Passes

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.

This is a list of the some of the passes you might traverse on a journey in Kyrgyzstan … some are major passes, on major roads … others are minor ones found in remote regions.

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 the road to Torugart:

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
Torugart	3752	Naryn	Kashgar	Naryn	–

On the 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
Irkeshtam	2841	Sary Tash	Kashgar	Osh	–

On the border with China , from North to South (… there are some others but without names …) but 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*
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	–
Tdz 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*
Irkeshtam	2841	Sary Tash	Kashgar	Osh	–

On the bordet with Tajikistan :

Pass	Height	From	To	Oblast	Notes
Kyzyl Art	4280	Sary Tash	Tajikistan	Osh	–

To Son Kul:

Pass	Height	From	To	Oblast	Notes
Kalmak Ashu	3446	Sary Bulak	Son Kul	Naryn	–
Kara Keche	3384	Son Kul	Chaek	Naryn	–
Kurtkal	3660	Son Kul	Ak Taala	Naryn	–
Tridzat Tri Popugai	3133	Son Kul	Naryn	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	Status not clear
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	Status not clear
Kyzart	2664	Kochkor	Chaek	Naryn	–
Otmok	3330	Suusamyr	Talas	Talas	On the border 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
Tuzduu Suu	1971	Kyzyl Oi	Toktogul	Djalal Abad	Status not clear

… 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