Kazakhstan shares borders with Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
For an exact location of these and all other border crossings on the Silk Road, see the border crossing map. For more info on visas, check out the Kazakhstan visa chapter.
Table of Contents
Kazakhstan – Mongolia
There is no common border between Kazakhstan and Mongolia, and there is no quick way to cross between the two countries, despite the small distance on the map: the Arshaty border with Russia is only open to locals.
Foreigners have to make a considerable detour, either via Russia (Shemonaika border between Oskemen and Rubtsovsk) or via China (Maikapchagai-Jeminay border between Zaysan and Altay).
If you are heading to/coming from Mongolia by bus or train, see Kazakhstan – Mongolia by public transport.
Kazakhstan – China border crossings
Kazakhstan has 7 border crossing points with China. Not all of them are operational though. We recommend you read up about Chinese border closures. For a summary of other issues facing travelers, both at the border and once in Xinjiang, see our Xinjiang travel guide.
Khorgos / Nur Zholy
Since late 2018, the former Khorgos border crossing is no longer active and now only functions as a Special Economic Zone with discount shopping and tacky tourist attractions. The new border is called Nur Zholy and lies a few kilometers south of Khorgos. It is not yet marked on the map: follow the main new highway from Almaty and you will get there.
The border opens at 10.30 Beijing time, it opens every day.
Questions, answers and reports are to be found in our forum topics on crossing the border, the Almaty-Urumqi bus and the Almaty-Urumqi train. Your Khorgos SEZ reports are welcome here, and we have a travel guide to the area and to Zharkent as well.
China -> Kazakhstan
You can take an overnight train from Urumqi to Huo’erguosi. It will take about 9 hours and cost 170 yuan. Then a taxi to the bus station, where there is money exchange and decent breakfast on offer. Then to Zharkent (KZ) on the bus (70 yuan) – the bus station opens at 9, buses leave when full. From Zharkent, you can take a bus or shared taxi to Almaty. Expect to pay 8000 tenge.
Cyclists are allowed to cross themselves, they do NOT need to take a bus. However, in 2018, several cyclists encountered corruption and very difficult security on the Chinese side. A final ordeal before getting out of terrible Xinjiang.
Kazakhstan -> China
At Sairan bus station in Almaty you can buy a ticket in advance for the daily 7 am bus to China (8000 tenge to Khorgos, 16 000 tenge to Urumqi). On the Chinese side, you can buy a sim card and exchange money. There are hotels in the city that accept foreigners.
Alternatively, you can take the bus to Zharkent, from where a bus to China leaves twice a day, while minibuses leave when full (average wait 2-3 hours, less in weekend).
While some have said they were not allowed to cross by walking or bicycle, others could. There is money exchange on the Chinese side, but no ATM (there is in Khorgos SEZ).
Once across the border into China, you can take the bus to Urumqi for 150 yuan, 17 hours (bicycles are allowed).
Maikapchagai-Jeminay
Connecting North Kazakhstan with Xinjiang province in China on the Ust-Kamenogorsk – Altay road, this border crossing is not frequently used by foreigners. Closed on Saturday and Sunday, during the week open from 10:30 to 14:00 and from 15:00 to 19:30 (Chinese time). A bus to the border leaves Zaisan every morning. After the border you have to get a taxi. Reports collected in this forum thread.
Bakhty-Tacheng
A small border crossing between North Kazakhstan and Xinjiang.
Dostyk/Druzhba – Alashankou
Main border crossing for passenger rail and road travel. By train, count on 8 hours at the border. China and Soviet railroads use different gauges, and the wheels of the train need to be changed.
Qaljat (Kalzhat) – Dulata Port
The border is open to freight traffic, and only to citizens of Kazakhstan or China. While Kazakhstan is willing to stamp foreigners out, Chinese border guards refuse foreigners entry.
Closed border crossings
2 other border crossings between Kazakhstan and China are not operational: Narynkol – Muzart in the southeast, and Alekseevka- Aheytubiek in the northeast. See the border crossing map for more information.
