Do you have daily group tours from Bishkek?

Yes. Our small-group day trips depart every morning, and a multi-day tour departs every single day of the week: the 2-day mountain package daily, the 2-day Issyk-Kul tour on Tue/Thu/Sat, both 3-day tours on Mon/Wed/Fri and the 4-day tour on Tue/Thu/Sun. You never need to gather a group — just book a seat.

Where should I go for a 1-day trip?

For mountains and waterfalls — Ala-Archa National Park (40 minutes from Bishkek). For the country's greatest hits in one day — the Burana Tower, the Mars-like Kok-Moynok Canyons and a swim in Issyk-Kul. Both depart daily, all year round.

I am traveling solo. Can I join?

Yes! This is our specialty. Join our mini-groups to save money and meet like-minded travelers from around the world. It is safe and fun.

What is included in the tour price?

Comfortable transport (car or minibus), a professional English-speaking guide, entrance fees to national parks, environmental fees, lunch and bottled water. Multi-day tours also include accommodation (hotel, guesthouse and heated yurts) and all meals.

Can I book a tour for tomorrow?

Yes — most of our guests do. Book online or message us on WhatsApp (+996 550 689 000) by the evening, and we'll confirm your hotel pickup time for the next morning. No prepayment required.

I have 2-4 days in Kyrgyzstan. What is the best option?

Take one of our all-inclusive packages: 2 days from $125, 3 days from $290, 4 days for $420. They cover the highlights — canyons, Issyk-Kul, a yurt night, the eagle show, horse riding — cost 25-30% less than booking the days separately, and depart every day of the week.

How and when do I pay?

No prepayment. You pay on the first day of the tour — by card or in cash (Kyrgyz som at the National Bank rate). Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.

Do your tours run in winter and off-season?

Yes — we operate year-round. Day trips depart every morning in any season, and the 2-4 day packages run on a winter schedule from November to March. Kyrgyzstan's canyons and Issyk-Kul are spectacular without the summer crowds.

Can I do a 5-day or longer Kyrgyzstan tour?

Yes — extend the 4-day package with any day trip, or ask us for a custom 5-7 day itinerary: Song-Kul Lake with heated yurts, Kel-Suu by 4x4, or southern Kyrgyzstan. Message us on WhatsApp and we'll build it in a day.

Kyrgyzstan Border Permit 2026: Electronic Permit with QR Code, One Price for All Zones

Last updated: October 8, 2026 · Too.kg, Bishkek

A Kyrgyzstan border permit (in Russian, propusk) is required to visit border zones such as Kel-Suu Lake, Enilchek and Khan Tengri base camp, Lenin Peak base camp and Chatyr-Kul. Too.kg arranges it for $35 per person, the same price for any zone. You send us your travel dates and only the zones you will actually visit, and the permit is issued for them, valid for up to 1 month. Processing takes about 7 working days. In 2026 the permit is issued electronically with a QR code: we send it by WhatsApp, Telegram or email, you print it and carry it with your passport. No paper original or office pickup is needed.

Price

$35 USD per person. The price is the same for any zone or combination of zones. Group discounts available.

Format

Electronic permit with a QR code. A printed copy is all you need.

Processing time

About 7 working days. Apply at least 2 weeks before your trip.

Validity

Up to 1 month, matching your travel dates.

Documents

A clear scan or photo of your passport, your travel dates and only the zones you will actually visit.

Payment

50% prepayment via secure Visa/Mastercard link, 50% before we send the ready permit.

How you receive it

By WhatsApp, Telegram or email, wherever you are. Optional pickup of a printed copy at our office in Bishkek.

Why the permit matters

Kyrgyzstan controls access to areas along its borders with China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Military checkpoints stand on the roads into these zones, and travelers without a permit are turned back.

Warning: entering a border zone without a permit can lead to a fine, detention and deportation. Permits cannot be issued at the checkpoint, so arrange yours in advance.

Paper or electronic permit: what changed in 2026

Until recently, the State Border Service of Kyrgyzstan issued border permits only on paper with a stamp, and travelers had to collect the original in Bishkek or wait for a courier. Many travel guides and forums written before 2026 still say that printouts are not accepted.

This is no longer the case. Border zone permits are now issued electronically with a QR code that links to the official record. Print the permit, keep it with your passport and show both at the checkpoint. We also recommend saving the file on your phone as a backup.

How to get a Kyrgyzstan border permit online

Send your details

Passport scan or photo, travel dates and only the zones you will visit, via the form, WhatsApp or Telegram.
Pay 50% online

We confirm your request and send a secure Visa/Mastercard payment link.
We apply for you

We submit your application to the State Border Service. It takes about 7 working days.
Receive, print, go

After the remaining 50%, you get the permit with a QR code. Print it and carry it with your passport.

