Buying hash Karakol

__________________________

📍 Verified store!

📍 Guarantees! Quality! Reviews!

__________________________

▼▼ ▼▼ ▼▼ ▼▼ ▼▼ ▼▼ ▼▼

▲▲ ▲▲ ▲▲ ▲▲ ▲▲ ▲▲ ▲▲

Buying hash Karakol

Home » Asia » Backpacking Guide. Let me fill you in on a not so secret secret: Kyrgyzstan is set to be the next BIG backpacker destination and if you are thinking of planning a trip here, congratulations! You are making an excellent choice. It is a wild, wild country full of off the beaten path potential, yet relatively easy to travel in and get about on the cheap. Nowhere else in Central Asia or most of the world for that matter will you find such a perfectly set stage for backpacker exploration and adventure. Kyrgyzstan truly offers up the perfect recipe for keen backpackers looking for a powerful, uniquely personal, travel experience. I am here to show you the way…. Below, I provide honest, fresh advice on where to go backpacking in Kyrgyzstan, backpacker accommodation, suggested Kyrgyzstan itineraries, top things to do in Kyrgyzstan, how to travel the country, daily travel costs, best treks, Kyrgyzstan budget travel hacks, and all the other nuts and bolts that go into making an epic Kyrgyzstan travel guide. Kyrgyzstan ticks all of the boxes that light my backpacker fire. Northern Kyrgyzstan is a popular adventure playground for backpackers looking to connect with Kyrgyz culture and truly special trekking destinations. The Broke Backpacker is supported by you. From the capital Bishkek , most places of interest are less than 6 hours drive away, and sometimes far less than that. Numerous well-established yurt camps and hiking trails are found throughout the mix of the rugged steppe, forest, and desert landscapes in Karakol , Jyrgalan , Fairy Tail Canyon , Chon Kemin , and Barkskoon Gorge , and the above-mentioned lakes. The south is another matter entirely. From the southern city of Osh and beyond, there is a palpable difference in the air. Southern Kyrgyzstan is the wild west in many respects. Southern Kyrgyzstan is also much more religious Muslim majority and conservative. The Fergana valley — which has shared borders in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan— has been a place of constant ethnic tensions and sporadic violence for decades. Kyrgyzstan is exceptionally diverse and taking the time to appreciate its different areas is a clear must. Below I have crafted a few Kyrgyzstan travel itineraries to help you form a logical route for your time in the country. These routes are just suggestions based on the itineraries I utilized during my time spent backpacking Kyrgyzstan. Each of these routes can be customized, reversed, or reworked to fit your interests and schedule. If you have come to Kyrgyzstan for only eight days, then you certainly want to be armed with a plan to ensure you can see and do as much as humanly possible. This trip length will be quite hectic and action-packed. That said, because of the relatively short distances, you can have an awesome set of experiences in just an eight-day window. Here are my suggestions:. Start your trip in Bishkek but save the exploration of the capital to the end of the trip. Drive to Song Kul from Bishkek via a stop at Burana Tower and stay the night with a nomadic family at a yurt camp. Horse trekking can also be organized at Song Kol either as a day trip or an overnight horse trek. Song Kol is an excellent place to chill out after your long journey by plane or road to Kyrgyzstan. From Song Kul head to Issyuk Kul. Here you can check out the spectacular Fairy Tale Canyon , found on the south side of the lake. Eagle hunting demonstrations are also available in the villages around the southern shore. You can opt for a rest day in Karakol following the trek. For the next day, you have several options: go check out Jeti Oguz, Barksoon Gorge, or simply chill out at Issyk Kul with wine and a good book after a swim. With two weeks at your discretion, you suddenly have a few more options. This route can follow most or all of the eight-day route mentioned above with a few tasty additions along the way. Plus, there is plenty to do and experience in the north anyway. Check out Sary Jaz , a region bordering with China. Permits are required to get in here, but the juice is worth the squeeze. When done in a jeep, the Ring of Sary Jaz is a spectacular way to take in a big chunk of the landscape in two days. Go for a horse trek in Jyrgalan, one of the most popular horse trekking destinations in Kyrgyzstan, and probably the easiest place to organize a horse trek as well. You could head further south of Bishkek to Naryn for a couple of days for more off the beaten path trekking options. Ala Archa National Park is just 40 km from Bishkek. This place is excellent if you want to get some nature time in without being too far from the city. If you have had enough of the mountains how could you though?! With a month on your hand, you can certainly head south to check out the scene. You can opt to start in the south if you wish. You can take a small bus overland, but it takes about 12 hours. If you have time and you are on a budget, the bus makes more economic sense. Osh is worth spending a couple of days in, though the highlights of the south lie a few hours south of the city. Head to Sary Mogul, a dusty, rather ugly ramshackle village five hours south of Osh. Tulpar Kul is worth the visit whether you plan to make the trek to Lenis Peak or not. More on trekking in the Batken later in this Kyrgyzstan travel guide. That said, with two months in Kyrgyzstan, you can give it an honest go. If you plan on using up your entire day tourist visa in Kyrgyzstan then you can move at a sloooooooow pace. In my opinion, the only real reason why you would want to stay in Kyrgyzstan for two months would be to 1. So, building on the above-mentioned itineraries, I have the following suggestions for you to fill an additional month in Kyrgyzstan:. Take the time to discover more unique destinations in southern Kyrgyzstan. Explore the Fergana Valley. Go trekking in the Alay Mountains. For a challenging, lengthy, and drop-dead gorgeous trek through the Alay, tackle the 8-day trek which crosses the epic Jiptick Pass. My advice: take the time to really get to know a place instead of just passing through on a whirlwind tour. Want to save money on accommodation? From the lakes, mountains, and steppe country of the north to the rugged and dusty