3 weeks in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, preliminary travel questions (page 6 of 12)

Okay, that’s not all... but the flight to Bishkek—does it fly over Russia or (and) Ukraine? Anyway, just saying, but in the end, the Tosor Pass isn’t *that* risky... right? 😏😏😏

No, it’s from Istanbul !😉

I watched some recent videos of Tosor, I’ll pass...

You can’t even see the road in some places!

On the other hand, the start and the end are fine...

I’m looking at rental vehicles.

From what I understand, it’s best to avoid the Lada Niva for reliability reasons.

What would be the best option for my route?

A Rav4 (under 8 years old) A Subaru Forester (under 8 years old) A Subaru Outback (under 8 years old) A Toyota FJ Cruiser (almost 20 years old)

Thanks! 🙂

A Lada Niva. 🙂

Why, since this model is supposed to be unreliable?

To match the Soviet side of the country?

Hi Agnès... I had two Nivas... The first model in 1977... yeah, that’s a while back (were you even born yet? 😏) and the other in 1983, which I kept for 15 years without any major issues... after that, I switched to something bigger. Nivas go everywhere—short gearbox, so you can climb and cross rough patches if needed. They’re less spacious than other models and less comfortable on paved roads... but you’re an adventurer, not a bourgeois on vacation yet... 😉

I met two girls in Kyrgyzstan in 2016 who rented a Niva... they were thrilled they could go anywhere.

Hey Jean Pierre, 😉

Not sure. Since your last purchase, the Soviet empire has kinda fallen apart... Is the Putin model still that solid...? We’re total noobs when it comes to mechanics...

I rented a Lada (not a Niva) in Armenia. No issues with the engine, but every time I braked, the passenger seat slid forward...

I was actually leaning toward the Subaru Outback.

I remember some South Africans laughing at FJs, saying they were only good for going to the opera.

Where I live, in Haute-Savoie, there are a few Nivas driving around without any issues—much to their owners' delight... They're pretty recent models (compared to mine). It's rustic but really great for this kind of country... Again, it's not super comfortable, but definitely more capable if you need to tackle rough mountain tracks. I've seen tons of them during my recent trips across Russia, and Lada just released a model with an integrated camper cell, so Nivas still have a future ahead! ;) That said, there’s probably a significant price difference between all these models—I’d guess the Niva is well-priced.

The Rav 4 is at $55, Subarus at $60, and the FJ at $70.

Not such a huge price difference after all.

It's with the Nissan Patrol or the Toyota 4Runner that you really jump up a notch ($100).

This rental company doesn’t offer the Niva, but others do. The price is around 60 €.

I’ll pass on the Duster at $93...

I get the feeling that rental companies targeting tourists are significantly more expensive than those aimed at locals...

Some even require 5 years of driving experience.

There must have been some damage caused by Westerners!

There are also UAZ vehicles for rent. One rental company mentioned they stopped offering them because cars made in Russia aren’t reliable. They also said the Niva is the exception that proves the rule!

The Niva doesn’t have AC, but I don’t think that’ll be a dealbreaker for my route, even if it gets a bit hot on the plains. The heating is the most important thing...

UAZ vehicles aren't necessarily recent models, and I've often seen them broken down on the tracks in Mongolia... usually, the passengers wait while the driver, who's used to repairs, gets everything back in working order. So yeah, these vehicles endure a lot of stress and have seen better days—makes sense!

They're pretty easy to fix... if you're a mechanic. Mongolian drivers definitely are

No AC in the Niva... but the heating is super effective! !

The showdown’s probably gonna be between the Subaru Outback and the Niva!

The Subaru’s bigger, which is handy if I wanna bring some camping gear like chairs, a small table, etc.

I’ve got some questions about Mongolia in a couple of years...😛

Hello,

Sorry for only checking in sporadically... I had to go make sure the elephants were doing okay.

A UAZ... I love it, it's super spacious and comes with daily "mechanical activity" included. With about one to two hours of maintenance a day, it runs pretty well 😉

A Toyota FJ for $70 USD seems odd—it should be way more expensive, in my opinion. But if it's confirmed, it's a great choice.

We’ve already rented a RAV4 before and were happy with it.

In these countries, I wouldn’t skimp on vehicle quality 😉

Hey Jef,

Welcome back from Africa! 🙂

The FJ is 20 years old, while the others are more recent.

Plus, I think those are off-season rates...

It should be more expensive during peak season.

Hi,

If you say the FJ is 20 years old, is it because that’s how it was presented to you? Toyota FJ70s were still being made until very recently.

Michel

In countries like these, the websites list the year of the vehicles.

Rarely the latest model like with Hertz, Avis, etc., which only rent vehicles they don’t actually own but acquired through leasing. That’s also why they’re so obsessed with the tiniest scratch these days.

Rental companies that own their vehicles are becoming a rare find! !

Are you sure it's not the model year? The year of first registration seems a bit odd to me. A 20-year-old rental vehicle...

Michel

There’s an older thread.

How is it indicated, for example, for your FJ70? I took a look myself. There is indeed a year listed, but it's not very clear whether it's the vehicle registration year or the model phase or series.

Michel

Alright, the flight ticket is booked!

Next step: the car and a few hotels.

The itinerary should look like this:

Bishkek for 2 nights Chon Kemin via the Burana Tower Bokonbaievo via Konorchek Canyon and/or Kok Moinok Canyon Karakol via Skaza Canyon – 2 nights Barskon via Jeti Oguz – 2 nights (Arabel High Valley toward the Kumtor mine) Kochkor Song Kol via the Teskey Torpok Pass Tash Bashat via the Moldo Ashuu Pass At Bashy with a detour to Bolgart Valley Baetov via Tash Rabat and the Mels track Jalal-Abad Toward Sary Mogul Lake Tulpar yurt camp – hiking Osh Arslanbob Toktogul Suusamyr Ala Archa Final night in Bishkek (early morning flight)

Should I bring euros in cash on top of card withdrawals? Any standout restaurant memories in the country? (The good kind...) Any hotels/guesthouses to avoid or prioritize?

For guesthouses, if I show up without booking in the late afternoon, is that usually okay? (There are countries where if no one’s booked, there might not even be anyone around...) Some places are still very rustic...

Thanks!