Where to Stay in Kyrgyzstan (2026 COOLEST Areas!)

Regardless of whether you’re looking for an authentic horse trekking experience, some nomadic yurt life, or a spot of epic mountain hiking, Kyrgyzstan has a lot to offer. And the best place to base yourself depends on what interests you most in this “hidden gem” that won’t be hidden much longer.

From the Soviet throwback city of Bishkek, to horse adventures in the Karakol Valley, to nomadic yurt experiences by Song Kul Lake, to Islamic vibes in Osh, here’s a little overview of the top spots to stay in this diverse country.

FIRST TIME IN KYRGYZSTAN

FIRST TIME IN KYRGYZSTAN

Issyk Kul

Number one on many lists of the attractions of this country awash with natural beauty is Issyk Kul. The ‘hot lake’, as it translates from Kyrgyz, is a national treasure and a source of pride to its people.

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NIGHTLIFE

NIGHTLIFE

Bishkek

The capital of the country, and home to 25% of its people, Bishkek is an easy winner for where to stay in Kyrgyzstan for nightlife.

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FOR HIKING

FOR HIKING

Karakol

The whole of Kyrgyzstan is a hiker’s paradise, with trails and mountains every which way you turn. Karakol is the gem in the east, near Issyk Kul, and is our pick for the best place in Kyrgyzstan to stay for hiking.

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BEST AREA TO SLEEP IN A YURT

BEST AREA TO SLEEP IN A YURT

Song Kul

Song Kul is set in a vast grassy pasture land in the mountains, though the area itself is a flat plain. It’s where millenia of nomads have pitched their yurts for the summer grazing, and where you can pitch your yurt too!

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FOR FAMILIES

FOR FAMILIES

Arslanbob

Located in central Kyrgyzstan, near the Uzbek border, Arslanbob is a stunning village and region nestled in the mountains (where else!?). t’s best known for its enormous walnut forest, the largest walnut grove on earth, covering 11,000 hectares.

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FOR CULTURE

FOR CULTURE

Osh

Osh is in the Fergana Valley, in the south of Kyrgyzstan and is the second-largest city in the country, after Bishkek. It has over 3000 years of history and is where a number of cultures collide.

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We’ve taken Kyrgyzstan and filtered it into bite-sized pieces categorised by attraction just for you!

1. Issyk Kul – Where to Stay During your First Time in Kyrgyzstan

Number one on many lists of the attractions of this country awash with natural beauty is Issyk Kul. It is one of the THE places to visit in Kyrgyzstan.

The ‘hot lake’, as it translates from Kyrgyz, is a national treasure and a source of pride to its people. Its moniker comes from the fact that the waters of Issyk Kul never freeze, which is quite a feat in an area where January temperatures drop to 5°F!

The surrounding Tian Shan mountains provide a dramatic background for swimming, if the weather permits, and for hunting out the ancient petroglyphs (rock carvings) in the area. It’s bound to be on your itinerary for Kyrgyzstan.

You can also undertake a circumnavigation of the lake by car, to see it and its surroundings from every angle. Be warned though, this is the second-largest alpine lake in the world, and the trip will take you about nine hours! Let’s see what Issyk Kul is all about:

• Best For: Easing yourself into the nomadic Kyrgyz lifestyle in an environment that’s cool to see, but not too challenging.
• The Vibe: It’s calm and remote once you get away from the main road surrounding the lake. Surrounded more by nature than people.
• Proximity to Airport: Depends on where you come from, and which part of the lake you visit, but it’s a minimum of 4 hours from Manas Airport (Bishkek). Issyk-Kul International is on the northern shore.
• Transport Level: Moderate. There are marshrutkas coming through here every so often, generally on “leave when full” schedules. To leave the main road, you’ll have to book off-road transport in advance. Speak with your accommodation to arrange this.
• Budget: Surprisingly high. Kyrgyzstan is cheap overall, but yurt stays and horse riding will cost $40-50 each on average.
• Crowds: Very low. On many parts of the lake, you might see ~50 people a day on average.

