Although Kyrgyzstan does not have an elaborate public transport system, it is very easy to get around using informal transportation. Unless you are arranging a ride through a travel agency, little to no advance planning is required. It is sufficient to turn up at the bus station with some cash and a vague idea of where you want to go.
Kyrgyzstan is quite small and most rides between towns take less than 4 hours. Transport is inexpensive.
Marshrutka (Minibus)
Best for: Cheap travel between towns or along a main road.
Cost: Inexpensive, 200-300 SOM pp for a 2-3h trip; additional cost (50 SOM) for luggage may be required.
Comfort: Crowded.
Speed: Slow-medium.
Marshrutkas are almost always the cheapest way to get from place to place, although they are not the fastest or most comfortable. Marshrutkas depart to various destinations at specified times from a town’s local bus station. Your guesthouse may have schedule information, but if not, schedules can be found at Community-Based Tourism (CBT) offices.
To find the marshrutka you want, look for the signs in the front window of each vehicle indicating its destination. The drivers will also be hanging around saying the names of the places they are heading to. If you don’t immediately see someone advertising the place you’re looking for, say the place name in a questioning tone and someone will take you to a driver going that way.
Ask the driver for the price for your ride. In our experience, marshrutka drivers do not seem to make a habit of overcharging foreigners. If you are unsure, ask at your guesthouse or the CBT office to get an idea of the cost of your ride before heading out.
The vehicle will leave when it is full. Each marshrutka normally has seats 15-20 people, but the driver will try to fit in as many people as possible. The marshrutka may stop along the way to pick up more passengers (or packages) if hailed, either to carry them a short distance or to the final destination.
Shared Taxi
Best for: Unscheduled travel between towns.
Cost: Mid-range.
Comfort: Comfortable to crowded.
Speed: Fast to Very Fast.
Shared taxis are slightly more expensive than marshrutkas, but they are usually more comfortable as there are fewer people in the car. That said, the driver will still endeavour to fill the vehicle completely, so you may end up sharing your 2-seat row with four small children and a grandmother. This also means it might take a little while to leave.
Shared taxis can be found at the local bus station but also at other locations in each town. As with a marshrutka, ask the drivers for your destination and they will take you to the right car. The vehicle will only leave when it is full.
The price of a shared taxi is more negotiable than that of a marshrutka. If you pay more, you may be able to get the car to yourself. You might not be asked to pay right away – on some rides we were only asked for money when the driver needed to pay for gas.
Shared taxis can be considerably faster than marshrutkas as the drivers drive incredibly quickly and don’t stop to pick up extra passengers on the way. Drivers are very skilled although not always what westerners might consider “safe”.
Hitchhiking
Best for: Getting back to town after a hike.
Cost: Inexpensive.
Comfort: Varies widely.
Speed: Slow to Fast.
If you are walking along a road, any passing car is your taxi. Just flag it down by sticking your arm out. Ask for your destination and negotiate a price.
Note that hitchhiking can be dangerous, so take care to assess the car and drivers. We had positive experiences hitching rides in Kyrgyzstan (usually from the trailhead back to town), but we do not necessarily recommend this as an option for individuals travelling alone.
CBT-/Tour Agency-Organized Car
Best for: Organized trips to tourist sites.
Cost: High end.
Comfort: Very comfortable.
Speed: Fast.
Organizing a car through a travel agency is straightforward and a good option for traveling to tourist sites like Tash Rabat and Song-Kul lake. We recommend the competent and friendly Community-Based Tourism (CBT) outfits.
CBT employees usually speak very good English and are eager to help. If you are arranging a yurtstay, transport will likely be included in the price, which can make a package a very good deal. Transport can usually be organized for the following day or a later date. Depending on how many other people are going your way, you may have the car to yourself, but even if you have to share, it will take only as many passengers as there are seats (unlike a marshrutka or shared taxi).
Note that if you ask CBT to organize a shared taxi to another destination, they may call a car to pick you up at the office immediately, which will then take you to the regular taxi stand and wait for more passengers. Depending where you are going, it might be easier to ask for the expected cost and go straight to the taxi stand to organize the ride yourself. You might be able to find a taxi that is only looking for a few more passengers in order to leave.
