Kyrgyzstan Winter: between frozen lakes and nomadic culture

This trip starts at Bishkek and ends at Bishkek. On the first day of the trip we meet at 12:00, on the last day you can depart at 11:00. 

For this itinerary, you can choose the type of luggage you prefer – we always recommend a backpack, but you can also travel with a duffel bag, a holdall, or (it breaks our heart to say it) a cabin trolley case or a checked suitcase, as long as it’s moderate in size. Our Travel Coordinator will suggest the ideal luggage before departure in the WhatsApp group!

If you are a UK citizen, to find out the entry requirements for Kyrgyzstan, you can check this informational page from our partner Sherpa. If you need a visa, you can apply for it through Sherpa. If you are not a UK citizen, you can still use Sherpa by changing the nationality in the 'Passport' section.

Before traveling, always remember to check the government website of your country of origin for updates on the entry requirements for Kyrgyzstan – you wouldn’t want to stay home due to a bureaucratic detail!

• UK residents: review the FCDO Travel Advice.
• US residents: consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
• Other residents: refer to your government or local consulate's travel advice.

Kyrgyzstan is in the Kyrgyzstan Time Zone, which is 6 hours ahead of the UK. So, if it is 12pm in the UK, it will be 6pm in Kyrgyzstan. If you are in the USA, the time difference will depend on your specific location. If it is 12pm Eastern Time, it will be 10pm in Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan does not observe daylight saving time, so the time difference remains consistent throughout the year.

The currency used in Kyrgyzstan is the Kyrgyzstani Som (KGS). The exchange rate can vary, but as a rough guide:

• 1 GBP is approximately 115 KGS
• 1 USD is around 87 KGS
• 1 EUR is about 100 KGS

You can exchange currency at banks, exchange offices, or at the airport for convenience.

Cash and card payments are both widely accepted in Kyrgyzstan. Credit and debit cards, especially Visa and Mastercard, are commonly used in larger cities like Bishkek. However, in smaller towns and rural areas, you might find that cash is still preferred. ATMs are available in urban areas for you to withdraw local currency if needed. Always have some cash on hand for markets or small vendors.

Tipping in Kyrgyzstan is not a common practice, but it's appreciated if you receive excellent service. In restaurants, you might want to leave a small tip around 5 to 10 percent of the bill if you feel satisfied with the service. In taxis, rounding up the fare is a nice gesture, but not necessary. For tour guides and hotel staff, a small tip is appreciated but not expected. Always tip in the local currency, Kyrgyzstani Som, and hand it directly to the person you're tipping.

In Kyrgyzstan, buying a local SIM card is a good idea if you want to stay connected. You can purchase a SIM card from major providers like Beeline, O!, or Megacom at the airport or in the city. They offer affordable data plans.

Wi-Fi is available in most urban areas, especially in cafes, restaurants, and hotels, but it might be less reliable in rural regions. For consistent internet access, a local SIM card is recommended.

In Kyrgyzstan, the primary languages spoken are Kyrgyz and Russian. Kyrgyz is the official state language, while Russian is widely used in government and business. You might find these colloquial expressions useful:

• Hello: "Салам" (Salam)
• Thank you: "Рахмат" (Rakhmat)
• Please: "Суранам" (Suranam)
• Yes: "Ооба" (Ooba)
• No: "Жок" (Zhok)

In Kyrgyzstan, the electrical plugs are of type C and F. The standard voltage is 220 V, and the frequency is 50 Hz. These plugs are similar to the ones used in many European countries, but they are different from those in the UK and USA. We recommend you bring a universal adapter if your devices use a different plug type to ensure all your electronics can be charged without any issues.

In Kyrgyzstan, the main religion is Islam, with the majority of the population being Sunni Muslims. When visiting, especially in rural areas or during religious holidays, we recommend you dress modestly, particularly women.

Important religious holidays include:

• Ramadan, which is a month of fasting
• Eid al-Fitr, a festival marking the end of Ramadan

Keep in mind that during Ramadan, some restaurants may have reduced hours.

Kyrgyzstan offers stunning landscapes and diverse weather, so packing smart is key. Here's a handy list to help you get your backpack ready:

• Clothing:
  • Lightweight layers for varying temperatures
  • Warm jacket for chilly nights
  • Comfortable hiking pants
  • T-shirts and long-sleeve shirts
  • A hat for sun protection
• Shoes:
  • Sturdy hiking boots for mountain trails
  • Comfortable sneakers for city exploration
  • Sandals for relaxing days
• Accessories and Technology:
  • Sunglasses for bright days
  • Portable charger for devices
  • Camera to capture beautiful scenery
  • Power bank
• Toiletries and Medication:
  • Basic toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo)
  • Sunscreen for sun protection
  • Insect repellent for outdoor activities
  • Common travel medication like motion sickness pills, pain relievers, and anti-diarrheal tablets

Prepare for a mix of outdoor adventures and cultural experiences with this packing list!

