Issyk-Kul Lake, a protected marshland and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is an endorheic lake, the tenth largest lake in the world by volume and the second largest saline lake after the Caspian Sea. Issyk-Kul means “warm lake” in the Kyrgyz language; although it is surrounded by snow-capped peaks, it never freezes. Aside from the protected marshlands, the lake is also surrounded by two mountain ranges – Ala-Too (sunny) Mountains to the north and to the south the Terskey (shady) Ala-Too Mountains.Issyk-Kul was a popular stop on the Silk Road. The Silk Road or Silk Route was an ancient network of trade routes that were for centuries central to cultural interaction originally through regions of Eurasia connecting the East and West and stretching from the Korean peninsula and Japan to the Mediterranean Sea.
The 9th international marathon of Kyrgyzstan – Run The Silk Road will be held on 2 May 2020
Train and Run with Running Coach ~ Liew Wei Yong
We are forming a team to take part in Run The Silk Road 2020 with running coach, Liew Wei Yong.
Voted by Run Society as one of the best 16 running coaches in Singapore, Liew Wei Yong is certified in everything from sports management to personality/behavioural assessment, she has been training runners for 15+ years while competing in killer marathons like the Elite Ultra, Gobi and Sahara Desert runs. She is also overseeing training for the Four Seasons Hotel, HP, SWEAT and NTUC running groups. This feisty trainer always finishes marathons within the top 16 and prides herself on being placed first in the Women’s Endurance category at the 2015 Sports Hub Stepper Challenge.
Before the run, Wei Yong will be training with the team. The training will cover:
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| DAY | DESCRIPTION | MEALS |
| 1 |
Arrive Bishkek. If there is time, take an afternoon easy hike in Ala Archa Natural Park and some sightseeing tour of Bishkek. Overnight: Bishkek hotel (800m) |
B/L/D |
| 2-3 |
Transfer to Cholpon Ata town (Issyk Kul Lake). Next day raining run around 8-10km in the morning. Overnight: Cholpon Ata hotel (1633m) |
B/L/D |
| 4 |
Race day. Overnight: Cholpon Ata hotel (1633m) |
B/L/D |
| 5 |
Transfer to Bishkek. Overnight: Bishkek hotel (800m) |
B/L/D |
| 6 | Depart Bishkek. | B/L/D |
| DAY | DESCRIPTION | MEALS |
| 1 |
Arrive Bishkek. If there is time, take an afternoon easy hike in Ala Archa Natural Park and some sightseeing tour of Bishkek. Overnight: Bishkek hotel (800m) |
B/L/D |
| 2-3 |
Transfer to Cholpon Ata town (Issyk Kul Lake). Next day raining run around 8-10km in the morning. Overnight: Cholpon Ata hotel (1633m) |
B/L/D |
| 4 |
Race day. Overnight: Cholpon Ata hotel (1633m) |
B/L/D |
| 5 |
Transfer to Karakol. Visit Grigorievka Gorge for a day hike enroute. Overnight: Karakol hotel (1750m) |
B/L/D |
| 6 |
Transfer to Bokonbaevo Village. Visit Djety Oguz Gorge (Seven Bulls) for a day hike enroute. Overnight: Bokonbaevo hotel (1809m) |
B/L/D |
| 7 |
Transfer to Bishkek. Overnight: Bishkek hotel (800m) |
B/L/D |
| 8 | Depart Bishkek | B/L/D |
| DATES | PRICE |
| 29 Apr-4 May 2020 | $1,500.00 (SGD) / person |
| 29 Apr-6 May 2020 (extension itinerary) | $1,600.00 (SGD) / person |
Group size: Minimum 6 people
Package fee for the 8D extension itinerary :
2-3 people: $2,850 (SGD) / person
4-5 people: $1,860 (SGD) / person
1. Trip briefing and information kit
2. Gear list and gear discount from selected Singapore outdoor outfitters
3. Training program/advise from Liew Wei Yong
We carefully select and establish strong working relationship with our local operator to ensure safe participation by everyone. Our local partner is one of the biggest and most established adventure operators in Kyrgyzstan.
Holders of ordinary passports issued by the following countries do not need a visa to enter Kyrgyzstan as long as their trip does not last longer than the visa-free period listed below.
|
Duration |
Countries |
|
Unlimited |
Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Cuba, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, North Korea, Russia, Tajikistan, Vietnam |
|
90 days |
Mongolia, Serbia, Ukraine |
|
60 days |
Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Vatican |
|
30 days |
Malaysia |
Citizens of all countries, including China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, can apply for an e-visa from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the www.evisa.e-gov.kg website. Processing takes 5 working days, and the price will depend on the duration (from 30 to 90 days) and the number of entries. Payments can be made with VISA and MasterCard.
The electronic visa is valid for arrivals and departures at Manas International Airport (Bishkek), Osh International Airport (Osh), and various land crossings with China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
For latest updates and details of visa application, please visit www.evisa.e-gov.kg.
