Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
EMERGENCY
Ambulance
(
%
103)
Police
(
%
102)
INTERNET ACCESS
Internet cafes are widespread, with several on
Soviet around the main post oice and many
around Osh Bazaar. Wi-i is increasingly common
in hotels and in the new breed of cofee shops.
Most connections are free, but a few still charge
for minutes and/or megabytes.
LEFT LUGGAGE
Left Luggage (Kamera Khraneniya)
(Map
p234; Bishkek II train station; small/large bag
25/45som;
h
2pm-noon) Open 22 hours daily
minus a few short breaks, the luggage room is
to the right of the main steps as you enter the
train station building.
MEDICAL SERVICES
Ubiquitous pharmacies are marked
darykhana
(Kyrgyz) or
apteka
(Russian). Many open 24
hours.
Neomed
(Map p234;
%
90 60 90; www.neo
med.kg; Orozbekov 46; doctor's consultation
600som) Respected medical centre in classy,
central location. Phone for an appointment.
MONEY
Exchange desks and banks ofering change are
widespread, especially on the central section
of Soviet (use the banks to avoid scams). If you
have Kazakh Tenge or Chinese Yuan, there are
a few
specialist change booths
(Map p234;
Kievskaya) near Osh Bazaar with decent buy-
sell splits. A few will change Uzbek Sum but at
miserly rates.
ATMs are widespread but most accept only
Visa. One of very few to accept MasterCard,
Maestro, Diners and Amex is hidden beside the
reception of hotel Hyatt Regency (p238).
Kazkommertsbank
(Map p234;
%
69 03 83;
Soviet (Abdrakhmanov) 136;
h
9am-5pm
Mon-Fri) Handles payments for Kazakh visas.
Unusually, its ATMs accept MasterCard as well
as Visa.
POST & COURIERS
Main Post Office
(Postamt; Map p234; Soviet
(Abdrakhmanov);
h
7am-7pm Mon-Sat, 8am-
6pm Sun) Postcards can take two months to
reach Western Europe.
American Resources International
(ARI; Map
p234;
%
66 00 77; bishkek@aricargo.com;
Erkindik 35;
h
9am-6pm Mon-Fri) Freight for-
warders for those shipping at least 45/100kg
from/to Bishkek.
DHL
(Map p234;
%
61 11 11; www.dhl.com;
Kiev 107;
h
8am-6pm Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm Sat)
International courier.
FedEx
(Map p234;
%
65 00 12; K Akiev;
h
9am-
6pm Mon-Fri, 9am-3pm Sat) International
courier.
REGISTRATION & VISAS
A couple of diferent oices handle visa
registration and extensions.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(Consular Sec-
tion; Map p234;
%
66 32 70; www.dcsmfa.kg;
Togolok Moldo 10A;
h
9.30am-noon Mon-Tue
& Thu-Fri) Visa extensions are processed here,
but the procedure can be awkward and costly.
If you're from a country that's visa exempt it
is usually easier to get a Kazakh visa, leave to
Almaty then come back again.
Visa Registration
(Departament Registratsii
Naseleniya; Map p234;
%
66 23 29; Kiev 58;
h
9.30am-12.30pm & 1.30-5pm Mon-Fri) Most
nationals don't need to register but if your
nationality is not exempt, ask about the neces-
sary procedure here.
TELEPHONE
Central Telecom Office
(Map p234; cnr Soviet
(Abdrakhmanov) & Chuy;
h
7am-10pm) Phones
and 20som Skype-computer booths.
TOURIST INFORMATION
There is no tourist oice in Bishkek. For activi-
ties and meet-ups, Bishkek has a reasonably ac-
tive Couchsuring group and the TUK excursion
programme (p245) might give you ideas for your
own adventures. Tour and trekking agencies
are often helpful with travel-planning enquiries.
NoviNomad (p245) has a traveller noticeboard
aimed at Torugart-bound travellers.
TRAVEL & TOUR AGENCIES
Myriad tour operators can whisk you out of the
capital and into Kyrgyzstan's glorious hinter-
lands. Many specialise in trekking and moun-
taineering. Most will also book lights, arrange
transport and help with other travel logistics.
NoviNomad
(Map p234;
%
62 23 81; www.
novinomad.com; Togolok Moldo 28;
h
8.30am-
noon & 1-4.45pm Mon-Sat) Respected agent
for cultural tours, guided biking, Torugart trips,
trekking, transport, accommodation bookings
and translating services. Sells trekking maps
and has a Torugart traveller noticeboard.
TUK
(Trekking Union of Kyrgyzstan; Map p234;
%
055-610 1933, 90 91 15; www.tuk.kg; Kiev
168, enter from Turusbekov 51;
h
9am-5pm
Mon-Fri) Bishkek-based association organis-
ing walking and hiking trips to a variety of
regional beauty spots, mostly one-day excur-
sions at weekends. Joining one of these is a
great way to save money on transport but,
more importantly, can be a wonderful way to
meet a cross-section of expats and locals. TUK
members get discounts. Trekking maps and
good-value ski rental are available. The office is
very helpful with trek planning but sometimes
