# eSIM for Central Asia Viasimo's Central Asia eSIM starts at $2.59 for 1 GB over 7 days, running on local 5G networks where available. Plans last 3 to 180 days, arrive by email in minutes and install from your phone's settings, with no app. Canonical page: https://viasimo.com/destinations/central-asia/ ## Central Asia eSIM prices | Plan | Data | Days | Price | Price per GB | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Unlimited, 3 days | Unlimited | 3 | $11.99 | - | | Unlimited, 5 days | Unlimited | 5 | $18.99 | - | | 1 GB, 7 days | 1 GB | 7 | $2.59 | $2.59 | | Unlimited, 7 days | Unlimited | 7 | $25.99 | - | | Unlimited, 10 days | Unlimited | 10 | $33.99 | - | | 3 GB, 15 days | 3 GB | 15 | $5.99 | $2.00 | | Unlimited, 15 days | Unlimited | 15 | $50.99 | - | | 3 GB, 30 days | 3 GB | 30 | $7.00 | $2.33 | | 5 GB, 30 days | 5 GB | 30 | $10.99 | $2.20 | | 10 GB, 30 days | 10 GB | 30 | $18.99 | $1.90 | | 20 GB, 30 days | 20 GB | 30 | $27.99 | $1.40 | | Unlimited, 30 days | Unlimited | 30 | $90.99 | - | | Unlimited, 60 days | Unlimited | 60 | $184.99 | - | | Unlimited, 90 days | Unlimited | 90 | $279.99 | - | | 50 GB, 180 days | 50 GB | 180 | $164.99 | $3.30 | | Unlimited, 180 days | Unlimited | 180 | $549.99 | - | ## Which networks does the Central Asia eSIM use? The host network is chosen automatically when you arrive. ## eSIM Details - **Data**: 1 GB – 50 GB or unlimited - **Validity**: 3–180 days - **Speed**: 4G LTE / 5G - **Hotspot / tethering**: Supported on most devices - **Activation**: Starts when you first connect in your destination - **Speed management**: Roughly 2-3 GB per day at full speed, sometimes less depending on the local carrier, then reduced - **Text messages (SMS)**: Data only: use an app for verification codes - **Connects via**: United Kingdom - **Unused validity**: 180 days before it must be installed ## Central Asia: what to know before you land Source: https://viasimo.com/destinations/central-asia/#destination-guide · Researched October 2026 by Viasimo This plan suits Silk Road trips that cross the Central Asian borders: Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara, on to Almaty and Bishkek, or along the Pamir Highway from Dushanbe to Osh. Cities and the main rail lines have good 4G; high mountain routes in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have long sections with no signal. The plan also includes Pakistan and Sri Lanka. ### Central Asia: quick facts | Fact | Central Asia | | --- | --- | | Emergency number | 102 (police) and 103 (ambulance) in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, plus 112 in Kazakhstan; 15 in Pakistan; 119 in Sri Lanka | | Main airports | Almaty International Airport (ALA); Tashkent International Airport (TAS); Manas International Airport, Bishkek (FRU); Dushanbe International Airport (DYU); Islamabad International Airport (ISB); Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo (CMB) | | Plug types | Type C, F, D, G (220–230V) | | Currency | Kazakh tenge, Kyrgyz som, Uzbek sum, Tajik somoni, Pakistani rupee, Sri Lankan rupee | | Apps worth having | Yandex Go, 2GIS, Telegram, WhatsApp, Yandex Maps | ### Driving the Pamir Highway from Dushanbe to Osh (Central Asia · https://viasimo.com/destinations/central-asia/#guide-driving-the-pamir-highway-from-dushanbe-to-osh) The Pamir Highway runs from Dushanbe east to Khorog, then about 310 km further to Murghab, before crossing into Kyrgyzstan over the 4,250 m Kyzyl-Art pass and descending to Osh. The highest point is the Ak-Baital pass at 4,655 m. Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are both on this plan, so one eSIM covers the whole route. Don't expect it to work most of the way, though. The UK Foreign Office says coverage in remote Tajikistan is extremely limited and suggests a satellite phone for travel outside towns. In practice you can expect signal in and around Dushanbe, Khorog and sometimes Murghab, and very little between them, particularly in the Wakhan Valley and on the high plateau. The Foreign Office also notes that floods often damage roads in Gorno-Badakhshan and that the highway is open but not fully repaired, so check conditions in Khorog before heading east. Download offline maps, keep your permits and travel insurance details saved on the phone, and agree regular check-in times with someone at home. ### Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva by train (Central Asia · https://viasimo.com/destinations/central-asia/#guide-tashkent-samarkand-bukhara-and-khiva-by-train) Uzbekistan's Silk Road cities are the most connected part of the region. Afrosiyob high-speed trains link Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara, and the route runs through populated areas where 4G is usually available. Khiva, usually reached by train via Urgench, is in the far west, and the desert stretch towards it is more sparsely covered. You will use data constantly here: Yandex Go for taxis, Telegram for messages from guesthouses and guides, translation apps for menus, and online booking for train tickets, which sell out in high season. The national rail operator's site and app sell tickets online, so it is worth booking as soon as your dates are fixed. Hotel registration is the other thing to manage on your phone. The UK Foreign Office explains that visitors must be registered within three days of arrival and again when staying more than three days in a new city. Hotels do this for you; private hosts use the Emehmon system. Keep the confirmations, because the record can be checked when you leave the country. ### Almaty, Bishkek and the Kyrgyz lakes (Central Asia · https://viasimo.com/destinations/central-asia/#guide-almaty-bishkek-and-the-kyrgyz-lakes) Many travellers combine Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan on one trip, crossing at Korday on the road between Almaty and Bishkek, a drive of around four hours. Both countries are on this plan, and the change of network at the border usually happens within a few minutes. Almaty and Bishkek have reliable 4G, and Yandex Go and 2GIS work well in both. Charyn Canyon, Kolsai Lakes and the main Issyk-Kul resorts such as Cholpon-Ata have usable signal in places, but the further into the mountains you go, the less you get. In Kyrgyzstan, popular high-country trips such as Song-Kul, the Jety-Oguz valley and the Ala-Kul trek from Karakol are mostly outside mobile coverage. The UK Foreign Office says mountain rescue in Kyrgyzstan is basic and volunteer-run, and recommends that you do not trek alone and tell someone your plans. Note the 24-hour mountain rescue number before you go, and carry a satellite messenger if you are heading into the backcountry. ### Sources for the Central Asia guide - [Tajikistan travel advice: safety and security (GOV.UK)](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/tajikistan/safety-and-security) - [Kyrgyzstan travel advice: safety and security (GOV.UK)](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/kyrgyzstan/safety-and-security) - [Uzbekistan travel advice: entry requirements (GOV.UK)](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/uzbekistan/entry-requirements) - [Pamir Highway (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamir_Highway) - [How overseas Pakistanis and visitors can register mobile phones for 120 days (ProPakistani)](https://propakistani.pk/2026/06/18/how-overseas-pakistanis-can-register-their-mobile-phones-in-pakistan-for-120-days/amp/) ## Thirteen days on the Silk Road: Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Bishkek, Issyk-Kul and Almaty Multi-country route · 13 days · Source: https://viasimo.com/destinations/central-asia/#itinerary A Silk Road route through three countries: Uzbekistan's blue-tiled cities by high-speed train, a short flight to Kyrgyzstan for the mountains near Bishkek and Lake Issyk-Kul, then a road crossing at Korday into Kazakhstan to finish in Almaty. **When to go:** April to early June and September to October are best: mild in the Uzbek cities and clear in the mountains. July and August are very hot in Bukhara and Samarkand, though ideal for Issyk-Kul and high trails; winters are cold, with snow around Almaty. ### Day 1 in Central Asia: Tashkent: the old city and the metro - **Base:** Tashkent - **Plan:** Start at Chorsu Bazaar under its green dome, then walk to the Khast Imam complex, which holds one of the oldest surviving Qurans. In the afternoon, ride the Tashkent metro to see its decorated Soviet-era stations, such as Kosmonavtlar and Alisher Navoi, and end at Amir Timur Square. - **Mobile signal:** Good 4G on Beeline across central Tashkent and in the metro stations. Install Yandex Go for taxis and keep hotel registration slips as photos. ### Day 2 in Central Asia: Afrosiyob to Samarkand: the Registan - **Base:** Samarkand - **Getting there:** Afrosiyob train from Tashkent to Samarkand, about 2 hours 10 minutes. - **Plan:** Take the morning