south, Kyrgyzstan is a vast land with many interesting places to check out. For the most part, traveling in Kyrgyzstan is safe and there are only a handful of areas that require special government permission to enter. Each region of Kyrgyzstan has something special and rewarding to offer backpackers if you know where to look. From my experience, I found only a handful of places that were bust with foreigners, which is a positive sign that Kyrgyzstan has yet to fully erupt into a Nepal-like adventure destination. Apart from the popular Karakol area and Song Kol, backpackers are far and few between. Exploration potential is limitless… at the moment. Again, the overall vibe in the north versus the south is markedly different and you will find the largest practicing Muslim populations living in the south. The rural areas of the north are still home to large numbers of seasonal nomadic herders, though these numbers are a fraction of what they were in centuries past especially pre the Soviet Union. Except for neighboring Almaty, Bishkek is hands down one of the most liberal and fun capital cities in Central Asia. For being a capital, the streets are pretty quiet, and just about everywhere you go there is a huge presence of university students from all over the world. Though it may not seem so at first, a lot is going on at night as well — you just need to know where to look. While Bishkek lacks impressive monuments, mosques, and world-class museums, it does win huge points for its craft beer scene, cheap accommodation, and tasty, affordable eateries. I am sure with time Bishkek will only become cooler and it is in a pretty good spot as it is. Personally, my favorite thing to do in Bishkek is to visit the amazing and underrated craft beer bars. Hiking equipment? Red Fox is a popular chain but expensive; Alex. Ala Archa National Park, home to several nearlym peaks, is only 45 minutes away by car. Burana Tower, one of the most significant cultural landmarks in Kyrgyzstan, is 90 minutes away. Bishkek is the central transportation hub of the country. You can sort out public transport or a taxi to just about anywhere from here. Song Kul is a super green, hilly area of high altitude Central Asian steppe centered around a large salty lake. Traditionally, this area was used by nomadic herders during the summer months as grazing ground for their animals. Depending on what you want to do, your experience in Song Kul can either be very chill or very active. The main draw of Song Kul, apart from the obvious beauty, is the yurt camps. Small, family-run yurt camps dot the shore and offer up an authentic taste of nomadic life. Some yurt camps are more authentic than others, however. For backpackers, I suggest seeking out a yurt camp that has no frills: no super fancy beds, yurts, or neon lights. These high-end yurt camps are expensive and will not give you the desired experience of staying with a family. Horse trekking is also a popular activity around the lake. One can combine a multi-day hike with horse trekking to Song Kol if you have the time and budget to do so. If you are doing a multi-day adventure, there is more room for negotiation. Issyk Kul is a sight to behold. It is the seventh deepest lake in the world, the tenth-largest lake in the world by volume, and the second-largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea. Before heading onwards to Karakol, you should spend a night or two exploring the southern area of Issyk Kul. The south side is the much quieter, more backpacker-friendly part of the lake. Fairytale Canyon aka Skazka is full of surreal rock formations and vivid colors. The one thing you have to do is be a part of an eagle hunting demonstration. Among the various yurt camps, Bel Tam is one of the oldest and best run. Continue down the road from Bel Tam, and you will find other, more quiet yurt camps. Some even have wifi! You should not have to pay more than SOM per person night includes breakfast. The key to picking the best place to stay in Issyk Kul is to make sure the camp has good beach access. To visit the top sites in the area, you will either need to rent a car or hire a taxi. There are public buses that run along the lakeshore en route to Karakol or Bishkek, but these will prove to be unhelpful when it comes to seeing the sites in Issyk Kul. Chon Kemin makes for another excellent base for adventure activities. This wide, green, almost Swiss-like valley has a little of everything. For backpackers after a little white water rafting, Chon Kemin is the place to do it. There are also several fine treks in the area, pretty much all of which can either be done on foot or with horses or a combination of both. Like a few other places in Kyrgyzstan, the interesting cultural elements of Kyrgyz traditional life are not practiced often enough that you will just stumble across them. If you plan to come to Chon Kemin, come for the adventure activities and stay for beautiful views and nice people. Karakol is the uncontested adventure capital of Kyrgyzstan. Endless treks, jeep excursions, climbing trips, and cultural events can be organized in the city. But if you are expecting an Aspen or Chamonix vibe, you will be sorely disappointed. I was pretty surprised to find that despite Karakol being the most popular city for foreigners in Kyrgyzstan, it remains largely undeveloped, dusty, and has the feel of an old Soviet frontier town of sorts. In terms of on the ground attractions in Karakol, there are a few interesting spots to check out. The Holy Trinty Cathedral is the most beautiful building in the city. The coolest thing about this mosque is the fact that it survived the wrath of the Bolsheviks who destroyed all of the other mosques in the city. The biggest highlight for me in Karakol was getting down on some seriously good BBQ pre and post trekking. The Kafe Aychurok on the main street has the best shashlik meat skewers of all time. The prices are reasonable and the feasting is next level. This is a bring-your-own-beer sort of joint and is well worth doing. Bring your meat-eating A-game. There are also a few decent groceries and bakeries in town, so you should have no problem cooking a few meals and getting food supplies for your upcoming trek. A little known gem lies just a few hours from Karakol. Sary Jaz is a border region between Kyrgyzstan and China. Better yet, you are very likely to not see another single backpacker out there. There