Introducing Crossing the Pass
Crossing the Irkeshtam Pass (9am-noon & 2pm-3.30pm Mon-Fri) can be a time-consuming affair. Ten kilometres before the border is the first of two checkpoints. Here everyone is required to show their passport so names can be matched to a master list of bus passengers. Assuming nobody had a last-minute name change the bus is allowed to continue to the second checkpoint and luggage inspection. Finally, you can expect to spend between 1½ to 2½ hours at the border itself depending on how many trucks are waiting before you.
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If you are hitching, ask the border-post army officers to put you on a truck to cross the 7km of no-man’s-land to the Chinese immigration (closed 11am to 2pm Kyrgyz time).
Unlike the Torugart, no permits are required to get to, or over, the pass.
Last updated: Sep 26, 2008
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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Irkeshtam Pass
by nwmackem 02 September 2010
Myself and a friend plan to be crossing the pass into China (heading to Kashgar obviously) in mid - late september and thought it would…
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RE: Irkeshtam pass closed in winter?
by Koeichi 21 October 2008
Thanks everyone jjm: I originally planned to travel from China over the pass but am now looking at a completely different route and…
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