How much does a trip to Kyrgyzstan cost?
Updated 14 September 2026. Prepared by the Elimtour team.
A trip to Kyrgyzstan with us comes down to the tour price, your flight to Bishkek and the money you spend on the ground. Our tours cost €1,050 to €1,695 per person, depending on length and group size. Locally you pay in som, and outside Bishkek mostly in cash.
In short
- Elimtour tours cost €1,050 to €1,695 per person: 9 days from €1,050, 11 days from €1,170, 13 days from €1,389.
- In a group of 8 or more (minibus) you pay €306 to €335 less per person than in a group of 3 to 7 (car).
- Flights, insurance, drinks outside meals, tips and personal spending are not included, and on the 11 and 13-day tours neither are lunches (full board costs €250).
- You pay in som locally: at the official rate for 15 September 2026, €1 is about 101 som, so 1,000 som is roughly €10.
- Cards work mainly in hotels and restaurants in Bishkek; take cash to the countryside and the mountains.
What makes up the cost of a trip to Kyrgyzstan?
The total is made up of the tour, your flight, insurance and spending money. The tour is the biggest item and covers transport, accommodation, most meals, entry fees and the guide.
- Elimtour tour: €1,050 to €1,695 per person, depending on length and group size
- Return flight to Bishkek: the fare depends on dates and availability
- Travel insurance with medical cover: depends on the insurer and the level of cover
- Spending money: drinks, meals outside the programme, souvenirs, tips, a SIM card
- Optional extras: full board €250, single room €285, horse ride €25–30
How much does an Elimtour tour cost?
We run three tours, all between June and September. Prices are per person in euros, and you also pay in euros. The price depends on whether there are 3 to 7 of you travelling by car, or 8 or more travelling by minibus.
| Tour | Car (3–7 people) | Minibus (8+ people) | Meals included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyrgyzstan, 9 days | €1,385 | €1,050 | 9 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 8 dinners |
| Ala-Kul, 11 days | €1,490 | €1,170 | 11 breakfasts, 8 dinners, full board +€250 |
| Kel-Suu, 13 days | €1,695 | €1,389 | 13 breakfasts, 11 dinners, full board +€250 |
Per day, a minibus tour works out at roughly €106 to €117 and a car tour at €130 to €154. The longer tours are cheaper per day, while the nine-day circuit is the cheapest overall.
Classic · 9 daysKyrgyzstan – Land of Mountains and Traditions, in 9 DaysOur most affordable tour and the only one with lunches included.from €1,050 per personHow does group size change the price?
With 8 or more people we travel by minibus, and the price per person is €306 to €335 lower than for a group of 3 to 7, who travel by car.
Fewer of you? Get in touch anyway: we may be able to match you with other travellers, and with 8 or more the minibus price applies.
What is included in the tour price, and what is not?
Included
- Transport by car or minibus as per the programme
- Accommodation in 3–4* hotels and a yurt, plus a guesthouse, a mountain hut and a camp on the longer tours
- Meals as per the programme (see the table above)
- Entry fees as per the programme
- A folklore show, plus a horse ride and the Berkut show on the Ala-Kul and Kel-Suu tours
- The services of a local guide who speaks Czech
Not included
- Flights to Bishkek and back
- Travel insurance including medical cover
- Drinks outside meals, tips and personal spending
- Lunches on the Ala-Kul and Kel-Suu tours, unless you add full board
- A single room
There are three extras: full board for €250 (Ala-Kul and Kel-Suu tours), a single room outside the yurt for €285, and a horse ride outside the programme for €25–30, paid locally.
How much is a flight to Bishkek?
From central Europe you reach Bishkek with a change, usually in Istanbul. Flights are not included and we do not quote a fare, because it depends on the dates, how early you book, checked baggage and the length of the layover.
Book once your dates are confirmed; we are happy to suggest connections that fit the programme.
How much money will you need on the ground?
Locally you mostly pay for drinks, meals outside the programme, souvenirs and tips. On the nine-day tour only lunch on day eight is on your own; on the Ala-Kul and Kel-Suu tours without full board you pay for lunches yourself.
