Salamatsyzby! This is Sugi from ASHU TRAVEL, your guide to spectacular horse riding journeys in Central Asia.
Once you’ve decided “Let’s go to Kyrgyzstan!” or “Let’s go to Kazakhstan!”, the next step is preparing for entry.
Passport, visa, border crossings, SIM cards, local contacts: we’ve packed all the information you need before departure into one guide.
Your To-Do List Once Your Kyrgyzstan or Kazakhstan Trip Is Decided
Get a rough picture of the whole first, then go through each item.
◎ Required for everyone
- Check your passport’s remaining validity
- Check the entry requirements for Kyrgyzstan or Kazakhstan (visa, address of your accommodation)
- Prepare money and cards
- Check local emergency contacts
◎ Required for ASHU TRAVEL guests
- Take out overseas travel insurance
- Check the payment method
- Check the airport pick-up on arrival
- Read the horse riding manual
◎ About what to bring
- Check the packing list
◎ As needed
- Prepare a SIM card
- Understand the overland border crossing process (for those entering by land)
- Altitude sickness precautions (for those joining high-altitude tours)
To-Do List for Everyone
These are the items to check before departure, whatever your tour or destination.
[Required] Check your passport
First, take your passport out of the drawer and check its expiry date. To enter Kyrgyzstan or Kazakhstan, your passport must be valid for at least 6 more months at the time you leave your home country.
⚠️ If the remaining validity is not enough, you’ll need to get a new passport before departure
[Required] What you need to enter Kyrgyzstan or Kazakhstan
For both countries, no visa is needed for stays of up to 30 days (for Japanese citizens). You just need to note down the address where you are staying.
Do you need a visa?
Japanese citizens do not need a visa for stays of up to 30 days in either Kyrgyzstan or Kazakhstan. For stays of more than 30 days, or for study or work, a separate visa is required. Visa rules differ by nationality, so travelers of other nationalities should check the requirements for their own passport.
Address of your accommodation on entry
You may be asked for the address where you are staying on the arrival card or at immigration.
If you are joining an ASHU TRAVEL tour in Kyrgyzstan, please note down the address below.
Kyrgyzstan, Kalmak-Ashuu, Borueva Str.22, 724521 ashu guest house
If you are stopping in Kazakhstan, also note down the address of your accommodation in Almaty.
Check the latest official information just in case
Visa and entry requirements can change, so check the latest information on the official government website before departure.
- Kyrgyzstan (Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs overseas safety website)
- Kazakhstan (Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs overseas safety website)
We explain how to get there by plane and by overland routes in detail in separate articles.
[Required] Prepare money and cards
In Central Asia, it’s safest to carry both cash (US dollars) and cards.
Be careful with cash. Japanese yen is hard to exchange in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, so always bring your cash in US dollars.
Cards can be used in the cities, but rural areas and bazaars are often cash only, so prepare both and you won’t run into trouble.
ASHU TRAVEL can also help you exchange dollars into som or tenge
[Required] Local emergency contacts in Kyrgyzstan
Just in case, check the local emergency contacts such as the police, ambulance, the Japanese Embassy, your hotel and your tour company.
It’s handy to copy them into a notes app on your phone or into an email, so you have them when you need them.
Required List for ASHU TRAVEL Guests
These are additional items to check for those who have booked an ASHU TRAVEL tour.
Horse riding tour participants: read the manual
Please be sure to read our must-read manual, which condenses our local guides’ know-how on everything from riding basics, clothing and precautions to how to avoid falls.
Beginners are welcome to join, but whenever you are dealing with living animals, there are risks!
Take out overseas travel insurance that covers horse riding in Central Asia
Traveling without insurance is absolutely not OK. Be sure to take out overseas travel insurance in case of a fall from a horse or emergency transport.
If you get injured in a remote area or in the mountains, getting you to a hospital can be very expensive.
Check ASHU TRAVEL’s payment methods
ASHU TRAVEL tour prices are, as a rule, paid locally in cash in US dollars.
Please pay the tour price to your guide in US dollar cash at the hotel on day 1 or at breakfast on day 2. We do not currently accept credit card payments (so that our guests don’t have to bear the card fees).
For those who would like to pay in advance by international bank transfer or Wise
International bank transfers to our company’s bank account are also possible. However, please note the following points.
- Fees: The withdrawal fee on the Kyrgyz side ($30) and the transfer fees are paid by the guest
- Timing: It takes 2–3 weeks for a transfer to complete. Please make the transfer within 1–2 days after receiving our email 3 weeks before departure
- Risks: In rare cases a transfer is canceled, and it takes about 3 weeks to be refunded. If we cannot confirm receipt of the payment, you will need to pay in cash locally (with a refund later), which may temporarily mean paying twice
- If you’re worried: You can also transfer only the minimum amount and pay the balance in cash locally. Feel free to ask us
Check how you’ll be picked up on arrival
ASHU TRAVEL staff will meet you at the airport arrival gate according to your flight’s arrival time. Look for a staff member holding a sign with our logo or your name.
Even if your flight is delayed, we will adjust and still come to pick you up, so don’t worry.