Kazakhstan – Kyrgyzstan border crossings
Korday / Ak-Zhol
After being closed for reconstruction in 2020-2022, Korday / Ak-Zhol is once again the main border crossing between Bishkek and Almaty. Updates gathered here.
Self-drivers should watch out for the traffic police just beyond the border on the Kyrgyz side. There is a stop sign that should not be ignored; even when stopping, a bribe could be solicited. Further updates in this post.
Large buses go between Bishkek’s Western bus terminal and Almaty’s Sairan bus station (8$, 5 hours), currently 5 times per day.
In case you are left without transport after the border, on the Kyrgyz side there are many buses and taxis going straight to the centre of Bishkek and Dordoi. On the Kazakh side, shared taxis vie for your business for 10$ and up to Almaty. The border is open 24/7, there is currency exchange on both sides and a decent canteen on the Kyrgyz side.
Karkara valley (Kegen – Tup/Kensu)
A scenic crossing, the Karkara valley is a good way to go from Almaty to Karakol, with attractions like Charyn Canyon and Kolsai Lakes on the way. Previously, the border opened only approximately between May 1 and October 31, but now it’s open year round, from dawn til dusk.
The problem is, there is little public transport for travelers without their own vehicle. A bus between Almaty and Karakol exists, but it goes via Bishkek and takes 11 hours.
Crossing reports and questions are gathered in this forum Q&A.
For those with their own transport: It’s 30 km from Kegen and about 85 to Tup on the Kyrgyz side. Come prepared, there is little in the way of supplies between these towns. The road is rough gravel for the last 15 km on the Kazakh side and the first 50 or so on the Kyrgyz side.
Karkara and Kegen don’t have money changing facilities. If you are coming from Kyrgyzstan, try to get tenge in Karakol. On the Kazakh side, the offroad route from Turgen to Bartogai Reservoir comes highly recommended, although it is very steep if you are cycling.
On public transport
Karakol -> Almaty: From Karakol you can hitchhike or take a taxi for ~5000 som.
On the Kazakh side, there is no public transport, but people will be willing to give a lift if you can wait for them. The border guards can call their taxi friends in Kegen: expect to pay 20$ for the car to Almaty. Camping or staying in a yurt with locals is an option if you get stuck near the border – there are also accommodation options in Kegen.
Karakol to the border will cost around 20$ with a taxi.
Almaty -> Karakol: A shared taxi from Almaty to Kegen will cost around 10$ for a seat. Shared taxis in Almaty to Kegen hang out around Sayakhat bus station and tend to leave early. In Kegen, taxi drivers hang out near the petrol station, they ask 10$ for the ride to the border. From the border to Karakol, you need to wait for a car to hitchhike, or organise a ride in advance with a local tour operator.
Hitchhiking reports gathered here.
To find others to share a ride, try hostels and our travel sharing forum. Reasonable chances in July-August, slim chances the rest of the year.
Kegen -> Khorgos (China border): hitchhike or bargain for a ride to Shonzhy with a taxi driver in Kegen (2000 tenge/seat). From Shonzhy, there are shared taxis to Zharkent (1000 tenge/seat). From Zharkent, you need to be lucky to quickly find another hitched ride or shared taxi to Khorgos.
Aisha Bibi – Chongkapka
Border crossing between Taraz and Talas. Updates posted here. Money exchange is available at the border. There is a small restaurant on the Kyrgyz side if you are hungry.
KAZ -> KG: In Taraz, take bus #33 to the border, or a taxi. On the other side, transport options are low. 200 som for a taxi to Talas is reasonable.
KG -> KAZ: Taxis to and from Talas are 200 som. They leave from Talas on the north side of the bazaar, look for a bunch of guys yelling “tamozhnia” (таможня). The trip is about 1.5-2 hours, depending on the driver. The Lenin head and sculptures at the Kirovka dam are the highlight on the road. There is a bus that goes to Taraz from the border.
