China – Kyrgyzstan border crossing at Irkeshtam pass

By Joan Torres 24 Comments Last updated on September 7, 2023

The China-Kyrgyzstan border crossing at Irkeshtam Pass is pretty straightforward and truly beautiful but there are some rules which you should know beforehand. If you have more updated information, kindly, let me know in the comments 🙂 

Before starting to read this article, you should know that, currently, there are two open border crossings between China and Kyrgyzstan: Torugart and Irkeshtam.

This post refers to the Irkeshtam border crossing, a journey from Kashgar to Osh.

China-Kyrgyzstan border crossing at Irkeshtam

Things you need to know beforehand before going from Kashgar to Osh

Kyrgyz visa – Most Western nationalities, including Europeans, USA, Canada or Australia can get a free visa on arrival. Those who cannot, can apply for an e-visa.

For more information, check this post from Caravanistan

The border is closed on weekends – Plan your trip accordingly

Officially, the border is closed from 1pm to 4pm – However, I arrived at 12:20pm and I was not allowed to go through. After the break, they didn’t process me until 4:30pm. Try to be there as early as possible.

Finding other travelers to share the taxi with – Along the journey from Kashgar to Osh, you will have to take a couple of taxis.

Some people try to look for other travelers at the hostel to share the car with. I think that there is no real need to do this. If you do find partners it’s awesome.

If not, I did all the journey by myself and I always met local Chinese to share the costs with. If you are alone, don’t panic.

It is better to partner up with either local Chinese or other travelers – Kyrgyz spend longer at immigration and at the different checkpoints.

Arrival time in Osh – If you cross the border before the break, you should be in Osh around 5 or 6pm. If you do it after the break, you will arrive around 10pm.

The journey from Kashgar to Osh

Here are all steps you should follow:

Border crossing map

Step 1 – Arrival in Kashgar

If you are heading to Kyrgyzstan from China, most likely you will start your journey in Kashgar, the second biggest city in Xinjiang province and the only city with an Uyghur majority.

Where to stay in Kashgar

Budget Hostel – Kashgar Pamir Youth Hostel – The cheapest accommodation in town. A great place to meet other backpackers and local Chinese travelers.

Mid-range – Xinjiang Nuerlan Hotel This is one of the best value for money hotels you will ever find in China. Everything is really nice and new and it is not that expensive compared to other places within the same range. The best option for mid-range travelers in Kashgar.

Top-end – Radisson Hotel Kashgar If you want comfort, the Radisson in Kashgar is one of the most popular luxury hotels in the city.

Step 2 – Kashgar to Ulugqat (Wuqia Zhen)

If you want to cross from China to Kyrgyzstan through the Irkeshtam pass, your next step will be going to Ulugqat, located 97km from Kashgar and 132km from the border.

Ulugqat is where the actual immigration process takes place, meaning that here you will get your exit stamp.

How to get from Kashgar to Ulugqat

There are daily local shared taxis that leave from Kashgar bus station. At the station, you will have to buy your ticket at the counter.

The price is around 33RMB ($7).

It is a 4-seat taxi and it will leave once it is full. I booked the first seat and I had to wait for nearly an hour until the car was full. 

The taxi will leave you at Ulugqat bus station, which is located around 2km from Chinese immigration. You can either walk there or, for a few RMB, take another taxi.

Kashgar bus station location: 39.492555, 76.041859

Kashgar bus station
Kashgar bus station

Step 3 – From Ulugqat to the actual Chinese-Kyrgyz border

Once you get your exit stamp, you will have to travel to the actual China-Kyrgyzstan border, which is located 130km from Ulugqat.

Please note that it’s not possible to hitchhike or go on your own but you need to take a taxi, which will be waiting for you just outside the building.

Typically, one taxi costs around 400RMB ($60), which can be split between 4 to 6 people, depending on the size of the car.

If you are alone, find or wait for other people. As I said before, you should partner up with either local Chinese or foreign travelers, rather than Kyrgyz people.

The journey to the border takes around 90 minutes.

China - Kyrgyzstan border crossing
The road from Ulugqat to the border

Step 4 – Crossing the border and the Kyrgyz customs

After going through an endless number of Chinese checkpoints, the taxi will drop you in no man’s land, from where you need to walk 500 meters until you see a Kyrgyz check post.

There will be a car waiting to take travelers to the actual Kyrgyz customs, which charges 200KGS ($3) per passenger.

If you don’t want to pay, you can walk the remaining 2km, no problem.

