Travelers to Kyrgyzstan are not required to be immunized but they should be vaccinated with the most up-to-date Typhoid and Tetanus vaccines. We suggest you seek guidance from your local GP or travel specialist for the right vaccinations and preventative treatment.
Drinks and food
Kyrgyzstan’s cuisine is based mainly on meat and rice. However, there are plenty of other choices for vegetables and salads. You can try local cuisines as you travel, which often overlap with those of other cultures.
Regarding alcohol, the choice is typically limited to vodka or beer so anyone wanting something different, like Scotch or Gin for example – can buy it duty free and take it home. Mixers such as tonic water are difficult to find in Central Asia.
Cultural Sensitivity
There are many opportunities to interact with locals, each with their own distinctive customs and traditions. We ask you to pay respect and consideration to locals. You can always count on your tour guide or tour leader to assist you.
One thing to note about visiting Central Asia is that most areas, including the cities and towns, take a more relaxed view of Islam than their neighbours to the south of Afghanistan and Pakistan. You won’t believe how long some women’s skirts are in cities like Bishkek! It is an Muslim zone, therefore it is crucial to be aware in certain areas. Women and men can both wear shorts and T-shirts. But, when going to mosques, women should cover their shoulders by wearing trousers or skirts. Men should stay away from wearing shorts.
With only a little over 15% of the population following Islam, over 80% of the population is Islamic.
Russian Orthodoxy
Language and Religion
Kyrgyzstan is among the two former Soviet Republics located in Central Asia to retain Russian as an official language. Kyrgyzstan became an official bilingual country in the early 1990s, adding Kyrgyz to its official language. Also, there are ethnic Uzbeks as well as Tajiks in certain areas of Kyrgyzstan due to previous Soviet policies.
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