Map of Kyrgyzstan border zones that require a border permit: Issyk-Kul, Naryn, Osh, Chuy and Batken regions — Border zones of Kyrgyzstan where a permit is required

Where you need a border permit in Kyrgyzstan

The price is the same for every zone below. In your application, list your travel dates and only the zones on your route: the permit is issued for those zones.

Issyk-Kul Region

Khan Tengri and Pobeda Peak base camps
Enilchek glacier and village (also Inylchek, Engilchek)
Merzbacher Lake
Sary-Jaz Valley and river
Sarychat-Ertash Reserve
Karkara Valley

Naryn Region

Kel-Suu Lake (also Kol-Suu, Köl-Suu) and Kok-Kiya Valley
Chatyr-Kul Lake (also Chatyr-Kol)
Ak-Sai and Arpa valleys
Torugart Pass area

Osh, Chuy and Batken

Lenin Peak base camp and Achik-Tash valley (Osh)
Eastern part of Chon-Kemin Valley (Chuy)
Karavshin Gorge, Leilek district (Batken)

Popular places that do not need a permit

Song-Kul Lake
Issyk-Kul Lake shores, Karakol and Altyn-Arashan
Ala-Archa National Park
Tash-Rabat caravanserai (the road further on to Chatyr-Kul does require a permit)

Not sure about your route? Send it to us and we will tell you for free whether you need a permit.

Kyrgyzstan border permit FAQ

Do I need the original paper border permit?

No. Since 2026 the border permit is issued electronically with a QR code. Print it and carry the printout together with your passport. You do not need to collect a paper original in Bishkek.

How much does a border permit for Kyrgyzstan cost?

With Too.kg the permit costs $35 per person, the same price whichever zones you visit. In your application, list your travel dates and only the zones you will actually visit. Group discounts are available.

How long does it take to get a border permit?

About 7 working days. We recommend applying at least 2 weeks before your trip.

Can I get a border permit at the checkpoint?

No. The permit must be issued in advance by the State Border Service. Travelers without a permit are turned back at the checkpoint.

Do I need a permit for Kel-Suu Lake?

Yes. Kel-Suu (Kol-Suu) lies in the Naryn border zone near China, and the road to the lake passes a military checkpoint. Include Kel-Suu in your application.

Do I need a permit for Lenin Peak base camp?

Yes. Lenin Peak base camp and the Achik-Tash valley are in the Osh border zone near Tajikistan and require a border permit.

Do I need a border permit for Song-Kul?

No. Song-Kul Lake is not in a border zone, so no permit is needed.

Is the border permit the same as a visa or e-visa?

No. The border permit is a separate document. You need it in addition to your visa or visa-free entry if you plan to visit a border zone.

Do Kyrgyz citizens need a border permit?

Yes. The permit is required for everyone entering a border zone, including citizens of Kyrgyzstan.

Can I apply from abroad?

Yes. The whole process is online: send your passport scan, pay by card and receive the permit by WhatsApp, Telegram or email before you arrive.

Who arranges your permit

Too.kg is a local tour operator based in Bishkek. We have arranged more than 1,000 border permits for travelers, climbers and overland drivers, and we apply directly to the State Border Service of Kyrgyzstan.

Office: 96 Isanova St., office 101, Bishkek 720001 · Phone and WhatsApp: +996 550 689 000 · Email: sales@too.kg

Apply for your permit

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Kyrgyzstan is a country rich in attractions, yet some of them are located in border zones, where a special regime is in place for both Kyrgyz citizens and foreigners. Kyrgyzstan shares borders with several countries: China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. Typically, a special permit is required to visit the border zone, especially in remote mountain areas that are difficult for border control and patrolling. This is intended to maintain order at the border and ensure the safety of citizens traveling to hard-to-reach mountainous areas.
Border zones by region:

In the Issyk-Kul region, a border zone under special control is located in its southern and eastern parts. It includes certain areas of the Tyup, Jeti-Oguz, Ananiev, and Ak-Suu districts. Popular attractions in the Issyk-Kul region requiring a border pass include the base camp of Khan Tengri, the Enilchek glacier and town, Merzbacher Lake, Sary-Djaz River, Kara-Saz and Ak-Shiyak villages, as well as the Sarychat-Ertash reserve.
In the Naryn region, a border pass is needed to visit the Ak-Sai and Arpa valleys, Kel-Suu and Chatyr-Kul lakes, areas around Kyzyl-Asker peak and Uzengukush river, as well as the Torugart pass.
In the Osh region, a border pass is required to enter the base camp of Lenin Peak and the Achik-Tash valley.
In the Chuy region, a border pass is necessary to visit the eastern part of the Chon-Kemin valley.
In the Batken region, a border pass is needed for visiting the Leilek district.

Before visiting these attractions, tourists need a border pass issued by the Kyrgyz border service – it must be arranged in advance. If you are abroad, the process of obtaining a border pass for visiting Kyrgyzstan can be complex, so we offer services to facilitate the border pass arrangement.