Kyrgyzstan Flights

You've got your Kyrgyzstan tourist visa and are all signed up for a Russian language immersion, but how are you going to get to this far-flung country on the other side of the world? That's right, you'll need a Kyrgyzstan flight (unless you plan on going halfway around the world over land).

Unfortunately, flights to this part of the world can cost an arm and a leg - literally... I mean, not really. They are expensive. Round-trip flights from the U.S. can run around $2000 depending on the season and home city.

Kyrgyzstan Flights to Bishkek

Airlines that fly into Bishkek include Aeroflot and Turkish Airlines.

If you can get past the reputation swarming around Aeroflot's records, they can provide a decent way to get to Bishkek if you are already in Europe. I needed a one-way entry into Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan because I had future plans for open-ended travel after that. I was able to catch a flight from Kiev to Bishkek via Moscow saving me around $400 over other options I found.

When I chose this route, I had to check into getting a Russian transit visa. I had heard about strict requirements from various other travelers, but I couldn't get a straight answer even after calling the Russian embassy. Even though I was just transferring airplanes, I didn't want to risk it and therefore decided to apply for a transit visa. It turns out that I didn't even need it.

Turkish Airlines flies from Istanbul to Bishkek, but the fare is a bit higher than on Aeroflot. I did not fly this route, but it is a great option for someone traveling another area of Europe before heading to/from Kyrgyzstan.

Flights to Almaty, Kazakhstan

Some people choose to get to Kyrgyzstan via flights to Almaty, Kazakhstan. Both British Airways and KLM fly into Almaty.

I do believe that British Airways has connecting flights to Bishkek from Almaty as a few of my friends chose this route. The plane just has a weird stop-off in Almaty along the way.

It is also possible to continue on to Bishkek from Almaty overland, but this will require at least a transit visa to Kazakhstan, as well as a pre-issued visa for Kyrgyzstan as you cannot get it at the border. I would only suggest the overland route for people also wanting to see a bit of Kazakhstan in the process since the visa is not cheap or easy to get.

Going overland can be done quite cheaply (around $10) if taking a marshrutka from Almaty to Bishkek. The ride goes for about 4 hours through some interesting landscapes and will drop you at a bus station in Bishkek.

• China Xinjiang Airlines offers flights from Urumqi, China to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
  
• Transaero Airlines connects places in Germany, Ukraine and Eastern Europe with Russia and even Uzbekistan.  You can use Transaero to catch a flight into Tashkent, Uzbekistan followed by overland travel to Bishkek, or with a connecting flight on Uzbekistan Airways.  You will need a visa for Uzbekistan for this option.
  
• Lufthansa offers direct flights from Germany to both Tashkent, Uzbekistan and Almaty, Kazakhstan.  Other transport from these cities to Kyrgyzstan will need to be addressed.
  
• S7 Airlines is a Russian airline that connects Bishkek with various cities in Russia, such as Vladivostok and Novosibirsk.
  
• Uzbekistan Airways offers flights from Tashkent, Uzbekistan to Bishkek and many other locations across Central Asia.