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Things to See and Do in Issyk Kul:

1. Sunbathe on the beaches of Issyk Kul, taking a dip if you dare! Pro tip – the water is actually salty! Be warned, the altitude is higher here, which means you can easily be sunburned, so keep that in mind ahead of your Kyrgyz lakeside adventures.
2. Find petroglyphs on rocks in the area, evidence of ancient settlement and civilisation – some are 3500 years old! They’re located in Cholpon Ata on the northern shore, and have withstood thousands of years worth of weathering, which is pretty impressive in the harsh environment here.
3. Check out an impressive eagle-hunting demonstration. A classic Kyrgyz cultural activity. Unfortunately I found that the eagle displays around Issyk Kul are more tourist-oriented rather than authentic these days. It costs around $50, but you can split costs with a group.
4. Take a sunset cruise on the lake and make some new friends for your travels. You can get some cracking mountain views from the water here.
5. Party the night away in a discotheque in Cholpon Ata! Kyrgyzstan isn’t known for nightlife, but if you wanna get a bit tipsy, then there’s no better place to do so outside of Bishkek than here.

Tri Korony | Best Beachfront Hotel

Situated in Cholpon-Ata, Tri Korony is an easy drive from Bosteri and provides free wireless internet, a private dock and a private beach. It has a spa and wellness centre, as well as a sun deck, a swimming pool and a beauty centre. Staying at the hotel is fun for the whole family.

Villa Valentina Issyk-Kul | Best Hostel

Hostel life isn’t really a big thing in Kyrgyzstan… YET. It will surely be as this country blows up in popularity over the next few years. But you can still stay in this sweet little spot by the lake, where “dorm rooms” are really twin rooms, so you’re sharing with max one other person. A decent budget option for sure.

Sunny Beach Hotel | Best Budget Hotel

Spacious rooms and a solid breakfast. Throw in the fact that it only costs $20 a night, and you’re onto a winner. Solo travellers may prefer more of a hostel vibe, but for couples and friends, this spot is super budget-friendly, and has some cracking mountain views in the background.

Yurt Camp Beltam | Best Airbnb

Living in Kyrgyzstan, it can be quite a unique experience, especially when you visit the country for the first time. That’s why we chose this Airbnb. The Yurt is basic and clean but can be a bit of a culture shock for people that don’t expect it. That’s why there are western amenities like a toilet (how we know it), a tiny bar and hot water. Breakfast is included too.

2. Bishkek – Where to Stay in Kyrgyzstan for Nightlife

The capital of the country, and home to 25% of its people, Bishkek is an easy winner for where to base yourself for nightlife.

To get yourself set up for an evening out, you can head to a local cafe or restaurant and sample some local food (the best way to settle yourself into a new country). There are one or two western-style haunts too, for those used to creature comforts. 

Then there’s some craft beer pubs calling your name and some tasty drops that need sampling before you head out to check out the live music on offer (we say that Chicken Star is the place)!

And lastly, you’ve got a few underground nightclubs where you can dance until the early hours with travellers and locals alike!

You’ll need to fill your days of course too, so there’s Osh Bazaar to shop and browse local products and crafts. And if you’re of an active inclination, there are hiking trails and canyons within easy reach of the city. 

• Best For: Anyone looking for an easy introduction to Kyrgyzstan before getting stuck into the rugged adventure spots.
• The Vibe: Soviet vibes still exist here. Overall, Bishkek is a bit gloomy. If you’ve been to Kazakhstan’s Almaty, Bishkek is like a less eventful version of that, with fewer amenities.
• Proximity to Airport: The city centre is a 40-minute Yandex Go (local Uber equivalent) ride away.
• Transport Level: Good. Yandex Go is cheap and easy to use (once you’ve set it up). Everywhere around the centre is walkable, and marshrutkas will take you elsewhere in Kyrgyzstan.
• Budget: Cheap. Bishkek has a ton of VERY budget-friendly restaurants, and food here won’t put a dent in your bank balance.
• Crowds: Moderate. As the capital city, Bishkek has a few people around. But this isn’t London or New York. A busy part of Bishkek isn’t on the same level as Times Square.