By the way, the Kyrgyz immigration process is extremely quick 🙂

Kyrgyz customs
Kyrgyz customs

Step 5 – Arrival in Kyrgyzstan: Journey to Sary Tash and Osh

Right after crossing the border, you will see plenty of taxis that are going to Osh, the second biggest city in Kyrgyzstan, 260km away, a 4 to 5-hour journey.

They charge 7,000KGS ($100) per car, which is extremely expensive as per the country standards. If you are in a rush, take it and partner-up with Chinese or other travelers.

If you are not in a rush, I strongly recommend you go to Sary Tash, the first village after the border, located in one of the most beautiful places in the country: the Alay Valley.

In Sary Tash, there are daily marshrutkas (the local transportation) that go to Osh every day. Tickets costs 300KGS ($4.50).

Alay Valley Kyrgyzstan
The views once you are in Kyrgyzstan side

Where to stay in Sary Tash

There is a wide range of guesthouses and homestays, some of them can even be booked online. Typically, they all charge around $10, including breakfast and, if you are lucky, even dinner. These are the ones I recommend:

Budget Homestay – Pamirextreme â€“ Popular among foreigners, with English-speaking staff.

Where to stay in Osh

Osh is a big city with plenty of different accommodation options. I visited this city twice and these were the two places where I stayed. Please note that, during high season, they might be fully booked so, if possible, try to book in advance.

Backpacker Hotel – Osh Guest House â€“ More budget than the previous one but, of course, not as awesome. However, there is a nice backpacking atmosphere and a place to meet travelers to team-up with to travel the Pamir Highway.

A bit nicer – Eco House – For couples or people with a slightly higher budget, this is one of the top-rated guesthouses in town. Very clean, comfy and good breakfast. A good value for money option.

More information for visiting Kyrgyzstan

📢 In my Travel Resources Page you can find the list of all the sites and services I use to book hotels, tours, travel insurance and more.

Don’t forget to check our travel guide to Kyrgyzstan.

As well as all our Kyrgyzstan articles:

China-Kyrgyzstan border crossing at Irkeshtam

24 comments

About some months ago I thought that this Kyrgyzstan is very dangerous and not safe for the travelers but as the travel blogger shared their experiences of this city and the photographs as you have shared, my all misconceptions gone all the way and now I want to explore this amazing and beautiful country. Thanks for sharing this useful post.

Hello! Thanks very much for this information, they are useful and straight to the point! I plan to do this trip mid/end of November (next month), it would be cold and do you think it is still doable? I’ve read that some bus or taxi services might be interrupted due to some weather conditions.

Thank you
Jenson

Hi Jenson! I will be cold, definitely, but I believe the taxi service will still work, and once you get to Sary Tash, you are definitely going to find marshrutkas going all the way to Osh

Hello!
Thanks for your nice info your shared. Hence, I need to know some info if you know please let me know. sprymahe@gmail.com
I planning to go Kyrgyzstan stan from Pakistan via Khunjerab pass by my own motorcycle. Do I need to hire a guide? Or do you know the procedure over there. I have carnet and international license and valid travel Insurance for the journey.

Hi. There are several international buses to across the China-Kyrgyzstan border. The Kashgar-Bieshkek bus (via Torugart Pass) departs at 10:00 on Mondays, the Kashgar-Osh bus (via Irkeshtam Pass) departs at 10:00 on Thursdays.

Hi Joan
thank you very much for this information about the border crossing from China to Kyrgyzstan, it is very informative.
I want to travel the in the other direction from the ‘Stans’ into China and then onto Tibet. Is it possible to get into China overland by bus/train/taxi?

Hello!
Thank you very much for these informations, I would like to cross the border with my Van it is possible? (China Kyrgyzstan) What is the procedure for the vehicle ?

Thank you in advance !

Hi Matteo! It’s the trickiest border to cross with a vehicle. Basically, you can’t but you’ll have to be escorted by a Chinese guide and it’s massively expensive!

Hi since covid, now it’s 2023, is the border crossing closed especially for foreigners living in China? The international flights are still quite limited now and not sure if the check points in Xinjiang have relaxed.

Hello! We are in central Asia travelling from Spain to China by land, it is possible to cross Irkeshtam pass from Kirgistan to China by our own, not paying the chinese guide, we asked an agency and they told us its not allowed to cross without guide. Thanks!!!

I m planning to cross land border from china to Krygys via Irkishtam on this coming feb/march?is that possible n doable?how abt the weather?

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