FAQ
List of items prohibited for importation into the Republic of Kyrgyzstan
List of items prohibited for export from the Republic of Kyrgyzstan
- All types of weapons and ammunition, as well as military equipment.
- Narcotic and psychotropic substances.
- Cancelled securities.
- Works of art and antiquities (paintings, sculpture, drawings, watercolors, various types of engravings, miniatures, items made of porcelain, crystal, ceramics, wood, leather, precious and non-precious stones and metals, bone, items of folk art crafts, carpets, tapestries, furniture, artistic clothing and footwear, numismatics, artistic weapons, books, manuscripts, gramophone records, musical instruments, tools, postage stamps, etc.) and other items representing art and antiquities. ) and other items of significant artistic, historical, scientific, or other cultural value.
Note: The items specified in this paragraph may be exported only with special permission of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan with payment of customs duty in the amount of 100 percent of the valuation indicated in the export permit.
- Films, cassettes, disks with records of films, video programs containing information that may harm the interests of the state, as well as the rights of citizens.
- Horns of saigas, red deer, spotted deer, and musk deer, as well as skins of spotted deer and snow leopards.
Note: 1) The items specified in this paragraph may be exported by foreign trade organizations under special permits; 2) Foreign tourists who have hunting licenses are allowed to export the mentioned items as hunting trophies.
- Other items, the export of which is prohibited by the legislation of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan.
Transportation across the customs border of objects of fauna and flora listed in the Red Book of the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as their derivatives, is punishable by imprisonment for a term of three to seven years with confiscation of property. (Derivative should be understood as a derivative of something, a product of something. For example: skins, souvenirs made from bones, and other materials of rare animals).
List of forbidden souvenirs to export from Kyrgyz Republic
- Cultural values not subject to export (shipment) from the Kyrgyz Republic.
The following items of historical, scientific, artistic, or other cultural value are not subject to export (shipment) from the Kyrgyz Republic:
- Cultural values, regardless of the time of their creation, are protected by the state and included in the protection lists and registers in the manner prescribed by the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic.
- Cultural values representing artistic, historical, and other cultural values and classified by the legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic as especially valuable objects of the cultural heritage of the peoples of the Kyrgyz Republic, regardless of the form of ownership and the time of their creation.
- Cultural values permanently stored in state and municipal museums, archives, libraries, and other state repositories of cultural values of the Kyrgyz Republic.
- Values associated with historical events and the development of society and the state, as well as those related to the life and work of prominent personalities.
- Components and fragments of architectural, historical, artistic monuments and monuments of monumental art.
- Items and their fragments obtained as a result of archaeological excavations (authorized and unauthorized) or archaeological discoveries and finds.
- Icons and objects of religious worship made before the middle of the 19th century and having significant historical or artistic value.
- Unique items of all eras, made of gold, platinum, natural precious stones (diamond, ruby, sapphire, emerald, pearl, alexandrite), which are more than 50 years old.
We recognize that the sexual exploitation of children is a worldwide problem. In all our actions and operations, we actively oppose all forms of sexual exploitation of children around the world.
Please report incidents of sexual or any other form of exploitation and harassment, especially of children and adolescents, to your guide.
Tourist Checklist
Prepare for your journey with our essential Tourist Checklist! Whether you're exploring bustling cities or rugged landscapes, our checklist covers everything you need for a seamless and memorable trip.
How to be a responsible traveler?
At Kyrgyz Life, our goal is to develop sustainable tourism and uphold eco-friendly practices in organizing trips. As responsible travelers, it’s essential to minimize our impact on the environment and local communities.
Please follow these sustainable tips:
Please follow these sustainable tips:
- Try not to harm nature and places where you travel. Do not leave trash behind and treat the nature and architecture of the places you visit with care. When traveling to remote locations, use biodegradable shampoos, soaps, laundry detergents, and sunscreen. If possible, take other people’s trash with you.
- Try to use the services of residents, buy local products and souvenirs. By investing in the local economy, you support people’s livelihoods, culture, and self-reliance.
- Respect the culture and traditions of the local people.
- Spread this information and bring it to as many people as possible.
Security
Kyrgyzstan is a fairly safe and tourist-friendly country. However, as with everything, there are some things you need to know to feel as comfortable and safe as possible.
In the Kyrgyz Republic, number 112 is a single call number for emergency response services:
In the Kyrgyz Republic, number 112 is a single call number for emergency response services:
- Fire department
- Emergency response
- Militia
- Emergency medical care
- Gas network emergency service
Road Safety
A significant number of tourists visiting Kyrgyzstan note that the level of driving in the country is rather low. Traffic rules are often violated, pedestrians cross the road in the wrong places, and drivers may ignore pedestrians and cyclists. Therefore, when coming to Kyrgyzstan, it is important to remember that the rules do not replace common sense. When crossing the road, always look to the sides, and while driving a car, be as careful as possible. When cycling, try to ride closer to the side of the road, and dismount when crossing intersections and pedestrian crossings.
