-43-91
Embassy of Russia in Bishkek: Manas Ave., 55; tel.: (312) 610-905, 610-891, 612-614 (consular department); Web site
Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Osh: st. K.Bobulova (Patrice Lumumba), 77; tel.: (3222) 263-04
Fire department – 101, police – 102, ambulance – 103, rescue service – 161, information – 109
You can live the nomadic life of a real Kyrgyz by going to the high mountain pastures “jailoo” – a healthy sleep under the canopy of a yurt, a cup of koumiss in the morning and all day in the fresh air – this is the guarantee of Asian health.
Transport
The most popular way to travel between cities and villages in Kyrgyzstan is buses and fixed-route taxis. The first depart de jure according to the schedule, and de facto – when the cabin is filled to the maximum, the second set off only when all passenger seats are occupied. Minibuses are slightly more expensive than buses. If you want to go immediately, you can simply pay for the remaining seats. By the same principle, a minibus can be rented for the whole day at an agreed price.
Domestic flights of Kyrgyzstan Airlines connect Bishkek with Osh (four times a day, 1 hour in flight), Jalalabad and Batken.
By rail, you can move between Balykchy, Tokmok, Bishkek and Kara-Balta. Trains are half the price of minibuses, but the journey is twice as long.
In the cities of Kyrgyzstan, it is worth traveling by taxi – they are not at all expensive.
Rent a Car
In general, car rental in Kyrgyzstan is not common, but you can still find a car for rent. The largest selection is in Bishkek. When renting, keep in mind that the roads in the country are not in the best condition, some remarkable places are completely off the “paved paths”, so it’s better to look for a 4×4 all-wheel drive car. The rental price is from 18 USD per day.
