Kyrgyzstan - Independent travel in Central Asia

permit to visit the Chon-Kemin Gorge?

Rolla — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 07:45:40 +0000

Good afternoon. Could you please tell me whether it is necessary to obtain a permit to visit the Chon-Kemin Gorge, with further travel along the road over the Koy-Aryk Pass, which then returns to Lake Issyk-Kul? I keep coming across conflicting information about this. Thanks in advance.

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Do You Need a Permit to Drive into Sary-Chelek Nature Reserve

Surakel — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 05:01:30 +0000

Good day everyone, I've searched in the Internet but couldn't find a clear answer. Do I need a special permit to drive my car into Sary-Chelek? And if so, where do I get it? Is it one permit for multiple spots or separate for each place?

Documents for the car transiting Kyrgystan and Kazakhstan?

ArtemiiKrim — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 07:58:03 +0000

Hi everyone! Quick question—what documents do I need for the car if we’re driving from Russia through Kazakhstan?

Insurance—can I get it in Russia?
Vehicle inspection card?
International driver’s license?
Anything else I need to know?

Kyrgyzstan border crossings

piligrim — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:21:37 +0000

Kyrgyzstan – Kazakhstan

Border name and location in Kyrgyzstan	Border name and location in Kazakhstan	Hours
Ak Jol Chuy Province, Alamudun Region	Korday Korday, Jambyl Region	24 hours
Chaldybar Chuy Province, Jaiyl Region	Aisha-Bibi Aisha-Bibi Highway, Jambyl Region	Daylight hours, until 18:00
Ak-Tilek Chuy Province, Issyk-Atin Region	Karasu Karasu Highway, Jambyl Region	Daylight hours, until 18:00
Karkyra* Issyk-Kul Province, Tyup Region	Kegen Kegen Highway, Almaty Region	Daylight hours, until 18:00
Chon-Kapka Talas Region, Manas Region	Jibek-Jolu Jibek-Jolu Highway, Jambyl Region	Daylight hours, until 18:00

*Open seasonally, from May to September/October.

Kyrgyzstan – China

Border name and location in Kyrgyzstan	Border name and location in China	Hours
Torugart* Naryn Province, At-Bashi Region	Torugart Torugart Highway, Xinjiang Autonomous Region	10:00 – 16:00, lunch from 12:00 – 14:00
Irkeshtam* Osh Region, Alai Region	Irkeshtam Irkeshtam Highway, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region	10:00 – 16:00, lunch from 12:00 – 14:00

*Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Chinese holidays. Chinese border guards work according to Beijing time.

Kyrgyzstan – Tajikistan

Border name and location in Kyrgyzstan	Border name and location in Tajikistan	Hours
Kyzyl-Bel Batken Province, Batken Region	Guliston Guliston Highway, Isfara	Daylight hours, until 18:00
Kulundu* Batken Province, Leilek Region	Ovchi-Kalacha Ovchi-Kalacha Highway, Gafurov Region
Bor-Dobo Osh Region, Chon-Alai Region	Kyzylart Kyzylart Highway, Murghab Region	Daylight hours, until 18:00

*Closed for tourists.

Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan

Border name and location in Kyrgyzstan	Border name and location in Uzbekistan	Hours
Dostuk Osh Region, Kara-Suu Region	Dostuk Andijan Province, Hojaabad Region	Daylight hours, until 18:00
Madaniyat Jalal-Abad Region, Nooken Region	Uchkurgan Uchkurgan district, Namangan region	Daylight hours, until 18:00

Please provide your actual latest reports on crossings for an update. Thank yo

Please provide your actual latest reports on crossings for an update. Thank you

Permit for the Border Zone at Kol-Suu

Joseph Lewiston — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 04:57:14 +0000

We’re planning a trip to Kyrgyzstan, specifically to visit Kol-Suu Lake. Since it’s in a border zone, a permit is required. As I understand, unlike in Kabardino-Balkaria, where you can just show up and get one issued, here it takes up to six days. What’s the current situation? Is it possible to arrange the permit in advance, or is it still so difficult?