Kyrgyzstan to China via Irkestam pass

Thanks for this info stratton. Let us know how you go.

Thanks for the updates strattondelany.

Are you able to let us know whether you've been able to cross into Kyrgyzstan, and if so how.

I've been planning to get the Kashgar - Osh bus on Monday 18 August so any and all news would be great!

Jezzz - if you're in Kashgar then maybe we can meet up and/or share info.......

Hi Robbo,

Yes would love to meet up, if the bus isn't running we could potentially share a taxi. But I won't be able to go before 20th so see how you go....

Strattond

Sorry, it sent before I had finished. Strattondelaney, would love to hear how you went...

Sorry guys, hectic couple of days.

I am in Bishkek now, i crossed yesterday through the tougart pass and arrived in Narin around 14:00. After that I took a car to Bishkek and arrived last night at around 21:00.

I was unable to exactly determine the bus situation. I heard in the hostel that two guys took the bus on Monday. I told this to Abdul and said that it was not possible. Another guy from my hostel was taking a taxi to the bus station to see if he could get a ticket and if not was going to take the taxi to the border.

I tried checking at the Karakorum Cafe twice, but their travel person was never there. The Eden hotel has travel services posted all on the walls but no one speaks English there. I did not have enough time to go to the bus station to actually check there.

So I'm sorry I can't really give you a good answer. I would say go directly to the bus station yourself. If you can find someone speaks Uyghur that would be very helpful.

Thanks for the detailed update strattondelany!

How much did you end up paying to cross through the Tourgart pass to Naryn?
and how much was the car on to Bishkek?

Jezzz, I'll be arriving in Kashgar tomorrow afternoon. Will keep you posted as to my experience. I'm hoping to be able to leave on Monday but if I hit problems maybe it will be better to wait to meet up with you.....

I paid about 1,100RMB ($180) to cross the Tougart pass.

The car from Narin to Bishkek was 600som ($12), but you can get this for 500som. The bus is 380som or something like that but i would have had to wait about 6 hours for the next one out of Narin.

Thanks strattondelaney for the info!! Robbo, let me know how you go. I'm in Tulufan and won't get to Kashgar til 19 th now. But let me know how your research goes and let's meet up if you're still there when I get there.

Hi Jezzz,

As soon as I arrived at Old Town Youth Hostel in Kashgar I met two other travellers who also wanted to cross into Kyrgyzstan. They were planning to do the Tourgart Pass on Tuesday 19th.

I decided to go with them as it's better for me to get to Bishkek rather than Osh as I need to sort visas, etc.

I'm travelling with two others and we've paid $170 each for the crossing and we've made the arrangements with Abdul from Old Road Tours who is based in the Seman Hotel.

I understand the best way to find out about the bus to Osh is to go to the bus station yourself. I'm sorry I haven't done this given my plans so can't give you any info re the bus.

I would suggest maybe asking around at the hostel to see if you can meet others to travel with.

Hope this helps.
Good luck

Thanks Robbo! Have a great trip!