Items marked * can be hired on arrival, subject to availability or reserved in advance by email. Cooking equipment is cheaper to buy in Kyrgyzstan than in Europe and the US.
All Visitors
Clothing
Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan are not fundamentalist Islamic states and city dwellers tend to be reasonably laid back about standards of dress. However, it is polite to dress appropriately and important to do so in rural areas (especially in the Fergana Valley). To a devout muslim, clinging clothes, or those which reveal more than the face, hands and feet are inappropriate for both sexes, although particularly so for women. This should be no cause for
concern, just bring long, loose, non-revealing shirts, trousers and skirts (which are, in any case, the most comfortable form of dress in summer). Shorts and short sleeved T-shirts are especially offensive and should not be worn anywhere by men or women - except when trekking high up in the mountains where nobody will see you! In the mountains a shirt with a collar (which can be worn up to protect your neck) and long sleeves is essential for preventing sunburn.
Year-round
Sturdy footwear. In summer, light walking boots or trainers are adequate if you do not plan to hike or trek.
Flip flops or sandals for showers and paddling in Lake Issyk-Kul.
Wind and waterproofs
Sunhat
Headscarf for women (when visiting mosques and churches)
Swimming costume
In winter
Woolly hat, scarf, gloves and thick socks
Sturdy, waterproof footwear
(e.g. walking boots)
Thick, waterproof jacket and fleece
Miscellaneous
35mm camera film and general toiletries are available in larger Kyrgyz towns and cities (although suncream is difficult to find). Likewise, syringes and basic medical equipment can be bought at chemists in towns, but in event of an emergency having your own will save time and hassle. Do not bother to bring toilet paper or food as these are readily available throughout Central Asia. Bottled mineral water is cheap and
easy to find, so water purification tablets are only necessary if you intend to hike or trek.
Rucksack or soft case. The Samsonite-type rigid suitcases are impractical for anybody intending to trek or travel independently (but fine if you have pre-booked transfers and hotel accommodation everywhere).
Plenty of moisturizing cream - the air is very dry.
Russian phrasebook
Torch (flashlight)
Travel alarm clock
Earplugs
Sewing kit
Vitamins
Mosquito repellant and bite cream
Day pack
Travel padlock and chain - combination locks are the most secure
Specialist camera film (including APS)
Water bottle
Small gifts for the children
of families that you may stay or eat with (e.g. stickers, pens, badges, key rings, flower seeds, sweets)
A few photos and postcards of home
Money belt (preferably a waist belt that can be worn under your clothes)
Spare glasses and contact lenses, plus a copy of your prescription
Basic first aid kit including plenty of any prescribed medicines and a copy of your prescription. See under
health for a suggested first aid kit.
Travel syringe kit (available from most large chemists)
Spare passport photos
Several photocopies of the information-bearing pages of your passport and of your Central Asian visas
Details of your travel insurance policy (a copy to be left with Turkestan's staff in case of emergency)
Mobile phones with roaming work well in Almaty. Coverage in Kyrgyzstan is TDMA standard, but poor outside large towns and cities.
Car seat for babies or young children. Disposable nappies are available in larger towns or cities. Bring your own bottle sterilization equipment
Treks
In addition to items in the 'clothing' and 'miscellaneous' lists above, trekkers should consider the following:
Carrymat *
Sleeping bag and stuff sack. 3 or 4 season bag for trekking in the mountains. A 2 season bag is adequate for low altitude summer hikes or camping by Lake Issyk-Kul *
Rucksack (preferably framed, with a waiststrap) *
Daypack if you plan to hire a porter
Waterproofs and fleece, even in summer
Gloves
Thick socks
Walking pole, if needed *
Tent, if you decide not to hire one*
Waterproof, broken-in walking boots
Trek sandals for hot weather and crossing streams
Very high factor suncream and wide brimmed sunhat
Swiss army knife or similar
Cup, plate, spoon *
Basic cooking utensils *
Compass
Matches
Survival bag
Towel
A more comprehensive first aid kit, including blister cream.
Horseback Treks
In addition to items in the 'clothing' and 'miscellaneous' lists above, horseriders should consider the following:
Carrymat *
Sleeping bag and stuff sack. 3 or 4 season bag for trekking in the mountains. A 2 season bag is adequate for low altitude camping (e.g. by Lake Issyk-Kul)*
Rucksack or soft bag *
Daypack
Tent, if you decide not to hire one*
Waterproofs and fleece, even in summer
Riding hat. Locals do without but many foreign visitors prefer to bring their own
Gloves
Riding boots
Jodhpurs
Very high factor suncream and wide brimmed sunhat
Swiss army knife or similar
Cup, plate, spoon *
Cooking utensils *
Compass
Matches
Survival bag
Towel
A more comprehensive first aid kit,
including blister cream and antiseptic cream for rubs and chaffs.
Mountain Biking
In addition to items in the 'clothing' and 'miscellaneous' lists above, mountain bikers should consider the following:
Your bike
A comprehensive bicycle repair kit, including everything that you might need to keep your bike on the road if it breaks down. Spare parts and repair equipment, particularly for mountain bikes are almost impossible to find in Central Asia.
Gloves
Helmet
Trek sandals for hot weather and carrying your bike across rivers
Rucksack*
Very high factor suncream
Waterproof and fleece, even in summer
Towel
Compass
Matches
A more comprehensive first aid kit, including antiseptic cream
If your route involves camping:
Carrymat *
Sleeping bag and stuff sack. 3 or 4 season bag for trekking in the mountains. A 2 season bag is adequate for low altitude summer hikes or camping by Lake Issyk-Kul *
Tent, if you decide not to hire one*
Swiss army knife or similar
Cup, plate, spoon *
Basic cooking utensils *
Survival bag
Expeditions
Good quality, modern mountaineering and climbing equipment is very difficult to find in Kyrgyzstan. Turkestan can supply basic equipment if an item gets forgotten, but, in general, climbers should bring everything that they would normally need, including:
Harness
Ropes
Helmet
Crampons
Axe
High altitude food
High altitude tent
Preparations for altitude sickness (if required)
Appropriate footwear and clothing
Satellite telephone (if required)
Goosedown sleeping bag
This, of course, is not a comprehensive list. Only experienced mountaineers should undertake expeditions and a general knowledge of equipment requirements is assumed.
Sergey Pyshnenko, Turkestan's director, is an experienced mountaineer with many of the Central Tien Shan's highest peaks under his belt.
Sergey would be delighted to advise further if required. Contact him by Email on
[email protected].
All visitors
