A Full Guide to Visiting the Burana Tower (& If It’s Actually Worth It)

It took me around 5 years of traveling in Kyrgyzstan to finally visit the Burana Tower, a famous site around an hour and a half from Bishkek. I finally visited in 2018 and again just recently in 2026.

In this guide, I will discuss the basics of visiting the Burana Tower, including a little of its history, how to get there, how much it costs to visit, and whether or not I think it is worth the trip there or not.

If you have any questions about visiting or how to get to the Burana Tower from Bishkek, let me know in the comments. Thanks!

About the Burana Tower in Kyrgyzstan

The Burana Tower is a minaret near the city of Tokmok (in the Chüy Valley) that dates back to the 11th-century (built somewhere during the 10th and 11th centuries). It is the last remnant from an ancient Silk Road city called Balasagun, which served as the capital of the Karakhanid Empire.

Balasagun was destroyed in 1218 by the Mongols and was later left abandoned, leaving the tower behind (for all of us to visit years later!).

This Kyrgyzstan icon can be seen on plenty of postcards and marketing imagery for the country. It used to be over 40 meters tall, but is now around 25 meters, thanks to the region’s earthquakes throughout the years.

Inside, there is a narrow staircase that takes you to a viewing platform, and the area and the tower were restored in the 1970s to prevent further damage.

On-site, you can also visit a small museum and some balbals (a bunch of ancient Turkic stone figures that date back to the 6-10th centuries). I have visited the Burana Tower two times and always fail to take a photo of it, but they are right behind the tower on the right-hand side if you are walking towards it.

Burana Tower used to be a standalone UNESCO World Heritage Site added in 2001. However, in 2014, it was removed and added to a larger Great Silk Road UNESCO network (alongside Issyk-Kul and Uzgen).

Do I Think the Burana Tower Is Worth Visiting?

So, here’s the thing. Yes… and no. If you are into history and UNESCO sites, it is worth your time, even as a standalone visit.

However, if you’re just seeing it to tick something off of your Kyrgyzstan bucket list, I think you may be left disappointed as it will take much longer to get out there than you’ll spend there (by a long shot).

I usually suggest to people who ‘kind of’ want to see it but don’t want to make the effort to go out there for it alone to take a tour that includes it. There are quite a few day tours from Bishkek that will take you to Burana Tower, alongside other places.

This is an excellent way to get out there, but not be committed to spending hours there because of the hassle of reaching it. I cover them in the following section.

How to Get to Burana Tower from Bishkek

Getting to the Burana Tower from Bishkek is easy… but how you do it will depend on your budget. There are three ways I recommend doing this: taking a marshrutka, getting a taxi, or booking a tour.

Taking a Tour to the Burana Tower

Tour Option 1: Konorchek Canyon + Burana Tower + Issyk-Kul

This tour takes you to both Konorchek Canyon and the Burana Tower. This is my top tour pick as you get to see the best in the area. You’ll have time around Issyk-Kul, a guided tour of Konorchek Canyon, and a short tour of the Burana Tower.

The only issue with this trip is that if you’re not an active person, you may not enjoy the Konorchek Canyon part of it, as it requires a little hiking (nothing extreme but you will definitely work up a little sweat). Click here to check rates and availability for this Burana Tower, Konorchek Canyon, and Issyk-Kul tour.

Tour Option 2: Issyk-Kul + Burana Tower

This tour is essentially the same as the one above, but it eliminates the Konorchek Canyon bit of it.

This is probably better suited to those who enjoy a lighter day and would rather spend time checking out Issyk-Kul than hitting up an additional site. Click here to check rates and availability for an Issyk-Kul and Burana Tower tour.

Tour Option 3: Burana Tower

And if you want to visit Burana Tower with a dedicated tour of the historical place without visiting other spots along the way, this is a trip that will take you to do just that.

While this isn’t the way I would do it, it may be the perfect option for those who are truly interested in the history of it and want the maximum amount of time possible at Burana Tower. Click here to check rates and availability for this Burana Tower tour.

Taking a Marshrutka

If you’re truly on a budget, taking a marshrutka to Burana Tower is an option. But I wouldn’t advise it. The marshrutkas that go out this way are rammed. I did this back in the day and I had a panic attack (okay, I’m claustrophobic).

The marshrutka leaves from the Eastern Bus Station and it will be #353 toward Tokmok (Токмок in Kyrgyz or Токмак in Russian). You can also find some at the Western Bus Station. The trip takes around 1.5 hours and is around 100 KGS.

This will not take you to the Burana Tower but only to Tokmok (which is roughly 12km from the tower). From here, you can ask for another marshrutka (#212), or you can take a Yandex taxi. A taxi from the bus station should be anywhere from 300-400 KGS. The bus should be around 50-60 KGS.

Getting a Taxi

A fairly easy way to get to Burana Tower is to take a taxi. I recommend using Yandex as it is the cheapest way and trackable. A taxi from Bishkek center to the Burana Tower should cost around 2500-3000 KGS one-way (depending on the time of day).

You can also use Yandex to call one back from there (and yes, there is service at the Burana Tower, so you shouldn’t have an issue). I wouldn’t recommend grabbing a taxi on the spot, however.

Practical Information for Visiting the Burana Tower

Opening Hours

The Burana Tower is open daily from 9am to 5pm. I visited right at 9am on my most recent trip there and vans were pulling up as I was leaving (and this was in the low season).

Crowds

Yes, it will get crowded during the high season. A lot of tours have the Burana Tower on the itinerary, so you will see large groups pull up occasionally for a visit.

There is plenty of space around, but this may cause an issue for those wanting to walk up the steps of the tower on the inside. This is a very, very narrow staircase and it really only fits one person (width-wise) at a time. This means that people will have to go up in groups, while others wait outside for them to finish. Just something to keep in mind.

Entrance Fee

When I visited, foreign guests had to pay a fee of 220 KGS. This cannot be paid by card or with large bills, so be sure to bring some small ones with you.

Burana Tower Museum

There is a museum on-site to the right when you walk in by the yurt. It is free to visit with your entrance ticket.

It is illegal to use your phone or camera for photos inside, however. So, I have no pictures from there.

Toilets

There are two sets of toilets at the Burana Tower – one inside the complex and one outside on the other side of the parking lot. The ones outside are far nicer and you don’t even have a squatter there (at least for the women’s toilet). It was free to use.

Burana Tower FAQ

Where is the Burana Tower located?

The Burana Tower is located about 12km from Tokmok village in another small village called Burana. The total distance from Bishkek is 83.5km and it will take about 1.5 hours to reach.

Is climbing the Burana Tower allowed?

Yes. There is a staircase up a bit (on the outside) that will lead you to a tour on the inside. The staircase is very narrow and this is not for claustrophobics. The tower is 25m (82ft) high.

What are some other places to visit near the Burana Tower?

Konorchek Canyon is often visited alongside the tower, but it requires a little hiking and can be very hot in the summer months. Rot-Front village is also nearby and is a cute place I stayed several years back (with an interesting population of Volga Germans).

Do you have any questions about visiting the Burana Tower in Kyrgyzstan? Or how to get from Bishkek to the Burana Tower? Let me know in the comments. Thanks!

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