Afrosiyob high-speed train to Samarkand, booking ahead on the Uzbekistan Railways site or app. In the afternoon, visit the three madrasas of the Registan, then return after dark when the square is lit. Walk the pedestrian Tashkent Street towards the Bibi-Khanym Mosque. - **Mobile signal:** Good along the main railway with short gaps in open country; strong in central Samarkand. ### Day 3 in Central Asia: Samarkand: Shah-i-Zinda and Gur-e-Amir - **Base:** Samarkand - **Plan:** Walk the avenue of tiled mausoleums at Shah-i-Zinda early, then visit the Bibi-Khanym Mosque and Siab Bazaar next door. In the afternoon, see Ulugh Beg's observatory and the Afrasiyab museum, and finish at Gur-e-Amir, Timur's mausoleum, in the evening light. - **Mobile signal:** Good across the old city, including at Shah-i-Zinda and Gur-e-Amir. ### Day 4 in Central Asia: Train to Bukhara: Lyabi-Hauz - **Base:** Bukhara - **Getting there:** Train from Samarkand to Bukhara, about 1.5 hours on the Afrosiyob. - **Plan:** Take the train west to Bukhara. Start at the Lyabi-Hauz pool and the Nadir Divan-Begi madrasa, then walk through the covered trading domes to the Kalyan Minaret, the Kalyan Mosque and the Mir-i-Arab Madrasa. Stay in the old town to see the minaret lit at night. - **Mobile signal:** Good 4G in Bukhara's old town; brief gaps on the railway through the steppe. ### Day 5 in Central Asia: Bukhara: the Ark and Chor Minor - **Base:** Bukhara - **Plan:** Visit the Ark fortress and the Bolo Hauz Mosque with its wooden columns opposite. Walk through Samanid Park to the 10th-century Samanid Mausoleum and the Chashma-Ayub shrine. In the afternoon, find Chor Minor's four turquoise towers in the backstreets, and finish with a sunset drink overlooking the Kalyan Minaret. - **Mobile signal:** Good across the old town, including at the Ark. ### Day 6 in Central Asia: Back to Tashkent - **Base:** Tashkent - **Getting there:** Afrosiyob from Bukhara to Tashkent, about 4 hours. - **Plan:** Take the Afrosiyob back east to Tashkent. In the afternoon, visit the State Museum of Applied Arts in a 19th-century diplomat's house, then the Minor Mosque by the canal. In the evening, walk Broadway, the pedestrian street off Amir Timur Square, and pack for tomorrow's flight. - **Mobile signal:** Good along the line with gaps in the open steppe; strong in Tashkent. ### Day 7 in Central Asia: Fly to Bishkek - **Base:** Bishkek - **Getting there:** Flight Tashkent to Bishkek, about 1 hour 15 minutes. - **Plan:** Fly to Bishkek. In the afternoon, walk Ala-Too Square, the State Historical Museum and Oak Park, then go to Osh Bazaar for dried fruit, felt goods and kurut. Bishkek is the base for the mountains, so arrange your Ala Archa transport for the morning. - **Mobile signal:** Your phone switches to Beeline in Kyrgyzstan. Good 4G in central Bishkek. ### Day 8 in Central Asia: Ala Archa National Park - **Base:** Bishkek - **Getting there:** About 45 minutes by road each way. - **Plan:** Take a taxi to Ala Archa National Park in the Kyrgyz Ala-Too range. Walk up the main valley along the river, or for fitter walkers, follow the steep trail towards the Ak-Sai waterfall. Bring layers: the weather changes fast at altitude. Return to Bishkek in the evening. - **Mobile signal:** Some signal near the park entrance and the main car park; little or none higher up the valley. Tell someone your route and download offline maps. ### Day 9 in Central Asia: Burana Tower and Lake Issyk-Kul - **Base:** Cholpon-Ata - **Getting there:** About 4 hours by road from Bishkek with the Burana stop. - **Plan:** Drive east, stopping at the Burana Tower, an 11th-century minaret on the site of the Silk Road city of Balasagun, with its field of balbal stone figures. Continue through the Boom Gorge to Lake Issyk-Kul and the resort town of Cholpon-Ata, and swim if it is summer. - **Mobile signal:** Good near Tokmok and Burana; patchy through the Boom Gorge. Good in Cholpon-Ata. ### Day 10 in Central Asia: Cholpon-Ata: petroglyphs and the lakeshore - **Base:** Cholpon-Ata - **Plan:** Visit the open-air petroglyph field above Cholpon-Ata, where ibex and hunting scenes are carved into boulders, with the Kungey Ala-Too mountains behind. Visit the Rukh Ordo cultural centre on the shore, then spend the afternoon on the beach or take a boat out on the lake. - **Mobile signal:** Good along the northern shore towns; the hillsides behind them have weaker coverage. ### Day 11 in Central