Things to See and Do in Bishkek:

1. Pick up some souvenirs or something tasty at Osh Bazaar, the large local marketplace. I loved the vibe here, it feels very authentic and we didn’t see any other foreigners. It has a slight reputation for pickpocketing, and can be crowded in places, so we recommend keeping an eye on valuables here.
2. Try real local food at restaurants. Vegans and vegetarians will need a plan in place, as the cuisine is based heavily on meat and dairy. Central Asian favourites include plov (meat, rice and carrots, although we found the Kyrgyz version often had onions too) and shashlik (basically meat skewers).
3. Check out one or two of the new craft beer bars in the city. Brewster is our fave, nestled just below ground level, with a ton of beers on offer, and they only cost around $3 on average.
4. Listen to live music at Chicken Star or Promzona Club. Chicken Star is a Korean restaurant by day, but transforms into a music hotspot on a Friday night when local bands come down and play absolute bangers until the early hours.
5. Explore the Soviet architecture around Ala-Too Square and surrounding areas. I won’t pretend Bishkek is the most action-packed city when it comes to tourist attractions, but this is one of the few Central Asian capitals that still carries some USSR vibes.

Asia Hotel | Best Hotel in Bishkek

We stayed in this nice little hotel for our final few nights before flying to Osh. For couple, families or friend groups, it’s budget-friendly, and they offer an included buffet breakfast every morning, with a rotating menu on offer. Staff are helpful too and some speak English, so it’s easy to get by here. 

Kushtar | Best Budget Hostel

What can you do with $6 in your home country? Maybe buy a burger if you’re lucky. Well in Bishkek, it gets you a nice hostel bed for the night in a spot where you’re centrally located, the host is very helpful, and there are several bathrooms here, so you don’t need to worry about waiting if you need a shower or the loo. Only real negative is that the Wi-Fi is pretty bad here.

Zam Zam Hostel | Best Budget Hotel

Despite the name, this is more of a hotel. Weirdly enough, dorm beds are massively overpriced, but private rooms are very affordable here, and you get a private bathroom thrown in too. Now that’s what we call a good deal! It’s very clean, close to several restaurants, and not too far from the centre. For privacy on a budget, this spot is simply unbeatable.

Comfortable Double Room | Best Airbnb

We stayed here for our first few days in the capital. It’s affordable, quiet, comfortable, a minute away from a decent mini supermarket, and the host was very responsive. He even helped dig us out of a hole when we didn’t have enough cash for the taxi, and he paid remotely despite not being on site. This is an unstaffed hostel with keypad access. The only downside is that it’s a 1-hour walk from the centre.

3. Karakol – Best Area to Stay in Kyrgyzstan for Hiking

The whole of Kyrgyzstan is a hiker’s paradise, with trails and mountains every which way you turn.

Karakol is the gem in the east, near Issyk Kul, and is our pick for the best place in Kyrgyzstan for hiking. 

You can experience the true Kyrgyz hospitality here, and may well be invited into the homes of locals to share in a meal. If not, there are options for tours to do just that, where you can learn about history and culture while sampling the delicious local delicacies!

But for hiking, it’s the Tian Shan mountains you’ve come here for! There are hikes for every skill level, from short trips of only a couple of hours to more demanding trails requiring several nights’ stays.

For equipment, there are local rental places, and guides to take you through the misty mountains, so you need not lug your gear internationally. 

The best thing is, the Kyrgyzstan hiking trails are still relatively untouched, with no hordes descending in high season, like you may have experienced elsewhere. 

