Russian Bath Houses in Kyrgyzstan: What to Expect on Your Tour

What should I expect from a Russian bath house in Kyrgyzstan? Lounge in a steam room with specific features designed to rejuvenate the body.

Silk Road Explore tours sometimes offer trips to Russian bath houses (it's not finnish saunas) during tours through Kyrgyzstan.   If you’re unfamiliar with Russian baths, they’re actually quite different than other types of steam baths such as saunas, Turkish, and Finnish baths due to their humidity levels and temperatures.  However, they’re extremely soothing and are known to have numerous health benefits.

WHAT IS A RUSSIAN BATH HOUSE?

Inside a Russian bath house, the steam room generally has a 60% humidity level with temperatures around  80 C.  Tiny steam droplets are produced by throwing water on hot stones, creating an atmosphere that’s much easier to breathe in for bath-goers.   Saunas, Turkish, and Finnish baths are either much hotter and dryer, or wetter and cooler, both of which Russians believe to not hold as many health benefits or provide as comfortable of a setting.

Inside the steam room, you’ll see wooden benches that sit at different levels.   These benches give bathers the option of sitting where the temperatures are higher, or even laying down where it’s a bit cooler.

When taking a Russian bath, people usually go through 5 or 6 cycles of sweating and cooling off.  Soaked bundles of birch twigs are often used by bathers to give each other massages.  One distinctive mark of the Russian bath is that after sweating, bathers either take a dip in a cool pool or pour freezing water over themselves.

WHAT ARE THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF A RUSSIAN BATH?

The main health benefit of a Russian bath is sweating out toxins in the body.  Sweating is believed to be excellent for the skin, making it look younger and rejuvenated as well.  The birch massages promote good blood circulation within the body and the whole experience in general is supposed to boost your metabolism. 

WHERE ARE RUSSIAN BATH HOUSES IN KYRGYZSTAN?

There are lots of Russian bath houses in Bishkek, however, during a tour of Kyrgyzstan, travelers won’t often be in the capital city for long periods of time. During tours, travelers are likely to visit Russian bath houses in other locations.  It’s very possible that tours will offer trips to bath houses at either Achyk Tash Base Camp, Karkara Base Camp, select guest houses, or near Tash Rabat.  

WHEN CAN I EXPECT RUSSIAN BATHS TO BE AVAILABLE DURING A TOUR?

Tours will schedule trips to bath houses mainly in the evenings, giving travelers a way to unwind and relax from the excitement of the day.  Travelers may be able to spend as long as two hours lounging in the steam room, letting the steam carry their worries away. 

A DESSERT ON YOUR TOUR OF KYRGYZSTAN

Visiting a Russian bath house is sure to be a welcome addition to any tour of Kyrgyzstan.  Setting aside their health benefits, Russian bath houses in Kyrgyzstan are perfect for helping travelers sit back, relax, and just enjoy one of life’s luxuries.   Treat yourself to some mental and physical rest and take advantage of these opportunities on your tour of Kyrgyzstan!