Two itineraries for two weeks in Kyrgyzstan

[stevesayskanpai]

Hi all,

I know I've posted a lot recently, so this will be my last post for a while I promise! Here are two itineraries I've come up with

Itinerary One: The south and long journey to Osh

1 17.00 to 08.45 Turkish Airlines flight to Bishkek
2 Bishkek
3 Bishkek to Kochkor
4 Kochkor to Song-kul
5 Song-kul
6 Song-kul to Naryn
7 Naryn to At-Bashy to Tash Rabat
8 Tash Rabat to Chatyr-Kul to Kol-Suu
9 Kol-Suu
10 Kol-Suu to Osh (long journey)
11 Osh to Arslanbob
12 Arslanbob
13 Arslanbob to Osh (bus)
14 Osh to Kokand/Fergana

Itinerary Two: Issy-kul and Osh region

1 17.00 to 08.45 Turkish Airlines flight to Bishkek
2 Bishkek to Issy-kul
3 Issy-kul day trip one (Altyn Arashan)
4 Issy-kul day trip two (Altyn Arashan day two, or Jeti-Oguz)
5 Issy-kul to Bishkek
6 Bishkek to Kochkor
7 Kochkor to Song-kul
8 Song-kul
9 Song-kul to Bishkek
10 Bishkek to Osh (flight)
11 Osh to Arslanbob
12 Arslanbob
13 Arslanbob to Osh (bus)
14 Osh to Kokand/Fergana

I'd appreciate any feedback on the pros and cons of these two itineraries. I'm going to be travelling by public transport where I can, although I recognise that some taxis will be necessary (hoping I can keep costs down as much as possible).

Many thanks.

[TomasS]

Itineraty two- its not necessary to go from Issy Kul to Bishkek and then Song Kul, you can go directly through Kochkor

And i would consider direct route Kochkor-Arslanbob as well, its not easy and cheap, but the same is valid about other option with going back to capital, then flight and again bus to Arslanbob

[bwv812]

I'd echo Tomas about itinerary two (think I said the same about Karakol direct to Kochkor and Song Kul last time).

Also, for itinerary one, it really isn't consistent with public transport at all. Everything south of Kochkor will require private transport. I'm not even sure that Kol Suu to Osh in one day is possible (will be a very long day indeed if it is), but if it is possible then it's just as easy to go to Arslanbob instead of Osh in that day.

[stevesayskanpai]

I think Kol Suu is definitely too ambitious. But perhaps visiting Chatyr-kul and Tash Rabat would be more interesting than visiting Issy-kul with Altyn Arashan or Jeti-Oguz? Any thoughts?

The other area I've seen promoted on a few travel blogs recently that might be a third option is the Jyrgalan Valley ...

[steven]

Altyn Arashan is really nice though, and there are plenty of other places to go outside of the Alakol lake loop. Jyrgalan haven't been yet.