• Best For: Easy access to nature. The food isn’t bad here either.
• The Vibe: It’s not the busiest city in the world. Can be a bit gloomy in Karakol itself, but once you get to the surrounding nature spots, it’s pretty majestic!
• Proximity to Airport: Karakol Airport is literally a 20-minute walk from the centre.
• Transport Level: Karakol is small enough to walk around. Marshrutkas will take you to other destinations, although Yandex Go exists if you want to get around the city and nearby spots.
• Budget: Very cheap. Accommodations and food are super budget-friendly. Activities outside the city will set you back a little more however.
• Crowds: It’s a city, but a pretty quiet one so you won’t see tons of people here. There is a small backpacking scene, but Kyrgyzstan is still pretty under-the-radar on the tourist circuit.

Things to See and Do in Karakol:

1. Experience dinner with a local Dungan family. The ethnically Chinese group escaped persecution in this Kyrgyz haven. Yet if you get to know them, you may even be invited into their homes for a meal.
2. Explore the historic city streets and markets. Karakol is small but cool. My fave spot is the Holy Trinity Cathedral, an Orthodox church that looks very different to what you’ll find in the west.
3. Go hiking! It’s why you’re here after all. The Karakol Valley reminded me of Switzerland. Except I fell off a horse whilst riding there as the horses are poorly trained. Lesson Learned. You can enjoy the beauty safely by going for a trek instead, heading through the forests, lakes and mountains.
4. Take a trip to Issyk Kul, just to the west of the city. Scroll up to read our tips on this fun lake and all it has to offer.
5. Powder! Head to the mountains for skiing or snowboarding in wintertime. Kyrgyzstan is wayyyy cheaper than the Alps, and doesn’t attract the mad crowds that Europe’s biggest hotspots receive once the white stuff hits.

Riverside Karakol | Best Hotel

Riverside Karakol offers complimentary Wi-Fi and provides a 24-hour reception and a swimming pool. Guests of the bed & breakfast have access to its wide range of outdoor activities, including horse riding and hiking. In fine weather, an outdoor terrace provides an ideal spot to relax. Staff are great here and really helped with arranging tours.

Hostel Ask | Best Budget Private Room

It’s not often that you can find private rooms for cheaper prices than shared dorms, but that’s what you can find here. The Wi-Fi is great too, and that can be a rarity outside of Bishkek and Osh. Another plus point is the hot showers here. Trust me when I say that’s a luxury. Kyrgyzstan gives you adventures over comfort.

KbH – Karakol based Hostel | Best Hostel

It costs just a few bucks to stay here, and unlike many Kyrgyzstan hostels, this one actually has a top notch social vibe! It’s clean, has good lockers, and staff were more than happy to look after our luggage during hiking days. One of the hottest hostels in the country, and it’s located close to the local cafes and restaurants.

Agin Guest House | Best Airbnb

This Airbnb is truly a home far away from home. The family make you feel very welcome, and will serve up breakfast every morning, a common theme amongst Central Asian guesthouses. It’s very close to the centre here, so you’re close to everything you need. In fact it only takes half an hour to walk here from the airport, and much less from the bus station, so the location here is great.

4. Song Kul – Best Area to Sleep in a Yurt in Kyrgyzstan

Song Kul is set in a vast grassy pasture land in the mountains, though the area itself is a flat plain. It’s where many nomads have pitched their yurts for the summer grazing, and where you can pitch your yurt too! Coming here is one of the best things you can do in Kyrgyzstan.

The Song Kul  (or Song Kol) lake itself is the second largest, after Issyk Kul, and the largest freshwater one, incidentally.

This area is accessed by roads coming from a multitude of directions through the mountains. Well, you can also get there by 2-3 day hike from a nearby town if you’re keen!

Every summer, many yurts are advertised as available as a place to stay by signboards outside. To book ahead can be tricky, so we’ve got a few options for you below. After all, Song Kul really is the best area in Kyrgyzstan to spend a night or two in a yurt.

It’s got the double whammy of the novelty factor, while also being an authentic cultural experience where you’ll likely be witness to, or part of, a normal evening and morning of a nomadic Kyrgyz family. 