are a few different options for where to go and what to do in Sary Jaz. It is the largest national park in Kyrgyzstan and has greatly contributed to the protection of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna, primarily the snow leopard population. If you have a little extra cash in your budget, the 1 — 4 day trip depending on how you plan it is well worth it. Option 1: Ring of Sary Jaz : Epic mountain views, a high pass, braided river systems, awesome campsites, stunning star photography opportunities. Here, you can visit an old abandoned Soviet mining town Enylchek. There are still people living nearby, but there are numerous massive dilapidated brick apart blocks that you can walkthrough. It is a pretty eerie experience, but cool nonetheless. The hill country around Jyrgalan is the most popular horse trekking destination in Kyrgyzstan. Its green meadows, picturesque mountains, and accessibility from Karakol have helped to skyrocket its popularity. Most people opt to base themselves in the village of Jyrgalan , where there are various guesthouses and yurt stays available. Expect to pay around SOM per person per night. If you visit from the middle of July onward, it is possible to do the iconic Echkili Tash trek , which takes 4 days and around 70 kilometers to complete. Be sure to ask locals if the passes are indeed free of heavy snowpack or not. Multiday horse treks are the name of the game in Jyrgalan as well, and if you hire a local guide and cook, there almost certainly will be a couple of pack horses rolling with you. If you plan on setting off on your own, be sure to come prepared with supplies bought in Karakol as the options for buying decent trekking food are quite limited in the village. Osh has quite the storied past and was a major outpost for traders on the Silk Road. The city is also one of the oldest settlements in Central Asia. After recovering from spats of ethnic violence in , Osh is now experiencing a period of relative calm, though there will always be noticeable tension between the Kyrgyz and Uzbek communities. Like most cities in Kyrgyzstan, Osh is more of a jumping-off point than it is a destination. One can spend a few days roaming the bust streets, trying tasty food, and utilizing the decent internet connections found in the cafes. Accommodation in Osh is cheaper than in Bishkek and a decent guesthouse or apartment should cost between USD When it comes to picturesque mountain towns in Kyrgyzstan, Arslanabob can hold its own with the best of them. A good place to start upon arriving in town is to check into the CBT guesthouse. There is an awesome day trip to the walnut forest waterfalls. In terms of dusty, scruffy towns in Kyrgyzstan go, Sary Mogul is pretty damn dusty and scruffy. Upon arrival, I determined that it was best to not even spend the night there, though the folks at the local CBT guesthouse were very nice and helped me organize a jeep to Tulpar Kul yurt camp. A few locals-only cafe shacks serve fried bread, tea, and strong instant coffee. Tulpar Kul is a medium-sized yurt camp surrounded by small lakes. One can get a cozy yurt with a fire inside , nice meals, and a good base for exploring the surrounding mountain trails. Because the camp sits at around meters, it can be cold here it snowed on me when I was there so come with the appropriate clothing. Marmots are about as common here as gold teeth are in all of Kyrgyzstan! Lenin peak Base Camp is only a short walk around 25 minutes from Tulapar Kul. In the height of the season, it will be busy with climbing expeditions and not the most peaceful place to stay. From the top of the pass, you have a perfect view of Lenin Peak standing tall almost 3 kilometers above. Pray for clear skies and prepare to be wowed. Ask anyone working at the yurt camp in Tulpar Kul or Lenin Peak Base Camp for directions, the route to the pass is straight forward. Note that heavy snow can be present at any time of the year. Ask about conditions before setting off. Hiking with proper waterproof boots and gaiters is a must if there is some snow on the trail. If you have found your self rambling along through Central Asia, congratulations! In terms of backpacker scenes, Central Asia is raw and in the infant stages of tourism. That said, Kyrgyzstan does have its hot spots where you will almost certainly find foreigners. Apart from places like the Karakol area treks, Song Kol and Issyk Kul, fellow backpackers are far and few between. There is relatively no information online about this place we aim to change that soon. The Batken region is one of the most remote places I have ever been, and you need a guide to go there. Jyrgalan is now one of the most popular places in the whole country. Tell him we sent you and maybe he will give you a special price. Request that your guide be Suliman from the village of Ozgorush were the trek starts ; he is a wonder of a man and a badass guide. A 9-day! Want more deetz on why these packs are so damn perfect? Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop! The activities listed here are only a few of many. If you come to Kyrgyzstan and do not go for a badass trek somewhere, then you have failed miserably. From goats head polo matches Koko Boru to strength competitions to javelin throwing, the Kyrgyz people are serious about their brand of sport… and seeing them in action is quite the sight to behold. Nomadic sports are well entrenched in modern-day Kyrgyz society and occur at various times all over the country. The ultimate competition takes place at the World Nomad Games, which occurs every year, though not always in Kyrgyzstan. For the past three years, the games have been held in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, but this year the games are taking place in Turkey. When that fierce sun is shining down, perhaps nothing else in the world is as refreshing as a dip in the crisp waters of Issyk Kul. Have beers on standby. What the hell is Kumis? Well, my friends, Kumis is a slightly alcoholic concoction of fermented mares milk. To be honest with you I kind of hated kumis, but trying it is a sort of right of passage for people backpacking in Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan is a land of horse culture. It is in the blood of the people like baseball is in the blood of Americans. Get yourself on a horse and head into the mountains. Kyrgy horse treks are a great reason to visit Kyrgyzstan. When you see