Time to keep exploring the incredible Kyrgyz countryside! Heading west our next stop is Osh, a little over 600km from Bishkek. With no deadlines to get anywhere, we’re taking this drive as it comes.
Driving out of Bishkek the plan was to just drive until late afternoon and look for somewhere to set up for the night. We drove for a few hours, passing by herd after herd of horses, cows and goats as we meandered our way back up into the mountains. As the day drew to a close, we followed a track up a small valley and managed to find a secluded place to camp.
Unlike other countries that we travelled through, wild camping in Kyrgyzstan was a breeze. Due to the population density of other countries, huge amounts of planning (scouring Google Earth) for places to camp were crucial to make sure we had somewhere safe to set up at the end of the day. Kyrgyzstan on the other hand, the population outside of Bishkek is much less dense, and being a nomadic culture, camping and moving around is part of the norm. Life for us became a lot easier once we crossed the border here!
The following morning the weather felt like it was closing in, so we pushed on to get to get to Töö Ashuu, a mountain pass we’d been driving towards the day before. As we passed 3000 metres in altitude it was as if the snow switch had been turned on and the drive became quite white! Töö Ashuu, which means “camel pass” has a 2.7km long tunnel which crosses through part of the Kyrgyz Alatau range of the Teen Shan mountains to make passage safer due to weather and altitude. From the northern side the tunnel starts at 3130m and ascends up to 3180m on the southern side.
As we arrived at the start of the tunnel, we were instructed to stop the car and wait; we assumed we were waiting for the northbound traffic to pass. Some moments later a big herd of horses which we’d passed down the road came thundering up the road and straight through the tunnel. Only in Kyrgyzstan!
Coming down the mountain on the other side the weather cleared and the scenery went from snow covered mountain peaks to lush green valleys as we drove on to Toktogul Lake. On the southern side of the lake we found an incredible place to camp up on the high hills that surround the reservoir. With good weather, no one around, just horses and sheep, and an absolutely incredible view we camped up here for a few days just taking it all in…
Thanks for watching!
(Hope you enjoyed this description Steve! :) )
Jolie and Mark
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16 июл 2024