• Best For: Anyone who’s up for an adventure and wants to dive head-first into the nature spots of Kyrgyzstan.
• The Vibe: It’s very remote, but a challenging environment with strong winds outside your yurt, but this is where you come for an authentic Kyrgyzstan experience.
• Proximity to Airport: Nowhere near. Kazarman and Naryn are the nearest airports, both with flights only from Bishkek. You really need a marshrutka to Kochkor, then a private transfer to the lake.
• Transport Level: Non-existent. You’ll need to pay a driver with a sturdy off-road vehicle to get here, and make sure you also arrange how to get back, as there’s no internet at all by Song Kul.
• Budget: Expensive by local standards. Yurt camps and horse riding cost tourist trap prices. There are zero shops, restaurants or upmarket comfort options.
• Crowds: Almost zero. When we went, we saw less than 10 people, all guests at our yurt camp. Aside from yurt camps, you’re surrounded by nothingness on all sides for miles.

Things to See and Do in Song Kul:

1. Sleep in a yurt. Obviously! You can get the full nomadic experience here. Fortunately, your hosts know a thing or two about yurt life, and will heat the stove overnight. It gets freezing cold in the winter, so stack up the blankets and enjoy this unique living arrangement.
2. Splash yourself with the waters of Song Kul. Take a dip if you’re tough enough! Make sure it’s safe first though. The waters can be very choppy when the winds are strong. We only recommend swimming in summertime when waters are calmer up here.
3. Hike around the lake. There are several options here and you’ll have your cosy yurt to return to in the evening! You can explore the rugged scenery, with mountains surrounding the lake, and vast nothingness for miles. The only civilisation you’ll find are other yurt camps.
4. Play football with local kids, hanging around the campsites. With no shops, restaurants, internet, or other forms of comfort and entertainment, you can get stuck into the great outdoors instead! Many yurt camps have mini nets or goals where you can get in touch with your sporty side.
5. Eat a local dinner with the family living in your yurt, if a small-scale operation. Yurt camps tend to have one tent set up for communal dinners. You sit on the floor around a table, and tuck into meat, rice, and other basic staples whilst getting to know locals, if they speak English (admittedly a rarity).
6. Ride a horse. My tip is to come in the summer time, because we arrived literally at the end of the season before camps shut down for winter (October 1st) and the livestock had already left by then. In peak season however, you can book a horse riding experience in one of the coolest spots!

Yurt Camp NUREL | Best Authentic Experience

A true Kyrgyz yurt experience. It’s rough and rugged with zero electricity, internet signal or hot water. You can’t even shower here. What you can do is stay in a yurt, book a horse riding experience if you wish, or chill with the family and enjoy a good dinner with them. You stay here for the experience rather than for creature comforts.

Jusup Guest House | Best Hostel

If you want something a little cheaper and more comfortable than a yurt camp, then this little hostel hits the sweet spot in Dzhangyaryk, just around the corner from the lake. It’s a family-run place, and they’re super helpful here, able to assist you with transport to/from Song Kul, Bishkek and other destinations, as well as arranging horse trekking tours around the lake.

Yurtcamp Rahat | Best Yurt Camp

As with any property on the lake, this is a yurt camp, which means sacrificing creature comforts and getting used to life without electricity. Sorry guys, but you’re gonna have to go without TikTok for a day. I’m sure you’ll forget it quickly though when you’re riding horses, tucking into dinner with the family running this camp, and feeling the winds breezing through your hair outside.

5. Arslanbob – Best Place in Kyrgyzstan for Families

Located in central Kyrgyzstan, near the Uzbek border, Arslanbob is a stunning village and region nestled in the mountains (where else!?). 

It’s best known for its enormous walnut forest, the largest walnut grove on earth, covering 11,000 hectares. The walnut was Kyrgyzstan’s first export to Europe and is what helped to put this alpine country on the map.

It’s a fantastic area for families to explore and the best place to stay in Kyrgyzstan with kids.

Part of this comes down to its small size. In a village of only 12,000 people, exploration is manageable for all ages. And with that comes friendly interactions. People just going about their daily tasks will have time for a smile and a greeting, or a wave from the car trundling up the rocky road.

