I will be coming from Kashgar, trying to get to Kyrgyzstan. It looks like visa on arrival is only available if I fly in? Is this correct?
If I go overland from Kashgar, I will need a visa in advance right? And I will need to share a car to get over the pass. No bus. Is this correct?
Im a US Citizen, my dates are around the end of November... will it be wicked cold at that time?
Thanks!
If you fly, you can get visa on arrival at the airport. If going overland, you can get the visa in Urumqi. Takes a few days. There is a bus from Kashgar to Osh, but it shuts down for the winter. However the exact shut down date is never clear. "Wicked cold" depends on your frame of reference. If you're from Hawaii then yes, "wicked cold" in Kyrgyzstan in November. If you're from Minnesota, then no, it's boiling hot.
Hello!
If you would like to visit our country, you can get visa in your country and it will be valid throughout Kyrgyzstan. The main thing, you must do it in advance.
What concerns car, you are right there were no buses, you need to order a car.
The weather in November will be cold, possible snow.
I got my Visa in Urumqi (available the next day) There is a bus from Kashgar to Osh but when I booked it was cancelled due to snow on the pass. It was cancelled the second day but I met some other travellers and we took a taxi to the border. The night I crossed the Iekeshtam it was minus 20. I have a blog at www.travelpod.com/members/dzasta hope it helps
Sweet, thanks. Ill probly try and fly to avoid the hastle. I grew up in Alaska, but have been living in LA for a while now. I enjoy cold, and have experience in it. But its been a while! should be good.
Now I just have to decide... Mongolia by train, or Kyrgyzstan by air.
You'll need need to fly to Bishkek from Urumqi, as Kashgar airport has no international services. Transport options between Kashgar and Urumqi are train, bus and air. Land travel takes something like 24 to 30 hours between the cities.
From Urumqi, your likely airline choice is between Kyrgyzstan Aircompany (which flies former Soviet aircraft) and Itek Air, another Kyrgyz company (flying Boeing 737s). They have few aircraft and very limited schedules, so plan well or allow plenty of flexibility. Both airlines are banned in the EU, if that matters to you or your travel insurer.
On the one occasion I bought a ticket with the former, for a flight from Islamabad, the operating aircraft on the day was from the latter.