Central Asia
Kyrgyzstan – Kazakhstan - Uzbekistan - Tajikistan
Essential needed:
| Digital | Physical | Gear |
|---|---|---|
| https://maps.me/ Download offline MAPS for 4 countries. Download e-sim app (Saily) | 2-Stage Water Filter Bottle Powerbank Cash | Hiking clothes: -Fleece -Raincoat -Merino wool socks -Thermal long sleeve top -Hiking boots -Comfortable shoes -Synthetic/Nylon t shirt -Gloves -Backpack -Waterproof backpack cover |
Land in Bishkek
- Arrival | 04:15 am
- Sleep until 2 pm
- Pick-up car at 5 pm (Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek district of GES2, Chernyshevskogo st. 65 (Not far from Alamedin Bazar)
| Places to visit: | Places to Eat |
|---|---|
| Ala-Too Square | Chaikhana Navat - Lunch |
| Victory Square à Ibraimova Pravda Mosque | Café Faiza - Dinner |
| Osh Bazaar – Dordoi Bazaar | |
| Pick-up car : 5 pm |
Day 2. Leave for Karakol 7.30 am (404 KM, 7h 11m)
- Bishkek to Tosor (Beach Stop in Tosor is a must in Karakol)
- Spend the night in Karakol (Ali Guesthouse)
Day 3.
- Drive toward Ala Kul hiking
- Stop the car at the first bridge – Start Hiking starts through Karakol Valley (Entrance fee 300 som, if we have tents, we need to pay for those)
| Instructions | Time |
|---|---|
| From the first bridge, continue walking along the walking/jeep trail by the river until you reach the opening where you will see the Karakol Valley. | 3h |
| You will know you are at the end of the first section when you arrive at a sign near a small bridge on your left. The sign will say that straight on is the first camping ground. We will not go that way. We will continue the trail by taking a sharp left toward the small bridge and crossing the river. | 5 h |
| From here, the trail will become tricky due to the thick forest and multiple intersections you will come across. (Use MAPS.me) Stick to the one closest to the river on your right. After climbing up for an hour or two, you’ll arrive at a waterfall. This is a beautiful spot to catch your breath, fill your water bottle with fresh water from the fall and enjoy the view of the valley down below. | 2 h |
| This second section will take you about 4h hours through many different terrains, from thick forests to steep paths across a sea of boulders. The trail from the waterfall to the lake goes along a steep gravel wall. Be very careful on this stretch and take your time! | Spent night next to the Lake (Ak-Sai camp) |
Day 4. Ala-Kul Pass – Altyn Arashan Valley
Start your hike early at 8 AM and make your way up to the Ala Kul Pass.
- Distance covered: 8km
- Ascent: +1200 meters
| Instructions | time |
|---|---|
| Going down from this pass is 10 times more challenging. This is one of the steepest trails; for 30 minutes, you have to crawl down the half-gravel, half-rocky trail. | 1 h |
| Go to Altyn Arashan Valley - At one point, you will have to cross a river with your bare feet to reach the other side and continue the trail, so look out for that crossing. | 3 h |
| Altyn Arashan, have a few options. Either spend an extra night here and relax in one of the hot springs, walk another 3 hours back to the end of the trail, or get a 5PM jeep back to Karakol. (Ak-suuk village) The entire jeep costs 4000 som. |
Day 5. Head back to Bishkek at 7 am | 7h drive | 405 km
Karakol to Cholpon Ata to Bishkek
- Drop-off car Bishkek
2 options:
- Take a bus to Almaty from Bishkek: Time 8:00, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00 and 18:00
- On platform 11 | Price: 600 som
- Almaty – Sayran bus station
- Ticket can be purchased at the counter, but not in advance!
OR
- Book Yandex to Kazakh Border (Korday) --> Cross the border --> Book Yandex to Almaty from border (Faster but 600 som = to bus fare) – (20 km, 1h)
- Go through immigration (30 mins)
- Upon exiting the Kazakhstan border control, You have to cross the road from the border control building, turn left, and walk about 100 meters.
- Simply follow the barriers for about 30 meters until you can cross the road, and then head straight toward the road leading out from the Kazakhstan border control.
- Cab to Almaty [3h,5000 tenge = 10eur] Total 15 eur
Almaty:
- Where to stay : Medeu / Almaly District
- Collect Car, need 4x4 (https://v-prokat.kz/en/)
- See Itinerary map
| Places | Description: |
|---|---|
| Ride Almaty Metro (City) (1st Day) | |
| Panfilov Park (City) (1st Day) | |
| The green bazaar (1st Day) | |
| Kok tobe (1st Day) -Mountain Coaster at Kok Tobe Hill | 2000 KZT roundtrip |
| Central Mosque (1st Day) | |
| 2nd day Almaty à Leave by 7 am go to Saty | Almaty à We going to pass by Charny Canyon (3h drive) | Almaty à Saty (4h – 280 km) |
| Kolsay and Kaindy Lake in Saty: - Kolsai is 15 km southwest of Saty 3-hour hike to the 2nd lake (9km) - Lake 3 is another 6 km|-750 tenge park fee - 1000 tenge car fee - Horse costs 8000 tenge (Lake 1 to 2)| - Kaindy Lake is 15 km southeast. --> Marshrutka from Saty (40pp) | Important : Bring passport! |
| Charyn Canyon: - Valley of Castles (4km trail, 1h30) - Sharyn River (end of the trail) | Entrance fee : 2$ pp 3,5$ pp |
| After Charyn Canyon stop in Saty (Gateway to both lakes) | |
| Back to Almaty | |
| Big Almaty Lake (If you have time) | Hike is 16km up-down Taxi cost 70$ |
| Alma Arasan Hot Springs (If you have time) | 15mins from Big Almaty Lake |
Tashkent
Train to Tashkent vs Flight to Tashkent
| Train | Flight |
|---|---|
| 19:18 - 12:43 (29/09) | 45£ | 17h45 | 16:55 – 18:30 (1:35) – 64eur |
- In Tashkent you can sleep anywhere, Yandex is fairly cheap.
- Make sure your base is Tashkent or plan accordingly
This is your gateway to : Samarkand, Bukhara, Panjakent
Internal trains:
- Tashkent – Samarkand (Afrosiyob , 2h 8 min , 19 eur)
| Places | Price |
|---|---|
| Ragistan Square Gur-e-Amir Shah-i-Zinda Imam Bukhari Tomb Siab Bazaar | 65k som 40k som 40k som |
Panjakent
Careful
- Uzbekistan Registration from accommodation to cross-border!
- Check if you need a VISA FOR TAJIKISTAN!
Panjakent whole day:
- Yandex directly to the Tajikistan border from Samarkand
- Cross border
- Head to Haft Kul (7 Lakes)
Bukhara
Samarkand à Bukhara (Afrosiyob, 2h , 13 eur)
- When coming by train, we will arrive at Kagan (the Newer part of the city)
- Go to the old part (30 min, 20k som by cab)
| Places | Price |
|---|---|
| Po-I-Kalyan complex: - Kaylan minaret - Kaylan mosque - Mir-i-Arab Madrasa Ulugh Beg Abdulaziz Khan Madrasah Ark of Bukhara Bolo Khauz Mosque Old Bazaars or Trading Domes | 20 k som 20k som 40 k som |