What is the best time to visit Kyrgyzstan?

Best Time to Visit Kyrgyzstan

The best time to travel to Kyrgyzstan is during spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November).

Spring in Kyrgyzstan

Spring in Kyrgyzstan is a great time to visit, with mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine. The snow melts, the grass turns green, and the wildflowers start to bloom. The days are warm and pleasant, perfect for outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Visitors can also enjoy the local festivals, such as the traditional Nowruz celebration in March.

Autumn in Kyrgyzstan

Autumn in Kyrgyzstan is a great time to visit, with mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine. The days are warm and pleasant, perfect for outdoor activities like hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The autumn foliage is stunning, with the mountains and valleys turning shades of red, orange, and yellow. Visitors can also enjoy the local festivals, such as the World Nomad Games in September.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan in January

Weather

January in Kyrgyzstan is cold and dry. Temperatures range from -10 to -20 degrees Celsius during the day, with nighttime temperatures dropping to -20 to -30 degrees Celsius. Snowfall is common, and the average amount of precipitation is around 7mm.

Events

• The Kyrgyzstan National Horse Games take place in January. This traditional event is a celebration of Kyrgyz culture and includes horse racing, wrestling, and other activities.
• The Kyrgyzstan Ski Festival is held in January. This event features skiing competitions, as well as traditional Kyrgyz music and dance performances.
• The Kyrgyzstan National Ice Hockey Championship is held in January. This event features teams from all over the country competing for the title of national champion.
• The Kyrgyzstan National Winter Festival takes place in January. This event includes traditional Kyrgyz music and dance performances, as well as ice skating and snow sculpting competitions.
• The Kyrgyzstan National Dog Sledding Championship is held in January. This event features teams from all over the country competing for the title of national champion.

Kyrgyzstan in January

Weather

In January, Kyrgyzstan experiences cold, dry winter weather. Temperatures generally range from -10°C to -20°C. The average amount of snowfall for the month is around 10 cm.

Events

• The Kyrgyz New Year is celebrated on January 1st. This is a traditional holiday that is celebrated with family gatherings, feasts, and traditional music.
• The Kyrgyzstan Winter Festival takes place in January. This is a celebration of traditional Kyrgyz culture and includes music, dance, and traditional sports.
• The Kyrgyzstan Ice Hockey Championship is held in January. This is a popular event that attracts many spectators from around the country.
• The Kyrgyzstan Ski Marathon is held in January. This is a long-distance cross-country ski race that attracts athletes from around the world.
• The Kyrgyzstan Snow Festival is held in January. This is a celebration of winter and includes snow sculptures, snowmobile races, and other winter activities.

Kyrgyzstan in March

Weather

March in Kyrgyzstan is a transitional month, with temperatures ranging from lows of -7°C to highs of 10°C. The weather is unpredictable, with snow and rain showers occurring throughout the month.

Events

• Navruz is a traditional festival celebrated in Kyrgyzstan on the 21st of March. It marks the beginning of spring and is celebrated with traditional music, dancing, and feasting.
• The Kyrgyzstan International Film Festival is held in Bishkek in March. It is a celebration of Kyrgyz cinema, with screenings of both local and international films.
• The Issyk-Kul Forum is a business and investment forum held in March in Issyk-Kul. It brings together international investors and local entrepreneurs to discuss business opportunities in Kyrgyzstan.
• The World Nomad Games are held in Cholpon-Ata in March. It is a celebration of traditional sports and culture, featuring competitions in horse racing, wrestling, and archery.
• The Kyrgyzstan Marathon is held in Bishkek in March. It is a race that attracts both local and international runners, and is a great way to explore the city.

Kyrgyzstan in April

Weather

April in Kyrgyzstan is generally mild and pleasant, with temperatures ranging from highs of around 18°C (64°F) to lows of around 4°C (39°F). Rain is common in April, with an average of around 8 days of rain during the month.

