Tour in Kirghizstan, Xinijand, Tagjkistan

I am organizing a 15 days tour as follows:
BISHKEK
Balykchy
Naryn
Torugart pass
KASHGAR
Kara Kul
Tashkurgan
QOLMA PASS
Murgab
Karakul
KJZJLART PASS
Saritash
Osh (Pamir)
Ozgon
Shalmaldj Sai
Toqtogul
BISHKEK
If you know the region, could you tell me if:
- two weeks are enough
- there is any visa/border problem between the three countries
Thank you
Cristina

Hi Cristina,

I think you'll be pushing it to do all of this in two weeks - you've got 16 places listed, public transport is scratchy to non-existent around Torugart and the Tajik Pamirs and depending when you go there is likely to be flooding or snow fall slowing the journey. I am actually looking at doing something similar in June/July as far as Murghab and then heading West rather than North. The major risk you are going to take is that I haven't heard of any foreigners (ie non-Tajik, non Chinese) being allowed to cross the border at the Qolma Pass, which is the only Chinese/Tajik border post. There's always hope that it will open this year and I might give it a whirl on the basis that I can carry on down the KKH to Pakistan and into India where I need to end up eventually if the pass isn't open. If you've only got two weeks and you have to end up in Bishkek then I guess you could double back up to Kashgar and go across the crossing from there to Sary Tash instead...

Good luck anyhow - it'll be a good adventure whatever happens!

Ian.

Wow, that really is a rush. I spent two weeks just in Kyrgyzstan (Bishkek, around Issyk Kol, back to Bishkek, Jalalabad, Arslanbob, Osh, Sary Tash then over the Irkeshtam to Kashgar. I spent nearly a week in Kashgar too.

I'd really advise cutting out a few places - I know it seems a shame, especially if you're traveling a long way to get to Central Asia and are unlikely to be back any time soon - but if you end up visiting a different place every day will you really see any of them? You'll spend most of your time on buses / in taxis! Border crossings aren't too troublesome if you've done your research (eg don't try to cross Torugart without travel agency help), but they do take time.

Personally (and I haven't been to Tajikistan, so can't comment on there) I'd recommend just concentrating on Kyrgyzstan for the whole two weeks - this will allow you to do some walking or horseriding while you're there. This also reduces the likelihood of problems should you get held up and can't make it back to Bishkek for your flight home.

Steve