Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MONEY
Banks and licensed moneychanger booths
(marked
obmen balyot
) exchange US dollars pro-
vided the notes are post 2003 and unblemished,
in near-mint condition. Trying to get change for
a 5000som note will likely be met with a look of
horror.
There is no black market for currency transac-
tions and changing money back again is not
problematic. We quote prices in the currency
that the businesses themselves use. That's
normally som, but can be US dollars or euros for
some hotels and tour companies.
If you need to wire money, Moneygram has
services at main post oices and Western Union
works through many banks.
Travellers cheques are hard to cash but ATMs
are increasingly common in all major towns.
Most dispense both US dollars and som and
work with Visa, but the whole country has under
20 ATMs that accept MasterCard or Maestro,
mostly Kazkommertzbank. These are most
usefully in Bishkek (10 locations), Osh (3) and
Cholpan-Ata (1).
POST
Airmail postcards cost 30som (plus 14% tax!)
to any country. Courier agents DHL (p245) and
FedEx
(www.fedex.com) are represented.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Muslim festivals change dates annually
(see p469 for more information). The most
important,
Orozo Ait
(Eid-al-Fitr, the end of
Ramadan) and
Kurban Ait
(Eid-al-Azha, Feast
of Sacriice), are national holidays. Other dates
are ixed, but might actually be celebrated on
the nearest Monday or Friday:
1 January
New Year's Day
7 January
Russian Orthodox Christmas
23 February
Army Day
8 March
International Women's Day
21-23 March
Nooruz (Novruz)
1 May
International Labour Day
5 May
Constitution Day
9 May
WWII Victory Day
31 August
Independence Day
7 November
Anniversary of the October
Revolution
REGISTRATION
If you're one of the unlucky nationalities to need
a visa you might also need to register within
three days of arriving in Kyrgyzstan. Ask your
hotel or at OVIR (p245).
SHOPPING
The classic souvenir is a traditional
kalpak
hat,
available in a range of qualities from as little as
80som from bazaars, much more from souvenir
shops. Classic feltwork including colourful
shy-
rdaks
make great presents and are available in
most towns through community tourist oices
and souvenir shops; OVOP (p262) and Tumar
(p244) have particularly ine collections. US res-
idents can order imaginative, if pricey, versions
back home through
Aizada
(www.kyrgyzfelt.
com). Other typical mementos include pottery
igurines, miniature yurts, embroidered bags,
horse whips,
kymys
shakers, leather boxes, felt
slippers, Kyrgyz musical instruments and chess
sets featuring Manas and his entourage.
TELEPHONE
Mobile numbers are 10 digits, landlines have
ive or six digits. SIM cards are very inexpensive
and are often given away to arriving passengers
at Manas Airport. No registration is required.
Calls are only a few som per minute and a mobile
phone can prove highly useful when hoteliers
aren't home when you arrive.
Central telecom oices usually ofer booths
with Skype-computers for cheaper international
calls.
TRAVEL PERMITS
Many frontier areas and virtually any place with-
in 50km of the Chinese border require military
border permits. Peak Lenin base camp and the
whole Khan Tengri area fall into such zones. For
around US$30, CBT (p246) or trekking agencies
can usually get one for you. Applications can
take anywhere from two days to a month de-
pending on the agent. If you're travelling to/from
an open border crossing with a valid onward
visa, you are generally exempt from the permit
requirement, but special (easy if pricey) permis-
sion is required for the Torugart Pass crossing.
VISAS FOR ONWARD TRAVEL
Some visa applications require a Letter of Invita-
tion (LOI), usually an expensive formality organ-
ised through a travel agency or online ixer.
Afghanistan
Visa costs vary by nationality, starting from
US$30/60 transit/tourist. Issuance takes only a
day or two but seems to depend on your discus-
sion with the consul (p306) and, presumably,
your ability to demonstrate you understand the
security situation where you're planning to head.
China
Until late 2013 it was possible to get a Chinese
visa within around two weeks through agencies
including Bishkek's Kyrgyz Concept (p246) or
Osh's
Eastern Visa
(
%
077-090 8900; df-@live.
cn; Pekin Complex;
h
9am-7pm). However, for
now China has ceased issuing visas to any non
resident foreigners.
India
Tourist visas cost 2025som from the Indian
embassy in Bishkek (p306). Non-Kyrgyz
