Passes
Kyrgyzstan is over ninety percent mountainous territory. The mountains criss-cross the country. As a result, almost any journey, anywhere in the country involves crossing over a mountain pass. Some of them are quite dramatic – others more prosaic.
Here is a list of the major passes, some are major passes, on major roads … others are minor ones found in remote regions and some are traversed by trekkers:
|
Height m. a.s.l |
Between |
|
|
Aksu |
4062 |
Chon Kemin-Grigorievka (Issyk Kul) |
|
Ak Kol |
3860 |
Karakol Valley – Altyn Arashan |
|
Kegeti |
3805 |
Kegeti (Tokmak) – Kochkor |
|
Sokoluk |
3775 |
Tash Bulak-Suusamyr |
|
Torugart |
3752 |
Kyrgyzstan-China |
|
Tuu Ashu |
3588 |
Kara Balta-Suusamyr (Bishkek-Osh) |
|
Otmek |
3330 |
Suusamyr-Talas |
|
Sary Bulak |
3274 |
Semyenovka-Almaty *** |
|
Ala Bel |
3184 |
Suusamyr-Toktogul (Bishkek-Osh) |
|
Dolon |
3016 |
Kochkor-Naryn |
|
Irkeshtam |
2841 |
Kyrgyzstan-China |
| *** Note that this pass was a popular route for trekkers during the Soviet period, but is now, technically, closed – the only places permitted to cross the border are recognized border posts … and there isn’t one here. It has been suggested that it would be a good idea to establish one – but the number of people using it would not justify the expense. Although it may sometimes be possible to make special arrangements with the border authorities for a group to pass over this route, it is probably best to consider this route as closed. |
Here is a list of the some of the passes you might traverse on a journey in Kyrgyzstan … First: on the Bishkek-Osh Highway:
|
Pass |
Height |
From |
To |
Oblast |
Notes |
|
Tuu Ashu |
3586 |
Kara Balta |
Suusamyr |
Chui |
|
|
Ala Bel |
3184 |
Suusamyr |
Toktogul |
Chui |
on the border with Talas |
On Bishkek-Torugart Road:
|
Pass |
Height |
From |
To |
Oblast |
Notes |
|
Kubiki |
Boom Gorge |
Kochkor |
Chui |
On the border with Naryn |
|
|
Dolon |
3028 |
Kochkor |
Naryn |
Naryn |
|
|
Kyzyl Bel |
2484 |
Naryn |
At Bashi |
Naryn |
|
|
Ak Beyit |
3282 |
Naryn |
Torugart |
Naryn |
|
|
Tash Rabat |
3968 |
Tash Rabat |
Torugart |
Naryn |
Off the main road – a pass used on The Silk Road |
|
Torugart |
3752 |
Naryn |
Kashgar |
Naryn |
On the Osh-Irkeshtam Road:
|
Pass |
Height |
From |
To |
Oblast |
Notes |
|
Chyiyryk |
2408 |
Osh |
Gulcha |
Osh |
|
|
Taldyk |
3619 |
Osh |
Sary Tash |
Osh |
|
|
Teo Morun |
3536 |
Sary Tash |
Irkeshtam |
Osh |
|
|
Terek Davan |
4131 |
Gulcha |
Irkeshtam |
Osh |
Off the main road – a pass used on The Silk Road |
|
Irkeshtam |
2841 |
Sary Tash |
Kashgar |
Osh |
On the border with China, from North to South (… there are some others but without names …) and some of them were important routes in the time of the Silk Road. Only two are open for cross border traffic: Torugart and Irkeshtam. It is illegal to cross the border except at a recognized border crossing point – and penalties for doing so can be heavy:
|
Pass |
Height |
From |
To |
Oblast |
Notes |
|||
|
Aryan Suu |
Kyrgyzstan |
China |
Issyk Kul |
Closed for cross border traffic |
||||
|
Sountor Pass |
4583 |
Kyrgyzstan |
China |
Issyk Kul |
Closed for cross border traffic |
|||
|
Akoguz |
4572 |
Kyrgyzstan |
China |
Issyk Kul |
Closed for cross border traffic |
|||
|
Kayche |
4463 |
