Burana Tower
A tall brick minaret rising from the grassy plain, a remnant of the medieval city of Balasagun. Visitors can climb the narrow stairs inside, then see the carved stones and ruins in the open-air museum around it.
Burana Tower
Travellers heading to Issyk-Kul find an easy stop at this restored minaret from medieval times near Tokmok, where old carved stone figures can be seen.
Attractive locations
Chuy Valley
Broad, fertile valley in northern Kyrgyzstan that is home to Bishkek and many farming villages. It lies beneath the snowy Kyrgyz range, and is the region's main route for road trips to the lake.
Boom Gorge
Narrow gorge cut by the Chu River on the road between Bishkek and Issyk-Kul. Rocky walls and the rushing river make it a scenic stop for drivers heading east.
Issyk-Ata Resort
Spa resort in a green valley in the foothills south-east of Bishkek, long known for its warm mineral springs. A relaxed day trip for bathing, short walks and mountain air.
Airports
Manas International Airport BSZ
It is about 72 km in a straight line from Burana Tower.
Issyk-Kul International Airport IKU
It is about 120 km in a straight line from Burana Tower.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Kyrgyzstan page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan-13.3 °C20 mm
- Feb-10.8 °C27 mm
- Mar-3.4 °C42 mm
- Apr2.5 °C62 mm
- May6.7 °C51 mm
- Jun10.6 °C34 mm
- Jul13.3 °C22 mm
- Aug12.9 °C15 mm
- Sep8.3 °C16 mm
- Oct2.1 °C34 mm
- Nov-4.6 °C35 mm
- Dec-11.2 °C28 mm
Driest months: Jan, Aug, Sep. Wettest months: Mar, Apr, May.
Costs
Prices here are about 33% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
112. Police 102. Ambulance 103. Fire 101.
local government
Ministry of Emergency Situations (unified dispatch service 112)
Helps with: Kyrgyzstan's emergency ministry. Its website lists 112 as the unified dispatch service and gives contact phones, an address in Bishkek and an email.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Kyrgyzstan who needs emergency help or wants to report an emergency.
Phone: 112
Email: mchs@mail.gov.kg
Address: Manas Avenue 101/1, Bishkek
local government
Department of Tourism (Kyrgyz Republic)
Helps with: Kyrgyzstan's state body for developing and supporting the tourism industry. Its contact page lists a reception phone, an email and an office address in Bishkek.
Who qualifies: Anyone with a tourism enquiry about Kyrgyzstan.
Phone: +996312621861
Email: tourism.department@mail.ru
Address: 96a Kievskaya Street, Bishkek
ngo
Red Crescent Society of Kyrgyzstan
Helps with: Kyrgyzstan's national Red Crescent society. Its website lists disaster risk reduction, first aid, restoring family links, blood donation and support for vulnerable people.
Who qualifies: People in Kyrgyzstan who need its first aid, disaster, family links or social support services.
Phone: +996312300190
Email: info@redcrescent.kg
Address: 10 Erkindik Boulevard, Bishkek
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Kyrgyzstan
Helps with: The UN migration agency, present in Kyrgyzstan since 1997. Its work covers migration management, crisis response, and humanitarian help for migrants, returnees and host communities.
Who qualifies: Migrants, returnees and host communities. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +996 312 988011
Email: iomkyrgyzstan@iom.int
Address: 103 Ibraimov Street, Business Center Victory, left wing, 6th floor, Bishkek 720021