Khorgos crossing thru Karkara Valley to Karakol

[Alex Dra]

Quick note in case someone wants to cross from Kyrgyzstan through Kazachstan into China this way (possible in one, long day):
From the Kyrgyzstan-Kazakhstan border into Kegen, hitchhiking should be easy enough (check the forum topic about this border crossing here: http://caravanistan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=880 )
Kegen to Shonzhy: shared taxi drivers are a little reluctant to drive this way as they might have to return empty. They ask ridiculous prices (10 000 tenge), why we started walking to hitchhike the way. In the end a taxi drove after us and we agreed on 2000 tenge per person. Hitchhiking is probably slow but possible.
Shonzhy to Zharkent : We paid 1000 tenge per person for a shared taxi, so did the locals which drove with us. It might take some time until the car is full, but there are some restaurants around the taxi stop. From Zharkent, either hitchhike or get another shared (or private, it might be difficult to find other people) taxi to the border post (check the forum topic about this border crossing here: http://caravanistan.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1074 ).

[bwv812]

Great info.

How did you get to the Kegen border?

[DatcaDuo]

Hi. Has anyone experienced traveling from China into Kazakhstan at the Khorgos crossing and traveling down across the border into Kyrgyzstan at the Karkara Valley border crossing? We are planning this in late June this year. We will need transportation for all of this trip and wonder what the possibility is in that regard. We will continue traveling to Karakol and around the southern side of Ysyk-Köl. Still wondering about availability of any transportation on that route as well. I read in other posts that there are taxis from Kegen to the border and the border to Typ but most of that isn't really the way we need to go. After rounding the lake, and visiting Kochkor, we shall proceed to Bishkek. Does this seem "do-able" without our own transportation? Does anyone have any experience traveling this way along this route? Thank you in advance. I'm excited to hear any helpful response. Best wishes, Steve

[bwv812]

From the forum postings it looks like it should be possible to do the route with share taxis, with the exception of chartered taxis/transportation right around the border. Which is basically what you've read. Going to Tup shouldn't be a bad thing, as this is where you are most likely to find onward transportation to Karakol.

You can certainly make it to Bishkek from Karakol along the southern route, but it will involve more waiting and switching of marshrutkas (the fastest way along the southern route would probably be to take a marshrutka bound for Kochkor, then one from Kochkor to Bishkek); marshrutkas going direct to Bishkek from Karakol take the northern route and make much fewer stops.

[steven]

Biggest issue I see is getting from Khorgos to Kegen. This might involve some waiting. I summarized all the info regarding Kegen - Karakol at http://caravanistan.com/border-crossings/kyrgyzstan . Transport around the southern side of the lake should be no problem. I recommend Tamga. Barskoon if you're doing the horse riding, Bokonbayeva only if you're really into handicrafts or for the eagle festival. But many other nice places.