What to Pack for Kyrgyzstan

The single thing most travelers underestimate about Kyrgyzstan is the temperature swing. A July day at Son-Kul can be shirt-sleeves warm at noon and near freezing at night. At 3,000 meters, the sun does a lot of work and when it goes down, it goes down fast.

Clothing: layer for a 20-degree swing

• A warm insulated jacket, even in summer. Non-negotiable if you're staying at altitude.

• Fleece or mid-layer

• Waterproof shell, mountain weather turns quickly

• T-shirts and long-sleeves for daytime

• Warm socks and a hat for evenings in a yurt

• Something modest for visiting mosques or rural family homes

Footwear

Proper hiking boots if you're trekking, broken in before you arrive. Comfortable walking shoes for towns and light days. Sandals or flip-flops are worth having for hot springs and guesthouses.

For yurt stays

Yurt camps provide thick blankets and mattresses and they're warmer than people expect once the stove is going. But a sleeping bag liner is a small thing to pack and makes a real difference in comfort. Bring a headlamp. Camps usually have limited or solar-only electricity and getting up at night without one is no fun.

Practical items

• Cash: Card payments work in Bishkek and larger towns but are unreliable in rural areas and useless at yurt camps. Bring US dollars to exchange, plus som for small purchases.

• Sun protection: High-altitude sun is fierce. Sunscreen, sunglasses and a brimmed hat.

• Power bank: Charging opportunities at altitude are limited.

• Basic first aid: Bring basic first aid supplies and any personal medication. Rural pharmacies are limited.

• Water bottle: Bring a water bottle with a filter or purification tablets if you're trekking.

• Wet wipes: Showers aren't a daily guarantee in the mountains.

What you can skip

You don't need to bring camping gear on a guided tour because accommodation is arranged. You don't need a huge first aid kit. And you don't need to over-pack clothing: laundry is easy to arrange in Bishkek and Karakol between legs of a trip.