If you’re visiting in summer you may find the amusement park open. There’s a bunch of open air rides, next door to the local swimming pool. Just keep an ear out for the music to guide you. The kids will thank you!

• Best For: People who want a taste of Kyrgyzstan’s nature on “easy” difficulty.
• The Vibe: It’s quiet up in the mountains. If you’re familiar with the 7 Lakes in neighbouring Tajikistan, the vibe in Arslanbob is similar.
• Proximity to Airport: It’s a 90-minute drive from Jalal-Abad International Airport. Although only one weekly flight lands there, meaning the 5-hour drive from Osh is a better bet.
• Transport Level: You’ll need to get here by marshrutka. It’s pretty cut off from the major cities, so don’t expect a nice bus network running here.
• Budget: Very budget-friendly. Accommodation and food is pretty affordable down here.
• Crowds: Very quiet. As with much of the country, it’s just you, nature, and a handful of villagers found here.

Things to See and Do in Arslanbob:

1. Visit the fairground and take the most stunning ferris wheel ride of your life. Fairy floss mandatory, of course! How many fairgrounds have you visited up in a remote mountain village? Probably not many, huh?
2. Take a walk through the walnut forest, and sneak one or two to nibble on, if you’re in season. It’s normally in autumn, around September/October time that locals will flock to the forests to gather the annual harvest round here, and you can join them!
3. Hike through the mountain passes near the area. This is Kyrgyzstan, so of course you’re gonna hit the mountains up here and check out the rugged mountainous surroundings.
4. Check out the beautiful waterfalls in the region, named Big Waterfall and Small Waterfall. No prizes for guessing how they got those names.
5. Relax into the slow-paced mountain life and try to immerse yourself in local life. It’s super chilled up here, the villagers just potter around doing their own thing. There’s no wild city culture with endless movement and big parties, so why not just enjoy it?

Riverside Guest House Mashkhur | Best Hotel

In true Kyrgyz fashion, the family running this place are super welcoming, and will give you breakfast every day. For an extra 500 som, they’ll even whip up a mean plov for dinner. The clue is in the name, but this guesthouse is right by a river. And you can hear the water gently gushing down the mountains as you wake up.

Friendship (guest house) | Best Hostel

Situated in Arslanbob, Friendship (guest house) features free WiFi, and guests can enjoy a garden and ski-to-door access. If you would like to discover the area, skiing is possible in the surroundings and the homestay can arrange a ski equipment rental service.

Light of Heart Homestay | Best Homestay

Another family-run spot, and this one’s really good! It’s clean and modern on the inside, which is a rarity in rural Central Asian mountain villages. After all, this is the land of hardy adventurers. You’ll be sleeping on a mattress at floor level here, which is more comfortable than it sounds. But overall this is a great spot to base yourself up in Arslanbob.

6. Osh – Best Place in Kyrgyzstan for Culture

Osh is in the Fergana Valley, in the south of Kyrgyzstan and is the second-largest city in the country, after Bishkek. It has over 3000 years of history and is where a number of cultures collide.

Marking a significant stop on the ancient pathway between Asia and Europe, Osh was considered the halfway point of the Silk Road.

When you consider travel times in those days, you can imagine the atmosphere when this milestone was reached from either direction!

With all cultural melting pots comes one incredible outcome… a fantastic variety of foods.

There are 80 ethnic groups that consider Osh home and as many traditional cuisines or styles of cooking. Try the Oshski Samsa, a dough pocket stuffed with tasty fillings and cooked in a clay oven.

Nearby Suleiman mountain (the local spelling of the biblical Solomon) is a significant religious site that deserves attention and respect. As a bonus, it’s also incredibly picturesque and the outstanding hike of the region. You’ll see ancient rituals in a modern context and have that sense of witnessing history in action. 

