Entry
Your passport decides which visa rules apply; the official site below should be checked. Before booking, the official e-Visa site and the official visa-free list are the places to look, or a Kyrgyz embassy can be asked. Bring along an onward ticket and a passport that is valid for 6 months. Within a few days after arriving, foreign visitors normally register; hotels do this on your behalf, so keep the slip.
Culture and travel - take note
A strong nomad tradition runs through the country, which is Muslim-majority but relaxed. In a yurt, shoes come off and the threshold must not be stepped on; the fermented mare's milk (kymyz), tea and bread should be accepted, at least as a small taste. A nod, along with a handshake (men), is how people greet. Weather in the mountains changes fast, summers are short, and in winter the high passes are closed. Off the main routes the roads are rough, so a licensed guide or a driver should be hired for horse rides and treks. Altitude can cause sickness near the high passes and around Song-Kol. A permit is needed for some border areas, so ask your operator. Outside Bishkek, carry cash (som). Halal food is common.