Events

• The Navruz Festival is celebrated throughout Kyrgyzstan in April. This festival marks the beginning of spring and is celebrated with traditional dances, music, and food.
• The traditional Kyrgyz game of Ulak Tartysh is held in April. This game is a traditional form of wrestling that is popular in Kyrgyzstan.
• The Kyrgyzstan National Horse Races take place in April. This event is a celebration of Kyrgyz culture and includes horse races, traditional music, and food.
• The Kyrgyzstan National Music Festival is held in April. This event celebrates Kyrgyz music and culture with performances from traditional musicians.
• The Kyrgyzstan National Flower Festival is held in April. This event celebrates the beauty of Kyrgyzstan’s native flowers with displays of flowers, music, and traditional food.

Kyrgyzstan in May

Weather

May is a pleasant month in Kyrgyzstan, with temperatures ranging from a low of 10°C (50°F) to a high of 23°C (73°F). The days are sunny and dry, with occasional showers.

Events

• The May Day public holiday is celebrated on May 1, with parades, traditional dances, and other festivities.
• The annual World Nomad Games are held in mid-May. This is a celebration of the traditional sports and culture of the nomadic people of Central Asia.
• The Osh Festival is held in May in the city of Osh. This is a celebration of the city’s rich cultural history, with traditional music, dance, and food.
• The Ala-Too International University Festival is held in May. This is a celebration of the university’s achievements, with concerts, sports tournaments, and other activities.
• The Kyrgyzstan International Music Festival is held in May. This is a celebration of traditional and modern music from around the world, with performances from local and international artists.

Kyrgyzstan in June

Weather

June in Kyrgyzstan is generally warm and sunny, with temperatures ranging from 15-25°C. The days are long, with the sun rising around 5am and setting around 9pm.

Events

• The World Nomad Games are held in Cholpon-Ata in June. This is an international event that celebrates the nomadic culture of Central Asia.
• The Ala-Too International University Festival takes place in Bishkek in June. This is a celebration of student life, with music, dance, and other performances.
• The Ala-Archa National Park hosts a hiking festival in June. This is a great opportunity to explore the stunning natural beauty of Kyrgyzstan.
• The At-Bashy International Festival is held in At-Bashy in June. This is a celebration of traditional Kyrgyz culture, with music, dance, and crafts.
• The Issyk-Kul International Marathon is held in Issyk-Kul in June. This is a great opportunity to explore the stunning lake and its surroundings.

Kyrgyzstan in July

Weather

July in Kyrgyzstan is typically warm and sunny, with temperatures ranging from the mid-60s to mid-80s Fahrenheit (18-27 Celsius). It is also one of the driest months of the year, with an average of only 2-3 inches of rain.

Events

• The World Nomad Games, a traditional sports and cultural festival, takes place in July. It is held in the Issyk Kul region and features a variety of events such as archery, wrestling, and horseback riding.
• The Kyrgyzstan International Music Festival is held in July and features a variety of traditional and modern music from around the world.
• The Ala-Too International Music Festival is held in July in the capital city of Bishkek. It features a variety of traditional and modern music from around the world.
• The Issyk Kul Marathon is held in July in the Issyk Kul region. It is a long-distance running event that is open to both professional and amateur runners.
• The Ala-Archa Festival is held in July in the Ala-Archa National Park. It is a celebration of Kyrgyz culture and features traditional music, dance, and food.

Kyrgyzstan in August

Weather

August is one of the warmest months in Kyrgyzstan, with temperatures ranging from around 17 to 25 degrees Celsius (63-77 degrees Fahrenheit). The days are usually sunny and dry, although there can be occasional rain showers.

Events

• The Issyk-Kul Festival is held in August in the Issyk-Kul region of Kyrgyzstan. This festival celebrates the culture and traditions of the Kyrgyz people, and includes traditional music, dance, and food.
• The Osh City Festival is held in August in the city of Osh. This festival celebrates the culture and history of the city, and includes traditional music, dance, and food.
• The Ala-Too International Music Festival is held in August in the city of Bishkek. This festival celebrates the music of Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian countries, and includes performances by local and international musicians.
• The Kyrgyzstan National Horse Games are held in August in the city of Cholpon-Ata. This event celebrates the traditional sport of horse racing, and includes competitions for both adults and children.
• The Kyrgyzstan International Film Festival is held in August in the city of Bishkek. This festival celebrates the art of filmmaking, and includes screenings of films from around the world.

