Kyrgyzstan Travel Forum

Hi all,
Several buddies and I will be going to Kyrgyzstan in july for about a week. We will be entering from the Chinese border and exiting from Bishkek to Almaty. We have about 4 days totally free, and most of all we want to meet local people, camp out, spend time with local people, remote stuff, etc... we have our own tents but are now looking for some suggestions on where to go to get the most out of Kyrgyzstan. Can anybody suggest some places we must go or a guide? Ideally we want to hire a car out of the border town. We are a group of 5 university students (from the US, Canada and Singapore). Thanks,
-Matt

Hello Matt!
My name is Marina, and I am coming form Kyrgyzstan, working as tour guide with groups. For your programs can suggest you the following If you have only 4 days to visit Kyrgyzstan
1 day meeting on Torugatd pass - you have to rent a cr alraedy from Torugard pass, because there is a lot of formalities on the border...kyrgyz car should wait you alreday on the pass. then driving to Tash Rabat caravanserai - beautiful place, meet nomad people, visit old caravanserai (from XI century), ther are yurt camps you can sleep in the yurts or user your tents, there are kyrgyz familie, they can provide you dinner and berakfast
2 day Tash rabat - Son Kul lake - drive to son kul lake via naryn, the lake located on 3016 meter - horse riding, beautiful landscape
3 day son kul bishkek - drive to bishkek, coming to bishkek
4 day trabsfer to almaty.
If you need more information just write me, will be glad to help you to visit my beautiful land
my mail - marinushka1@yahoo.com, or silkroadbazaar@mail.ru
Hope to hear from you soon
All the best,
Marina

Thanks for the reply, i really appreciate it! I actually have more time in Kyrgyzstan than that, just 4 days outside of bishkek, in total I have 8 days, 1 traveling to naryn, 4 out in the naryn area, 2 in bishkek and 1 traveling to almaty. Do you happen to know how easy it is to get a new chinese visa in Bishkek or Almaty? Also, how much should something like this (5 day horse trek or walking trek with nomads, from yurt to yurt camping out - i have my own gear/tent) should cost a group of 5 people? I just dont want to get cheated on the price.

hello! I sent you my comments on your VTM mail.
Best Regards,Marina

thanks, ill be sure to read them! thanks again!

Hey-- I lived in KG for 2 years and traveled over most of the country, though never personally crossed to China. My friends who did, said that the border was very unpredictable and that officials weren't always there to process documents. So they said not to be surprised if you have to camp out a day or two.

In terms of getting around the country, there are almost no places that rent cars, but that isn't really an issue because a full-day taxi ride should be less than $10 each. There will be taxis hanging around the border. Although these are likely to be more expensive than ones inside the country, a 6-hour trip from Karakol to Bishkek should only cost about $8 each, assuming four passengers. If there is any room, don't be surprised if passengers along the way get in on the transport, but that's part of the scene. There should be marshrutkas (minibuses) cheaper and more social but less comfortable. More later.

This is Mwendeleo again. I agree with Marina's suggestions. People say to be careful about traveling after dark, though I never had problems. You need to know that almost nobody outside Bishkek (and not many there) know English. Russian is universal but very basic in the country. You should get by with English, but... a very good group for you is called Community Based Tourism (CBT), since they arrange a lot of the things you mention. You should be able to set things up even before you arrive, they speak English, and I never knew them to inflate prices. They have families around the country who mostly know at least some English, arrange trips with guides, yurt stays, etc. Very good outfit, especially if your language and time are limited. Let me know if this sounds right for your goals. KG is a great place, because and despite not being set up for tourists. The infrastructure sucks, but the roads are there (if rough) and lots of ways to get around. Wonderful people and places, especially if you like mountains. A great info source is the website of the tourist company Celestial Mountain, with dozens of interesting details.

thanks for all the great info. How can i contact CBT, do you happen to have their e-mail? Have you heard of NoviNomad? i got their info from lonley planet and they seem pretty good.

Hello here is web site of cbt
www.cbtkyrgyzstan.kg
Good Luck

As far as i know you can rent a car, here is the website: http://www.evi.kg/en/car-rent/