a demonstration, no actual animal is hunted, but watching how the hunters work with their birds is quite amazing. Similar to trekking, you can not visit Kyrgyzstan and NOT stay in a yurt. If you want to learn more about yurts, it is possible to help build one at some yurt camps. Manta is the Kyrgyz version of dumplings. They are delicious and they are prone to be eaten in glutinous quantity. You may have gathered by now that the Sary Jaz region is one of my favorite places in Kyrgyzstan. Get off the beaten path, hire a jeep, and go see it for yourself. If possible, try to camp out there. From brandy to vodka to whiskey, there is no shortage of tasty spirts to try. In Bishkek, sampling some of the craft beers is a must. Couchsurfing is also slowly gaining traction, though I did not personally Couchsurf whilst backpacking in Kyrgyzstan. Are you wondering which is the best part of Kyrgyzstan to stay in? Well, let me give you a few suggestions. Number one on many lists of the attractions of this country awash with natural beauty is Issyk Kul. Karakol is the gem in the east, near Issyk Kul, and is our pick for the best place in Kyrgyzstan to stay for hiking. Song Kul is set in a vast grassy pasture land in the mountains, though the area itself is a flat plain. Located in central Kyrgyzstan, near the Uzbek border, Arslanbob is a stunning village and region nestled in the mountains where else!? Osh is in the Fergana Valley, in the south of Kyrgyzstan and is the second-largest city in the country, after Bishkek. It has over years of history and is where a number of cultures collide. Perhaps the most important information for backpackers visiting Kyrgyzstan is cost. Backpackers on a tight budget may find certain aspects of traveling in the country expensive, whereas other stuff may come across as cheap. Eating in Kyrgyzstan is pretty inexpensive. So, when is where is Kyrgyzstan expensive? Also, yurt stays are not quite as cheap as I thought they would be. I recommend Couchsurfing as much as you possibly can. The more you Couchsurf and hitchhike, the more money you can spend on wine, good hummus, and activities like paragliding. Pure and simple. Having a good tent and sleeping bag are crucial to budget backpacking. Both will save you a ton of money on accommodation. Whilst backpacking in a place with few hostels, having the right gear and ability to camp out when possible is very important to keep costs to an absolute minimum. Below is a list of what you can expect to spend daily excluding car hire whilst backpacking Kyrgyzstan. The currency of Kyrgyzstan is the SOM. Find out how much your money is worth today by using the up-to-date converter below. ATMs are widely available in all major cities. I do recommend bringing in foreign currency like dollars, euros, or pounds to change in Bishkek, Osh, or Karakol. If you do plan on changing hard currency, I suggest that you shop around at a few different money exchanges as the rates can vary slightly and you want to get the best bang for your buck. Tip : Find out whether or not your bank in your home country has fee-free international withdrawal. If so, activate it for your trip or for whenever you travel abroad. When traveling to Kyrgyzstan on a budget, every SOM counts right? Plastic washes up on even the most pristine beaches… so do your part and keep the Big Blue beautiful. And I hope you become more inspired to continue being a responsible traveller. The Grayl Geopress is the worlds leading filtered water bottle protecting you from all manner of waterborne nasties. Be a part of the solution and travel with a filter water bottle. Save money and the environment! You know those tiny pieces of plastic you used to use to connect yourself to the internet abroad? Sim Cards I think they were called? These days, wherever you go in the world an eSIM is by far the best way to stay connected from the minute you land. You can download an eSim before you leave home and then activate it when you are still sitting on the plane waiting to disembark. Of all the many eSim providers out there, we suggest Jetpac. Jetpac works just like an app: you download it, pick your plan, and BOOM! Due to its geographical location on the Central Asian steppe, the weather window to visit Kyrgyzstan is quite short. Since the main attraction of the country is the mountains and the trekking adventures you can have, the most obvious time to visit Kyrgyzstan is from June — September. If you arrive too early or too late, many of the best treks in the country will likely be inaccessible due to heavy snow and ice conditions. Many of the high mountain passes can be covered under a mass of snow well into June and early July. July and August is the best time to be in Kyrgyzstan from a weather perspective. The result is that these months are also when the country receives the most foreign visitors. Beyond early-mid October, the weather will start to turn cold again and snowfall in the mountains is almost a given. Keep in mind that snow can fall at any time of the year in the mountains especially when you get above meters. Activities like snowshoeing, skiing and ice climbing are all possible in the winter. Throughout the year there are various festivals and events taking place across the country. Since the location and dates of any given event may differ from year to year, it is always best to ask locals for up-to-date information. This is a regular looking belt with a concealed pocket on the inside — you can hide up to twenty notes inside and wear it through airport scanners without it setting them off. Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be. A decent head torch could save your life. If you want to explore caves, unlit temples, or simply find your way to the bathroom during a blackout, a headtorch is a must. Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with players and guarantees happy days. Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. For plenty more inspiration on what to pack, check out my full packing list for Kyrgyzstan! Is Kyrgyzstan Safe? In general, I found Kyrgyzstan to be one of the safest countries I have ever visited. That said, Kyrgyzstan is not immune to problems. Kyrgyz people like to get down. You would never know that Kyrgyzstan is a Muslim majority country since alcohol is available everywhere. Alcohol is definitely the name of the game in Kyrgyzstan. If you find yourself at a Kyrgyzstani birthday party or around a campfire with the right people, be prepared to get a little tipsy and then some. The dating scene in the cities is a complex topic. In Bishkek, there is a western-style dating culture, and apps like Tinder will prove to be useful to you for men and women. In the southern parts of the country, especially in rural areas, alcohol consumption is less common as people are more conservative and religious. If you end up at a conservative Muslim persons house in the south, do show some respect and do not drink around them unless they offer booze to you. Traveling without insurance would be risky so do consider getting good backpacker insurance sorted before you head off on an adventure. SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it! Most people arriving by air will need to catch a connection in Istanbul, Moscow, or Dubai. There are some particularly cheap flights from Istanbul with Pegasus Airways. There is no national Kyrgyz airline. One option is flying into Almaty and then transferring to Bishkek by bus or plane. Almaty is much more connected and there are several local airlines with daily international arrivals. Kyrgyzstan shares a land border with almost every other Central Asian nation. From Tajikstan, the only option is in the south near Sary Mogul; this probably the most used land crossing thanks to the Pamir Highway. From Kazahkstan, crossing via Almaty into Kyrgyzstan is the most obvious way. Good news my friends! Kyrgyzstan has the most relaxed visa policies of any Central Asian nation. Foreigners holding passports from Europe, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and many others can get a 30 or day visa on arrival with zero hassle attached. If you have been traveling around other parts of Central Asia, I am sure you will find this headache-free visa a welcomed relief. Extending a Kyrgyz visa is possible in Bishkek, Karakol, and Osh. You will for sure need a copy of your passport and your visa, your passport, a letter stating your reason for extension you can write in English , a passport picture and money of course! Overstaying your visa: Do not do it, is the short answer. Better to get an extension or leave the country before your visa is up. The most popular means of transport in Kyrgyzstan is the Marshrutka, which is a shared public minibus. They are not the comfiest and can be appallingly hot without the windows open, but they are cheap and a good way to go between cities in the country. They also operate in all of the cities across Kyrgyzstan. Navigating which bus is going where is quite difficult, especially because the route displayed on the window screen is in the Russian alphabet though the buses have numbers too. Once you decide where you want to go, ask a local or the hostel staff which bus number you need to take. Yandex is the Kyrgyz version of Uber Uber does not work in Kyrgyzstan. I had a love-hate relationship with Yandex. On the one hand, using the apps helps you to get a fair price every time. The part I found very frustrating was that the destinations are often only in Russian, which made it difficult to select my intended destination. Taxi drivers in Bishkek, in particular, will try at every opportunity to rip you off. Despite the shortcomings of the Yandex app, I found that dealing with Kyrgyz taxi drivers was quite the struggle. If you are in a hurry to head south, you can catch one of the daily flights from Bishkek to Osh. The tickets cost roughly USD one way. YES, you can actually travel around Kyrgyzstan by horse! It is totally possible to buy one at a local animal market and ride it around the country, living at all of your wildest Lord of the Rings dreams. Unless you know how to spot a healthy horse, you should try to enlist a local to help as well. Find a local to give you some lessons before heading out. The average horse can only ride about miles a day, and your hips will be sore WAY before that. If you want to see the country with the aid of your own wheels, renting a car is definitely an awesome option. You can sort your car rental in just a few minutes. Booking in advance is the best way to ensure you score the lowest price and your choice of vehicle. Often, you can find the best car rental prices when you pick up the rental from the airport. Make sure you cover your rental car with a RentalCover. It covers your car against any common damages such as tires, windscreens, theft, and more at a fraction of the price you would pay at the rental desk. The main roads in Kyrgyzstan are pretty good and the drivers in the country are not nearly as reckless as I have seen in other countries. If you have the time and money you can try for an epic Pamir Highway road trip, which would take you from Southern Kyrgyzstan into Tajikistan. If you rent a car and plan on crossing international borders, make sure that your car rental policy allows for that. Hitchhiking is quite common here. I often saw locals hitching on the side of the road. Often, they are only getting short distance rides. For foreigners, you may find that some locals will be keen to give you a lift, whilst others are not interested. On the busy roads around Issyk Kul, hitchhiking short distances should prove to be reasonably easy. As always, if someone stops to pick you up and they give you bad vibes, do not take the ride. There will always be another one. In your mind, it is a free ride because you were hitchhiking , and for them, they are expecting a payment, which can lead to some pretty awkward and potentially expensive circumstances. Kyrgyzstan is surrounded by many fascinating countries. The easiest countries to visit from Kyrgyzstan are Tajikistan and Kazahkstan as both of these countries also have pretty relaxed visa policies. To get into China or Uzbekistan, you will need to apply for a visa in advance. Right now, the region is very tightly controlled by the Chinese government. Uzbekistan is slightly less traveled, but well worth it as there are many beautiful places to visit in Uzbekistan. If you have plans to go to Afganistan after Tajikistan, it is possible to apply for your visa in Biskek. Check out her other article about applying for an Uzbek visa in Bishkek here. It may not be there yet, but I think that Bishkek could be a legit digital nomad spot. There are lots of places to work, the cost of living is reasonable, and the internet is mostly reliable. I am tempted to move to Bishkek solely based on the nice cafes and quality beer! Bishkek has some truly awesome cafes to work out of. If you are a digital nomad, you will love the cafe culture in the city. My favorite place to get my coffee is the Kiwi-owned Sierra Coffee. Outside of the cities, there is not much in the way of wifi or internet connection. Large swaths of the country are undeveloped and have not yet been overrun by data towers. In Bishkek, I went to the O! I also bought an O! If you need a reliable internet connection on the go, I suggest that you buy one, as the free wifi you get around Bishkek is not always good. A new country, a new contract, a new piece of plastic — booooring. Instead, buy an eSIM! Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market and ditch the plastic. Volunteering overseas is a great way to experience a culture whilst doing some good in the world. There are lots of different volunteer projects in Kyrgyzstan which you can join ranging from teaching, to animal care, to agriculture to pretty much anything! Language exchanges are becoming more common throughout the country, although English teaching is not widely demanded. More rural locations sometimes provide opportunities to help with animal care and digital marketing. Keep in mind that volunteers in Kyrgyzstan require a visa prior to arrival. Our go-to platform for finding volunteering gigs is Worldpackers who connect travellers with host projects. Have a look at the Worldpackers site and see if they have any exciting opportunities in Kyrgyzstan before signing up. Alternatively, Workaway is another excellent common platform used by travellers searching for volunteering opportunities. You can read our review of Workaway for more info on using this terrific platform. Volunteer programs run through reputable work exchange programs like Worldpackers and platforms like Workaway are usually very well-managed and reputable. However, whenever you are volunteering do stay vigilant, especially when working with animals or children. Worldpackers: connecting travellers with meaningful travel experiences. Kyrgyz food is pretty heavy on the meat dishes, but if you can handle copious amounts of animal protein than you are going to love Kyrgyz cuisine. Vegetarians do have some options, but be aware that vegetarianism is a foreign concept here. In addition to amazing Kyrgyz and Russian food, you can find Indian, Italian, Chinese, Kebabs, and endless burger and pizza joints of varying quality. It was one of the most disappointing and overpriced meals I have had in the last 10 years of traveling. Kyrgyz hospitality is a thing of beauty. I met some of the nicest people in nearly a decade of traveling here, and I must say the people in Kyrgyzstan are wonderful. Sometimes people can indeed come across as a little cold or distant, but I think that is a product of 1. For the most part, Kyrgyz people are welcoming, generous, happy, and confident; all of which make for pleasurable interactions as a foreigner. At first glance, some Kyrgyz males may appear a bit rough around the edges and some of them are , but once you get them to open up a little bit perhaps after a shot of vodka or 6 , they will be putting their arm around you and laughing stoutly in no time. Reading on the road has always been an important part of my travels. There is nothing like a good book about a place to help you connect with the country you are visiting. Here are a few awesome books set in Kyrgyzstan for you to check out! Kyrgyzstan has two official languages: Kyrgyz and Russian. English is becoming more common, but I experienced plenty of lost in translation moments all the same. If you have the time to learn the alphabet and a few words of Russian, you will be able to read all of the confusing signs and menus. The history of the Kyrgyz people and the land now called Kyrgyzstan goes back more than 2, years. As the Silk Road trade routes became more and more utilized over the centuries, Kyrgyzstan became an important trading and migrant hub. Historically, Kyrgyzstan was a nation of nomadic people. Much of that way of life was impacted when the Soviets rolled into town. Over the last two hundred years or so, Kyrgyzstan has seen plenty of major changes and developments. In , an Arabic-based Kyrgyz alphabet was introduced, which was replaced by Latin script in In Cyrillic script was adopted. Many aspects of the Kyrgyz national culture were retained despite the suppression of nationalist activity under Joseph Stalin, who controlled the Soviet Union from the late s until Modern life in Kyrgyzstan seems to be headed in an overall positive direction, though some areas do suffer from high rates of unemployment and poor education. It was followed by increased ethnic tension involving Kyrgyz people and Uzbeks in the south of the country, which escalated in June The violence ultimately led to the consolidation of a new parliamentary system in Kyrgyzstan. During the general mayhem, exiles from the Uzbek minority claim they were assaulted and driven to Uzbekistan, with some , Kyrgyzstani citizens becoming internally displaced. Victims interviewed by media and aid workers testify to mass killing, gang rape, and torture. Then-head of the Interim government Roza Otunbayeva indicated that the death toll is tenfold higher than was previously reported, which brings the number of the dead to 2, people. On 9 June violence erupted in the southern city of Osh with ethnic Kyrgyz rioting, attacking minority Uzbeks and lighting their property ablaze. By the 12th the violence had spread to the city of Jalal-Abad. The spreading of the violence required the Russian-endorsed interim government led by Roza Otunbayeva to declare a state of emergency on 12 June, in an attempt to take control of the situation. Uzbekistan launched a limited troop incursion early on, but withdrew and opened its borders to Uzbek refugees. The clashes killed up to 2, people, mostly Uzbeks, and another , were displaced. As of , Kyrgyzstan is experiencing a period of calm, though as I said before, the ethnic tensions between the various groups will probably always exist. For the sake of all of the people involved, I hope that peace lasts and that the country continues to prosper. To be honest with you, there is a lifetime worth of noteworthy trekking experiences in Kyrgyzstan. But, since you likely do not have a lifetime to spend in the country, here are a few of my personal favorites:. Traveling the world