The bus to Almaty is already fully booked. Is there anyone who would like to share a taxi driver to the Karkara border? We need to get to Kegen tomorrow afternoon. We would depart in the morning from the bus station tomorrow. The price displayed in YandexGo is approximately 3000 som, a driver at the bus station told us 8000 som. We are 2 people.
Is there anyone who would like to share taxi from Bokonbayevo to Karakol with us (2 people) tomorrow (July 5) in the afternoon? 🙏
Hi! We're a couple looking for people to share transport (or a driver) in southeastern Kazakhstan between 6–9 July. We’d be happy to join an existing group or organize something together.
I’m posting this here as well because we’ll be crossing into Kazakhstan from Karakol in Kyrgyzstan, and I thought there might be other travellers doing the same route around those dates.
Our current plan is:
6 July
- Take the bus from Karakol to Almaty and get off at Kegen
- From there, continue to Saty (either by shared taxi or with a pre-arranged driver from Kegen or even from the Kyrgyz–Kazakh border)
- If we arrive early enough, visit Kolsai Lake in the afternoon
7 July
- Kaindy Lake, Charyn Canyon
- Continue to Basshi
8 July
- Altyn Emel National Park (Singing Dune + Aktau Mountains)
- Overnight in Basshi
9 July
Basshi → Almaty in the morning
If you’re travelling around the same time—even if only for part of the route—we’d love to share a car and split the costs.
I’ve already gathered some information about driver prices and rental car options, so I’m happy to help organize everything and share the details with anyone interested. Feel free to send me a message!
Hi everyone!
We’re a Slovak couple (30ish) looking for people to join us for any of the following trips and share costs & fun. Even if you're interested in just one of the sections below, we'd love to hear from you.
We already have contacts for local guides and drivers and can help organize everything.
🏔️Kel Suu Lake (from Naryn)
Option 1: 29–30 June
Option 2: 30 June – 1 July
🐎 Song Kul horseback trip (from Kyzart)
3–4 July
🚗 Bokonbayevo/Tosor/Barskoon → Karakol
5 July
Visiting Skazka Canyon and Jeti-Ögüz on the way
If your dates overlap with ours and you’d like to share transport/tour costs, send me a DM!
Also, if you already have a driver, guide, or tour arranged for any of these dates and have room for two more people, we’d be happy to join your group as well.
Hi everyone!
We’re a Slovak couple in our early 30s travelling around Kyrgyzstan and we’re looking for people to join us for any of the following trips and share costs & fun. Even if you're interested in just one of the sections below, we'd love to hear from you.
We already have contacts for local guides and drivers and can help organize everything.
🏔️Kel Suu Lake (from Naryn)
Option 1: 29–30 June
Option 2: 30 June – 1 July
🐎 Song Kul horseback trip (from Kyzart)
3–4 July
🚗 Bokonbayevo/Tosor/Barskoon → Karakol
5 July
Visiting Skazka Canyon and Jeti-Ögüz on the way
If your dates overlap with ours and you’d like to share transport/tour costs, send me a DM!
Also, if you already have a driver, guide, or tour arranged for any of these dates and have room for two more people, we’d be happy to join your group as well.
I’m planning a ~15-day trip (end of June to mid July) through Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan and I’ve narrowed it down to two possible Kyrgyzstan routes. I’d really appreciate feedback on which one makes more sense or feels better balanced.
Option A – Issyk-Kul + Ala-Kul / Karakol region
28.6 Arrival Bishkek (night in Bishkek)
29.6 Horse trek to Song-Kul (night in yurt)
30.6 Finish Song-Kul trek, transfer toward Naryn (night in Naryn)
1.7 Transfer to Issyk-Kul region (Tamga/Bokonbayevo), relax by the lake
2.7 Skazka Canyon + Jeti-Oguz, evening in Karakol
3.7 Ala-Kul trek (start) OR alternative: mountain biking in Jyrgalan (MTB descent from Chong Ashuu Pass + Birch Grove loop)
4.7 Ala-Kul pass → Altyn Arashan
5.7 Return to Karakol
6.7 Bus Karakol → Almaty
Option B – Southern Kyrgyzstan / Kel-Suu
28.6 Arrival Bishkek
29–30.6 Horse trek Song-Kul (yurt stay)
30.6 Transfer to Naryn
1.7 Transfer to Kok-Kiya valley (Kel-Suu region)
2.7 Kel-Suu lake trek (horseback / hike), yurt stay
3.7 Tash Rabat caravanserai, night in Tash Rabat or Naryn
4.7 Transfer to Issyk-Kul, chill by the lake (Tamga/Bokonbayevo)
5.7 Skazka Canyon + Jeti-Oguz, evening in Karakol
6.7 Bus Karakol → Almaty
Kazakhstan (same in both versions)
Almaty → Altyn-Emel (Singing Dune + Aktau Mountains) → Charyn Canyon → Kaindy → Kolsai Lakes → Almaty → overnight train to Astana → 1 day Astana → flight home
My questions:
Which route would you recommend?
Option A: more classic Kyrgyzstan highlights (Ala-Kul OR Jyrgalan MTB, Karakol region, more trekking / outdoor variety)
Option B: more remote / nomadic / “end of the world” feel (Kel-Suu, Tash Rabat, less trekking intensity)
Also, any tips on where to find travel buddies along the way to share costs and experiences (especially for transport / drivers)? We’d prefer not to hire private guides if possible.
And if you’ve done something similar – are there any good group tours or community-based options you’d recommend in Kyrgyzstan?
Thanks a lot!
Is anyone traveling from Bishkek to Kyzart on the morning of June 29? We’d be happy to share the transportation costs — we’re a couple.
There is a marshrutka leaving Bishkek early in the morning, but it probably would not get us to Kyzart in time, as we need to be there by around 10–11 a.m and the journey takes 4 hours. That’s why we’re looking into a shared taxi instead. Our Song-Kul horseback trip guide has offered to help arrange one, so if anyone is interested in sharing the ride, let us know!
By the way, that’s when our 2-day horseback trip to Lake Song-Kul starts. We’ve already found a guide, and the current price is 12,000 KGS per person. The price may go down if we find more people to join the group. If you’d like to join the trip, we’d be happy to have some company! We’re a couple from Slovakia, aged 29 and 34. 😊
Hi, has anyone done a horseback trek from Kyzart to Song-Kul and back with just one night in a yurt? If so, would you recommend it?
We’re a bit short on time and most of the tours I’ve found are 2-night trips. I’d really appreciate any recommendations for local guides who offer a 1-night option.
Also, if you’ve stayed at Song-Kul for 2 nights and think it’s worth the extra day, I’d love to hear why. 😊