Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tengri, heli-skiing, horse treks into the Kün-
gey Ala-Too mountains and visits to eagle
hunters. Contact Sergey Pyshnenko.
Yak Tours
(
%
569 01; yaktours@infotel.kg;
gagarin 10) Backpacker-oriented Altyn-Arashan
specialists. English-speaking Valentin Der-
evyanko ferries masochists to Altyn-Arashan
in his 50-year-old 4WD, a mechanical marvel
that's in a constant state of running repair.
Yak Tours can make on-the-spot arrangements
for individual treks and horse trips. Prices are
reasonable but be sure to pin down exactly
what's included.
Tour Khan Tengri
(
%
055-047 6606, 525 43;
www.tour-khantengri.com; Lenina 114) This
experienced outfitter has a well-established
trekking and climbing camp located in the
Inylchek Valley. Hunting options available mid-
August til November.
Alp Tour Issyk-Köl
(
%
205 48; khanin@info
tel.kg; Telmona 154-158) Based in the same
building as Karakol's best-equipped (and most
visually striking) mountaineering-equipment
shop, this professional company offers a
range of treks, serious climbs and transfers.
Contact Igor.
REGIONAL DESTINATIONS
Most local buses leave from one of three points
around Ak-Tilek Bazaar. Shared taxis use the
same points.
Ak-Suu
Marshrutka 350
(20som, several per
hour) from the southeast side.
Jeti-Öghüz
From the
south corner
,
marshrutkas to Jeti-öghüz village run roughly
hourly when full (marshrutka 371, 20som) but
rarely before 10am. Marshrutka 355 to Jeti-
öghüz Korort departs once, possibly twice
daily, typically late morning and possibly
mid-afternoon. Shared taxis cost 30som but
sometimes ask 50som.
Tüp area
West corner
. Rickety buses to San-
Tash leave twice daily, around 8am and again
around 2pm.
Pristan
Buses marked Plazh or Dachy leave
roughly hourly from the
corner of Gagarin
and Jaldosh Jusaev (Gorkogo)
and pass
within 200m of the Przewalski garden (p259).
8
Getting¨Around
MARSHRUTKA
Almost all of the dozen lines pass Ak-Tilek
Bazaar on Torgoeva. Useful routes (7som,
from 7am to dusk) include:
¨
8
Getting¨There¨&¨Away
Use the Main Bus Station for Bishkek or Almaty,
the Southern Bus Stand for towns along the
south side of Issyk-Köl. Marshrutka services
from either station run to Balykchy, where pas-
sengers for Naryn and Kochkor need to change.
BUSES TO BISHKEK & ALMATY
VIA THE NORTHERN SHORE
Buses to Bishkek (300som, eight hours) depart
hourly from the
Main Bus Station
(
%
229 11;
Przhevalskogo;
g
110, 111) between 7.30am and
1.40pm, and overnight between 7pm and 11pm.
Most take the northern route around Issyk-Köl,
via Cholpon-Ata (100som). Outside the sta-
tion, untimetabled minibuses and shared taxis
leave when full to Bishkek (minibus/shared taxi
300/600som) and Cholpon-Ata (minibus/shared
taxi 120/250som). In summer a daily bus runs to
Almaty via Bishkek (not the Karkara Valley).
BUSES TO BALYKCHY
VIA THE SOUTHERN SHORE
Buses for Balykchy (200som) via Bokonbayevo
(100som) depart from the
Southern Bus Stand
(
%
513 53; Toktogul) hourly from 7.50am to
12.50pm, and at 2.50pm. Buses to Bokonbayevo
depart at 4.50pm. All pass within 3km of Tamga
and Barskoön (80som), but there are direct
services to Tamga (80som) at 1pm and 3pm, and
to Barskoön at 9.20am, noon and 4pm.
¨
101
Torgoeva-Toktogul-Jaldosh Jusaev
(gorkogo) then southwest on Karasayev and
down Fuchika almost to the gates of the
national park. Same in reverse.
¨
¨
102
Northwest down gebze, Toktogul,
Torgoeva then a one-way loop passing the
animal market northbound.
¨
¨
111
Loops from Main Bus Station via
Ak-Tilek Bazaar, Southern Bus Stand, Madanur
Hotel then round the south edge of town
then back via Kutmanalieva.
¨
¨
110
Route 111 in reverse.
TAXI
For trips within town, taxis including
Narodnoe
(
%
403 03) and
Econom
(
%
166) charge
50/60som by day/night. going further aield, be
sure to ix the fare and waiting time (100som per
hour is normal). It's best to call for a taxi.
There are several taxi stations dotted about
town, or wave one down on Toktogul near Makish
Bazaar. Ak-Tilek Bazaar tends to be better for
longer-distance shared taxis.
BICYCLE
Teskey guesthouse (p260) and Ecotrek (p269)
both have a couple of mountain bikes for rent
(US$10 per day).
