3 weeks in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, preliminary travel questions (page 7 of 12)

Before heading up to Lake Tulpar, stop by the CBT in Sary-Mogol https://cbtkyrgyzstan.kg/en/cbt-groups/tos-sary-mogol/ to book a yurt and meals. In Sary-Tash, you’ll find a hostel, an ATM, and fuel. It’s a small village. In Sary-Mogol, there are guesthouses. Check if the bridge is passable to cross the river. Your itinerary is ambitious, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. Don’t forget to check the spare tire, keys, and the jack on the day you rent the vehicle. If you can, grab a wooden block to put under the jack.

Hi Christian,

For Tulpar Kol, I’m planning to book one night here. The site says "Easy Access: Our camp is accessible by any type of vehicle"?

Your itinerary is ambitious, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I’m thinking of skipping Arslanbob and Kyzyl-Oi to take a more relaxed route back to Bishkek from Tulpar Lake.

The issue is finding accommodations that aren’t too over-the-top outside of Osh and Jalal-Abad (we won’t be camping).

Yandex Maps seems to have more reviews and options than the Western ones like Google Maps...

Instagram seems to be the preferred social network for hosts—pretty unusual for me!

If you can grab a wooden plank to put under the jack.

Noted! !😉

hello My biggest regret is not having gone to Lake Kel-Suu... if that gives you any ideas...😉

Hey Pépereju 😉

You know there’s a photo contest on lakes right now 😛 I think your picture is sooo beautiful !

The area is a bit too remote (collapsed bridges)... And now the plan is all set, so don’t try to confuse me! 😉

The only part that isn’t fixed yet is the return trip between Lenin Peak and Bishkek. Over 5 nights.

Hi Kate... That’s a beautiful photo indeed—I’m not the one who took it, though. I found it online to inspire Agnès 😉

Planning to climb Lenin Peak? 😉 If you've got 5 days before Bishkek... why not take a detour to Tajikistan and hit the trails on the Pamir high plateaus? In three days from the border, you can do an amazing loop... in my opinion, even more beautiful than Kyrgyzstan... 😉

Huh? I went off on a tangent again

Yeah, Lenin Peak as a warm-up then Everest! 😛

There isn’t much online about the western part of the country.

Well, even less than about the eastern part...

Tourism is starting to take off, though, given the new guesthouses popping up here and there, but it seems to be mostly Russian-speaking tourism, so nada for searches in Latin characters...

Since I live in Haute-Savoie and I'm a fan of high-mountain hikes—on foot, skis, or even by 4x4—I didn’t find Kyrgyzstan all that exotic. On the other hand, the Pamir Highway really won me over. You can check out the little video I made for some 4x4 forum members. Though I guess you’ve probably already seen it.

https://youtu.be/ipkIpiZBAxs?si=wwfQWgc2rW_XbB9w

Great idea to go to Tajikistan instead of covering kilometers in Kyrgyzstan with less interest compared to the Pamir. You’re going to Murghab—you’ll see the container market, the snow leopard park, and then on to the astronomical observatory. I totally agree with you: the High Pamir is another dimension. That’s why we’ve been there twice and are ready to go back!!

@Atilla The border isn’t a particular problem if you take it easy.

For Tulpar Kol, I planned to book one night here. The site says "Easy Access: Our camp is accessible by any type of vehicle"?

Snow, rain, or storms—make sure to check the weather ahead of time, you’ll be at over 3,000 meters. For weather forecasts: https://zoom.earth/

I’m thinking of skipping Arslanbob and Kyzyl-Oi to take a more relaxed route back to Bishkek from Tulpar Lake.

Perju’s suggestion for the Pamir in Tajikistan instead of western Kyrgyzstan is interesting. We’ve met travelers who cross into the Pamir with rental cars. You’ll cross the two borders quickly—the first night, you’ll stay in Karakul with its lake and the stunning panorama of the Pamir’s high peaks. The second night, you’ll be in Murghab, where you can see an authentic high-mountain village in the Pamir, its container market, the snow leopard refuge, and then you can head to the abandoned astronomical observatory. Along the way, you might spot some petroglyphs.

The problem is finding accommodations that aren’t too "rococo" outside of Osh and Jalal-Abad (we won’t be camping).

A lot of travelers use the Ioverlander app. The "rococo" accommodations are the real deal—deep in the country’s traditions, far from touristy vibes.😉

Instagram seems to be the preferred social network for hosts—it’s pretty unusual for me!

I don’t have any social media accounts, so I don’t know much about this practice. You can find info in the CBTs.

@Perju When Attila gets back from her trip, she’ll buy a travel vehicle to hit the road. You’ll be in a great position to give her tips.😏

That’s it, we’re done with the Pamir! 😡😉

We might travel through there again another time, but this trip will be 100% Kyrgyz! 😛

The rental car can only be driven in Kyrgyzstan, and there are already so many landscapes to admire in this country! (Even if it’s a bit too alpine for Perju’s taste... I don’t care, I don’t have that kind of scenery in stock near my place! 😆)

For the weather, I picked this region at the end of June to be in summer. Still, I’ve already experienced a snowstorm in the Alps in August, so I know anything’s possible...

As for rococo accommodations, there’s definitely been an upgrade in recent years with brand-new, more comfortable places. (More expensive too, though...) But this improvement doesn’t seem to have reached this region yet... Some accommodations feel like a leap into the unknown—no mention on Western websites...

I have a feeling this trip might end up a bit like my Georgia adventure over 10 years ago in terms of nights! Nothing on paper, but a few great surprises upon arrival!

I didn’t have an Instagram account. Or WhatsApp. But for this trip, I’ve gotten into both. All the new accommodations promote themselves on Instagram, and tourism operators run everything through WhatsApp. I couldn’t find a single traditional hotel website (outside of big cities, and even then...), let alone email addresses.

I’m trying not to book too many nights in sketchy places. Been there once in India—it’s depressing! Plus, it’s not just the accommodations that are lacking in this country; the food’s an issue too... I think we’ll end up declaring ourselves vegetarians to avoid old mutton...

This trip’s shaping up to be quite different from usual! We’ll see how it goes when we’re back...

Yet it's the easiest access to get to the High Pamir.

I found the guesthouse for your first night in Karakul in the Pamirs. Don’t forget your night cap!

I think it's better to sleep in the car...😏

No regrets, you know we can't see everything on our trips. Looking back, you would've had this view (before the snow fell on our way back to the truck)

Still, it's at least a 4-star in this region. Ask the cyclists and bikers about their impressions of this guest-house with hot water in a pot heated by dried yak dung. You’re really not making it easy for yourself.

I think it's better to sleep in the car...😏

Sleeping is one thing... there's also the hygiene aspect...😏 Have a good trip....

in this country, there's the food too... I feel like we're gonna declare ourselves vegetarian to avoid the old mutton...

Avoid the old yak too....

Nature offers better hygiene options...

In the end, those rococo guesthouses aren’t so bad after all! !😄