Kyrgyzstan's weather can vary significantly depending on the region:

• Bishkek and the Chuy Valley: Mild winters with temperatures around freezing, and hot, dry summers reaching up to 35°C. Spring and autumn are mild and pleasant.
• Issyk-Kul Lake: The lake moderates the climate, with milder winters and cooler summers, making it a popular year-round destination.
• Naryn and At-Bashi: These areas are colder, with long, harsh winters and cool, short summers.
• High Mountain Regions: Expect cold conditions year-round, with snow in the winter and cool temperatures in the summer.

The best time to visit Kyrgyzstan is from June to September when the weather is warm and ideal for outdoor activities.

Round-trip flights are not included in any of our trips because we like to give you autonomy and flexibility: you can choose the airline you want to fly with, the departure airport that suits you best, and how many and which stops you want to make.

Since flights are not included, you also have more flexibility with your travel dates: if possible, you can arrive at your destination a few days earlier or return home a bit later – or even continue independently to a nearby destination!

This is the question of all questions, and here’s the answer, broken down into points!

The Money Pot is a common fund collected in local currency from all tour participants and managed by your Travel Coordinator. 

It is used to streamline paymentsfor extra activities, goods and services that the whole group decides to do and to guarantee flexibility in choosing activities and excursions at the destination in line with the mood of the group. 

It is typically collected on the first day of the trip in local currency, although at times, the Travel Coordinator may ask for it to be paid before departure.

You’ll find the amount of the money pot on the website under the section ‘What’s included in the money pot’ – how do you get there? Look for ‘What’s included’, scroll down to ‘Money pot? Click here’, and you’ll find the details.

The amount varies depending on the destination chosen.

It is used exclusively for group expenses that ALL participants decide to take part in.

It is estimated based on the experiences of other groups but can vary depending on the needs of the group itself. As such, the Travel Coordinator may need to increase the amount during the trip.

If not all of the money pot is used, the difference will be returned to all participants at the end of the trip in equal amounts.

The Money Pot also covers the Travel Coordinator’s share of the activities included in the money pot, except for those activities that are free for the Travel Coordinator.

If you pay in advance part of the money pot before the trip for certain non-refundable optional activities, unfortunately, the amount cannot be refunded in case of trip cancellation.

We offer several payment methods to fit every need:

1. Credit or prepaid card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express);
2. Instalment payment with Scalapay up to €4,999 (only available with the “Full trip payment” option – not available with the “Deposit and balance” option; pay in 3 instalments up to €1,200 or in 4 instalments over €1,200);
3. PayPal (for selected destinations);
4. Revolut Pay to pay even faster straight from your Revolut account;
5. Welfare credit – BEFORE BOOKING, reach out to us at [email protected].

If you choose the deposit and balance option, you’ll also be able to pay the balance via bank transfer from your Personal Area.

Anyone who books a WeRoad trip has the option to cancel or modify the trip – including both the dates and the destination – free of charge up to 31 days before departure. In case of cancellation, you will receive a 100% refund of the WeRoad trip price. (Deposits will be refunded in the form of a gift card valid for 365 days from issue date.) If you make a change, a price adjustment will be applied to the new trip chosen – meaning, if the new trip is cheaper, we will refund the difference; if it’s more expensive, you will need to pay the difference.

If you’ve purchased the Flexible Cancellation Option (which you can add in the first step of the booking process), you can request a cancellation or trip change until 8 days before departure. In case of cancellation, you’ll receive a 100% refund of the WeRoad trip price, minus the cost of the Flexible Cancellation option. Deposits will be refunded in the form of a gift card valid for 365 days from issue date.

How to request a cancellation or change to your trip? Send us an email at [email protected] or a WhatsApp on +447716573700. Please share the booking reference for the trip you want to cancel or change, and, in case of a change, the new trip you would like to join.

In general, we always choose local accommodations, avoiding large hotel chains, because we love to experience the culture of the place and, whenever possible, contribute to the local economy. Typically, our accommodations are hotels, apartments, guesthouses, and hostels run by local entrepreneurs, with the same standard maintained across all trips in the same destination.

For our Collection trips, which are our premium category, the accommodations are always 4 or 5-star or carefully selected boutique hotels.

The list of accommodations for your trip will be shared with you by your Travel Coordinator between 5 and 3 days before departure, along with other useful details for your adventure!

If you're wondering why WeRoad trips have a money pot, we’re assuming you already know what it is. If not, or if you have any doubts, we invite you to read all the information here!

Let’s quickly recap: The Money Pot is a common fund collected in local currency from all tour participants and managed by your Travel Coordinator. It’s used to speed up payments for extra activities, goods and services that the whole group decides to do and to guarantee flexibility in choosing activities and excursions at the destination in line with the mood of the group. 