Asia: Over the border to Almaty - **Base:** Almaty - **Getting there:** About 3.5 hours from Cholpon-Ata to Bishkek, then about 4 to 5 hours to Almaty including the Korday crossing. - **Plan:** Drive back west and cross into Kazakhstan at the Korday border post, walking through both controls if you are on a shared taxi or minibus. Continue to Almaty and spend the evening in Panfilov Park and around the wooden Zenkov Cathedral. - **Mobile signal:** Your phone switches from Beeline Kyrgyzstan to Beeline Kazakhstan near Korday. Expect a few minutes without data at the crossing. ### Day 12 in Central Asia: Almaty: Medeu, Shymbulak and Kok-Tobe - **Base:** Almaty - **Plan:** Take the bus up the valley to Medeu, the high-altitude skating rink, then the gondola to Shymbulak for views across the Zailiysky Alatau. Back in the city, take the cable car up Kok-Tobe hill at sunset for the view over Almaty. - **Mobile signal:** Good at Medeu and the Shymbulak base; weaker at the top gondola stations. Strong in the city. ### Day 13 in Central Asia: Big Almaty Lake and the Green Bazaar - **Base:** Almaty - **Plan:** Take a taxi or tour up to Big Almaty Lake, a turquoise reservoir in the mountains; check it is open, as access is sometimes restricted. In the afternoon, visit the Green Bazaar and the Central State Museum, then spend your last evening on Arbat, the pedestrian street. - **Mobile signal:** Little signal on the upper road and at Big Almaty Lake; good 4G and 5G back in the city. ### Staying connected on this Central Asia route - Download offline maps for Ala Archa, the Boom Gorge and Big Almaty Lake; mountain valleys lose signal quickly. - Book Afrosiyob tickets on the Uzbekistan Railways site in advance and save them offline; trains sell out in spring and autumn. - This route avoids the Pamir Highway and Tajikistan's Afghan border areas, where coverage is very limited and FCDO advice applies; check it before adding them. ### Sources for the Central Asia itinerary - [GOV.UK: Kyrgyzstan travel advice, regional risks](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/kyrgyzstan/regional-risks) - [GOV.UK: Foreign travel advice, Uzbekistan](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/uzbekistan) - [UNESCO: Samarkand – Crossroad of Cultures](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/603/) - [UNESCO: Historic Centre of Bukhara](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/602/) - [Uzbekistan Railways](https://railway.uz/en/) ## About this eSIM ### Arriving in Almaty, Tashkent, Bishkek or Dushanbe Most Central Asia trips start at Almaty (ALA) or Astana (NQZ) in Kazakhstan, Tashkent (TAS) in Uzbekistan, Bishkek Manas (FRU) in Kyrgyzstan or Dushanbe (DYU) in Tajikistan. Local SIMs are cheap here, but buying one means queueing at an operator office with your passport, and in some countries your registration details are checked. Turning on an eSIM as you land avoids that and gets you straight into a ride-hailing app. In Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan the plan connects through Beeline, one of the biggest operators in all three. In Tajikistan you will see MegaFon or ZET, in Pakistan Jazz, and in Sri Lanka Mobitel. Pakistan and Sri Lanka are unusual additions to a Central Asia plan, but they make it useful if you are flying on to Islamabad or Colombo, and in Pakistan a foreign line on roaming avoids the phone registration that a local SIM requires. ### What coverage is really like The contrast between cities and mountains is sharp. Almaty, Astana, Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Bishkek and Osh have solid 4G, and you will rarely struggle with maps or messaging. The Afrosiyob high-speed trains in Uzbekistan and the main highways between Kazakh cities mostly run through connected areas. In the mountains it is very different. The UK Foreign Office warns that mobile and even satellite phone coverage can be extremely limited in remote parts of Kyrgyzstan, and that coverage is extremely limited in remote Tajikistan, where it suggests carrying a satellite phone outside towns. Lakes like Song-Kul, the treks around Karakol and Altyn-Arashan, and much of the Gorno-Badakhshan region are largely offline. Borders between these countries can also be slow and unpredictable. The Foreign Office notes that neighbouring countries sometimes close borders temporarily. At land crossings such as Korday between Almaty and Bishkek, or Oybek between Tashkent