buses to Kashgar from Osh via Irktesham pass

hi Ive been told the bus goes only once a week but the person has no idea what day of the week it goes - here somewhere in the LP forum i read that theres a weekly bus from Kashgar to Osh on MOndays but no mention of the vice versa journey.

Does anyone here have recent experience or knowledge of what day it is? Also the approximate price these days of a taxi from Osh to the border and from the Chinese border through the pass to Kashgar?

Also any recommended places to stay at Jabal-Abad or Ozgon if i decided to have stops there to see the sights on the way from Bishkek to Osh? (which i at this stage am doing by bus)

thanks again for any info help!

Hi,

In Jalal-Abad, I stayed at the Mol-Mol. A nice surprise. Not the nicest one but not bad at all.

Michel

Kashgar Osh bus leaves on Monday and Thursday at 10.00h Beijing time. Ticket at RMB570. It's a sleeper bus and took 14hrs.

No idea of Osh Kashgar details.

Hi thanks Michel, what did you go to Jalal-Abad to see? the worlds largest walnut grove or other stuff as well? did you go to Ozgon to see te foundations of Alexanders camp?
trying to decide whether to make the time to get off and stay. Mol-mol is not showing on any of the hotel websites though - TA only has one hotel in its listing at 41 pounds a night!

is Mol-Mol in an easy enough place to find if i arrived by share taxi there to then set out to find it?
thanks again

Hi,

I was in Jalal-Abad on the way to Osh, coming from Kazarman with a shared UAZ. It take 4 hours between the two cities without any stop but could take 8 (hours) if they stop for koumys, food etc...
I was too late for a lift to Osh and the Mol-Mol (the former old soviet hotel) is very central located. Most of the CBT houses were not in the central part of Jalal-Abad.
I visited Uzgun from Osh.
The Mol-Mol is well know by the people. It's impossible to miss it.

Michel

hi thanks a quick op for checking in while waiting for share taxi to Jalal-Abad - the hotel im staying at has said the Mol Mol is the worst hotel in Jalal lol and recommend the Sputnik for 1000 som - im just wondering why im wanting to visit Jalal-Abad to see the worlds largest walnut tree grove if i cant really get to it? then i would go to Ozgon tomorrow from JA. then on to Osh. as far as i can see.
still noone knows what day bus goes from Osh to Kashgar but im just sort of thinking if i get stuck i will pay for a whole taxi to the border....cripes and hardly any english around the place but something and someone has always turned up at right time - part of the adventure lol

I don't know any hotel on earth who say" go in another one, it's better"

Michel

hi thanks a quick op for checking in while waiting for share taxi to Jalal-Abad - the hotel im staying at has said the Mol Mol is the worst hotel in Jalal lol and recommend the Sputnik for 1000 som - im just wondering why im wanting to visit Jalal-Abad to see the worlds largest walnut tree grove if i cant really get to it? then i would go to Ozgon tomorrow from JA. then on to Osh. as far as i can see.
still noone knows what day bus goes from Osh to Kashgar but im just sort of thinking if i get stuck i will pay for a whole taxi to the border....cripes and hardly any english around the place but something and someone has always turned up at right time - part of the adventure lol

Hi, when are you planing to be in Osh in order to cross to Kashgar, i am finding myself in the same situation.- maybe we could share the taxi?

Michel, theres a thing about Lonely Planet thorntree people - they are incredibly excellent travellers and therefore incredibly helpful here in the forums - but also incredibly free in their thinking that sarcasm is fine - if you read my post i was in Bishkek when i asked ahead - 10 hours away from Jalal-Abad so no point at all for some guy to say Mol-Mol is worst hotel in a place - they had no benefit to tell other than what they heard. they were just thinking about my safety etc and what other contact info do I have - TA has Sputnik and no contact details and 1 b and b for over 3000 som.
They advised the Sputnik, the taxi driver i ended up having also said yes the Sputnik and here i am now in the Sputnik and its not as cheap as it was meant to have been but its good. handy area too.
so i dont appreciate the nastiness really thanks.

Hi Roni
I just arrived at Jalal-Abad last night, taxi driver doing me another good deal to go today to Arbsalonabob, Ozgon and Osh - so will get to Osh tonight and stay tomorrow night. so i can see a few Osh sights tomorrow and then head for Kashgar on Wednesday?
That would be great if it fitted in with your timing!
I dont have wifi in between hotels though and about to look for somewhere to stay at the moment.
The Silk road guide recommends the Taj Mahal....

Hi i cant see the reply i wrote this morning so just in case it didnt send or you cant see it either, ive arrived in Osh this evening (after an excellent day seeing Arslanbob and Ozgon) and will stay a couple of nights i guess and hopefully leave early on Wednesday...but it would be great if our timing fitted so we could share a taxi to Kashgar! so will be looking out for your reply!

I have found out the bus from Osh to Kashgar goes Wednesdays and Sundays 18 hours to Kashgar for $85.
No idea yet what time they leave.
I think a taxi to the border and another from the border to Kashgar could be like 6 hours quicker than the bus. My hotel is going to ring the taxi driver that they usually recommend and see what his price is.

I have found out the bus from Osh to Kashgar goes Wednesdays and Sundays 18 hours to Kashgar for $85.
No idea yet what time they leave.
I think a taxi to the border and another from the border to Kashgar could be like 6 hours quicker than the bus. My hotel is going to ring the taxi driver that they usually recommend and see what his price is.

Hi, thanks a lot - that helps a lot. Sorry for the late answer, i was on the way to Bishkek and couln"t really answer. Unfortunately I won't make it, this week. Right now, i am considering going straight to Urumqi from here, which is sad but anyway. Again, thanks a lot and good luck ;)

Okay glad to hear from you tonight - i flew from Urumqi to Almaty and then share taxi to Bishkek.
I had an excellent driver for the day when i was in Bishkek to go out to the Burana tower and Al-archa canyon - enjoyed both places. You could ring Hotel Soluxe if you wanted to get hold of him. Hes a lot cheaper than others apparently - i thought he was pretty cheap too.
He then rang for a taxi driver when i wanted a share taxi but to buy the 3 back seats and arranged him to come and pick me up from my hotel rather than me go to the share taxi place and front all the touts and higher prices when they see foreigners....so all that went really in my favour.
and then that driver as he lives in Jalal-Abad also gave me a good deal to take me from JA to Arsalonbob - which was a brilliant visit, Uzgen and Osh.
anyway a bit of info in case it helps you decide whether to come down further this way.
Good luck to your travel directions too :)