But let’s get to the point: why the money pot? First of all: it gives us a lot of flexibility. In all WeRoad trips you will have a bunch of Must See/Must Do activities already included - these are experiences, places or activities that simply cannot be missed! Any extra activities is decided by the group, why? Because each group is unique and may have particular wants or desires and the Money Pot allows each group to customise their trip to make it perfect for their requirements! 

It also helps us speed up payments – imagine being in the subway in New York City, one by one purchasing the ticket...a nightmare right? Thanks to the Money Pot, the Travel Coordinator can simply purchase the tickets for everyone making the entire processes smoother! Any leftover money will be returned at the end of the trip and split equally amongst all participants.

In some destinations, buying goods or services on site is more economical as you are able to negotiate the price - places like Morocco, or South East Asia, bargaining is part of the culture. As such, our Travel Coordinators will be able to secure the best deal for all participants. 

The amount of the money pot is specified in each trip – look for this button

which will take you to a detailed breakdown for each trip, like this:

Even if we don't know the flights of all WeRoaders, there are several ways to find out which flights your travel companions have purchased.

1. Each WeRoader has the ability to communicate their flight details after booking within their personal area so that other travel companions can see the details anonymously. Enter your booking and you will find this section:
[Screenshot]

2. If you want to find out before booking, instead, you can contact us and we will support you in your search or you can ask your travel companions for direct information by joining our Facebook group 'WeRoad... let's get to know each other before leaving! (official)' – (here is the extended link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/weroadit) look for a post associated with your trip, or ask the group administrators for help in getting in touch with your future adventure companions!

If the coordinator has already been assigned to the trip you are interested in, you can easily find his/her presentation post in the group through the site: in the shift list click on 'Ask the coordinator', or in the trip tab, in the coordinator section, click on 'Ask [coordinator name] about this shift in our Facebook group'. For both cases, see the screenshots below!

[screenshot]

In all our groups, the Travel Coordinator and participants speak English – knowing how to speak and understand English is therefore a fundamental requirement to participate in our trips.

On average the groups are made up of 6-15 people, with a minimum of 3/4 participants and a maximum of 15.

All our travellers are in theirs 20s, 30s and 40s. If you're very curious to know the age range of the group for a tour you're interested in, you can see this by finding the trip on our website, and clicking the down arrow to see the ages & genders of participants. You'll need to have created a WeRoad account with us to do this.

Any issues finding this info just give our team in the office a call, we're always happy to help! 

Regarding the male-female ratio, this is not guaranteed and varies trip by trip.  

Yes! If you're curious, you can take a sneak peek at the group before booking – although, in our opinion, that kind of spoils the surprise! You’ll find the info in the ‘Group’ section for each trip on the departures page, showing how many WeRoaders have already booked. Click the little arrow and you’ll even see their gender and ages – but hey, that’s exclusive info, so we’ll ask you to log in or sign up to see that!

The WeRoad Travel Coordinator is an experienced and skilled traveller and will be the perfect companion for your trip. They will be available for any eventuality and will manage all the logistical aspects of the itinerary (transports, timings, accommodations, meeting points, etc.), so you can enjoy the trip without any worries!

You will have the chance to get to know them when the WhatsApp group is created approximately 2 weeks before departure - this will be the moment to ask any pre-departure questions and get to know the rest of the group! If the trip you are interested in already has a Travel Coordinator assigned, you can contact them before booking – their details will be specified in the schedule or on the trip page, or you can search for their name here. After booking, you will find their contact details in your Personal Area, under ‘Bookings and Trips’ > ‘Your Upcoming Trips’ > ‘Trip Details’.

Yes, in all our trips you will share a room with other same-sex travellers, and the bathroom will either be private or shared only with fellow participants of the trip. The rooms we select can be doubles, triples, quadruples, or multi-bed (up to 8 people in exceptional cases), depending on the destination and availability.

There are never dorms with people outside the WeRoad group, except in certain cases for local experiences, which are specifically mentioned in the itinerary or communicated before booking. These typically involve specific nights in unique accommodations like tents, homestays, or camping, offering a more adventurous travel experience in exchange for some comfort.

During the booking process, you can also choose to opt for a mixed room: in this case, if needed, only those who have agreed to this option may share a room with travellers of a different sex. If you are booking for multiple people together and select this option, the room will not be exclusive to your group but may be shared with other travellers in the group.

When you set off on a WeRoad trip, you’re officially a WeRoader – and as we often say, 'Once a WeRoader, always a WeRoader'. This means that once you’re part of the community, a little piece of WeRoad will always stay with you, even if you no longer travel with us.

But you’re not just a WeRoader during your trips, far from it! The community is alive and active all year round: you can stay in touch by following and interacting on our social media channels, like the Facebook group or the Instagram profile. We can also meet up for a dinner or a trek together at one of the events organised by our coordinators around the world!