Fergana Valley (Kyrg)
 

Does anyone have any fairly recent experience/information regarding the Fergana Valley in Kyrgyzstan?

I'm currently in Bishkek and am trying to decide what route to take to the Uzbek border (to Namagan). First, I'll be heading to Song-Kol lake, over the pass from Kara-Balta, with a stop-over near Kyzl-Oi. I would appreciate any advice/information with respect to my route after Song-Kol.

One option is to take the route via Kazarman to Jalal-Abad, through the Fergana Valley. Another option is to back-track through Kyzl-Oi and then head to Toktogul and Kara Kol.

The Fergana Valley route looks to be the most interesting, but there is a lot of (dated) information on the web warning against unnecessary travel through the valley.

I'm single-crewed in a Land Rover Defender, so don't want to take any unnecessary risks, whether it be due to terrain (in the remote area) or man-made circumstances. At the same time, I don't want to make a decision based on three-year old reports if they are no longer valid.

Regards,

From Song Kol, you can go south to Tash Rabat, and then to Jalal-Abad through Kazarman, then north to the border to Namagan.
From Tash Rabat to Kazarman last year was easy gravel road.
Stunning scenery and absolutely no problems.

I did it 2 up on a bike in the opposite direction last august, pictures here:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...pictures-73836

Thanks Jmi and Crisidsto,

Good to get first hand reports that are recent. I'm now looking at the Kazarman to Jalal-Abad road as my first option, thanks to your responses.

We did it a few days ago, perfect route!! Jalalabad, Kazarman, Aktal, Baetov, Tash Rabat

GRTZ,

JP

Excellent, thanks Jervig.

I also just spoke with a guy here at Nomads Home in Bishkek. He has recently travelled the route backpacking and also gives it the thumbs up.

Decision is made.

Thanks guys.

Remember not to miss Tash Rabat!
It's worth the short detour...

OK, thanks for the tip.

We spent few days in fergana and Andijan while trying to find a truck to make it to Osh two weeks ago! ( with a dead bike!)

Town is quite, few foreign workers ( massive General Motors assembly plant there!) we walked all around and felt safe. Locals friendly as everywhere in Uzbek to be fair. Lots of cops around.

Cheers,

Just arrived in Jalal-Abad after driving from Kazarman today. I have to say that driving the Kaldama Pass was amazing. There were some sloppy mud sections on the way up but nothing the Defender couldn't handle. The views were outstanding.

By the time you get down off the pass and mountain road, there's very little time actually spent in the Fergana Valley before you're into Jalal-Abad.

I also took a full-day detour to Tash Rabat. Nice historic building but I'm not sure it was worth committing a full day to it. It certainly would be worth a detour from Naryn, for example (90 minute drive) but probably not from Ak-Tal.

Uzbekistan tomorrow, if all goes to plan.