3 weeks in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, preliminary travel questions (page 8 of 12)

Hello Jean Pierre,

The Pamir is a whole different trip... forgotten tracks except on old Soviet-era maps, and you’d better be ready to camp at high altitudes (over 4,000 meters for quite a while). As for the facilities, I remember a lovely guesthouse in the Wakhan Valley where you had to hold your breath just to use the toilet 🤪

Hi Agnès,

Sorry I’ve been around so little lately. I really loved the "end of the world" vibe in Sary Tash... but there’s still a grocery store, gas station, and exchange bureau. It might be worth taking the road toward Tajikistan—the views are gorgeous. You can always turn back before the border post.

Couldn’t you leave the car in Osh and fly home from there?

Hey Jef, 🙂

It might be nice to take the road heading toward Tajikistan

Toward Kyzyl Art? Isn’t a border permit needed to drive all the way to the border?

My route doesn’t include any permit-required zones, so I won’t have one.

The detour should be doable—it only adds 70 km. 😉

Couldn’t you leave the car in Osh to head back from there?

I guess anything’s possible if you pay.

But my flight ticket’s already bought, so if I return the car in Osh, I’d have to take a domestic flight! (And miss the Suusamyr Valley, Toktogul, etc.)

vallée de Suusamyr

No, don’t miss it! I thought you were covering this area on the way there. So yes, you should definitely return by car :)

I don’t know where you’ve been hanging out in the area, Perju, but there are definitely some less sketchy options than yours for sleeping...😄







I’m still struggling to find what I’m looking for near Baetov, though...

We had stayed with Maria... but she didn’t seem to be very active on social media.

Myrza?

There’s a brand-new guesthouse listed on Booking, but I’m wary of using Booking for some reservations in Kyrgyzstan.

It’s showing me accommodations near Baetov that aren’t anywhere near there...

Darn, my phone changed Mirza to Maria! There were quite a few options for memory cards on the spot, so I’d try without a reservation. If it’s like in Asia, Agoda is better established than Booking

Darn, my phone changed Mirza to Maria!

But haven't you guys seen Mirza?

I'm heading out...

Perju’s photos really sell the dream! 😍 Makes you want to go!

Anyway, can’t wait to hear about the trip when you’re back! !

It reminds me of public restrooms in India...

I’ll definitely be sharing a travel journal in a few months, but I already think this destination is gaining popularity. If we want to go without too many crowds, the next few years are the time to do it.

I agree about the enthusiasm for this destination. But I think we still have a few years before we start talking about overtourism in this part of the world 😊

I’d already looked into a trip to neighboring Mongolia, but our travel dates (December/January) aren’t ideal for these destinations. Guess we’ll have to wait for total travel freedom!

Not overtourism like the French Riviera, but too much domestication of nature and a shift in local attitudes.😉

When I see the proliferation of yurt camps between 2019 and 2024 (for example on the shores of Lake Son Kul or at the Tash Rabat site) to accommodate mass tourism, you shouldn’t wait too long if you want to see a country that still holds onto its traditions.

@Attila Oh! Tash Rabat—you’ve got your spot there! !

Yeah, I noticed there are loads of camps around Song Kol.

Some seem to have a ton of yurts and are set up purely for tourist accommodation, not just as a side activity for nomads anymore. There are even permanent chalets and dome tents. Prices then go over 150 €...

I get the feeling these places cater more to group travelers and organized tours rather than independent travelers.

I haven’t booked anything yet.

It’s starting to be the same at Lenin Peak.

We won’t be staying overnight at Tash Rabat.

Same goes for the areas around Peak Lenin and other spots near Naryn.

Tash Rabat, you’ve got your roof! I’ll let you discover it.

In Sary-Tash you’ve got a hostel, ATM, and fuel. It’s a small village. In Sary Mogol there are guesthouses.

There are several places to stay in Sary-Tash. In summer, there’s a flow of 4x4s with drivers for four or five travelers coming from Osh. I skimmed the thread and don’t get why "guesthouse" is used instead of "maison d’hôte." Otherwise, there are some clichés—like French hipsters wanting to see amazing landscapes but ugh, gross, they’re not like us, their food is crap, etc.

Otherwise, there are clichés, like those French hipsters who want to see cool landscapes but ugh, yuck, they’re not like us, their food is gross, etc.

Hey there, hipster Atilla...

Alright, I’m waiting for the backlash...

A little help for Attila: https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceinter/podcasts/grand-bien-vous-fasse/how-to-recognize-a-minor-injury-7854139 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZzR7-apnKA