The complete guide on why and how to visit Burana Tower, Kyrgyzstan!
Burana Tower is located about 80km from Bishkek and is one of the most popular historical sites to visit in Kyrgyzstan. It is one of the oldest minarets in all of Central Asia, dating back to the 11th century. A visit to the tower is an easy day trip from Bishkek and well worth the effort!
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Why you should visit Burana Tower
The tower is all that remains of the once great city of Balasagun. Balasagun was the capital city in the Karakhanid empire up until the Mongol invasion in the 13th century. The city was abandoned and over the years was destroyed.
All that remains is the tower which was restored in the 1970s, making it an historical site of huge significance to Kyrgyzstan. Unlike in neighbouring Uzbekistan where many great buildings have been maintained or restored over the centuries, much of the tangible history of Kyrgyzstan has been lost to time. This is all the more reason to visit sites like Burana Tower that offer a rare glimpse into these great empires of the past.
Options for visiting Burana Tower
Taking a tour
There are some great tour options for day trips to Burana Tower from Bishkek. You only need about an hour at Burana Tower so most day tours will also take in the nearby Konorchek Canyons.
If you don’t have much time to explore other parts of this beautiful country, take every chance you can to get out of the city and see some scenery. Konorchek Canyons are stunning and combined with Burana Tower create a day trip that showcases Kyrgyzstan’s fascinating history and unique beauty.
Visiting Burana Tower independently
By public transport
To get from Bishkek to Burana Tower using public transport, head to the East Bus Station. Take the 353 marshrutka to the nearby town of Tokmok. This takes a little over an hour. From Tokmok, your best bet is to negotiate with a taxi driver to take you to the tower. The tower is only about 15 minutes out of town.
Be aware, there is no public transport to return to Tokmok after visiting Burana Tower. You will need to negotiate with a taxi driver to wait for you, or hitch-hike back to Tokmok. We hitch-hiked a bit in Kyrgyzstan. It is a common and easy way to travel, particularly short distances without transport links, so you shouldn’t have trouble. Most people visiting Burana Tower will be headed back towards Tokmok.
By taxi or private car
If you don’t want the hassle of public transport, or if you are travelling in a group and can split costs, consider hiring a driver to take you from Bishkek to Burana Tower.
If you ask at your hotel, they can usually set you up with a driver for the day.
Using your own transport
We hired a 4WD and spent two weeks driving around Kyrgyzstan, meaning we were able to drive to Burana Tower independently.
If you get the opportunity to hire a car in Kyrgyzstan, sieze it! It was such a magical way to explore the country as we could pull up and camp in the most remote and beautiful locations. We spent another couple of weeks in Kyrgyzstan, using public transport and hitch-hiking around, which was also great but doesn’t compare to having your own transport.
To get from Bishkek to Burana Tower in your own car, follow the A365 to the town of Tokmok. Turn right at Tokmok and follow that road for about 15 minutes. Google maps works relatively well in Kyrgyzstan for navigating major roads. Burana Tower is also signposted from Tokmok.
Useful information
Burana Tower is open from 9am until 5pm daily. Entry is 150 som. Cash only.
Things to do at Burana Tower
Climb the tower
The best thing to do at Burana Tower is to climb the tower itself. There is an outside staircase that takes you to the external entrance of the tower. When you enter the tower, it is dark and steep. The stairs are very narrow and if you are there at a busy time, there will likely be people trying to come down the stairs as you go up making it a tricky climb. Take care and bring a torch or phone light.
The view from the top is beautiful, overlooking the mountains.
Explore the balbal stone statues
Balbal stone statues are scattered around the Burana Tower site. Balbals are human shaped statues thought to originally be made by Turkic tribes in the 6th century.
There is a field of balbal statues which are almost as interesting the tower itself. The stone statues memorialise ancestors and each one is unique. Read this to learn more about balbal stone statues.
Is Burana Tower worth visiting?
Absolutely! Kyrgyzstan is such a beautiful and scenic country. The highlights are undoubtedly going to be the incredible mountain scenery and friendly locals, but visiting Burana Tower gives a glimpse into the history and culture of the region. Kyrgyzstan doesn’t have the well-preserved historical buildings of neighbouring Uzbekistan, so you have to jump on opportunites like visiting Tash Rabat or Burana Tower.
It’s an easy day trip from Bishkek. If you have the time, I definitely recommend a visit.
Where to stay in Bishkek
There are plenty of hotels in Bishkek to suit all budgets. Here are some of our top picks!
Budget – We stayed at the Ololoyurt hostel in Bishkek and it was perfect. The hostel feels brand new and has really comfortable rooms. It is fairly centrally located, but Yandex taxis are so cheap and available so it is still easy to get everywhere you need in the city.
Mid-range – For a step up in quality, but only a small step up in price, Happy Moments Hostel is the perfect choice. Beautifully designed hostel in the best location!
High-end – Maybe you’ve just returned from a hike or tour and you need that little bit more luxury, the Ambassador Orient is one of the best hotels in Bishkek and still very reasonably priced.
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