Kyrgyzstan is the only country in Central Asia which allows visa-free entry for citizens of 44 nations, including the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. Your entry stamp allows you a 60-day stay, with new regulations announced in July 2012 in an attempt to attract more visitors to help the economy.

Health and Safety

Travelers to Kyrgyzstan should ensure their routine shots are up to date, and vaccination against hepatitis A is recommended. Typhoid, hepatitis B and rabies vaccinations should be considered if you’re planning to explore the more remote regions. Anti-malarial medications help lessen the risk of contracting the disease between April and October, and altitude sickness is possible in the high mountains. It’s safer to drink bottled water rather than the tap water when available.

Although Kyrgyzstan is the unhappy recipient of several Western countries’ warnings against all but essential travel due to political turmoil and strife, Kyrgyz residents in Bishkek and other large cities state that assaults and fights involving foreigners mainly take place around bars and nightclubs late at night and there’s no real threat for visitors who use the same degree of common sense as in their own country, but it doesn't hurt to stay up on the news in case that changes. The one exception to this rule is young females traveling alone, as the age-old practice of "bride kidnapping" in rural areas still exists, according to the US state department.

As with most other travel destinations, the country sees its fair share of street crime in crowded places and on public transportation. This can largely be avoided by keeping your possessions close and by not wearing flashy jewelry or watches. If you’re traveling to the Batken Oblast or Kyrgyz-Tajik borders, be aware that unexploded land mines are a concern, and if you’re heading south, the US embassy states there may be a risk of terrorist activity in this region. In general, be conscientious late at night in areas where foreigners congregate.