Kyrgyzstan in September

Weather

September in Kyrgyzstan is generally cool and dry. The average temperature is around 15°C (59°F) during the day and drops to around 5°C (41°F) at night. The days are usually sunny with some occasional rain.

Events

• The Kyrgyzstan National Horse Games take place in September. The games are held in the Issyk-Kul region and feature traditional Kyrgyz horseback riding and archery competitions.
• The Kyrgyzstan International Film Festival is held in September in the capital city of Bishkek. The festival showcases films from all over the world and is a great opportunity to explore the local culture.
• The Issyk-Kul Festival is held in September and celebrates the beauty of Kyrgyzstan’s largest lake. The festival features traditional music, dance, and food, as well as boat races and other activities.
• The Osh City Festival is held in September in the city of Osh. The festival celebrates the city’s culture and history with traditional music, dance, and food.
• The Kyrgyzstan International Marathon is held in September in the capital city of Bishkek. The marathon is a great way to explore the city and its surroundings while running through some of its most beautiful sights.

Kyrgyzstan in October

Weather

October in Kyrgyzstan is usually a mild month with temperatures ranging from 0 to 20 degrees Celsius. The days are usually sunny and dry, although there can be some rain and snow in the higher elevations.

Events

• The World Nomad Games take place in October every two years. The games are a celebration of traditional Kyrgyz sports, such as horseback archery, wrestling, and kok-boru (a game similar to polo).
• October is also the month of the Kyrgyz National Day, a public holiday that celebrates the independence of Kyrgyzstan from the Soviet Union in 1991.
• The Ala-Kul Lake Festival takes place in October at the Ala-Kul Lake in the Terskey Alatoo mountain range. The festival includes traditional music, dance, and food, as well as activities such as horseback riding, hiking, and camping.
• October is the perfect time for hiking in Kyrgyzstan. The weather is mild and the mountains are still covered in snow, making for stunning views.
• The Issyk-Kul Marathon takes place in October in the Issyk-Kul region. The marathon is a popular event among both locals and tourists, and includes a variety of running distances.

Kyrgyzstan in November

Weather

November in Kyrgyzstan is cold and often snowy. Temperatures range from -2 to 8°C (28-46°F). The days are short, with an average of 7 hours of daylight.

Events

• November 7th marks the Day of the October Revolution, a public holiday in Kyrgyzstan. Celebrations include parades, concerts, and fireworks.
• November 8th is a national holiday in Kyrgyzstan, called Constitution Day. This day celebrates the adoption of the country’s first constitution in 2006.
• The World Nomad Games are held in Kyrgyzstan every two years in the fall. This year, the games will take place from October 2nd to October 8th.
• The Kyrgyzstan International Film Festival is held in November every year. The festival showcases films from around the world, as well as Kyrgyz films.
• The Kyrgyzstan Marathon is held in November every year. The race is open to runners of all ages and abilities and takes place in the capital city of Bishkek.

Kyrgyzstan in December

Weather

December in Kyrgyzstan is usually cold and dry. Temperatures range from -2°C to -15°C, with an average of -8°C. Snowfall is common in the mountains, and there is an average of 8 days of snowfall in the month.

Events

• The annual Bishkek Marathon takes place in December, usually on the first Sunday of the month. The event is open to all ages and abilities, and the route takes runners through the city’s main streets and parks.
• The International Festival of Nomadic Cultures is held in December in the city of Osh. This festival celebrates the culture and traditions of the Kyrgyz people, and includes traditional music, dance, and food.
• The city of Bishkek hosts the annual Christmas Festival in December. The festival includes a variety of activities, including a Christmas market, concerts, and a parade.
• The Kyrgyzstan National Day is celebrated on December 31st. The day is marked with a variety of events, including concerts, parades, and fireworks.
• The Kyrgyzstan Ski Marathon is held in December in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan. The event is open to all levels of skiers, and the course takes participants through some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.