Pickpockets and Scammers
Theft is not a particular problem in Kyrgyzstan, nor is fraud. However, in crowded places—such as public transport, at the market, etc.—valuables must be kept with you and under supervision. This applies to both a wallet, a mobile phone and other gadgets, as well as bags with luggage, backpacks, etc. If you are traveling around Kyrgyzstan on a bicycle, try not to leave it unattended, even with a fastened lock. It is also unsafe to leave valuables in a closed car in a visible place if you leave the car in crowded places. It is quite difficult to face any kind of fraud in everyday life in Kyrgyzstan. The most unsafe places in this regard are private currency exchange offices, therefore carefully count money when exchanging currency in such places.
Walks at Night
In large cities, walking at night can be quite a good pastime. However, it is better to beware of poorly lit places, as well as drunken companies, which, alas, can be met on the streets.
Taxi Ordering
On the streets of Kyrgyz cities at any time of the day, you can meet a lot of cars of private taxi drivers looking for customers. However, quite often they work for themselves and are not controlled by anyone, and therefore, for greater safety, it is better to use taxi services than to get into the first car on the street.
Alcohol and Soft Drinks
Kyrgyzstan is a country with quite a large amount of alcohol consumed per person. You can often see drunken companies on the streets, villages, etc. However, the country has quite clear rules for drinking alcohol. So, according to the law, you can not be in public places in a state of intoxication. It is also forbidden to drink alcohol in public places, except bars, cafes, and restaurants. Separately, it is worth mentioning the problem of drugs. Hemp, opium poppy (!), ephedra, and some other plants grow freely and in large quantities in the wild on the territory of Kyrgyzstan, which can be classified as narcotic drugs or raw materials for their production. You can often find hemp bushes even in large cities, including Bishkek. But, possession of narcotic substances in Kyrgyzstan is a criminal offense, and therefore, by picking and taking these plants with you, you are breaking the law. Therefore, it is better to refrain from such interactions, even for photography or anything else.
Appearance
Kyrgyzstan is a rather traditional country, with a large number of religious people. Therefore behavioral norms that are very different from local ones and an unusual appearance can attract undue attention, which can lead to negative consequences.
Keep this in mind.
Keep this in mind.
Mobile Communication and Internet
All populated areas of Kyrgyzstan are covered by GSM networks of mobile operators, of which there are three in the country. However, it is worth knowing that due to the large number of mountains and remote areas, there may be no connection. The mobile Internet is well developed, in large cities, there is a 3G and 4G Internet connection, and there are quite inexpensive unlimited tariffs from 100 soms per week. Ordinary Internet is also quite well developed. In large cities, many establishments have free Wi-Fi.
Money and Prices in Kyrgyzstan
The national currency in Kyrgyzstan is the Kyrgyz som, which is the only means of payment in the country. Cash is on the move. Exchange points in Bishkek and major cities of the regions are widely available. Credit cards, VISA, MasterCard and PayPal are accepted in hotels, restaurants and most banks in Bishkek.
The dollar to som exchange rate on January 27, 2024 = 89.30.
Currently, the som is represented by four denominations of coins (1, 3, 5 and 10 soms) and eight denominations of banknotes: 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000.
Kyrgyzstan is a fairly inexpensive country for a tourist, especially in comparison with popular tourist destinations. This is due to the low-income level of the population. Thus, the average price for an overnight stay in a hostel or hotel will vary from 800 to 2000 soms (330-1700 rubles), depending on their location and level of comfort. The average price for lunch in a cafe per person will be from 400 to 1000 soms (170-330 rubles). Travel by public transport in the city will cost 20 soms, and from 100 to 1,000 soms for long-distance routes.
The dollar to som exchange rate on January 27, 2024 = 89.30.
Currently, the som is represented by four denominations of coins (1, 3, 5 and 10 soms) and eight denominations of banknotes: 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000.
Kyrgyzstan is a fairly inexpensive country for a tourist, especially in comparison with popular tourist destinations. This is due to the low-income level of the population. Thus, the average price for an overnight stay in a hostel or hotel will vary from 800 to 2000 soms (330-1700 rubles), depending on their location and level of comfort. The average price for lunch in a cafe per person will be from 400 to 1000 soms (170-330 rubles). Travel by public transport in the city will cost 20 soms, and from 100 to 1,000 soms for long-distance routes.