Transportation
How to get to and from Jyrgalan.
Jyrgalan is located just 60km from Karakol, in the Issyk-Kul region of Kyrgyzstan. Because Karakol is the main hub of traveler activities in the region, you should organize and plan your transportation to Karakol, and then plan your onward travels to Jyrgalan. The only direct public transportation (buses and marshrutkas) to Jyrgalan leave from Karakol. Use this page detailing how to get to and from Karakol page for information on private transfers, long-distance bus schedules, marshrutkas, and more.
Getting to Jyrgalan
Once you’re in Bishkek or Karakol, (directions here) you can either hire a private taxi for transportation to Jyrgalan village, or use the marshrutkas that run between Karakol and Jyrgalan throughout the year.
Direct Taxi: If you’ve arrived in Bishkek, a private taxi/transport from Manas International Airport (or anywhere in Bishkek) to Jyrgalan will cost 100 $ (holds four people) and will take seven hours. If you’re in Karakol, your guesthouse can arrange private transfers for about 1800-2000 som per car (holds four people), or contact the Karakol Visitor Center and they will easily book private transfer between Karakol and Jyrgalan for a similar price. A private transfer lasts about one hour.
Karakol marshrutka: Take marshrutka 331 from Ak-Tilek Market (the Big Bazaar) bus station, which is located at the intersection of Bektenova and Zhamansariev streets (exact location here) in Karakol. Ensure that your marshrutka goes all the way to Jyrgalan as some only go as far as Ak-Suu (the van’s label will say “Jyrgalan Village”). Throughout the year, marshrutkas from Karakol to Jyrgalan leave every day, three times a day:
- Summer: 8:30, 13:30 and 17:30.
- Winter: 8:30, 13:30, and 16:30.
The ride lasts less than two hours and costs 90 som. Marshrutkas generally leave on time, so arrive early (30 minutes is usually plenty of time) to ensure you secure a seat.
The marshrutka will leave you here, which is a short walk to the guesthouses in Jyrgalan village.
Driving to Jyrgalan
If you've rented a car, it's a fairly easy drive to Jyrgalan village, and thanks to a USAID Business Growth Initiative, English-language signs installed along the Karakol to Jyrgalan route ensure you won't get lost. This is the exact GPS location of Destination Jyrgalan, inside the Alakol-Jyrgalan Guesthouse. Additionally, you can use these directions to navigate:
Take the A363 road to the east of Karakol. Continue for about 30 min until you reach Novovoznesenovka village. Right after this village, the road splits. Turn to right and continue until Ak Bulung village, then turn left at the sign (it says: "To the left - Jyrgalan, to the right - Enilchek"). After 2km, follow along the asphalt road as it jogs right. The road will become a non-asphalt road that is in good shape — continue on it until you reach Zyndan village. After the village, the road jogs left and you will come to an intersection. Turn right at the sign for Jyrgalan (it says: "Jyrgalan - 14 km"). After about 7km you will reach a forest. Turn left at the sign (it indicates: Jyrgalan to the left, Tulpar Tash to the right). You will reach Jyrgalan village after about 5km.
Getting from Jyrgalan
Most travelers leave Jyrgalan and return to Karakol, where you should either visit the city if you haven’t yet, or easily plan your onward travel in other areas of Kyrgyzstan.
Taxi: Your guesthouse can arrange a private transfer for 1800-2000 som and it will last about one hour (sometimes longer in the winter).
Marshrutka: Marshrutkas bound for Karakol (Jyrgalan to Karakol) leave from this small bus stop every day, three times a day:
- Summer: 7:30, 11:30, and 16:30
- Winter: 7:30, 11:30, and 16:30
