ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

FLIGHT INFORMATION

Direct access to Bishkek — MANAS AIRPORT:

Manas International Airport was built in 1974. It is situated in the picturesque Chui valley, on the banks of the Chui river about 30 km North of the capital city of Bishkek. It is the biggest airport in Kyrgyzstan and one of the biggest in the region, and serves International and domestic flights throughout the day and night. The airport has recently undergone renovations and the systems improved.

There is a 4200m runway capable of accepting all kinds of modern aircraft; Modern landing aids and systems, (radio navigation and lighting); modern refueling systems; Cargo and freight handling facilities with a capacity of 200000 tons per year and inflight catering services, capable of handling upto 4000 meals per day;

The airport has a capacity for handling 1700 passengers per hour. Available facilities for travellers include:

• ticket sales;
  
• an information desk;
  
• three check-in halls intended for simultaneous use for domestic, CIS and International flights;
  
• a transit hall;
  
• a VIP lounge;
  
• an Official Delegation lounge;
  
• shops;
  
• cafes;
  
• a 'mother and child' room;
  
• duty free shop in the International Departure lounge;
  
• bank branches;
  
• a post office;
  
• monitors providing real time information systems about flights;
  
• two modern telescopic walkways as well as motorized stairs for embarkation and diembakation on the airport apron;
  
• a 'Green Channel' through customs and
  
• a consular office which provides facilities for obtaining a visa on arrival.

Currently, flights are offered by British Airways, Turkish Airlines, Kyrgyz Airways, Aeroflot and others. Destinations served from Manas include: Baku, Beijing, Delhi, Dushanbe, Ekaterinberg, Frankfurt, Hanover, Istanbul, Karachi, London, Moscow, Novosibersk, Sharjah, Stuttgart, Tashkent and Urumchi.

International departures — including those to CIS counties — attract a USD10 ? airport administration? charge.

Recently there have been indiciduals in customs control who have been offering to assist with the completion of customs forms … and then charging USD5 for the «service».

There are a limited number of baggage trolleys available at the airport — also local people will offer to help with carrying baggage (at a fee, of course).

Don’t be surprised at the melee of taxi drivers that await outside the doors of Customs Control offering you their services. There are a number of people who have permissions to enter the customs area to meet travelers — but they should be identified by a badge. As well as «local taxis» — which are basically just drivers of private cars, there are plans for a recognized, regulated taxi service and there are buses to the centre of Bishkek.

If you want us to arrange an airport transfer for you, then we can do so — free to hotel guests at The Silk Road Lodge … please ask for details.

INDIRECT ACCESS:

There are also flights direct to Alma Aty (Kazakhstan) on a number of airlines, including British Airways from London, Lufthansa from Frankfurt and KLM from Amsterdam (Schipol), and flights from around the world to Tashkent (Uzbekistan).

From Alma Aty to Bishkek is about 3 hours by car, or 5 hours or so by local bus (which may be unreliable, as breakdowns seem frequent.) A car can be hired at the airport in Alma Aty (you must trust your own judgment about the driver and vehicle) for about $100—120. If you speak Russian you might be able to negotiate a local taxi for less. A local bus will cost approximately $10 per person, and leaves AlmaAty several times a day for Bishkek. Early morning or night buses are much more pleasant in high summer. We can arrange a vehicle to collect you.

Direct flights are also available to Tashkent in Uzbekistan, — e. g. from London, from Bangkok (may be best for NZ/Australia), from New York, etc. If you fly to Taskhent, you can fly on to Bishkek twice a week (possibly soon to be increased) or you can make a car journey (around 8—9 hours) or a cheap bus journey (12—14 hours, possibly with a change mid-way). Cost of buses is around $10. Night buses are much more pleasant in high summer. Ask us if you wish us to arrange transport.

ACCESS VIA CHINA:

You may be interested to know that while at present the best way to get to Kashgar by air is from Urumchi in China, there are plans to upgrade the airport at Kashgar for international flights — but this may be some time away. The rail link from Urumchi to Kashgar is finished. There is currently only one land crossing between Kyrgyzstan and China open to passenger traffic — The Torugart Pass, but technically it is closed to foreign citizens and although it possible to arrange a crossing there are restrictions and it can be expensive. See the page on the Torugart Pass.

LEAVING BY ROAD FOR ALMATY:

Remember when planning to visit the airport etc. that Alma Aty time is one hour in advance of Bishkek time. You can drive to the airport in Alma Aty in about 3.5 hours. Buses take longer (say, 5—6 hours depending on the number of breakdowns). The hotel can help you arrange a vehicle. In winter or wet or foggy weather allow more time and do not allow your driver to hurry as in winter the road is icy and dangerous especially over the pass. We strongly recommend 4WD vehicles in winter as they handle the ice better. You need a transit (or full) visa to cross into Kazakhstan and if you do not have one you can get it from the Kazakh Embassy in Bishkek. The border between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan is only 30 km from Bishkek but there are usually no stops or checks made on those exiting. (No visa checks are made on entering Kyrgyzstan from Alma Aty.) You may, however, have to show your passport and perhaps your luggage at stops along the road, particularly at the one just the other side of the pass, although this is unusual.

Please note: we repeat that to go to Kazakhstan even for a day trip you must now have a Kazakh visa. Otherwise you may be arrested and subjected to a heavy fine. The so-called «72 hour rule» allowing transit for that period does not exist any longer.

LEAVING BY ROAD FOR TASHKENT:

Of course, you will need an Uzbek visa. You will also need a transit visa for Kazakhstan. The trip takes from 8—12 hours. There are buses.

OBTAINING A VISA ON ARRIVAL

For those travellers from countries where there is no Kyrgyz embassy, it is possible to obtain a visa on arrival at Manas airport in Bishkek. In theory, the consular department at the airport have to be notified of the intended arrival beforehand, so some liaison with a company such as ours will be necessary.

In 2002 — the government announced plans for a system whereby it would be possible to obtain a visas on arrival at all entry points. These plans have yet to be implemented.

Almaty-Issyk Kul : There area number of trekking routes between Almaty and Lake Issyk Kul. These were very popular in the Soviet period and although less frequently used after independence, still offered trekers some spectacular scenery etc., and there are several maps available showing these routes In the past, (for example, when the 72 hour rule did apply), many trekkers crossed the mountains on these routes then obtained a visa at Karakol. However, the law states that only designated border posts are valid points of entry to the Republic, which means that these routes are no longer available.

ENTRY/EXIT Stamps — Technically it is only legal to enter the Kyrgyz Republic at a designated entry point. This means that it is no longer possible to trek over the border (for example over Kungei Ala-Too mountains from Almaty in Kazakhstan). More importantly, it is important to receive a stamp in your passport at the border crossing point. This can be important when it comes to registering with OVIR — especially if you cross some time ofter your Kyrgyz visa starts.

If there is no official in passport control or they claim not to have a stamp (both of which have been known to happen in the past) you can try to make a complaint — but you should at least note the date, time and place where you crossed the border. If possible a note of the name and number of any official on duty would also be helpful.

If you have some document — such as an airline ticket or a hotel receipt — which shows when you were in the other country — that might also help … but the stamp in the passport is the only sure way to avoid potential problems.

Please don't misunderstand us … the problem rarely ever arises — but it has been known to occur … and if possible you want to avoid it occurring to you.