It’s time to get excited!
Are you ready to visit two of the most underrated countries in the world?
We hope so, because you’re going to have an unforgettable time as we explore both Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Before you know it, you’ll be walking along the heart of the Silk Road, wandering through unbelievable ancient cities, soaking up the incredible nature and interacting with nomadic communities.
Entry Requirements
Passport Information
You will need a passport to travel to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Your passport should be valid until at least December 2023 and it needs to have 2 full empty pages.
If you don’t have empty pages, please contact us and we will send you instructions for getting a new passport in time for the tour.
Visa Information
➜ Kyrgyzstan – Citizens of the USA, EU countries, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand are allowed to enter Kyrgyzstan without a visa for stays of less than 60 days. As a result, no preparations are needed and you don’t need to obtain a tourist visa for this country.
➜ Uzbekistan – United States citizens require an “E-Visa“ to enter Uzbekistan. Getting your “E-Visa” is a simple process and it can be done online. As the tour gets closer, we will send specific instructions for obtaining your visa, as you cannot apply until 90 days before the trip starts. The process is straightforward and costs about $20 USD. Citizens of EU countries, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are allowed to enter Uzbekistan without a visa for stays of less than 30 days.
COVID Requirements
While travel restrictions and regulations are constantly changing around COVID-19, we are committed to ensuring the health and safety of our guests and will continue to closely monitor the situation around travel to both Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in the weeks leading up to the tour.
As of now, neither country requires a vaccination certificate or a PCR test to travel. If this changes, we will keep you informed. Please note that you may need to present a vaccination certificate and/or PCR test when traveling on certain airlines and when transiting through certain countries so please make sure you are up-to-date with the rules according to your travel plans.
Additional Immunizations
Neither Kyrgyzstan nor Uzbekistan require any immunizations to enter the country. However, as is the case when traveling to any country, it is always good to speak with a medical professional about what immunizations might be right for you and to ensure you are up-to-date with standard immunizations such as Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Tetanus.
Country Information
What Should You Expect?
Being two of the most underrated countries in the world, we understand that you may not know much about the region. However, rest assured that you’re going to have a blast on this 16 day adventure through Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
Although both countries are so close together, each one brings its own spice to the mix.
Kyrgyzstan’s nature is some of the world’s most dramatic, with a nomadic culture that calls the mountains, valleys and lakeshores home. The warmth of the Kyrgyz people is always on full display and will instantly become a highlight of this experience.
Uzbekistan, in the heart of the Silk Road, offers 10,000 years of deep history and traditional culture. You’ll find some of the most iconic architecture in the world, ancient mosques, local crafts and rewarding interactions everywhere you visit.
For those who venture to this region, you’ll soon see why these countries end up as favorites!
Tour Style
This Wander Across Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan tour is a laid-back experience. We have a plan in place, however, that plan is never set in stone and remains flexible at all times.
Accommodations and Transportation
We’ll be staying at a variety of accommodation that ranges form great guesthouses to mid-range hotels. All accommodations will be comfortable and include a private bathroom.
Traveling around both countries, we’ll use private vans. The vans will ensure flexibility during the trip, giving us access to areas that larger vehicles simply can’t go. We’ll also have one flight from Bishkek to Tashkent and one high-speed train journey in Uzbekistan.
Facts About Kyrgyzstan
➜ Population: 6.69 million people
➜ Religion: The predominant religion is Islam and is the religion of 90% of the population. The majority are Sunni, with less than 1% being Shia. Small minorities of Orthodox Christians, Jews and Buddhists also exist.
➜ Languages: Kyrgyz and Russian are both the official languages of Kyrgyzstan. English is not widely spoken but people living in larger cities will understand the basics.
➜ History: Kyrgyzstan has belonged to Turkic nomads, the Mongolian empire, the Russian Tsar Empire and the former USSR, gaining independence in 1991.
Facts About Uzbekistan
➜ Population: 34.9 million people
➜ Religion: The predominant religion is Islam and is the religion of 80% of the population. The majority are Sunni, with a small minority of Shia. Small minorities minorities of Orthodox Christians, Jews, Buddhists and Atheists.
➜ Languages: Uzbek is the official language of Uzbekistan. However, many native languages are spoken in the country, such as Turkic and Tajik. Russian is also widely spoken. English is not widely spoken, but people living in larger cities will understand the basics.
➜ History: The Uzbek ethnic group is one of the oldest living cultures on the planet. The territory has belonged to the first Persian Empire, the Greco-Bactrian kingdom, the Kushan state, the Mongolian Empire, the Russian Empire and the USSR, gaining independence in 1991.
Food and Water
➜ Kyrgyzstan: Tap water is safe for consumption in urban areas, but many travelers prefer to drink bottled water due to the taste. However, tap water is not safe to consume in rural areas. Brushing your teeth with tap water is okay throughout the country.
➜ Uzbekistan: Tap water in Uzbekistan is not ideal for drinking and you should always drink bottled water. Brushing your teeth with tap water is okay but many travelers choose to brush with bottle water instead.
All of the food provided during the tour will be completely safe to consume. Fruits and vegetables are always washed in filtered water. Street food at popular markets and food stalls is also safe to eat. We would only suggest avoiding street food from vendors where the food appears to have been sitting out for a long time. Most street food is cooked fresh though, so this should rarely be an issue.
Money
➜ Kyrgyzstan: The local currency in Kyrgyzstan is the Kyrgystani Som (KGS) The current exchange rate is $1 USD = 86 KGS.
➜ Uzbekistan: The local currency in Uzbekistan is the Uzbekistani Som (UZS) The current exchange rate is $1 USD = 11,325 UZS.
In terms of spending money, you should estimate an average of $30 USD per day for all of your needs. This would be for meals that are not included in the tour, basic purchases (laundry service, snacks, etc) as well as any activities you choose to do on your own.
