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Bookmark & shareNo whistles and bells, just friendly faces and some mighty big mountains.
What Kyrgyzstan lacks in gracious buildings and fancy cakes it makes up for with nomadic traditions such as laid-back hospitality, a healthy distrust of authority and a fondness for drinking fermented mare's milk. It is perhaps the most accessible and welcoming of the Central Asian republics.
Travel Warning: Caution Advised
Kyrgyzstan is on the whole a safe place to visit. However, travellers should avoid demonstrations, as political tensions do exist - particularly in the south of the country - and protests can become violent. Demarcation of the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border is in dispute and anyone crossing the frontier should only use official checkpoints, as some areas may be mined.
severity: Mid-level alert
Fast Facts
Country Full Name
Kyrgyz Republic
Population
4,700,000
Currency
Name: Som
Code: KGS
Symbol: Som
Electrical Plugs
220V 50Hz
Languages Spoken
Official: Kyrgyz, Russian
Time Zones
GMT/UTC +6
Country Dialing Code
+996
Weights & Measures
Metric
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Kyrgyzstan
article by Dean Starnes, February 2007
Kyrgyzstan is the best thing to come galloping out of the Central Asian mountains waving a headless goat since the collapse of the USSR. Read the full article ›
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Disclaimer: We've tried to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety, customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before you travel.