and Khujand, your phone may stay on the previous country's network for a while. Toggle airplane mode if data does not resume. ### What you'll use data for Ride-hailing is the easy way around the cities. Yandex Go is the main app in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, and fares are shown up front. For maps, 2GIS is popular in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan because it lists building entrances, opening hours and courtyards in more detail than Google Maps. Telegram is the dominant messaging app in Uzbekistan and widely used across the region, including by guesthouses and drivers, while WhatsApp is more common with international tour companies. Many local payment apps need a local bank card or phone number, so plan on carrying cash, especially in Tajikistan and rural Kyrgyzstan. In Uzbekistan, foreign visitors must be registered within three days of arrival, either by the hotel or through the online Emehmon system for private stays, according to the UK Foreign Office. Authorities may check this record when you leave, so keep confirmation slips or screenshots safe on your phone. ### Before you fly Download offline maps for every mountain section of your route, not just the cities, plus the 2GIS city maps if you will be in Almaty or Bishkek. Save your e-visa approvals, GBAO permit, if you need one for the Pamirs, and hotel registration confirmations offline. If you plan to trek or drive the Pamir Highway, consider a satellite messenger or phone. Tell someone your plans, as the Foreign Office recommends, because there will be days without any mobile signal. ## Frequently asked questions ### Does an eSIM work in Central Asia? Yes. Your Central Asia eSIM connects automatically the moment you arrive, with no roaming fees and nothing to set up at the airport. Coverage runs on 4G LTE and 5G where the network has rolled it out, and falls back to 4G elsewhere. ### Do I get 5G in Central Asia? Yes, where it has been deployed. 5G runs on The local networks we use in Central Asia, and your eSIM uses it automatically on a 5G-capable phone, dropping back to 4G LTE outside covered areas. No country is covered everywhere, so 5G availability varies by location. ### Is there mobile signal on the Pamir Highway? Only in and near towns such as Khorog and sometimes Murghab. The UK Foreign Office describes coverage in remote Tajikistan as extremely limited and suggests a satellite phone outside towns. Expect full days without signal in the Wakhan Valley and on the high plateau. Download maps and agree check-in times with someone at home before setting off from Dushanbe or Osh. ### Which taxi app works in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan? Yandex Go is the main ride-hailing app across all three, with fares shown before you book. It works well in Tashkent, Samarkand, Almaty, Astana and Bishkek. Payment can be made in cash, and the app is available in English. In Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, 2GIS is the most detailed map app for finding building entrances and opening hours. ### Does the Central Asia eSIM include Turkmenistan or China? No. Turkmenistan is not on the covered list, and neither is China, so the Torugart and Irkeshtam crossings from Kyrgyzstan and the Khunjerab Pass from Pakistan will leave you without data once you enter China. The plan does include Pakistan and Sri Lanka alongside Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, so check the full list before you buy. ### Do I need to keep proof of registration on my phone in Uzbekistan? It is a good idea. The UK Foreign Office says foreign visitors must be registered within three days of arrival, by the hotel or through the Emehmon system for private stays, and that authorities expect a full record when you leave. Missing days can mean fines. Keep hotel registration slips and screenshots of any Emehmon confirmations. ### How much data do I need for 7 days in Central Asia? For 7 days in Central Asia, Viasimo sells 1 GB for $2.59 and unlimited data for $25.99. Our sizing recommendation, not a measurement: maps, messaging and the occasional lookup, about 1 GB a week; maps, social, photos and some browsing, about 3 to 7 GB a week. The data calculator on this site works it out from how you actually use your phone. ## Information and verification - **Prices and plans**: Every price and allowance on this page is read from the live catalog, not typed in. Verified October 18, 2026.