makes you an ambassador for your country , which is awesome. We can make a positive impact on people when we travel and get rid of any ugly stereotypes that may be associated with your country…. Climbing on ancient shrines or mosques, national monuments of martyrs or Lenin , or other historical artifacts should be avoided. Responsible travel is the best kind of travel. Be kind to the planet that we all love to explore so that the people in the future will still have a planet worth exploring. Well there you have it, amigos, we have come to the final act of this epic Kyrgyzstan travel guide. I hope you have found this guide inspiring and helpful! Kyrgyzstan is an amazing country and I had the time of my life exploring it with my brother in arms, Ralph Cope. I hope you also have an amazing time traveling in Kyrgyzstan. Have a nice shot of kumis on me the joke is on you! A couple of you lovely readers suggested we set up a tip jar for direct support as an alternative to booking through our links. So we created one! You can now buy The Broke Backpacker a coffee. Firstly, love all of your posts so thank you very much for that. I am planning on visiting Kyrgyzstan soon, and love the idea of traveling with a horse. Would you recommend that? If I plan to hike a lot, could it be a disadvantage? Also, do you think I can cross to countries with them? Thank you! It is a lovely idea, however the reality of an injury to you or the horse or finding yourself very quickly off piste with no way back, could be devastating. I still think you should look in to possibilities of a tour by horse with a local guide in Kyrgyzstan. Looks amazing. I and with my friend we visited Kyrgyzstan July for 2 weeks. I think is the best Song Kol lake and Karakol. We booked tour with Pegas Adventure. If yiu have time more than 2 weeks need. Hey Carlos! Indeed Kyrgyzstan is one of my favorite countries I have ever been to! Glad you enjoyed it as well. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. Skip to content. Backpacking Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide I am here to show you the way… Below, I provide honest, fresh advice on where to go backpacking in Kyrgyzstan, backpacker accommodation, suggested Kyrgyzstan itineraries, top things to do in Kyrgyzstan, how to travel the country, daily travel costs, best treks, Kyrgyzstan budget travel hacks, and all the other nuts and bolts that go into making an epic Kyrgyzstan travel guide. Settle in amigos, let me show you what backpacking in Kyrgyzstan is all about…. Photo: Roaming Ralph. Over those mountains is China… Photo: Chris Lininger. This itinerary is assuming you have already done the northern route above. Kyrgyzstan travel itinerary. Show me the deals! Generations of Kyrgyz people have been coming to Song Kol to graze their animals. Photo: Chris Lininger. The water can be a bit cold, but it is ultra-refreshing. A chill little guest house in Chon Kemin. Holy Trinity Catherdral, Karakol. Exploring an abandoned Soviet apartment block in Enylchek. Not a bad place to go for a hike… Photo: Chris Lininger. Seriously, I think this is the biggest Lenin statue I have ever seen. Hanging with the dudes in Sary Mogul. Our lovely host at Tulpar Kil yurt camp. Deep in the Batken region of Southern Kyrgyzstan, around meters. Ala Kul still had lots of surface ice when we were there in early July! Kyrgyzstan is one of the few countries on earth where you can organize a horse trek just about anywhere. Yurt camp at Issyk Kul, sunset. Our jeep ride through Sary Jaz was the best road trip we found in Kyrgyzstan. Small Pack Problems? Wanna know how to pack like a pro? Well for a start you need the right gear…. What SOMs look like. Get an eSim For Kyrgyzstan. Summertime in Kyrgyzstan; you still never really know what you are going to get. Somewhere to hide your cash. Check on REI. For those unexpected messes. When the power goes out. A way to make friends! Check On Amazon. Keep your laundry organized and stink free. Check on Nomatic. Stay safe amigos. Have you sorted your accommodation yet? View on Booking. Marshrutka The most popular means of transport in Kyrgyzstan is the Marshrutka, which is a shared public minibus. Taxi Taxi drivers in Bishkek, in particular, will try at every opportunity to rip you off. Plane If you are in a hurry to head south, you can catch one of the daily flights from Bishkek to Osh. Horse YES, you can actually travel around Kyrgyzstan by horse! Photo: Micha? Huniewicz Flickr. Photo: Ralph Cope. Grab an eSIM! Read Our Review! Russian Salad : Lettuce and other vegetables in a mayonnaise sauce. Borscht : Beet based soup with chunks of meat and veggies. Goulash : Stew of meat and vegetables usually seasoned with paprika and other spices. Beshbarmak Five Finger Noodles : A noodle dish heavy on the onions and meat. Laghman : A tasty noodle dish with meat, veggies, and spices. Manta : Delicious Kyrgyz style dumplings. Kumis : Fermented mares milk. Proceed with caution. Beer Cheese : A stringy, smoked dry cheese best eaten with—you guessed it— a tasty glass of suds. Shashlik : Skewered BBQ meat, usually mutton, beef, or chicken. Mutton is best. A Kyrgyz man wearing the traditional felt hat. Thank you — Rahmat Hello — S alam Is this the bus to…? Do you have shorpa? Where is the toilet? How much? I am lost — Men jogolgon jatam? Beer — Pivo Can I camp here? A scene from the Bishkek riots of Photo: Vladimir Pirogov Reuters. Trekking in Kyrgyzstan takes you to some pretty special places. See Our Editorial Process. Will Hatton Founder. Adventurer, entrepreneur and vagabond. Master of the handstand pushup. Conqueror of mountains, survivor of deserts, and crusader for cheap escapades. Will Hatton is the founder of The Broke Backpacker and has been writing for the site since January He has been on the road for more than a decade, travelling to far-flung lands on a shoestring budget. His mantra? Growth begins at the edge of your comfort zone. Share or save this post Pinterest. Stay connected everywhere. Enjoy internet connection on every adventure and forget about expensive roaming bills. Support The Broke Backpacker. Booking through our links helps me and my team produce FREE content for you :. Hi Lisa, It is a lovely idea, however the reality of an injury to you or the horse or finding yourself very quickly off piste with no way back, could be devastating. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published.

