Iceland or Kyrgyzstan: where is it cheaper to film glaciers, highland lakes and waterfalls?

Producers choose Iceland for empty, wind-swept highlands, glaciers, waterfalls and lakes under a huge sky. Kyrgyzstan has the same elements above 3,000 m in the Tian Shan: plateau lakes such as Son-Kul and Chatyr-Kul, glacial lakes such as Ala-Kul, waterfalls up to 220 m and glaciers within 40 km of Bishkek.

The difference is in what each country cannot do. Iceland has active volcanic terrain, black-sand beaches and iceberg lagoons; Kyrgyzstan has none of them. Kyrgyzstan adds nomadic life with yurts and horses, red sandstone canyons and Silk Road monuments, which Iceland does not have, and its crew costs $1,500 a day against $9,900 in Iceland.

There are no direct flights between the EU and Bishkek yet (Kyrgyz airlines were removed from the EU air safety list in June 2026, first routes are planned for 2027), so European crews connect through Istanbul (about 5 h 10 min to Bishkek with Turkish Airlines or Pegasus) or Dubai (about 4 h 45 min with flydubai). Citizens of the EU, the UK, the USA, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland enter Kyrgyzstan visa-free for 30 days in every 60-day period.

Seasons matter as much as in Iceland: Son-Kul and the high passes are open roughly from June to September, while the lower gorges near Bishkek work most of the year. Kyrgyzstan is not part of the ATA Carnet system, so bringing a full camera package means a separate temporary import procedure. Most crews rent the camera, lenses, lighting and grip in Bishkek and bring only personal kit.