Border crossing from China early May

See a list of KG national holidays here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_Kyrgyzstan

I can't tell you about the May holidays, but in 2009 I crossed Irkeshtam on 31 Aug -- Independence Day. The border was open, but there were few vehicles crossing that day (it was a Monday, and it seems that things get busier later in the week), which meant it took longer to get a lift across no man's land.

You can travel from Kashgar to Osh in a single day if you leave early enough. I shared a green taxi with two others (600 yuan in total to the border through an agency, maybe cheaper if you negotiate directly with a driver) and left around 5.00 am local time (7.00 am Beijing). We arrived at the border in time for processing before the Chinese lunch break. Expect the Chinese to check all your photos, including those on your phone, as well as all your books and maps.

On the KG side, you should find some shared taxis waiting. These will depart when full, which again depends on how many people are crossing that day. In 2009 the initial asking price for a seat to Osh was $30, but with patience you could get that down to $25 or less. On a good day, you can get from the KG side of the border to Osh in about five hours. The driver will take you to your hotel.

The scenery around Irkeshtam is no less stunning than at Torugart, just different. The border crossing itself is a dump. Sit on the left side of the KG taxi for the best views of the Pamirs as you climb from the border posts.

Hi,

I crossed the Irkshetam Pass in the opposite direction once, at the end of April a couple of years ago, and I was told that the border would be closed for the first TEN days of May, due to the Chinese. I never had this confirmed, and indeed I found getting accurate information on border openings in the region to be very difficult to get: ask 5 people, you get 5 different answers, and you'll find another 5 different ones from sources on the net. At any rate, it would certainly be safest to try and cross in April. The obvious place in Kashgar to ask would be the international bus station, though you could also try with some of the tour agents at the Semey Liu and Chini Bagh hotels: these guys can be helpful, though they are definitely tour agents.

Emmeff seems to have done well if (s)he made it from Kashgar to Osh in a day! You'll have to be lucky and fast to make that, and travel in taxis. Two days is probably more likely, with an overnight stop either at the border or at Sary Tash. They'll probably be snow on the mountain roads (there was when I crossed at the end of April), which may well slow you down on the Kyrgyz side of the border, where the road is bad.