Backpacking Kyrgyzstan Travel Guide 2024

Buying hash Karakol

Traveler's tips about weed in Karakol, Kyrgyzstan. You are probably aware that marijuana laws are different in different places. This article should shed light on cannabis regulations in Karakol, what do local people and cops think about weed, hash availability, pricing, my own experience etc. My trip to Karakol is over, these 10 days were perfect, so while memory is fresh I decided to write this post, who knows may be useful to someone. Being a regular cannabis smoker I could not imagine my stay in Karakol without some daily joints. So from the very first day of my stay I started looking for weed…. Youngsters and students are definitely those who share their love of cannabis and welcome new smokers in their circles. In general smoking some occasional joint after a long working week is a pleasant tradition among many people in Karakol, so no one will point fingers at you seeing how you are smoking weed, but better to avoid doing this publicly just not to bring useless attention. Generally, the local stance on cannabis is quite laid-back, so you might start feeling at ease in Karakol after enjoying a single quality joint, and I can attest to this from my own experience. Sam graciously shared a wonderfully satisfying sativa joint with me, even though he wasn't sure about the specific strain. It's safe to say that cannabis consumption is quite prevalent in Karakol. I inquired with Sam about the possibility of obtaining his dealer's contact information because the quality of the product was exceptional. He explained that his specific dealer doesn't take on new clients, so he graciously offered to be my supplier during my vacation, which turned out to be an ideal arrangement. I hope everyone has the chance to encounter their own Sam in one of Karakol's bars. During the time Sam had been my dealer it was the solving of all my issues he was telling me about how the things were going in Karakol. High rated providers in Karakol buy the cannabis on darknet websites that maintain gross orders. These orders can contain a big amount of weed and hash, kilograms I think. Some websites work on small orders too, so if you are close to Tor browser working and know how to. This site has all the information needed about darknet. While if you are having a short vacation or a trip to Karakol and need not much weed right now or tomorrow - only local weed dealers may assist you. You may still use oldschool approach and hustle dark streets or parks in search of strange person who will sell you some joint for cash, but not sure this is the best way to spend your time in Karakol. Nowadays almost all dealers have gone online and crypto already, so hustling the streets may simply not work. Now the weed-selling process looks like this - you find some messenger contacts of a local dealer ask some barmans or simply google , contact him and choose what you would like to order, pay in crypto and get your stuff delivered to a hotel or some pre-selected location. Personal meetings are something dealers try to avoid - so weed is usually dropped at some approximate point you firstly discuss, and you get photo and GPS coordinates where to take your package after delivery. But after crypto became something you may exchange to real cash, and do not need to meet in person to transfer it - cash started losing its points in the drug business. Sam also commented that now if you do not know crypto - you have a friend who is keen on bitcoins and all that shit, so you may simply ask him to help and do a crypto transaction for you. And I really have such friends, so yep, agree. It is important to note that cannabis, weed, and hash are prohibited in Karakol. You can not officially purchase marijuana strains with high THC concentration in some coffee shops like in Amsterdam. Medical CBD cannabis may be available for purchase at dispensaries, but a prescription from a doctor is required, and you will never get high with CBD. In one sports bar I got acquainted with Sam who moved to Karakol 3 years ago, so he knows the local drug scene. According to Sam - despite cannabis being banned according to laws, cops are generally relaxed about weed, sometimes being smokers themselves. Cops will check if you are not intending to sell the stuff being a real dealer, they should just confiscate weed after a short talk. People say sometimes police officers try to get some material benefits from catching you with weed in Karakol. These stories are rare, but mind that some cops may force you giving them some money to leave you alone. But never try to offer them anything yourself, this may be treated as a separate crime. Easier just to watch your back not not get caught with weed in Karakol. In some places, smoking marijuana in public, on the streets, or in parks may be illegal and subject to administrative sanctions. My advice is to try to avoid smoking marijuana in public places. Usually, law enforcement tends to be lenient with tourists, and if they don't suspect you of dealing, they will most likely let you go. As I mentioned before, I was fortunate to meet Sam. If I were you, I would look for Telegram channels and avoid interacting with street dealers. There are a lot of weed and hash variants in Karakol. What you get depends on the amount of money you can afford to pay. As I said, the quality needs to be paid. And the price can differ from provider to provider. Rasta brothers and sisters need your help! Just arrived to Karakol and plan to relax daily so please share contacts of trusted dealer with top weed, do not care about the price, top quality is 1 requirement. Have cash, crypto, skrill, paypal etc. Sorry bro my dealer disappeared 3 days ago and does not respond so also waiting for someone to share contacts of trusted druid, with delivery option if possible. Ha ha guys, thanks so much, everything went through successfully! I got everything delivered during 40 minutes to the area of my hotel, got photo and description where to grab, just went around my hotel and took empty cola can with weed inside from place on the photo - was easy as 1 2 3. I ordered 5g of Pineapple sativa strain, below attaching photos of this perfection. Congrats bro! I also found another way to get cool weed just in case - my friend share a link to weed auto-sale bot in Telegram. You are offered several strains and positions that are already hidden usually in city center , so you just select what you want, pay in crypto and get GPS coordinates and photo of place where to take your stuff. Also after payment bot gives you a unique URL to auto-delete chat with support guy who resolves issues that may happen. I found everything quickly so had no need to contact support, not sure how it works, but these guys look serious. Also made some photos, stuff is top one, pricing is almost the same as Bob Marley has, rather fair as for me. Photo below. Thanks for info! I pinged Bob Marley but he was not responsive as guys warned, so also used a bot - fuck, this is really something new in dealing drugs I should say. Please sign in to join the discussion. Thanks for signing up! Please check your inbox and confirm your account to sign in. I already have an account. A combination of email and password was not found in our system. Do not have an account? Points to find the weed in Karakol During the time Sam had been my dealer it was the solving of all my issues he was telling me about how the things were going in Karakol. Cannabis laws in Karakol, Kyrgyzstan It is important to note that cannabis, weed, and hash are prohibited in Karakol. What if I get caught with marijuana in Karakol? Can I smoke cannabis on the streets in Karakol? What will happen if I get caught with cannabis in Karakol? Can you recommend a place to buy weed in Karakol? What quality of weed or hash can I find in Karakol? What about the hash in Karakol. Can I find it? Yep, hash is also popular in Karakol. So almost all dealers can propose it to you. What the price for weed and hash in Karakol? Interesting facts about weed. Comments 9 Rasta brothers and sisters need your help!

Buying hash Karakol