If you explore Kyrgyzstan independently by rental car, you soon notice that online maps here are only as good as their data – and in the mountains the data is not always right. Some tracks on the map have been impassable for decades, new roads are missing, and there is no mobile signal in many places. With two or three offline apps and a healthy scepticism towards the “shortest route”, you will still get everywhere. These map and navigation apps have proven themselves in Kyrgyzstan.
Navigation apps for Kyrgyzstan at a glance
| App | Offline | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organic Maps | yes | free, no ads, very good offline navigation | track conditions not always up to date |
| OsmAnd | yes | contour lines, hiking trails, GPX tracks | takes some getting used to |
| Maps.me | yes | easy to use, many sights | ads, road conditions often outdated |
| Google Maps | partly | addresses, restaurants and hotels in cities | unreliable in the mountains |
| Yandex Maps | partly | traffic and addresses in Bishkek | patchy in the countryside |
| 2GIS | yes | city maps with a business directory for Bishkek and Osh | cities only |
Organic Maps and Maps.me
Both apps use OpenStreetMap data and work completely offline: download the map of Kyrgyzstan, and route guidance works without a signal. Organic Maps grew out of Maps.me and is free and ad-free; Maps.me, for its part, has more entries for accommodation and sights. For driving across the country, both are the first choice.
They share one weakness: they don’t reliably distinguish between tarmac, gravel and a track that only exists on the map. So you should be able to judge for yourself which types of roads in Kyrgyzstan to expect.
OsmAnd
OsmAnd is also based on OpenStreetMap but offers much more: contour lines, hiking trails, voice navigation, route planning and track recording. If you travel away from the main roads or want to follow GPX tracks from travel reports, OsmAnd is the best-equipped app. Here too, some of the tracks shown are outdated – what counts is what you see on the ground.
Google Maps
In Bishkek, Osh and Karakol, Google Maps is handy for finding addresses, restaurants or hotels, and you can download map areas for offline use. In the mountains, however, it is the least reliable choice. Travellers with rental cars have been sent over a pass where a short road really did exist – 40 years ago. Trust your eyes and, if in doubt, plan a longer but safe route.
Yandex Maps and 2GIS
Both apps are widely used in the Russian-speaking world. Yandex Maps shows current traffic in Bishkek and finds addresses reliably. 2GIS is a detailed city map with a directory of all shops, workshops and pharmacies in Bishkek and Osh – including opening hours. Very useful in town, less so across the country.
Finding places to camp
If you travel with a rooftop tent or a tent, is worth adding: the app collects campsites, water points and tips from other overlanders, in Kyrgyzstan too.
What is allowed when wild camping is explained in the post Is camping allowed in Kyrgyzstan?
Tips for navigating in Kyrgyzstan
- Download offline maps before you set off. Ideally on the hotel Wi-Fi in Bishkek – on the road there is often no signal for it.
- Use two apps side by side. If Organic Maps and Google Maps differ significantly, be careful.
- GPS works everywhere. Even without mobile signal, your phone shows your position as long as it has a clear view of the sky. For calls and internet you need a Kyrgyz SIM card – but the network doesn’t cover every valley.
- Ask locally. Whether a track is passable after rain, shepherds, guesthouses and petrol station staff know better than any app.
- Paper map and power bank. A flat battery stops every app. A charging cable and a power bank belong in the car, a paper map in the glovebox.
- Stay flexible. Weather and roadworks change road conditions quickly. Build in time to spare instead of planning every day right up to the evening.
Which routes are closed to rental cars in general is listed on the page Forbidden roads and restricted areas. And if you are unsure about your route, ask us when you collect your rental car in Kyrgyzstan – we know the current state of the passes.