Rules During ASHU TRAVEL Tours
These are operational rules we ask you to follow during the tour.
Exchanging contact details with guides is not allowed, as a rule
To prevent trouble during and after the tour, exchanging personal contact details with guides or drivers is not permitted. For any inquiries, please contact our director Nuriya or our Japanese staff member Sugi, as listed in your email.
* We may share contact details in cases such as when the guide changes partway through a multi-destination tour.
Drinking with staff: up to one beer a day
You may drink alcohol during the tour, but for your own health, please limit drinking with local staff to about one beer.
Return transfers
For early-morning transfers to Bishkek or the airport, only the driver may accompany you, without a guide. Please confirm the destination and time of your transfer with your guide or staff by the day before.
About showers and hot water at accommodations
Accommodations in Kyrgyzstan are mainly guesthouses and yurts, and most showers use hot water stored in a tank. With more and more people visiting Kyrgyzstan in recent years, the water may become lukewarm at busy times. Also, on days when arrival at Song-Kul Lake is delayed due to traffic or vehicle trouble, there may be no hot water left in the tank and you may not be able to use the shower. The hot water sometimes comes back after a while, so please don’t hesitate to let your guide know. Bringing body wipes just in case will help you rest comfortably even on such days. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
We’ve gathered questions about our tours in our FAQ. It’s updated regularly based on the questions we receive, so please take a look if anything is unclear.
https://ashu-travel.com/en/attention/
If you need help, contact our director Nuriya or Sugi!
Basic Packing List for Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan
It varies by season and destination, but the basics are warm clothing, rain gear and sun protection.
Basic packing list
- Warm clothing (summer: a light down jacket + fleece / winter: a thick down jacket + sweater and base layers)
- Rain gear (poncho or folding umbrella)
- Sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm
- Insect repellent (especially in July and August)
- Sneakers and long pants (for riding and walking)
- Power bank (carry-on recommended)
- Gloves (for riding)
- Altitude sickness medicine, motion sickness medicine, and pain-relief patches in case of a fall
- Swimsuit (you can use the pool at the ASHU guesthouse for free)
- Body wipes (handy when the shower water is lukewarm or unavailable)
For a detailed explanation, see our separate article.
Trips in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan involve big differences in altitude, and mornings and evenings get cold even in summer. Warm clothing, rain gear and sun protection are essential in every season.
Checklist As Needed
These are additional items to check, depending on your destination and how you travel.
Know about SIM cards in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan
For reliable connectivity, a local SIM is the only choice. You can buy one at the airport, from about $10 depending on the plan.
In Almaty, Kazakhstan, global roaming SIMs (such as Holafly) work without problems, but on the Kyrgyz side, even when they connect, they are extremely slow and not practical (based on our staff’s experience).
If you want to be sure of staying connected, buy a local SIM at the SIM booth located after immigration at each airport. The staff will set it up for you.
Get the Yandex Go app ready
If you are traveling independently or exploring before or after your tour, download Yandex Go, a ride-hailing app you can rely on when traveling independently in Central Asia.
In major cities such as Bishkek and Almaty, Yandex Go is widely used as a ride-hailing app. It’s convenient because you can get to your destination smoothly even if you don’t speak the local language.
Take care of the following before departure.
- Download the Yandex Go app
- Complete as much of the account registration as you can
Currently, registration is basically possible only with a local number. Buy a SIM with a phone number rather than a data-only SIM.
Check the precautions for overland border crossings
If you are crossing the land border between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, never take photos inside the border immigration buildings.
⚠️ If you are caught taking photos, you may be fined.
Altitude Sickness Precautions in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan
Take care if you are going to high-altitude places such as Song-Kul Lake or Kaindy Lake. If you have any health concerns, consult your regular doctor before departure and prepare over-the-counter altitude sickness medicine.
About Tipping on a Central Asia Trip
Tipping is not mandatory in Central Asia, but there is a culture of giving tips as a token of appreciation.
Restaurants and cafes : Recently, more places include a service charge, and prices have gone up. If you receive excellent service, about 5–10% of the total is a good guideline. Some cafes have a jar for small change. Simply leaving some coins on the table is also appreciated.
On ASHU TRAVEL tours, meals are generally included, so you don’t need to worry about this.
Hotels : When a porter carries your luggage or for room service, about $1–2 is a good guideline.
Guides and drivers : Many people give a tip at the end of the tour to show their gratitude. About $10 per day is a guideline, but the thought matters more than the amount.
Taxis : When using Yandex Go, you can choose a tip in the app just before getting out (10 som, 20 som, etc.). Tipping is not common in shared taxis.
Off to Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan!
Thank you for reading to the end.
Passport, visa, money, SIM, insurance, packing.
There’s a lot to check, but once you’re well prepared, all that’s left is to fully enjoy the spectacular scenery and nomadic culture waiting for you.
On a Central Asia trip, the blue of the sky, the vastness of the highlands and the warmth of the people are truly special. The experience will be worth far more than the effort of preparing.
If anything is unclear or you have any concerns, feel free to contact us via LINE or email.
📸 For the latest news and inquiries, find us on Instagram or LINE 📩
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