M41 Pamir Highway / Kyzyl Art Pass border crossing procedure Q&A

[Kanl]

I'm planning to cross the border from Tajikistan into Kyrgyzstan, (towards Osh) sometime around July 10-14th if anyone wants to join. Probably gonna try the hitchhiker version.
I'll be coming via Pakistan-China-Tajikistan (Murghab) in case anyone has a similar route.

I will be attempting crossing the border from Dushanbe, Taji to Osh, Kyrgy and onwards towards Bishkek starting around July 15th. Let me know how your trip goes and if anyone who is also crossing at similar times, let me know we can join!

[AshHiker]

I did Tajik to Kyrgyz border crossing 5 days ago. In addition to your visa requirements(remember it might be different if you enter by land vs air) the Kyrgyz side needed to see a permit that states the date you plan to cross (which must match the date you are there). I think only tour companies can arrange that cos I saw some cyclists stranded and setting up tents. Not sure if this permit is needed in other direction.

[marcxs]

I'm planning to cross the border from Tajikistan into Kyrgyzstan, (towards Osh) sometime around July 10-14th if anyone wants to join. Probably gonna try the hitchhiker version.
I'll be coming via Pakistan-China-Tajikistan (Murghab) in case anyone has a similar route.

I will be attempting crossing the border from Dushanbe, Taji to Osh, Kyrgy and onwards towards Bishkek starting around July 15th. Let me know how your trip goes and if anyone who is also crossing at similar times, let me know we can join!

Sorry, my plans had changed and I went from Kashgar/CN via Irkeshtam to Sary Tash/KG - I have not passed via TJ yet.
In case this is interesting to you, I posted a report in the corresponding thread.
All the best for you!

[ZuzTravel]

Hi,

we want to cross the Kyzyl-Art Pass from Kyrgyzstan to Tajikistan. As there is no public transport and we are a little bit afraid to hitchhike due to the lack of traffic, we are thinking about getting a company car or taxi to wait for us on the Tajic border.
I guess, I will be able to find a taxi from Sary-Tash to the border, but I am unsure how to continue. Do you have any suggestions on how to reach someone in advance who can drive us to Karakul for a reasonable price? 

Thanks!

[Kanl]

I'm planning to cross the border from Tajikistan into Kyrgyzstan, (towards Osh) sometime around July 10-14th if anyone wants to join. Probably gonna try the hitchhiker version.
I'll be coming via Pakistan-China-Tajikistan (Murghab) in case anyone has a similar route.

I will be attempting crossing the border from Dushanbe, Taji to Osh, Kyrgy and onwards towards Bishkek starting around July 15th. Let me know how your trip goes and if anyone who is also crossing at similar times, let me know we can join!

Update to my post. I completed the Kyzyl-Art crossing by hitchhiking. When I got to Murghab, the locals were asking for $350 for a car to take you all the way to Osh. We decided it was too expensive and to hike/hitchhike it. (Mind you that there is no ATM in Murghab) We started really early and got really lucky to be picked up after the Tajik border in the no-man's-land.

[Fedra]

Hi Kanl,
Thanks for the update! I am in a similar situation with the same doubts so it's good to hear that you managed to get picked up.
I am arranging a driver from Dushanbe until the border but from there I also get pretty expensive quotes just to get to Tulpar Kul lake so I am considering hitchhiking as well. Did you see many other cars that could be possible rides,was it easy to find someone?
Thanks!

[Kanl]

Hi Kanl,
Thanks for the update! I am in a similar situation with the same doubts so it's good to hear that you managed to get picked up.
I am arranging a driver from Dushanbe until the border but from there I also get pretty expensive quotes just to get to Tulpar Kul lake so I am considering hitchhiking as well. Did you see many other cars that could be possible rides,was it easy to find someone?
Thanks!

I got lucky and got picked up by a car in the No-man's-land region in between Tajik and Kyrgyzstan within 30 mins of hiking. I saw about 6 vehicles there during my crossing adventure. I would say if you get there early enough and plan for the worst (hiking the whole 20km), then there is a pretty high chance that you will get a ride.

Once you passed the no-man's-land and get to Sary-Tash, then there are tons of cars and trucks in that area.

[borekj]

Hey guys,
yesterday, we (8 czechs) crossed the border. We started in Karakol, where we managed to settle for 600 tjs for a Toyota Land Crusier (first offer was 1500 tjs). We left around noon. Tajik side without any problem, we were at the pass at around 1 pm tajik time. At the pass, there was literally no traffic, so we simply started to walk down. At the first kyrgyz border station (some 2 km down the pass) we met about a dozen completely shit drunk border guards. We were hoping to get a lift to the proper border station, however they started to harass the female part of our group and when we finally got the offer (100 USD for 15 km in an UAZ), we laughed at them and walked off. Not long after that, we met a kyrgyz, who was delivering some goods to the pass - we discussed he would take us down from where we were when he gets back. He was a nice, but very much overpriced guy who clearly saw that we were in a desperate situation and didn't hesitate to use it (it was quite late and about to start raining). We settled on 90 usd all the way to Sary Tash.

We managed to get a letter to the kyrgyz ministry in advance through Destination Osh (15 USD pp, paid i advance by credit card). We saw one Korean couple, who apparently had to stay wait until next day, because they just showed up at the border and it takes a day until they process your visit.

My recommendation: arrange transport from the other side in advance or get to the pass as early as possible. Between 12 and 16, only two cars went down from the pass.

[Krasen Jelyazkov]

Has anyone crossed from Tajikistan to Kyrgyzstan using public transport and/or hitchhiking? If so, how did you organize the pick-up in 'no-man's land' with a Kyrgz driver?? I'm planning to do this from Murgab to Osh, but not sure how to arrange a Kyrgz driver to meet me somewhere for the exchange to get across the border.

I have done it but I just walked from the Tajikistan to Kyrgyzstan checkpoints- 23 km. The day before that I spent the night in Sher's Inn, the new hotel at the Lake Karakul. In the morning, the manager of the hotel took me by his car to the Tajikistan checkpoint, then I just walked for 6 hours to the Kyrgyzstan checkpoint, together with a few other travelers like me.
From the Kyrgyzstan checkpoint, there are usually other cars (some are shared taxis) going to Sary-Tash.
Normally, the whole route from Lake Karakul to Sary-Tash can be accomplished within one day.

[MichelleK]

I have just read this on French Diplomacy government site :
"Land border with Tajikistan
The border crossing with Tajikistan is currently not open to individual travelers, either to enter or exit Kyrgyzstan, at any of the border posts between the two countries"
I don't understand. Many travelers cross this border in both ways without a tour operator