Current fare for shared taxi from Bishkek to Karakol?

You can make a deal for 500 kyrgyz soms (not more then 600 soms) but I think better to take bus from bus station at Jibel-Joly street, bus will cost 300 som fast and easy.

So that would be 2000 soms for the whole car? I was told 4500 soms for a whole car by the place I will stay at in Bishkek and 3500 soms by the place in Karakol. I read that the bus is a lot slower (about 8 hours?) than taxi. Is there a faster bus now? I would actually like to make a stop in Cholpon-Ata for a couple of hours on my way to Karakol. If the bus is as fast as taxi and if it leaves in the morning, then the bus would definately be the better alternative.

If you go to the bus station you will see about 30 taxi going for Karakol. If you offer them 2000 som they will go for sure that way they don't have to wait. Bus is slow but not 8 hours it is about 6 hours but without stop. Take a taxi and tell him you want him stop for 2 hours at Cholpon-Atu, usually they will say "Yes" but they say "No" offer him another 500 soms and that will work for sure.

Even in the summer? According to the LP guidebook the fare is a lot more during the summer? I will not be there until July.

Is the bus 6 hours to Karakol? Sounds like I should take the bus to Cholpon-Ata and then get a marshrutka to Karakol. That way I should make it to Karakol at around 16.00-17.00 as planned, I guess. Do you know what time the bus leaves from the bus station in Bishkek?

July still ok, this is price we pay for taxi I mean kyrgyz people. They might try to charge you more but there are like 30 taxi to chooce from. Price for Cholpon-Ata and Karakol usually the same.

Bus leaves Bishkek every 30 minutes.

Thank you very much for your help.