While Kyrgyzstan is often chosen for its sense of escape and nature far from urban sprawl, staying connected remains important for many travelers. Whether it's keeping in touch with family, updating your travel blog, or tracking your itinerary, it's difficult today to do without a phone or internet.

1- Telephone

A phone is an almost essential tool when traveling, particularly for emergencies or unexpected situations.

Once you arrive, you can purchase a local SIM card and insert it into your unlocked phone. You'll then be able to top up your credit at authorized shops throughout the country. It's straightforward.

Kyrgyzstan uses the international dialing code + 996. For calls:

• From France to Kyrgyzstan: dial 00996 (for landlines) or + 996 (for mobile phones) followed by your contact's number without the leading zero.
• From Kyrgyzstan to France: dial 0033 (for landlines) or + 33 (for mobile phones) followed by your contact's number without the leading zero.
• For calls between cities in Kyrgyzstan: dial 0 followed by the city code and your contact's local number.
• For calls within the same region: simply dial the number directly without the 0 or regional code.

We recommend opting for MegaCom or Beeline operators. These providers cover most of the country. Additionally, SIM cards are very affordable at just under 300 som.

It's worth noting that in Kyrgyzstan you can also use 3G and even 4G in certain areas.

2- Internet

Internet in Kyrgyzstan improves every year. However, your connection may slow down slightly in smaller, more remote regions like Kochkor and Naryn. In other areas such as Bishkek, Osh, Jalalabad, and Karakol, connections are high-speed with reasonable rates. Logically, all hotels, restaurants, and cafés offer free Wifi to customers, helping you stay connected. Don't expect ultra-high-speed connections, but they're usually sufficient for sending emails, posting on social media, or maintaining a travel blog.