The table shows estimates for Bishkek from Numbeo, where prices are submitted by users. They may differ in the countryside and the mountains.
| Item | Price in som | Approx. in euros |
|---|---|---|
| Meal at an inexpensive restaurant | 400–1,000 | €4–10 |
| Cappuccino | 120–280 | €1.20–2.80 |
| Draught beer, 0.5 l | 90–200 | €0.90–2 |
| Water, 1.5 l, in a shop | 40–70 | €0.40–0.70 |
| Monthly mobile plan with calls and data | 300–850 | €3–8.40 |
Euro amounts use the official National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic rate for 15 September 2026, when €1 was 100.90 som. For quick maths, 100 som is roughly €1. Souvenirs and tips are up to you.
A local SIM card only needs your passport, and the operator O! also sells foreigners an eSIM you set up online and activate on arrival. The German Foreign Office says phone registration is only needed for stays over 30 days, so it does not apply to our tours.
How do you pay in Kyrgyzstan: som, cards or cash?
The currency of Kyrgyzstan is the som (KGS). Under the law on the National Bank, the som is the only legal tender, and prices for goods and services are shown in som. In shops, restaurants and markets, expect to pay in som.
According to the German Foreign Office, hotels and restaurants in Bishkek usually take cards, the countryside less so. ATMs are mainly in larger towns, where card withdrawals generally work, and scarce in remote areas. Manas airport lists 24-hour ATMs and exchange offices.
You can exchange euros or dollars in larger towns. There are no limits on bringing foreign currency in or out, but amounts over USD 10,000 per person must be declared at customs.
Sample budget for 9 days in Kyrgyzstan
An example for one person on the nine-day tour in a group of 8 or more. Elimtour prices come from our price list; the other rows are estimates or items whose cost you check yourself.
| Item | Amount | Type of figure |
|---|---|---|
| Kyrgyzstan 9-day tour | €1,050 | Elimtour price list |
| Return flight to Bishkek | current fares | check when booking |
| Travel insurance | depends on insurer | check with your insurer |
| Lunch on day eight | 400–1,000 som (about €4–10) | Numbeo estimate |
| Drinks outside meals, souvenirs, tips | up to you | personal spending |
| Horse ride outside the programme | €25–30 | Elimtour price list, optional |
| Single room | €285 | Elimtour price list, optional |
For a group of 3 to 7 the same tour costs €1,385. On the Ala-Kul and Kel-Suu tours, add lunches or full board for €250.
Ala-Kul · 11 daysOn Horseback to Lake Ala-Kul – 11 Days across KyrgyzstanFrom €1,170 in a group of 8 or more, it adds a horseback trek to Lake Ala-Kul, with the horse ride included.from €1,170 per personKel-Suu · 13 daysKel-Suu and Ala-Kul – 13 Days across KyrgyzstanOur longest tour costs about the same per day as the eleven-day one and goes all the way to Lake Kel-Suu.from €1,389 per personDo you need a visa for Kyrgyzstan? Entry requirements explained (Visa and entry)
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest Elimtour trip to Kyrgyzstan?
The nine-day Kyrgyzstan tour at €1,050 per person in a group of 8 or more; for 3 to 7 people it costs €1,385. Unlike the longer tours it includes lunches; flights and insurance are extra.
Can I pay in euros in Kyrgyzstan?
You pay us for the tour in euros. Locally, though, you pay in som: it is the only legal tender and prices are shown in som. Exchange euros at an exchange office or withdraw som from an ATM.
Do cards work in Kyrgyzstan?
Usually yes in hotels and restaurants in Bishkek, less often in the countryside, and do not count on them in remote mountain areas. ATMs are found in larger towns and at Manas airport. Take som in cash for the mountain days.
Is full board worth it?
We offer full board for €250 on the Ala-Kul and Kel-Suu tours, which include breakfasts and dinners but not lunches. With full board, lunches are included; without it, you pay for them yourself. A meal at an inexpensive restaurant in Bishkek costs 400–1,000 som according to Numbeo estimates.
What if there are fewer than eight of us?
With 3 to 7 people we travel by car, and the price per person is €306 to €335 higher than in a minibus group of 8 or more. If there are fewer than three of you, get in touch anyway: we may be able to put you together with other travellers.
Have a question this guide doesn't answer?
Message us on WhatsApp. We reply personally, usually the same day.
Message on WhatsAppSources
- National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic: official som exchange rates
- National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic: Constitutional Law on the National Bank (som as sole legal tender)
- German Federal Foreign Office: Kyrgyzstan travel and safety advice
- Manas International Airport: banks, ATMs and exchange offices
- Operator O!: SIM card and eSIM for foreigners with a passport
- Numbeo: cost of living in Bishkek (user-submitted estimates)
Entry and travel rules can change. Check the sources listed before you travel.