Currency exchange services are available at hotels, banks and moneychangers. Banks and moneychangers accept most major currencies like USD, EUR and GBP. Note that neither banks nor moneychangers will accept any foreign currency that is torn, marked, excessively crumpled, or defaced in any way, so be sure to carefully check any notes you intend to bring into the country for defects. Watch out also for differing small-bill (USD20 or less) and large-bill (USD50 or more) rates; the bigger bills get better rates. Check and count your cash carefully before leaving a moneychanger. Do not fall prey to petty cheats.
Outside of the major cities, banks and moneychangers are scarcer so make sure you carry enough cash.
Kyrgyzstan is still very much a cash economy. Credit cards are rarely used. ATMs are common in Bishkek, but less available in small towns.
Kyrgyzstan’s electricity is 220V and 50HZ. The plugs used are the two narrow round pins Type C and Type F, which are commonly used in Europe.
Being part of the former Soviet Union, the official language used is mainly Russian especially in the cities. As you move out into the rural areas, Kyrgyz, a Turkic language, is more commonly spoken by the nomadic Kyrgyz people. English is gaining popularity but still spoken only by those serving tourists.
Tap water is said to be potable in Bishkek but safer to rely on bottled or boiled water. For the rest of the country, it is better to drink bottled water that is readily available, or boiled water at camp.
Tipping is generally not practiced in Kyrgyzstan, except for tour/trek guides, porters and long haul drivers. Tipping in hotels is also not expected, with the bellman or porter being the exception. You should plan on tipping the hotel porter $1 per bag and perhaps a little more at a higher end hotel.
Full service restaurants typically impose a service charge and that is usually considered to be sufficient. Tipping is also not expected in taxis and drivers would usually return your change.
With evolving world situations that may occur unexpectedly due to natural disasters, pandemics/epidemics, conflicts and unrests, it is best to read up and keep tabs on news and developments at your destination country and region before the trip. Check on the country’s official website and/or your own foreign ministry website for any travel advisory or safety precautions to be taken while abroad.
As with traveling in anywhere in the world, regardless of the local crime rate, stay vigilant and take care of personal safety. Good to read up on any possible exposure in the country prior to departure.
It is a good practice to register with your respective foreign ministry if there is such a service provided to citizens, to contact you in order to make sure that you are safe and, if need be, assist you should an emergency (e.g. natural disasters, civil unrest, etc.) occur when you are overseas.
For Singaporeans, this is the link to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ eRegister:
https://eregister.mfa.gov.sg/eregisterportal/common/preLoginEregisterView.action.
It is highly recommended to purchase comprehensive travel insurance(s), upon payment of your trip, to cover adverse situations that may occur while you are overseas or even before departure. Ensure that the coverage is suitable for your destination and the activities that you are participating in. Be familiar with the terms and conditions before purchasing and travelling abroad.
There is no compulsory vaccine to be taken to enter Kyrgyzstan. You should, however, be up to date on routine vaccinations, especially vaccines against water-borne, food-borne, parasitic and other infectious diseases (examples: hepatitis, typhoid and tuberculosis) while traveling to any destination. You are encouraged to consider having vaccinations before you travel. At least eight weeks before you depart, make an appointment with your doctor or travel clinic for a basic health check-up, and to discuss your travel plans and any implications for your health, particularly if you have an existing medical condition.
Recommended routine vaccinations for travellers in general:
|
Hepatitis A |
Spread through consuming contaminated food and water or person to person through the faecal-oral route. Risk is higher where personal hygiene and sanitation are poor. |
|
Hepatitis B |
Spread through infected blood and blood products, contaminated needles and medical instruments and sexual intercourse. Risk is higher for those at occupational risk, long stays or frequent travel, children (exposed through cuts and scratches) and individuals who may need, or request, surgical procedures abroad. |
|
Rabies
|
Spread through the saliva of an infected animal, usually through a bite, scratch or lick on broken skin. Particularly dogs and related species, but also bats. Risk is higher for those going to remote areas (who may not be able to promptly access appropriate treatment in the event of a bite), long stays, those at higher risk of contact with animals and bats, and children. Even when pre-exposure vaccine has been received, urgent medical advice should be sought after any animal or bat bite. |
|
Tetanus
|
Spread through contamination of cuts, burns and wounds with tetanus spores. Spores are found in soil worldwide. A primary series of 5 doses of tetanus vaccine is recommended for life. Boosters are usually recommended in a country or situation where the correct treatment of an injury may not be readily available. |
|
Typhoid Fever |
Spread mainly through consumption of contaminated food and drink. Risk is higher where access to adequate sanitation and safe water is limited. |
|
Influenza |
A vaccine specific for a given year to protect against the highly variable influenza virus. |
For more information and professional advice on travel vaccinations, please consult your doctor or travel clinic.
For people residing in Singapore, you may visit The Travellers’ Health and Vaccination Clinic (THVC) at Tan Tock Seng Hospital:
Travellers’ Health & Vaccination Clinic
Address: Level 4, Clinic 4B, Tan Tock Seng Hospital Medical Centre
Contact number: 6357 2222
Website : https://www.ttsh.com.sg/Patients-and-Visitors/Medical-Services/Travellers-Health-and-Vaccination-Clinic/Pages/default.aspx.