Pretty easy to get a taxi or marshrutka, might have to wait for it to fill up of course. It seems like early in the morning is the best time to get a ride out.
Other crossings
Ak-Tilek / Karasu: With the reconstruction of the Korday border finished, Ak-Tilek, near Kant, has now become limited to bilateral commercial truck traffic – no foreigners, no cars or pedestrians. This might change as it seems construction has moved to this border post.
News is welcome in the Ak-Tilek forum thread.
Alatau: A hiking path from Almaty to Lake Issyk-Kul. This was once one of the top hiking trails in the Soviet Union, but at the moment this border post cannot be crossed by foreigners, or even locals.
Kenbulun & Sartobe: New since 2017, both of these crossings near Tokmok were bilateral border crossings at first, but they seemed to have converted to international border crossings in 2022. Reports welcome.
Sypatai Batyr (Chaldybar): Border crossing on the most direct road between Bishkek and Taraz, between the villages of Merke (KAZ) and Kara-Baltynin (KG). Bishkek – Tashkent buses cross here. Money exchange is available and a small cafe. Updates here.
Kazakhstan – Uzbekistan border crossings
Crossing into Uzbekistan comes with quite a few peculiarities, see Uzbekistan’s border crossings for the full list.
Chernayevka/Zhibek-Joly
It is the main road and rail link between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, connecting Shymkent and Tashkent. Generally straightforward crossing nowadays, but there can be considerable waiting time with crushing lines and fisticuffs breaking out occasionally due to the stressful circumstances. If it’s busy, try to stay calm and wait your turn. Many Uzbeks cross the border every day. The border is open 24h with a few breaks daily. Money exchange exists on both sides of the border. We welcome your reports.
If you are self-driving, you can take this border. Before you could not, instead, having to cross further west at Yalama. This is no longer necessary. BUT, you are much better off using Kaplanbek (if it is open, see below).
Tashkent -> Shymkent: you can take a taxi from the city center, or bus 169 from Shahriston metro station. Marshrutka 477 leaves from the bus stop at the Yunusobod Univermag supermarket. Marshrutkas to Shymkent are possible during the day, however shared taxis are more likely to be found.
Shymkent -> Tashkent: Minibuses and shared taxis to the border leave from the Kolos bus station (OSM / Gmaps). Once on the Uzbek side, bus 169 takes you to Shahriston metro station, taxis gather around 400 m down the road.
There is no longer a cross-border bus between Shymkent and Tashkent. The best way to cross is as before to combine minibuses and shared taxis on both sides of the border.
Tejen
On the Beyneu – Kungrad road; the roads are getting better, but still quite bad in places. There is also a daily train between Kungrad and Beyneu, which takes approximately 10 hours. Border opens at 9am.
Shared taxis drive between Kungrad and Beyneu and can also be caught at the border. An example price: 2700 tenge for a seat in a shared taxi from the border to Beyneu. You can exchange dollars and tenge for som on the Uzbek side. Updates reported here.
Other crossings
B. Konysbayeva / Yalama
Formerly the place to cross for self-drivers coming to Tashkent. It’s not as convenient as Chernayevka, but should you be here without your own transport, at a guess the simplest route from Uzbekistan would be to get to Chinaz and jump in a car to Yalama. Money change is available, but nothing else. There are shared taxis waiting on the Kazakh side for locals. Updates posted here.
Serke-Turkistan (Kazygurt)
A bit before Zhibek Zholy, this is also a multilateral border crossing. Before, it was open to self-drivers. Apparently it is only open to trucks and pedestrians since last update. No cars.
Updates in the Serke-Turkistan border crossing thread.
Kaplanbek
Currently closed for renovation, this is another border crossing close to Tashkent that is much quieter than Zhibek Zholy. Recommended if you have your own wheels. Updates in the Kaplanbek border crossing thread.
No insurance sold at the Kazakh border, but you can get it in Saryagash.
