Hello!
The next week we start a motorbike trip to Kyrgyzstan. We have already fixed plan for Monday-Friday in Bishkek and Friday-Sunday in Karakol (Issyk-Kul). Then we go to Almaty Kazakhstan and run home to Croatia as we have our Russian visa expiring in exact 7 days (!).

Still do not have fixed plan for a week before. We approach Kyrgyzsytan from Shymkent/Taraz then have a week to show up in Bishkek. Any suggestions about locations to include in our plan? We can find accommodation in urban areas on global booking sites, but the most interesting things are not easy to find if you do not know what to look for. We are interested in lanscapes, hiking, horse riding... Any suggestions welcome! Thanks!

I had exactly the same dilemma two years ago. This route map includes my week in Kyrgyzstan. Thoroughly recommended, though you might want to think twice about the south side of the Kegety Pass! Though they might have cleared it by now?

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?m...uY&usp=sharing

Kegety Pass:

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Look into the Son Kul area. You can sleep and eat in a yurt camp. Many herders around the lake, I would expect you could find horses to ride, and trails to walk.

Beautiful area, I enjoyed it last September.

............shu

Firstly, for all Central Asia information, check out Caravanistan | The Silk Road Travel Guide which is the best resource by far for the region. You can also book accommodation and things like horse treks through the website.

If I had just a week, I would check out Song Kul which is perhaps the most scenic spot in the country. There are three access roads to the lake, one from Kochkor which is fairly dull, but the roads which approach from the south and the south-east are both pretty spectacular, with long gravel switchbacks. None of the access roads are paved of course.

From the Taraz border crossing you can drive up into the mountains through Talas. When you reach the M41 you could either turn left and drop down through the spectacular Suusamyr Valley, turning east near the village of Suusamyr and riding through Kyzyl Oi, then to Song Kul.

Alternatively, you could turn right when you reach the M41 from Talas and drop down to Jalalabad, which is not an interesting place, but you can then cross the Kazarman Pass high above the Fergana Valley, which is also spectacular. From here you drop down through nice and pretty remote scenery and can pick up the spectacular switchback track from Ak Tal up to Song Kol. I did however read that this road was blocked a few weeks ago, so it might be a good idea to check on the Caravanistan forum.

Hope this helps,

EO

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If you are going near Jalalabad, Arslanbob is nearby and supposed to be nice.

Everyone has their opinions, but for me Arslanbob was a big disappointment! A lot of people, a waterfall, and not much else (not even the comforts that usually accompany lots of people).

The rest of Kyrgyzstan was stunning. On my three month trip, a week there was only really an afterthought. But really glad I did it!

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Thanks!
Song-Kul definitely on the list. We will try to get al least a glimpse of Chatyr-Kol. I saw a photo of it and it looks amazing. I wanted to have a day near Sary-Tash but think not possible. As we would go the same way back and one day less to see other places. I am not sure our bike is capable of doing short-cuts over a rough terrain. It is a Honda NC700X and we are two on the bike. I Son-Kul and Chatyr-Kol I will put on a list now and adapt if there will be some interesting tips along the way.

Those two scenic roads to Song-Kul, passable with such bike? If cars can do it, I did not have problems to go the same route on NC.

Ian, I've just started a thread relevant to part of your route (Issy kul), can you give some input into it please ?

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

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Chatyr-Kol?
You can reach it on foot or on horses from Tash Rabat.
If you want to reach it on a motorcycle, please note that it is in a restricted area: you should have permit to go to China through Torugart or permit for visiting border zone.

Thanks for the info. I was not aware of needing permit to approach the lake. Have to figure something else.

I think you can get the border permits at the CBT Office in Naryn and in Bishkek.
It takes 1 day and is valid for 2 weeks.

I applied in Bishkek, and everything was ok.
My friends applied at CBT in Naryn, and they had it in 1 hour, paying a bit more for urgence.

Our stay in Kyrgyzstan is going to its end. Sorry we hve to hurry back as our Russian visa expires on August 28. So far we explored Talas region, visited Song-kol lake, had hiking in Ala Archa and climbed Peak Uchitel (4530 m). Stayed few days in Bishkek and tomorrow will go to lake Issyk-Kol. We will make the full circle around the lake and explore some locations near to it. We have public facebook page (also accessible without the fb acount) and there are some photos and videos from out trip. the link is www.facebook.com/StansExpress/

May be better was to not ride around Issy Kul (i think south side is enough )) , but came to Almaty through Kegen/ Kegen Pass, from east side.