As for exchanging money, the best method is via ATM machines which are located throughout urban areas in both countries. However, check with your bank at home as many banks charge high foreign transaction fees every time you withdraw money overseas.
If using an ATM is not an option, or the fees are too high, simply bring USD, Euros or GBP to exchange at money exchange offices in the cities.
Tipping
Tipping in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan is not as common as in the West but in some cases it is expected. Here’s a general guideline:
➜ Restaurants – 10% – 15% for excellent service and only if a service charge is not already added to the bill.
➜ Hotel staff – $1 USD – $2 USD if someone helps you with luggage or anything else.
➜ Our drivers – Before flying to Uzbekistan, we recommend that everyone gives a $25 USD tip for our drivers. We will collect this on Day 8 and give it to our drivers before we say goodbye to them. We’ll also collect a $15 USD tip on the last day for our drivers in Uzbekistan.
➜ Airport Driver – There is no need to tip your driver upon arrival
➜ Tour leader – If you wish to tip your tour leader, they will always be greatly appreciative.
*Tips for local guides and waitstaff at included meals are already included.
Safety
Both Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are very safe countries. The chances of anything happening are very slim as long as you use the same common sense you would use at home.
➜ Watch your stuff – Always keep an eye on your stuff and avoid putting a wallet or phone in your back pocket. Keep your purse or shoulder bag on your front hip and make sure the zippers are zipped on your backpack. Simple as that! You can also leave valuables in your room while out and about each day as the hotels we use are all very safe.
➜ Scams – Scams are rare in both countries. As with any travel though, it’s always good to be aware and if something doesn’t seem right, politely refuse and walk away.
Weather
During this trip, we can expect a variety of temperatures. May is an ideal time to visit both countries as it’s not too cold in Kyrgyzstan, not too hot in Uzbekistan and there is usually very little rain throughout the region. Here are the average temperatures of each destination we will visit:
➜ Bishkek: 77F/25C high – 54F/12C low
➜ Tamga: 43F/6C high – 34F/1C low
➜ Karakol: 54F/12C high – 41F/5C low
➜ Chon-Kemin Valley: 82F/27C high – 58F/14C low
➜ Tashkent: 73F/23C high – 65F/18C low
➜ Samarkand: 82F/27C high – 55F/13C low
➜ Bukhara: 88F/31C high – 61F/16C low
Clothing and Packing
As with most Muslim countries, wearing shorts is not common for men or women and it is more normal to wear pants/long skirts that go below the knees and shirts that have at least short sleeves. Apart from that, you’ll find both countries to be quite relaxed in terms of clothes. We recommend bringing some warm clothes for cool weather.
➜ Laundry – Laundry service will be available in most major urban areas. When available, it costs approximately $10 USD per load.
We recommend packing the following items:
- Pants (3-4 pairs – comfortable, lightweight)
- Shirts (4-5 short-sleeve shirts, 4-5 long-sleeve shirts – loose fit, comfortable)
- Shorts (1-2 pairs for lounging around hotels)
- Swimsuit (one of our hotels has a pool)
- Underwear/Socks
- Shoes (sneakers/closed-toe) & Sandals
- Warm Clothing (2 sweaters and a warm jacket for cool places)
- Winter hat (could be useful in Tamga)
- Toiletries
- Medicines (bring sufficient amounts of any medication you take)
- Small Daypack
- Gadgets & Chargers (camera, laptop, Kindle, mobile phone, etc)
- Ear plugs (if you’re a light sleeper, bring a few pairs)
- Sunglasses
- Hat
- Shawl (used to cover your hair, this is needed for females when entering mosques)
➜ Suitcase or a backpack? Either one works. The most important thing is that you don’t overpack as moving around country with your luggage can be tiresome and the less stuff you have, the more thankful you’ll be once the tour begins
If you have any questions about other items you were thinking about bringing or not bringing, just send us an email and we’ll be happy to let you know if such an item is necessary for this trip.
Additional Information
Cameras/Drones
You may bring your camera bodies and lenses into both Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan as a tourist. Please note that drones of any brand and size are illegal in Uzbekistan and highly regulated in Kyrgyzstan, so they could be confiscated upon entry.
Outlet Adapters
Both Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan use the same type of plug as in Europe. You will need Type C and/or Type F plug adapters as these are both used throughout both countries. It is highly recommended to purchase these adapters in advance.
As for electricity, check your chargers to see if they say 110 – 230V If they do, you will not have any problems charging your device while on the tour.
Staying Connected
Although both countries are relatively modern, the infrastructure is not as you’d expect back home. Wi-fi will be available in all of the major urban areas and it will be okay, although most likely slower than what you’re used to. There may not be WiFi or a signal in some places in the countryside. If you want a stronger connection throughout the trip, we recommend that you either activate the international plan from your network at home or buy an online E-Sim for both countries (there are packages available that offer both countries together). These two options will ensure you have a good 4G connection throughout the tour.
Is There Any Free Time?
Yes! Most days will include time together as well as free time for you to enjoy a destination at your own pace. With that said, your tour leader will always be available to offer personal recommendations and suggestions as to things you might want to do or see, places to eat and other interesting activities that you might want to check out when there is free time.
WhatsApp Group
We will set up a WhatsApp chat 2 weeks prior to the start of the tour that will include all of the participants as well as your tour leader. This will allow everyone to get to know each other in advance, ask questions and communicate with your tour leader both before and during the tour. It will be very useful for you to have WhatsApp available to you during the tour as this will be the main method of communication.
That’s it for now and we hope you are continuing to get more and more excited about this incredible adventure, just as we are!
If you have any questions about anything, please reach out to team@wanderingearl.com