Kyrgyzstan

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Flag of Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan
Information
Language: Kyrgyz, Russian
Capital: Bishkek
Population: 5,482,000
Currency: Som (KGS)
Hitchability: Verygood.png (very good)
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<map lat='41.07935114946899' lng='75.12451171875' zoom='5' view='0' float='right' />

Kyrgyzstan (also Kirgizia or Kirghizia) is a country in Central Asia.

This is an excellent guide for all CIS countries in general, but unfortunately in Russian. http://ve.free-travels.ru/articles/?region=CIS

Kyrgyz cars have Rooms with a red stripe on the left, which depicts kirghiz emblem. The first number indicates the letters Region: B - Bishkek, N - Naryn oblast., C - Chui, I - Issyk-Kul, O - Osh, D-Jalal-Abad, A - Batken, T - Talas. Sometimes others are old Soviet numbers.

It's not unusual to hitch rides with horses.

Note that all of Daewood's Tico cars are shared taxis.

Border Crossing

To China

You'll need a valid visa to cross.


Irkeshtam Village

Irkeshtam Pass

The Irkeshtam Pass is one of the major border crossings to China. It is also the eastern end of the E 60. Road contidions are quite bad and border formalities can be a bit tricky. The pass is approached from the city of Osh on the kyrgyz side and from Kashgar from the chinese side.




Road to Torugart

Torugart Pass

The Torugart Pass is opened only from 9h - 13h to cross from Kyrgyztan to China - and from 14h to 18h to cross from China to Kyrgyzstan. The pass is closed on weekends and holidays - also closed sometimes in winter. You have to pay to cross it, you have to be in an organizised travel group - private cars are mostly not allowed to pass. In some travel forums in the internet some people say that Torugart is now open for everyone - stay informed and update this information!

There is a bus from Bishkek via Artush to Kashgar traveling via Torugart Pass. You can book a ticket in Bishkek. With this bus you can pass.

Danger

Some parts of the borders to Tajikistan and to Uzbekistan have landmines.

In order to avoid problems with drivers, be very clear before entering the car that you will not be able to pay . The Russian phrase Bez deneg firmly and loudly stated will generally suffice. Some parts of Kyrgyzstan frequented by trekkers have seen incidents of robbery, and contact with police should be avoided because they have a reputation of extorting money from tourists -- look to general travel forums for non-hitchhiking advice. However, hitchhiking on the main roads is generally safe and the Russian hitchhiking community passes through the area very frequently without experiencing any danger.

Cities