• Best For: Using as a connecting point between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan or Tajikistan.
• The Vibe: Kyrgyzstan has a 90% Islamic population. You won’t feel that in most of the country, but it’s certainly more apparent in Osh where locals wear more cultural clothing, and mosques are found.
• Proximity to Airport: It’s just over 20 minutes away from the airport. Flights are frequent, and Yandex Go works well at all hours. Easy to get to the city from here.
• Transport Level: High. There are buses, marshrutkas, Yandex Go, and walking is pretty easy. Osh is Kyrgyzstan’s second-biggest city after Bishkek.
• Budget: Low. We found a really affordable B&B here. There are also several hostels and budget-friendly hotels, plus a wide range of restaurants.
• Crowds: Moderate. It’s a city, so you get crowds, but it’s also a Kyrgyz city, and if you’ve been reading all the way through, you’ll realise that means minimal people by city standards.

Things to See and Do in Osh:

1. Try the various foods on offer. With more of an Uzbek flair, Osh has more in common with Kyrgyzstan’s neighbour, which makes sense given the border crossing is at the edge of this city.
2. Hike Sulayman Mountain and step back in time. This is a pretty easy hike. I didn’t even need hiking boots to come up here, trainers were enough. It gets busy though. We even saw several kids at the top, which gives you an idea of the difficulty level.
3. Wander the old paths of the Silk Road. As you head further south, you’re moving down from Soviet Kyrgyzstan towards Silk Road Kyrgyzstan. Osh gives you a taste of what’s to come if you follow this ancient route down through Uzbekistan.
4. Take a day trip to nearby town Uzgen. You’ll find a ton of Islamic architecture here, including mausoleums. It’s different to the Timurid architecture in Uzbekistan, and the Soviet feel you’ll find in Bishkek.

Sunrise Osh | Best Hotel

There are a range of amenities available to guests of the hotel, such as a tour desk, swimming pool and room service. It also offers a safe, a laundry service and a car rental desk. There are 50 rooms at Sunrise Osh, each offering all the necessities to ensure a comfortable stay. 

Astoria B&B | Best B&B

We spent a few days here before heading to Uzbekistan. The private rooms are lovely and spacious, although I wasn’t fond of a big gap under the door, through which you could hear a lot of outside noise. They put on a mini buffet for breakfast every morning. My tip: arrive early as there are only a few seats in the small kitchen here. It’s clean and the hosts were friendly. Recommend this one for sure.

Navi Hostel | Best Hostel

A rare “proper hostel” in Kyrgyzstan, where you’re more likely to find family-run homestays. I love Navi Hostel because they have privacy curtains on the beds, which is great for having a bit of “me time” away from other people. The lockers are large, it’s clean here, and there’s even a small social area, even if this isn’t the most sociable hostel you’ll ever stay in.

A Room With the View of the River | Best Airbnb

Different cultures are always worth experiencing. Osh is a great city to do that, and this Airbnb will make your stay even better. The host speaks fluent English here, and you can enjoy a private shower with a bit of comfort. A refreshing change after several weeks in the wilderness.

Kyrgyzstan is a rugged country where it’s easy to have an accident. I should know after falling off a horse here. Ha. Fortunately, I had insurance. It wasn’t necessary on that occasion, but may be in the future if you upset Mother Nature during your trip.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

Kyrgyzstan is a treat for the senses and the soul, and there are endless reasons to visit this country.  Its untouched beauty will speak to the heart of every traveller, though the paths may not be as easy if you’re one used to the luxurious side of life.

Really, where you base yourself depends on what you want out of this country. For city life, you can opt for either the Soviet feel of Bishkek, or Islamic vibes down in Osh. For nature experiences, anywhere else in this guide is good to stay. If you want that authentic yurt experience, I suggest Song Kul or Issyk Kul.

This awesome country has a ton to offer, from horse riding and hiking to the local culture and more. So book that flight ASAP, and start booking a few spots we mentioned to maximise your experience in one of the world’s most underrated countries.

So that’s it from our travel team, and our tips and tricks for travel in Kyrgyzstan. 

Just make sure you try the fermented mare’s milk. Cheers!