Kyrgyzstan |
China |
Issyk Kul |
Closed for cross border traffic |
|||
|
Kukuomk |
4358 |
Kyrgyzstan |
China |
Issyk Kul |
Closed for cross border traffic |
|||
|
Bedel |
4284 |
Kyrgyzstan |
China |
Issyk Kul |
Closed for cross border traffic |
Used on The Silk Road | ||
|
Uru Daban |
Kyrgyzstan |
China |
Naryn |
Closed for cross border traffic |
||||
|
Khodjent |
3962 |
Kyrgyzstan |
China |
Naryn |
Closed for cross border traffic |
|||
|
Orto Suu |
3925 |
Kyrgystan |
China |
Naryn |
Closed for cross border traffic |
|||
|
Torugart |
3752 |
Naryn |
Kashgar |
Naryn |
Used on The Silk Road | |||
|
Tadz Bel |
3933 |
Kyrgyzstan |
China |
Osh |
Closed for cross border traffic |
|||
|
Kugart |
Kyrgyzstan |
China |
Osh |
Closed for cross border traffic |
||||
|
Talgyy |
3668 |
Kyrgyzstan |
China |
Osh |
Closed for cross border traffic |
Used on The Silk Road | ||
|
Irkeshtam |
2841 |
Sary Tash |
Kashgar |
Osh |
Used on The Silk Road |
On the border with Tajikistan:
|
Pass |
Height |
From |
To |
Oblast |
Notes |
|
Kyzyl Art |
4280 |
Sary Tash |
Murghab - Tajikistan |
Osh |
On the roads to Son Kul:
|
Pass |
Height |
From |
To |
Oblast |
Notes |
|
Kalmak Ashu |
3446 |
Kochkor – Sary Bulak |
Son Kul |
Naryn |
|
|
Kara Keche |
3384 |
Chaek |
Son Kul |
Naryn |
|
|
Kurtkal |
3660 |
Ak Taala |
Son Kul |
Naryn |
|
|
Tridzat Tri Popugai |
3133 |
Naryn |
Son Kul |
Naryn |
“Thirty Three Parrots” |
Others:
|
Pass |
Height |
From |
To |
Oblast |
Notes |
|
Ala Bash |
2365 |
Balykchi |
Bokonbaeva |
Issyk Kul |
In the Kongur Olen valley |
|
Beurailu |
3268 |
Baetova |
Tash Rabat |
Naryn |
Often closed |
|
Chapchima |
Kerben |
Djani Bazaar |
Djalal Abad |
Closed in winter |
|
|
Chomashu |
3822 |
Karakol |
Enilchek |
Issyk Kul |
|
|
Jalpeck Bel |
3890 |
Sary Bulak |
Ece Naryn |
Naryn |
On the border with Issyk Kul |
|
Kaldama |
3062 |
Kazarman |
Djalal Abad |
Djalal Abad |
|
|
Kara Buman |
Kazarman |
Djalal Abad |
Djalal Abad |
Closed in winter |
|
|
Kara Buura |
3302 |
Talas |
Djani Bazaar |
Talas |
On the border with Djalal Abad |
|
Kara Koo |
Ak Talla |
Kazarman |
Naryn |
On the border with Djalal Abad |
|
|
Karakol |
3485 |
Suusamyr |
Kochkor |
Naryn |
On the border with Chui |
|
Keburguntu |
3907 |
Ak Sai |
Kara Sai |
Naryn |
On the border with Issyk Kul |
|
Kerege Tash |
3684 |
Ece Naryn |
Barskoon |
Issyk Kul |
|
|
Kulak Ashu |
Baetova |
Tash Rabat |
Naryn |
Often closed |
|
|
Kyndy |
3102 |
Ak Sai |
Kara Sai |
Naryn |
In the border zone |
|
Kyrk Kyz |
3223 |
Kyzyl Oi |
Toktogul |
Naryn |
|
|
Kyzart |
2664 |
Kochkor |
Chaek |
Naryn |
|
|
Otmok |
3330 |
Suusamyr |
Talas |
Talas |
On the border with Chui |
|
San Tash |
Tup |
Djergalan |
Issyk Kul |
||
|
Shamsy |
3573 |
Shamsy |
Kochkor |
Chui |
On the border with Naryn |
|
Ter Djailoo |
2465 |
Kyzyl Oi |
Toktogul |
Naryn |
On the border with Djalal Abad |
|
Terek |
Toktogul |
Talas |
Talas |
On the border with Djalal Abad |
|
|
Tosor |
3893 |
Ece Naryn |
Tosor |
Issyk Kul |
|
|
Tuzduu Suu |
1971 |
Kyzyl Oi |
Toktogul |
Djalal Abad |
… And over the border …
|
Pass |
Height |
Notes |
Country |
|
Baikurt |
On the road from Torugart to Kashgar |
China |
|
|
Teshiktash |
On the road from Torugart to Kashgar |
China |
|
|
Kordai |
1233 |
On the Bishkek- Almaty road |
Kazakhstan |
Bishkek