Shardara
Should be a multilateral checkpoint. However, there are no accounts of travelers passing this way.
Kazakhstan – Turkmenistan border crossing
On entering Turkmenistan you have to pay 12$ entry tax, to be paid in dollars only. The borders are usually closed for lunch.
Temirbaba: Reopened in 2023 after a 5-year closure. Updates posted in the Turkmen-Kazakh border forum topic.
Remote border crossing into Western Kazakhstan on the (very bad on both sides) Zhanaozen-Turkmenbashi road. There is no public transport available, and taxis can be expensive: 6000 tenge to Zhanaozen, 45$ to Turkmenbashi. Take 3,5 hours for 180 km on the Turkmen side. Expect a long wait on either side of the border when driving, it’s still quite busy. A 4WD is preferred.
Turkmenbashi to Garabogaz/Bekdash – pure desert. There is a hotel in the main square next to the beach should you wish to stay overnight. Shared taxi to the border from Garabogaz: 10$, 1 hour drive Without transport, you can walk to the Kazakh side of the border, some 3km. Very hot in summer. You can buy water and some shitty food at the border. The first 50 km of road are really bad, then it gets slightly better. Hitchhiking this road is possible, but might take some time, and perseverance to wait for someone willing to take you for free.
Kazakhstan – Russia border crossings
ATTENTION! Russia, like Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, is very strict when it comes to codeine! Make sure you are not carrying medication which contains codeine! It is illegal in Russia.
Kazakhstan and Russia share the longest continuous border in the world at 6846km length. So quite a few border crossings here; assume that not all are listed here and please fill us in if you have found more. There are also a good number of bilateral border crossings. We did not put these on the border crossing map, except for the far east, to make it clear there is no quick way to go from Kazakhstan to Mongolia (questions and reports welcome in this forum thread).
Zhanaul: On the main road from Atyrau to Astrakhan, this is a big and generally smooth border crossing. Also a major railroad border crossing. Reports collected here.
Taskala: On the main road from Uralsk to Saratov. Very basic, but easy-going. No problems reported so far. Reports collected here.
Mashtakov: On the main road from Uralsk to Samara. Reasonably straightforward.
Dimitrovo – Ilek: On the main road from Uralsk to Orenburg.
Zhaisan: On the main road from Aqtobe to Orenburg, open 24h. Zhaisan forum Q&A. If you are taking the train here, take notice, you will need a double entry Kazakh visa if you are not visa free.
Kairak – Alimbetovka: On the main road from Aqtobe to Orsk.
Podgorodka: On the main road from Kostanay to Chelyabinsk. Further south is a railroad border crossing, on the Kostanay – Magnitogorsk line.
Kazancevskoe: On the main road from Petropavlovsk to Chelyabinsk.
Isilkul – Roslavka: International road and rail border crossing between Omsk and Petropavlovsk. Operates at night. After 6pm, Petropavlovsk is connected to Omsk only by shared taxis.
August 2016: I was taking a Russian train that only dips into Kazakhstan to stop at Petropavlovsk to then go back into Russia. Russian officials do their work on the train at the last station before the border. After that the Kazakhs came on and did their job while the train was driving on to Petropavlovsk. Neither sides were interested in people not getting of in Kazakhstan, hence no double entry Russian visa/Kazakh transit visa seemed to be needed to take the train between two Russian stops. Overall a very smooth border crossing as I didn’t even have to leave my bed.
Karaagash: On the main road from Pavlodar to Omsk.
Oktyabrskiy: International rail and road border crossing between Pavlodar and Barnaul.
Zhezkent: International rail and road border crossing between Semey (Semipalatinsk) and Rubtsovsk. A349 is a good road.
Shemonaika: International road border crossing between Ust-Kamenogorsk and Rubtsovsk that works 24/7. Roads are fine, and you avoid the busier Semey (Semipalatinsk) border crossing. Updates can be posted here.
More border crossings
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